Hagar

Fuse roundels done!
i’ll share my files in the proper section.
 

I can't tell you how happy this makes me Tolga - I love your build and paint style and I really think it is bringing out the best in the kit
 
...speaking of which, it is happening...
 

 
100 tail sections which are the longest to print at 17 hours, nearly 100 noses, 30 mid-sections and 3 printers running 24/7 for the last 2 weeks. The first run will be 100 kits with more to follow if needed
 
TTFN
Peter

Exactly that! I am over the moon with how this is going
 
Tolga is doing a superb job and I am getting some great feedback, like that control stick / compass clash - easily fixed
 
I was trying to think of an analogy about how you watch a child you have nurtured grow into an adult and do something incredible, which is kind of how I feel watching Tolga work his magic on my baby
 
In other news, the Injection Moulding company have advised they can do the transparencies - with one observation - they say I need to split the turret dome into three parts as the machines do not like sheer vertical faces - this is where they said it needs splitting..
 

 
It's a pain and will make assembly harder so I will have to think about making it foolproof with tabs or a jig or something - what do you think? Dealbreaker?
 
Keep at it Tolga - every day is a revelation I love watching
 
TTFN
Peter

Second update for today:
The cockpit and instrument panel are installed inside the fuselage
 



 
The compass and control stick are touching each other. This space is a bit tight Peter will figure this out.
Also the hole in the right half fuselage for the instrument panel is very good. It guarantees the correct position and placement
The layout design of the cockpit and its parts is great. So far they have come together smoothly.
 





 
 
 
 
 
 

Here is a new Project
Many of you know that Peter (from Airscale) is working on a new project: This is exciting 1/32 Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.1
Peter sent me a draft (pre production) copy of this kit for a test build.
First of all, I would like to thank Peter for sending me this excellent project.
I am not used to this kind of draft projects, but I will try to do a test build as much as I can and give Peter feedbacks.
Peter stated that since this is pre-production, it may not be perfect and the final production will be printed with more precise layer height.
First step; here are the parts 
 

Very very cool. Where can one get this kit or is it files we need to print? Thanks. Watching with interest.
James

Yesterday was spent addressing the Dora's guns. The kit guns are actually nicely molded with straight barrels, but the leather "boots" were non existent on the real aircraft. I ordered some Quickboost replacements which I wanted to use as they came, but the barrels were so warped and no amount of hot water, bending, etc could rectify them. Out comes the blade and brass tubing! 
 
I chopped off the Quickboost barrels all the way to the "mount." I then drilled out a ~ 1mm hole which I then stuck a 0.8 mm brass rod into which was 5mm in length. This is for the "sleeve" to fit over. I then took a 1.5mm brass tube that fit snugly over the brass rod which was 12mm in length. The last piece is a 19mm long 1mm brass tube which fits snug into the 1.5mm "sleeve." What is cool about this, is that the final portion of the cannons which stick out, can be placed in at the end of the build! Below you can see a comparison between the kit part and the scratch built one from the Quickboost parts. For the measurements, I stuck the kit parts next to my brass tubing to make sure they were the same length. Happy building!
 
 

I printed the six gun nose for my HK A-26 and it looked like it will fit okay. Hopefully its okay to show link to where I posted this. Further down the page are some 500 and 1000 pound bombs for my A-26 and B-25 load outs.
https://modelersalliance.org/threads/new-for-dec-23-part-two.157088/#post-389016
James Knaus

Definitely looking like a Spitfire now
 

 

 

 
Just a little filing and sanding here and there followed by a trip to the paint shop@
 
Regards. Andy 

Very cool. I'll have to look for those decals. Kotare is coming out with a Spit Vb later this year so I'll wait until then as converting stuff doesnt seem to be working well for me lately.
James

I printed the six gun nose for my HK A-26 and it looked like it will fit okay. Hopefully its okay to show link to where I posted this. Further down the page are some 500 and 1000 pound bombs for my A-26 and B-25 load outs.
https://modelersalliance.org/threads/new-for-dec-23-part-two.157088/#post-389016
James Knaus

Exito decl sets are just superb James but sadly to date they have only two 32nd scale sets which are always interesting subjects! Hopefully Kotare will release a Vb thos year now I'm going all out but seems a shame to let my AM stash for this go to waste.
 
Regards. Andy 

I printed the six gun nose for my HK A-26 and it looked like it will fit okay. Hopefully its okay to show link to where I posted this. Further down the page are some 500 and 1000 pound bombs for my A-26 and B-25 load outs.
https://modelersalliance.org/threads/new-for-dec-23-part-two.157088/#post-389016
James Knaus

Very cool. I'll have to look for those decals. Kotare is coming out with a Spit Vb later this year so I'll wait until then as converting stuff doesnt seem to be working well for me lately.
James

Not sure what happened with the links, sorry about that. I actually don't currently sell my files, but there are some links to some really good ones earlier in this thread. Let me know if I can help in any way, and I will try to fix those links.
 
Tim

I cant see the images, but do you have files for sale?
James

Hello LSP,
 
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo seems to be a popular aircraft subject.  However, with multiple versions with their different roles (fighter/bomber, photo reconnaissance, interceptor), one's favorite Voodoo may be different from the next person's.  To me, the definitive Voodoo is the RF-101A/C with the elongated wedge photo nose.  It is the only version that saw actual combat, and the version flown by the ROCAF.
 
This project started back in 2018, mostly as a shape study of accuracy of existing kits.  I built the ancient Hasegawa 1/72 RF-101C kit and started on the Koster/Monogram 1/48 conversion many years ago.  When the Kitty Hawk 1/48 Voodoo kits came out in 2014 and 2018, I was disappointed to learn about the various issue of the kits (kudos to all those who overcame the problems).  I set out to see what I can model with the help of historical and walk-around photos of the RF-101A/C (special thanks to Akira, Jennings, phantom, Patrick, and Clarence), factory drawings from Ron Downing's Aviation Archives blog, and numerous books.  The exploration also involved photogrammetry, using multiple photos to recontruct 3D models.  The large parts are 3D Printed in FDM and small details parts may be printed in resin.  The design will evolve over the build, as the model is more developed in some areas over others.  The intakes/wing root is roughed in at this stage.  Hopefully there is enough to build a decent represenation of the RF-101A/C.
 
SC
 


 
 

I'm pleased to report that I'm now in the home stretch with the BOMARC.
 

 
Once the glue dries, I'll have to test it for stability and see if it needs some more somewhere. As cool as it might be to have the thing articulate, I'd prefer that it was safely rigid and not going anywhere!
 
After that, I just need to decide if I feel like adding the cabling to the launch rail - probably should, as it's highly visible on the real thing.
 
Kev

Good news! I've just test-fitted the missile into the finished launch tower assembly, and it's all good. Not only does it fit perfectly fine, but you can't tell there's a warp in the vertical arm at all. So now I just have to finish the damn thing!
 
Kev

Some more progress with the BOMARC. I've started work on finishing the base, while the launch tower has now been painted, given some token weathering, and fully assembled.
 

 
The launch arm piston is functional for now, but for stability reasons, I'll probably fix it in the upright position.
 

 
It also has a lateral warp that I hadn't noticed before, so hopefully that won't ruin the show:
 

 
I didn't notice it during my initial pre-assembly test-fitting, so it may have occurred since. I hope not, as this might spell trouble for the completion of the project. I'll do a dry-fit of the missile itself during my next session at the bench, and we'll see what happens...
 
Kev

I've completed the propeller today, masked and painted the tri- colour tips. I decided to use the Airscale prop decals over the Kora ones I have as I really like the metallic look of the Hamilton decals. After looking at the famous colour Life magazine pictures you can see that the anti glare black painted on the back of the props seemed heavily worn so I chipped this quite heavily
 
 

 
Im calling that first sub assembly complete.
 
Regards. Andy 

Have had a LOT of bench time this weekend. Wife is out of town, so just me and the dog. Have managed to make some headway on lots of little bits. They all start adding up and she's starting to look like a Helldiver.
 
First up the tailwheel and hook.
Every kit of the Helldiver I've seen have the tailwheel molded so it's in flight. If you're doing it with gear down, you essentially have to compress this section. I toyed with the thought of doing it sans fairing, but seems that was mostly done on -3 variants (and some -1Cs).  I cleaned up the hook and added metal tubing as I didn't want it to snap. 

 
I purposefully overextended the tailwheel. Have seen some pics like that and it adds a bit of visual interest. Also the wheel is just a slab of hard rubber--not inflated. Usually see them with big chunks missing too. 

 
Next up, I tackled the cowling. It was without a doubt the worst fitting bit of this kit. If you leave the cowl flaps open, it might not have been as bad... For the life of me I couldn't get the radius of the cowl to match the fuselage. I ended up cutting it and inserting a shim to get it 'close.'  Added the cowl flaps and discovered that I could blend everything in with the liquid sprue I'd made. Also really disappointed with the resin exhausts. They look good, but are SUPER thin. No point in having them hollow underneath, with paper-thin resin on the sides. Also took a bit of sanding those paper-thin bits to get them to match the fuselage...

 

 
And with the spinner on.

 
Also took the time to get the 20mms mounted on the wings. Here's the kit offering. I just snipped the barrels off, replaced 'em with brass tubing. Easy peasy.

 

 

 
This is a great shot. You can see where I shimmed the cowling. I chose that spot because I couldn't get the cowl and fuselage to match at the 4 O'clock position. The shim pushed the cowl out enough that it matched the fuselage.

 
Also took a moment to put some color on the spinner. I've chosen what scheme I'll do. It'll be a -4E...but that's all I'm saying for now. The green will give it away to some folks though.

 
Next up, I'll probably work on the bomb-bay doors. Also need to start making the collapsed turtle-back for the gunner. Need to make a punch list so I can keep track of what I need to get done prior to painting.
 
More soon!
-Peter
 
 
 
 
 

A bit of an update since my previous post showing the ill fitting bomb aimer doors. If you do decide to fit the doors in the closed position and glue them in to position prior to closing the fuselage halves (which will ensure the bst and cleanest fit) the wing assembly won't fit due to the way the kit has been designed 
 

 
as you can see there is a lip for the doors to sit on when the wing is in place. After some trimming and a few dry fits a really nice fit was achieved 
 

 
The fit of the wing/ fuselage at the rear is pretty good
 

 
Hope that helps anyone going this route, also found a couple of other wing fit issues but more on that later.
 
Regards. Andy 

So.e more progress and decals added to the cockpit tub. 
 

 

 
I do like the way Fantasy Printshop decals which are Airscales chosen supplier behave . Perfect every single time!
 
Regards. Andy 

Fantastic. I just got the rest of the Airscale parts and I'm only waiting on my Norden bomb sight now. Following your build with interest. I was wondering if I should put the cushion on the floor and from your lead I think I should now. Realiy enjoying watching this.
James