Rotorhead

Hey Brian, Great job on the cockpit so far. So good, in fact, that I've decided to not wait for a PE set and follow your lead on mine. OOB with some scratch details. On the "blue" cockpit, I have a friend who is a several thousand hour Navy flight instructor in the T-28 and he will undoubtedly point that out............but hey, I think it looks passable once not in the spotlight. The Eduard PE pits also tend to have a blue hue. Thanks for the encouragement of your Build. Regards Steve

Here is a pic of the cowl along with the KH engine. Don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing the KH at all. I think with the accessories added it would be a credible engine. I just want something more exact and Im willing to work for it. Here is the KH engine "sitting" in the cowl. The spacer between it and the heat shield isnt there. Harvey, each engine of the Eduard engines for the HKM B-17 are different. I believe each heat shield and exhaust tubing is different. I didnt care which one I got as each engine itself is the same. The KH exhausts work fine for the ED engine. The heat shield would need a lot of modification to use. Like I said....it's pricey....a bit more than the Vector but much easier to deal with. That is all MY opinion though. I have the #2 engine. Regards Steve

Here is a pic of the best I can do with tape and the cowling. The ED engine is in along with the KH head shield aft of the exhaust pipes. Everything fits snugly. I do not believe any shaving of rocker covers will be necessary. I do believe that I will close the cowling due to issues with converting the ED shield. The nose wheel well structure holds all the KH parts together well. If I spend all that time on modifications, this whole thing will eventually go to the shelf of doom. Keeping AMS to a minumum as I want to finish this one. A photo of the taped up cowl with the ED engine and the KH heat shield. A small spacer will be needed to mate the two but it will not be seen.

More info on the inner diameter of the cowling.......can't be done yet, have to wait for a bit into the build. I put it together with tape but it's 5 pieces and it's shaky. With the ED engine inside, it would appear that it won't need to be shaved down any. The KH exhaust parts fit like a champ. I may have to adjust the length of the pipes fitting into the ED engine as I don't know just yet how that engine is going to sit in the KH cowling fore and aft wise. The bulkheads are not going to be easy. Will have to see if I use a modified ED firewall or use the KH firewall. I tried on the ID....... Regards Steve

Shawn, thats a good question..............and it's difficult to measure as it's in multiple pieces and still on the sprues. What I did do, was fit the KH engine into the larger piece of cowl (the KH engine does have individual rocker covers that need to be installed (so they may be the same diameter of the ED engine)). I fit the ED engine into that same piece of cowling and it's darn close. If I elect to open the one side of cowl, then I probably would elect to shave (if needed) the inside portion only. I really have to say Im in love with the ED engine as it has the spacers between cylinders already placed along with the proper spacing. Fit of the exhaust pipes might be dicey. If I close the cowling, then it's a no brainer on shaving. I'm still playing with it and planning. I will wait for the Eduard Zoom for the cockpits. I will have to print my own decals for VT-2 or cut and paste from spare sheets. Regards Steve

I flew this airplane as a student with VT-2 and later as a MC staff-pilot. I have always had a soft place in my heart for the plane and was thrilled when Kitty Hawk came out with a 1/32 scale kit of the T-28. I was fearful that that there would be a few deal breakers, the major one being the proper canopy profile for the B/C/D aircraft. As it turns out KH got it right. Brian Leitch did a really good review of this kit and I agree with him that there don't appear to be any deal breakers, just some room for personal improvement. Brian' Review Link I thought that I would start a Build-Log for my Kitty Hawk 1/32 T-28B as I didn't want to hijack anyone else's post. It's really just in the planning stages right now because I will be waiting on Eduard's Cockpit Zoom PE for the cockpit dash and side panels (hopefully, April). I'm also hoping that someone comes up with some better seats. I found that the engine, while crisp and sharp, isn't exactly correct. Since that does bother me somewhat, I plan to replace that engine. I "think" I'm going to use the Eduard Brassin B-17 R-1820. It is a pricy option but I do like that engine. The Eduard engine is slightly bigger in diameter. 41.5mm for the KH engine (that's without the added rocker boxes added) vs 43mm for the Eduard engine (that already has the rocker boxes). I will be cleaning up the Eduard engine and testing it before I make a final decision. I don't believe I will be opening up the cowling (but that might change). Regards Steve

OOPS....It would appear that I gave the incorrect Atta-Boy on the subject review.............. Brian.....Great review....Thank you. Kevin, thank you for posting it. Sorry for MY confusion. Regards Steve

Very good review Kevin, I wholeheartedly agree. No deal breakers in this kit. Just a note, the thin chord blades are for the B/D with the wide chord shorter blades for the future C. The Shorter blade was to preclude a deck strike during arrested landings. It's good to see that they are looking ahead to a C model. Regards Steve

Chris, Been watch'n. Is it too late to get put down for 2? Regards Steve

Brian, I'm not trying to hijack gomer's thread, but you HAVE to leave a link as to just HOW to get that bare metal finish on the Bearcat. Please?? What "eggshell treatment"? Regards Steve

Spot on! Great Job. I really do HATE those nosewheel tires..........BUT..........they are certainly correct as far aas reference photos go. Looks like they got them from a '37 Ford truck. Your finished photos look just like the reference photos........so you did well. Now you need a new house to display it. Regards Steve

Blackbetty, Good job. You worked through all the issues and problems to arrive successfully at the finishline. Well done............almost...just a few tidbits more. Was a pleasure to watch the progress. What will be next? Regards Steve

The 1/32 A-1 Skyraider................is the one I will be drooling over...........and saving my pennies. Steve

Watching with interest Dave. I've had my Panda UH-1N sitting on the bottom of my stash for so long..................I could just NEVER get past the Golf Ball sized rivits. For me the only option was sanding them off and resrcibing/riviting................ Will be interesting to see your measured drawing of the N........as that would be needed for any rescribing......... I flew the N when it still had "new car smell". Regards Steve

What Dave said ALSO.......... Steve

Thanks for the info Barry.............found it. Oh and thank you for sharing your build. It's an inspiration to me. Steve

Barry, Went to NWSL looking for that wire......must have been disguised as another product.....any hints on what I should look at? I was a Marine.........our stuff worked, but it sure got weathered fast. I always enjoyed going to the factory to pick up a new aircraft............ahhh the joys of "new car smell"..............it just don't last too long. Regards Steve

Hey Barry, I'm impressed with the wire bundles. That was the main reason I chose to stick with the Aires Bay and not go with the Kit plus Eduard faces.....those bundles. Thats some really fine wire. Already I'm going to drill out the LOX bottle and I THINK the blob they inserted between two "boxes" on the top shelf. Your "Bay" certainly looks like the Air Force...........clean and neat. Regards Steve

Barry, Absolutely "Stupendous"!!!! Regards Steve

Hey Blackbetty, I now know why you weren't afraid of cutting into that A-7. I Like the Bus and the low vis paint. Regards Steve

What do you mean "bored"? Not us............... Regards Steve

Blackbetty, By the time you get back, I'll probably have my WIP started here on LSP. Mine will be a HI-VIS 1971 or 72 WestPac squadron (probably VA-25 or 27). I have a friend who was in VA-27 so thats the reason for that one. Have a good vacation, see you when you get back. Regards Steve

Blackbetty, Thanks for taking the time to explain the details. I'll post a few pics in the WIP section on mine when i get just a tad bit farther along. I'm finding i am going to need 4 hands to put all these parts together at the one precise time when they will need glueing. I'm going to look hard at that tailpipe.............I don't WANT to do it but I might HAVE to do it. Very good build progress. Thanks for keeping us informed. Regards Steve

Hey there Blackbetty I'm watching closely as I now have my A-7E. I'm a little nervouse about the fit issues. let me ask you a question as you have studied this angle...the rear end of the machine. 1. Do you think in "hindsight" that cutting the tailpipe down was worth it for YOU? (This is in NO WAY any criticism of the work your doing) 2. Do you THINK that a larger engine tailpipe would make the fuslage oval look smaller and save the "surgery"? I just wish that Eduards had made a PE piece for those Gill Slits on the left side of the nose. Your doing good work here. I know that I'm enjoying watching. Regards Steve

Great Stuff Blackbetty.......... Did you strengthen the tail cone connection on the inside? Did you temporarily leave the tailpipe off for the fuselage joining? That really looks like a complicated process but I'm watching intently.....and taking notes. My Sluf arrives today, so I'll get a close look at it then. Keep up the GREAT work. Regards Steve