LSP_Kevin Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 silly question time............. what is 'Milo'? Like Nestle's Quick? Yeah, same concept (we have that here too). Milo is better though (in the same way that Tim Tams are better than Oreos), and only comes in one flavour (chocolate). In fact, it's made by Nestlé too: Kev Jeff, Joel_W and Uncarina 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 I felt the pitot tube could be done a bit better and that it should be a bit longer according to my references. I scratch built a new one from 4 parts of brass, soldered together. I have made it so that it can be removed for travel. If you look carefully, the ends are hollow. Tnarg, Joel_W, Uncarina and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Yeah, same concept (we have that here too). Milo is better though (in the same way that Tim Tams are better than Oreos), and only comes in one flavour (chocolate). In fact, it's made by Nestlé too: Kev I have never seen it here in Canada, may have to check around maybe when I go to the USA for a car show, I will see if it is available, looks interesting..... I still like a good glass of chocolate milk.... especially when I am perusing awesome model skills like this thread..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 One thing on the kit that i was keen to depict was the Periscope that Lindbergh used to make sure he wasn't going to fly into waves during his ocean crossing. There is no real provision for it in the kit apart from a small square of PE meant to depict it in the closed position. I feel that it is an important part of the aircraft, as the fact that there is no forward windscreen may shock someone who may not be familiar with the type, and could possibly be seeing this aircraft for the first time on a comp table. Closer examination will reveal the small rectangular thing jutting from the side window. I tried out a few different sizes of brass square tube but none seemed to be right.I settled on cutting up a long thin section of Tamiya PLA paper, and formed 4 pieces of it into the hollow periscope, capping it off with a thicker square of sytrene. Once painted, I glued a small piece of Milo tin membrane into it to depict the mirror. test fitted, looks OK. Whitey, Starfighter, Hubert Boillot and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 A little bit more work. Most of my time spent on this model has been the surface detail on the fuselage and empennage. Getting this part right has been a bit of a pain to be honest and luckily I havent felt the need to do the same to the wings.....yet! I have thinned all control surfaces considerably and have also made the rib detail far sharper than how it was provided in the kit. I have almost got the tail and rudder to the way I want it and primed it to check how it was going. Pretty good. As can be seen the horizontal stabilizer and elevators are still a work in progress. I fitted the bracing for the compass and have cut out some clear styrene to form the window in the top of the wing. Getting closer! 109, Whitey, cib2265 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Nice touch with the periscope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Boillot Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 The more I look at your efforts to refine a kit that is not fine anywhere, the more I wonder whether I would not be better off coming back to my initial idea of scratching the NYP completely. Unless someone can acquire the molds of the Icarus' kit, from the Korean mold company that kept them over a payment dispute Hubert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel_W Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Eric, I just started reading through your build, and the Bare Metal engine cowlings are simply amazing. Never seen anything like that before. Joel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel_W Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Eric, I just caught up on your simply incredible build. Amazing engeering and equally amazing workmanship. Joel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 (edited) I am leapfrogging builds at the moment getting both this and my Mirage ready for Model Expo in just over a months time. It was time to consider how I was going to paint the model and also apply the markings. I have been getting progressively more proficient in using my Silhouette mask cutter and have been pushing it harder to cut smaller masks, as well as getting into the advanced features of the software. I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the software included with the machine as it really seems to be able to cope with what us modelers need from it. I have been experimenting a bit with taking screenshots of my work with the software, so please bare with me. I wanted to see how far I could go with the markings of the aircraft as they would be very well suited to spraying them rather than using the included decals. This feature of the mask cutter couldn't be more suited to our hobby and it makes me rather excited to be able to do it. First things first. I scanned the decal sheet at high resolution (using the scanner in my other mancave) Once I had the decals scanned as a JPG, it was a simple matter to open the image into a new project in Silhouette Studio. It is as easy as clicking File, Open and then selecting the image from wherever it is stored. You can then resize the image to fit the screen. There is no need to size it to the exact size required as this will come later. The decal sheet as a JPG imported in to the software and opened up into a new project. Using the Trace feature, select the area that is required to be cut. There are a few different setting that can be tweaked to capture the edges as well as a few settings that can determine the way in which the software traces the image. Once the image has been traced, it can be moved aside, leaving the thin red lines that the software has drawn.By double clicking on each element of the design, the `points' that the computer used to draw the shape can be seen. There is quite a few odd ones there that aren't needed as per the image below and in the case of fairly simple lettering, can be deleted to make the element simpler. Now that we have the markings in the program I made a quick comparison the the real aircraft where some differences can be seen. By clicking on the element that needs to be changed, the points become visible. As can be seen, I have simplified it from the picture earlier. It is now very easy to manipulate the element as needed. As can be seen I have started to match it more closely to the picture. Now to size the marking. Using a feature on the real aircraft that was near or under the markings, in this case the aileron, I measured it on the model. I drew a straight line that was approx 52.80 mm long. Holding down the shift key when drawing a straight line will align it with horizontal or vertical. Using the scale function, the exact measurement can be typed, rather than the tricky point and click method. This was then placed under the corresponding area of the marking on the screen which was then dragged down to the appropriate size. Once I was happy with the size, I cut the mask. This one is just for sizing and fit and will not be sprayed (the model is still in primer at this stage). I also made a very small cut out for the control horn. Edited May 9, 2017 by ericg 109, LSP_Kevin, Hubert Boillot and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahman104 Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Eric, Your timing on your little tutorial could not be better.......... my cutter turned up in the mail today! Good stuff mate, thanks for posting. The Spirit looks great too..... hard to fathom how he managed to fly without forward vision. Cheers, Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel_W Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 Eric, Simply a better way to put on basic markings. I just might look into one myself. The process does indeed seem simpler then I thought, and even I might be able to learn how to use one. Joel Tinbanger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 (edited) Excellent as always. Quick question as my brain a bit fuzzy tonight. Any tricks in getting your scanned picture exactly lined up and straight / registarted to the grid? You gotta believe I think this is so cool Hi Dan, No tricks at all, this is just the way it was scanned in. If you need to rotate it at all then by clicking on the picture you will be able to resize it by clicking and dragging it as well as rotate it by clicking on the small green circle. Eric Edited May 9, 2017 by ericg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 As many have said already - WOW - love the attention to all the little details you incorporate in your build. Have you considered adding some rib tape? Cheers, Peter Jeff and Whitey 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaninaustria Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 Really impressive Eric!! Cheer Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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