Matchbox Sea Venom

[big matt]

It looks like you have your hands full with this kit but it is turning out nicely. That shim job is really clean. Did you trim it to fit before or after cementing it??? My attempts to do the same thing usually end up with lots of smeared plastic to repair.

 

Matt

[Azgaron]

Nice work so far Kevin! Looking good! Shimming is a useful technique!

 

Cheers,

 

Azgaron

[LSP_Kevin]

It looks like you have your hands full with this kit but it is turning out nicely. That shim job is really clean. Did you trim it to fit before or after cementing it??? My attempts to do the same thing usually end up with lots of smeared plastic to repair.

 

Matt

 

Hi Matt,

 

For joints like that wing root one, I usually try to cut the shim to fit before cementing it. The secret to achieving a nice clean result is in finding a shim that produces a snug fit. I wedge it into place and then run liquid cement (Tamiya Extra Thin) along the join. After a couple of seconds the plastic begins to soften, and I force it down into the join until it's flush. Of course, it's not so simple for joints featuring compound or longitudinal curves, so I'll trim excess bits after the fact in those cases (and end up with lots of smeared plastic to repair!).

 

Kev

[LSP_Kevin]

OK, time for another update (they're thick and fast at the moment). I've got all the fuselage bits assembled now:

 

 

Yesterday's dodgy intake has been shimmed after its refit:

 

 

As you can see, this method doesn't free you of the need to use putty, but its advantages should be obvious.

 

I fashioned an insert for the arrestor hook cover to reduce the gap around the tail pipe and make it look a little more like the real thing:

 

 

I still need to deal with the gaps where the upper and lower rear fuselage parts meet, which I'll attempt to cover with some sheet styrene. After that all the joints will get a dose of Milliput. I figure it would be easier to deal with that before the tail booms went on, even though they'll need similar treatment.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Kev

[LSP_Matt]

Thats looking like a Sea Venom already Kev. Nice scratching in the pit.

 

Cheers Matty

[LSP_Mike]

Kev, She's looking Venomous! I have on occassion, used liquid glue to "soften" old glue joints; it works well with Tamy extra thin. apply a little, and just a little twist and shout, and .....

[LSP_Kevin]

Kev, She's looking Venomous! I have on occassion, used liquid glue to "soften" old glue joints; it works well with Tamy extra thin. apply a little, and just a little twist and shout, and .....

 

That's not a bad idea Mike; I hadn't thought of that one. I used nail polish remover (Cutex) and let it soak in to the joint for 5 or 10 minutes. I was lucky enough to be able to get a knife blade fully between the intake and the fuselage (that's how bad the fit was!) and wriggle it around a bit. I then scored the join to the wing and applied the NPR once again. The thing that really pulled it off, literally as it happens, was using a small pair of rounded pliers to grip the inlet vanes and twist and pull it loose. Gently does it, obviously, and luck appeared to be on my side too.

 

Haven't had any time for modelling the last day or so, but hoping for an update soon.

 

Kev

[LSP_Kevin]

Thats looking like a Sea Venom already Kev. Nice scratching in the pit.

 

Cheers Matty

 

Thanks buddy. I now wish I'd waited though until after I grabbed the Wilson book off you. The cockpit drawings in there are the best representations I've come across so far, and highlight how measly my effort really is! Still, I'm happy enough.

 

Kev

[hangartime]

Inspiring to read.... so much so I've just dug out mine to make a start. Had a while but never really got into it. Looks great!

[ruzlkampf]

Wow Kevin!, Looking GREAT dudely. Looks like you're having a lot of fun with this 'hombre', for sure. Really like that IP, came out sweet. What are you gonna do with the seats? Detail out the kits'(or put them in as is), or find an alternative? Man, the more I look at this AC, the more I like it....it's just so unique.

You've really got me interested in the whole HMS Melbourne thing, and the aircraft that operated off it. After looking at that link to your local museum, I've acquired a hankering to do one of those A-4's!

Really enjoying watching you go thru this resurrection and going with the punches as they turn up. Great way to learn all kinds of new stuff and develope techniques you might otherwise never run across if you'd started it yourself. You seem much more relaxed about doing the 'mod' thing on this build. Maybe it's because ya can't break something that's already broken?! Looks good on ya buddy, glad to see you're enjoying yourself...it shows. Oh yeah, cannons look cool sticking out too. I've never used 'blue tack', and thought it was for temporarily attaching things. Is it really strong enough to hold thse barrels on OK? Never seen this stuff in a store, but I know lots of people use it. It's too darn 'puttyish' looking and acting for me not to find out what it is and how to use it. Can't wait to see the next installment of progress pics, this is getting more 'n more interesting! Russ

[LSP_Kevin]

Thanks for the encouragement Russ.

 

I've never used 'blue tack', and thought it was for temporarily attaching things. Is it really strong enough to hold thse barrels on OK?

 

Well, I hope so Russ, I hope so! There's no stress on the parts whatsoever, as they're just sitting there, so I thought I'd give this method a try and see how it holds up (ahem...). The beauty of it is that once they were put roughly onto position, I could fine-tune them until I was happy. I've used it before to hold lead weights in the nose of potential tail-sitters, and it seems to work OK for that.

 

Kev

[Tony Mollica]

I'm, a bit late admittedly Kev, but I commend you on your fortitude, taking on this build. Keep up the good show. I do have a few R.A.N. references, but I've surprised myself by how few photos I have of this thing.

Regards

Tony Mollica

[LSP_Kevin]

I'm, a bit late admittedly Kev, but I commend you on your fortitude, taking on this build. Keep up the good show. I do have a few R.A.N. references, but I've surprised myself by how few photos I have of this thing.

Regards

Tony Mollica

 

Hey, thanks Tony. Good to see you back around here bud. How goes it?

 

Kev

[Tony Mollica]

Hey, thanks Tony. Good to see you back around here bud. How goes it?

 

Kev

 

Yeah, good thanks Kev. Work has quietened off at long last, I've got some time to get some more models done. I've just revisited my Komet after quite a few months, it's not too far off. I think the next step is to apply the fuselage mottling, then clear coat for decalling. I wonder if I can get it done for Eagles Day ?

I haven't caught up with the last few months posts yet, what else have you been into ?

[LSP_Kevin]

Yeah, good thanks Kev. Work has quietened off at long last, I've got some time to get some more models done. I've just revisited my Komet after quite a few months, it's not too far off. I think the next step is to apply the fuselage mottling, then clear coat for decalling. I wonder if I can get it done for Eagles Day ?

I haven't caught up with the last few months posts yet, what else have you been into ?

 

Looking forward to seeing some updates on that Komet mate. This Sea Venom is my first LSP kit since finishing my Hasegawa Emil for the Luftwaffe GB. Did a run of 4 x 1/48 kits in between. Now I've committed to finishing 3 LSP kits by the end of the year!

 

Kev