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Trak-Tor

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  1. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Rod Bettencourt in TBD-1 Devastator VT-3 Midway   
    The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator was the US Navy’s premier torpedo bomber when hostilities broke out on December 7th  1941. Six months later it was completely obsolete and removed from combat operations. The subject of my build is from the USS Yorktown VT-3 aircraft (0303) crewed by Harry Corl and ARM3 Lloyd Childers. One the morning of the 4th at approximately 1200hrs Petty Officer Childers spotted smoke 25 miles away to the starboard. Machinist/pilot Harry Corl was able to get the squadron skipper Lt Cdr Massey attention. The skipper made a course correction to head for the nearest carrier (Hiryu). It was reported that at this time the squadron was jumped by approximately 30 Zeros. VT-3 was lucky enough to have 4 F4F Wildcats with them to help fend off the attackers. After what I could only imagine as an agonizing 20-minute slow approach, they were able to release 5 torpedoes. Corl and Childers 0303 had been badly shot up on the approach and the only way to keep airborne was to jettison their torpedo.
     
    The following is from Machinist WO/Pilot Harry Corl Mission report date 6-15-42:
     
    The free gun had jammed during the fight. Childers, Arm3, my gunner used .45 automatic during the 10 minutes of the attack. Childers was hit in the right ankle causing a compound fracture of the same. He received two hits in his left leg above the knee no broken bones in that leg. I arrived at the Yorktown at 1425 circled it twice and saw that there was no chance of getting aboard. (Yorktown was bombed by Hiryu Vals) So I proceeded over the Enterprise. I attempted to land aboard, but discovered I did not have enough tab control on the elevator to keep the nose up. I landed in the water head and to the starboard of the carrier alongside the destroyer USS Monaghan. The time of the landing was 1510.
     
    Ensign Harry Corl was KIA(VT-3 TBF-1) 25 August 1942.
    Lloyd Childers survived the war and became a Marine Aviator and retired as a Lt Col.
     
    This is the Trumpeter 1/32 TBD-1 Devastator from VT-3 USS Yorktown on June 4th 1942 Midway. I added Air Scale products such as the Photo Etch, propeller set, wheels and the single .30cal machine gun. I highly recommend their products. I did bits of scratch building such as adding cockpit wiring, relief tube, two internal windscreen braces (removed the molded on external windscreen braces), wingfold braces and leather pad for the bombardier under the pilots area. I used AK real color for the light grey bottom Model master Blue/grey for the top and AK for the interior green for the crew areas. I have seen some debate on-line about this, what color? But for me seeing the pics of sunken TBD’s aircraft from the discovery of the USS Lexington at the battle of Coral Sea. Interior green is also stated in TBD’s Devastators in action book(The Old One). Another debate is whether what squadrons carried the twin .30’s. It is very obvious that VT-8 for sure had them and I have seen some documentation that VT-6 (USS Enterprise) may have also had them. After many hours of research, I came to the conclusion that VT-3 only had the single.30. I came to this by listening to several recorded interviews With Mr. Lloyd Childers. And in the end, there is just no conclusive proof they carried the twins. I also used Hawaiian Air Depot masks for the A/C numbers and the insignias. I had previously bought the Gold Medal decal but figured painting over the corrugation would be far easier then decals. But I am glad I purchased it because they come with aircraft data. If anyone has seen what Trumpeter did with their data decals….well.
     
    Rod
     
     
    WIP Pics
     
  2. Like
    Trak-Tor got a reaction from Dennis7423 in Christmas Raffle 2023 Winners List   
    The package has arrived today:

     
    Very nice!
    Now I need a model to put it on.
    Thanks a lot, Phantom2/Stefan!

     
    Juraj
  3. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Kagemusha in 1/32 Alpha Jet from LB Dynamics   
    Price first - 250 Euros!
     
    "In preview exclusive to the store: 1/32 alphajet test shot, full 3d printed resin, an incredible mock-up.
    Production by a German craftsman will start in a few weeks, possibility of French/Belgian or German version.
    Incredible Details, a marvel that you can pre-order in store, will be available for €250 (for the Belgian version without the fuselage and wing stores/weapons) with a great HMH book dedicated to the aircraft as a bonu.

    This is the first 1/32 scale model of the alphajet
    See you soon friends"

     

     

     
    Tracks and Wings website
     
    Facebook link
     
     
  4. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Bekim in 1/32 Alpha Jet from LB Dynamics   
    Here all the guys together, they were shown in in Friedrichshafen and Putte last year.....
     

     
    Bekim
  5. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Bekim in 1/32 Alpha Jet from LB Dynamics   
    front section....
     

  6. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Bekim in 1/32 Alpha Jet from LB Dynamics   
    The lover Side.....
     
    All the Best
     
    Bekim
     
     
     

  7. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Bekim in 1/32 Alpha Jet from LB Dynamics   
    Hello Gentlemen
     
    The Alpha jet is not from Track and Wings, I did the development - LB Dynamics , and let it out for 3D Printing.
    Doing the 3D datas, the drawings from Dornier-Breguet was taken.
    This is still in Progress , its about 85% finished ; the Canopy will be casted in clear Resin. Also the decals has to be done, Track and wings will do the decals for the belgian Version. I send the 3D print to Track and wings - and It was shown on their webside
     
    The belginan Version has the MK-4 and Mk-10 ejection Seats, these Seats has to be taken from Reskit (MK-10) or  Sparkit-models for the MK-4 Seat.
     
     
    here the drawing - the Reference....
     

     
     
    afer 1 Jear .......
     
     

  8. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to JayW in 1/18 Scale P-51B 3D Print Build   
    Happy New Year Guy!  I get the strong impression from several of my dedicated followers on this build that you are not that happy with the 3D-printed transparencies.  And that perhaps I have fallen in love with the idea and cannot see the problems.  And I appreciate this sort of feedback - that improves our modeling.  Part of me thinks you would be right.  But part of me does not, at least not yet.  
     
    Here are the reasons currently that I want to stay the course with 3D printed transparencies:
     
    1.  I am rather committed.  The windshield frame, the cowl, and the shroud are specifically designed for the transparencies to be a certain shape and a certain thickness.  To change to a plunge mold or some such vacuum molded process would degrade dimensional accuracy - especially thickness -  and force me to abandon the frame concept and basically incorporate the frame into the transparency like we see most of the time with all other models.  I can do that but I am not ready to go that far.
    2.  In order to have flush external frame strips (they are indeed flush on the real aircraft), "rabetted" edges of the windows are necessary:
     
        
     
    I took great pains to incorporate those edges into my transparencies:
     

     

     
    Were I to go with molded parts, I could never get that kind of edge, and would either have to settle with edge strips proud of contour, or just incorporate the edge strips into a one-piece mold.  
    3.  I have seen 3D printed transparencies on the web that are just beautiful.  They appear to be just as clear as any other method to make transparent parts.  Even though they have been built up layer by layer.  So it can be done. 
     
    I am not really happy with my transparencies either.  But I do not want to give up on the idea yet.  I have just ordered another brand of clear resin that I hope behaves better than my current Nova3D stuff.  We shall see if that improves the parts.  Fingers crossed.  And, I could still go to Shapeways - it's just money.  Who can argue against this (thanks to "checksix" post a few weeks ago):
     

    That is a 3D printed canopy made from "accura 360" resin, produced by Shapeways. 
     
    I think everyone here, if I had much better transparencies, would rather I do it this way with separate frame and individual panes.  That is what I am after.  
  9. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to JayW in 1/18 Scale P-51B 3D Print Build   
    Happy New Year LSP'ers! 
     
    The next adventure for this 1/18 scale P-51B is shaping up to be the cockpit and windshield surround.  This is going to involve some "major tooling" where the upper and lower longerons will be exactly located in a jig, and then the windshield surround stuff and side panels can be assembled.  In the coming posts you will see that jig and that assembly work materialize.
     
    Meanwhile alot of hours in Rhino happened over the past couple weeks, allowing me to print up a fresh batch of 3D-printed parts:
     
      
     
    It was not without adventure.  The first effort was a partial fail, I think due to the lower temperature of my office where my printer resides (was in the low 60's I think).  It is after all winter now in the northern hemisphere.  A couple of the large parts detached from the build plate early in the process unbeknownst to me, and I got a surprise when the printing was finished.  So I got the office heated up to about 70 deg F, and retried with successful results.  You see above the windshield surround paneling, the windshield frame, and the coaming, or shroud, that sits atop the instrument panel frame.  Some are duplicated.  Also little tiny parts that are the handholes and defroster nozzles that will attach to the top of the shroud.  One day.
     
    Freed from their bonds: 
     

     
    A couple of the clear parts I  made a while back too.  The new parts are fragile in the extreme, and/or very small such that an errant sigh or cough will blow them into elisium forever gone.  Already I have lost a couple and will be re-printing on the next batch.  Once assembled the assembly will be more stout.  But they cannot be assembled until the longeron jig is complete, with longerons fixed securely in the jig.  They (the upper longerons and firewall plate) will serve as assembly jigs of their own, and lock down the shape of these flimsy parts and allow an exact assembly.  Like so:
     

     
    Stay tuned for that; it will be very tricky.
     
    Here, a sneak preview of the front and top glass parts dry-fitted onto the windshield frame.  So far so good...
     

     
    Alot of potential with these parts as long as my fumbly fingers can keep me from ruining it all.  The parts printed very well, and everything pretty much fits as intended.   I'm excited.
     
    Part of me wants to do the clear parts over again.  They could use more polishing, although the Imgur huge thumbnails are pretty cruel and unforgiving.  And part of me doesn't want to - it's excruciating work getting clear 3D print parts to be useable.  I am not real happy with the Nova3D "High Transparency"  resin I am currently using.  And I don't know a better alternative that is affordable.  Guess I'll do some more digging.
     
    The coming year in modeling in my home is going to be quite a ride, I anticipate.  Stay with me!
     
     
     
     
  10. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to JayW in 1/18 Scale P-51B 3D Print Build   
    I decided that the next set of parts to be made would be the windshield and surround.  A few weeks ago I 3D printed the windshield glass parts (four in all):
     
     
     
    I have hopes that this will surpass what can be done with vac-forming.  We shall see....   One of the side glass parts has what looks like a long crack (it isn't though), so I redid that one but it isn't fully prepared yet.  The most problematic of them all are the two side glass parts.  The top part turned out pretty good (you might recall I had made a gray test part a few months ago).  And note the front glass is thicker (to denote bullet proof).  None are perfect (the front glass comes closest), but if they fit within the framing (see below), like they are supposed to, they ought to look good.  Especially when I get around to adding the exterior frame strips that will hide the joints. 
     
    So I have been spending lots of time Rhino modelling details.  Here is what I have so far:
     
     
     
    Almost all you see there will be 3D printed.  The cowl will be one part, the window framing will be one part, the shroud will be one part, the instrument panel frame will be one part, with the IP itself separate.  The hand holds and the defrost nozzles will be separate parts.  That is the plan anyway.  Next post you should see how the 3D printing worked.  And maybe some assembly. 
     
    The assembly you see above is designed to slip onto the upper longerons - these (the green parts):
     

     
    I have truncated the longerons at Station 200 which is the aft end of the fuselage tank.  That is where I plan to end the forward fuselage section.  The longerons will barely fit in the build space of my printer, but they fit.  Yay! 
     
    In order to make the forward fuselage section, I am going to have to create a fixture designed to assure proper location of all four longerons (two upper and two lower) at least.  Once they are firmly positioned, then assembly of this section can commence.   The windshield cowl assembly (described here), skin panels, Malcolm hood parts, cockpit parts, and importantly the fittings that attach the wing to the fuselage.  Those fittings will be closely tooled up to assure a good wing-to-fuselage interface.  Tons of parts.  That's the plan anyway.  Ambitious as hell - and not a sure thing at all at this point. 
     
    Stay tuned!  I hope to post something before Christmas.  
  11. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to ShelbyGT500 in Mi-14 PL Bulgarian NAVY   
    Hi friends and Happy New 2024 Year,
    at this topic I will show you a project started by a friend of mine, who passed away before one year and I  must finished it.
    The model is a trumpeter 1:35 scale Mi-17. To convert it at Mi-14, used a lot of re-work and scratch-build as you can see.
    For painting I used tamiya acrylics. Weathering with oils, filters and acrylic pencils.
    Hope you will like it
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
  12. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to LSP_K2 in Happy new year (europe style/time)   
    To all of my LSP brothers, I wish you a happy, safe, healthy and prosperous new year.
  13. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to blackbetty in Happy new year (europe style/time)   
    lets hope for a better 2024
    peace to all
  14. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to geedubelyer in Happy new year (europe style/time)   
    Happy New Year all. 
  15. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to firefly7 in Happy new year (europe style/time)   
    Happy New Year and a prosperous and safe one, to you Jack and to all my LSP friends.  Ruben.
  16. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Jack in Happy new year (europe style/time)   
    Wishing all LSP members a very good, happy, lucky, healthy and peacefull 2024, it'll be THAT time in about five hours from now for all across the pond, but already in the past for our members in the eastern part of the globe, have a great time and great expectations for the new year!!
  17. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Phantom2 in Just Wanna Say ...   
    Happy New Year from a snowy Sweden to all of you! 
     
     
    Stefan 
  18. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to LSP_K2 in Just Wanna Say ...   
  19. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Rick Griewski in Just Wanna Say ...   
    Indeed 
    A happy and safe new year for all 
  20. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to firefly7 in Just Wanna Say ...   
    Happy and safe New Year to all.
  21. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to John1 in Just Wanna Say ...   
    Happy New Year guys / gals! 
  22. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to MikeC in Just Wanna Say ...   
    Indeed so.
  23. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to mozart in Just Wanna Say ...   
    And to you Mike, let’s hope we can have another get together in 2024 at Shuttleworth! 
  24. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to MikeC in Just Wanna Say ...   
    ...
     
  25. Like
    Trak-Tor reacted to Phantom2 in Christmas Raffle 2023 Winners List   
    Congratulations to the three winners of my gifts!  
     
    Track-Tor and Seiran, Please send me a PM with your adresses!
     
     
    Stefan 
     
     
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