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Matchbox SBD from the Shelf of Doom.


Sabre F-86

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I started a Matchbox SBD a few years ago, never got very far with it. I've been trying to get my mojo back after a long hiatus by clearing the shelf of doom, and this one has come to the top. I've been working on the wings mostly, and am going to put a photo etch cockpit in. So far my biggest problem with coming back is the fact that our beloved Nanny state made Gunz Sangyo paints illegal. I tried Vallejo on one of my Doom models and had the usual problems. Seriously thinking about going back to enamels. I'll post some photos shortly.

 

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Scary ain't it? Especially since I have a couple of the Trumpeter kits in the stash. A 1/2 and a 3/4/A-24. But I'd rather mess up this old one relearning the skills I need. My physical condition has changed since I last did any so I have to contend with poorer eyesight, and the occasional twitches in the hand.

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Ok some photos. I did start this kit some time ago, so somethings were partly done before I took it up again.

 

kUyS2d4.jpg

Initial PE sides and some  scribing.

 

oFXU076.jpg

 

Separated control surfaces and extending the prop tips to the right diameter. Pilots. Not sure they will even fit so forget them.

 

Wb1ZaoS.jpg

 

Wings and separated control surfaces.

 

WyoWQ4y.jpg

 

Some of the PE bits. Panels and film backing. Rear bulkhead in gunners' cockpit and the canvas front screen for the radios.

 

yvGtS6x.jpg

 

Reworking the bomb cradle area to better represent the actual shape. Reworking the wheel bays.

 

AYyoxxb.jpg

 

Initial PE for the front cockpit.

 

Early days, this is the way it was when I started it up again.

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

I've been fiddling with this PE set now for a week or more. Using the pilots who come with the kit as a pattern for general fit, I can see the poor pilot trying to fly with his  knees up against his nose as he tries to use the rudder pedals, and squeezing past the panel would be near impossible. I've broken it all down again, and using the side panels as a guide will move the instrument panel forward about a 1/4 inch. Maybe that will work. In the mean time, I've had several bits leave earth orbit at light speed, as they spring from the tweezers. I use a folding took which helps a lot but its seems that some of the designed folds are too small to be done, so I'm replacing some of the PE with strip and rod plastics. Anyway, I soldier on wards.

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  • 1 month later...

Project is temporarily at a stand still. Boat launch is on the 28th, and we lost four days working on her due to the ice rain storm we had. Been putting between 5 and 9 hours a day on this. Had the survey done today, so that hurdle is past. But there are still a bunch of thing that need doing. I have done some work in the odd moments, and the cockpit spacing is sorted out. I've shot a coat of interior green over it, and am trying to get the various panels painted up. However, several of them have disappeared from my work desk and I have no idea where they got off to so the cockpit may be a bit sparse. With the canopy given, I doubt that will be much of an issue.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ok, the panic session with boat launch is over. It went splash last weekend, and didn't sink. I took the week off to let the body recover from the abuse I put it through and I'm about to get going again. Fingers crossed I make it by the end of the build. Got to say I'll be happy when it's done. I should have built the Trump one and handed this one off to a kid somewhere.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Ok, the mission is scrubbed. Since returning to work, things there have been total chaos, and my shift schedule has become a nightmare. We lost two people on disability, one retired and they cancelled all overtime so until we get more bodies, I'm working 2 days, 3 afternoons and any other funky combination they need. As for the SBD, I doubt I've put in more than an hour on it since my last post. I also notice my eyesight is getting bad again, and working the PE is giving me fits. I've just ordered a bottle of liquid flux so I can try to solder the bits, as they keep coming apart if you don't use the utmost care in handling them. I'm not ready to bin the monster yet so it will go on the shelf again til I get things under control. I'd like to see it finished but the "honk me off" quotient is pretty high with this one. It may yet end up binned.

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