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1:24 Grumman F7F Tigercat N7654C


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Guest Peterpools

Peter

I'm watching in complete amazement; just total awe. Just make sure you use the correct octane when firing up this bad boy.

Keep 'em coming

Peter

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..and now for something mildly different...

 

One of my all-time favourite aircraft is the Tigercat and despite years of waiting there is still no injection moulded kit of it, so rather than wait any longer I am going to try and make one myself..

 

I thought about using the combat / ID vacform but then thought why not go completely mad and try it in 1/24. The basis will be an upscaled Fly Models 1/33 card (yes, card) kit. It arrived today and tomorrow it is going to the printshop to be blown up by 37.5% to form the templates for a 1/24 version :mental:

 

the engines will come from a Kinetic P47 (copied in resin) which I will get once I prove to myself it's viable.. I did some home vac-forming on my Sea Fury so I figure I can do bits like the nosecone, cowlings etc that way..

 

..such are dreams made of so we will see..  if it works out it opens the door to a whole world of LSPs not available in kit form, if it doesn't, it will be a pretty public failure, but hey, we don't know unless we try..

 

I haven't fully decided which airframe yet, but am not a great fan of GSB so likely this one - TBM Inc Tanker #E63 N7654C an F7F3. It's important the lines are not ruined by the large tank usually carried but thanks to Warbird Information Exchange I found these shots of it without it...

 

..Card models are all new to me, so lets see what's in the 'kit'..

 

..exploded diagrams - ok can understand that...

 

.assembly diagrams - check. seems straightforward...

 

..pattern parts - ok.. reminds me of the old balsa kits I had a bash at in the last century as a boy...

 

..WTF...

 

..oh boy - these are the skins - will have to use these as templates in plastic, maybe some sheet metal litho, rivet first or not - this is going to be a steep learning curve...

 

..interior parts - think I will be fine with these :ninja:

 

..as if I was ever going to build two R2800's cylinder by cylinder - total respect for these card modellers...

 

..so, we will see what happens next - in my head I can crack on quite quickly with the fuselage as actually it's just about using the templates to create a 1mm plastic card substructure and then play around skinning it...

 

..thanks to big matt for the inspiration with his Helldiver - reading this made me realise I wanted a change and to move projects around to do something I have literally always wanted..

 

..I think I need a check-up from the neck up :P

 

TTFN

Peter

No. you do NOT need a check-up from the neck up.

You are to be congratulated for accepting a challenging project. :thumbsup:

You are pushing the envelope.

Have fun!

Stephen

Edited by ssculptor
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Peter.........! :frantic:  :yahoo:  :thumbsup:  :o  :clap2:  :blink: ! 'nuf said.  You're going to need more than a check up if you enclose all of this work within a cowling. Especially if you enclose both engines!  :fight:

 

Cheers,

Wolf    :popcorn:

 

P.S. A personal record for me. Most emoticons used in a single post but I felt it was warranted.

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why thanks all - very kind :)

 

I am definately not closing up the cowlings! one engine will be 'all hanging out' and the other all tucked up - I expect I will open the panels behind the firewall too as I am just so into getting lost in detail I never know where to stop...

 

anyways, I think I have virtually finished the cylinder master for the front row...

 

first I set out where the exhaust ports are and added some short bits of ali tube...

 

WIP232_zps3d942c73.jpg

 

..then tried to build up the structure around them with bits of card, stock and CA as filler - I also added the fins in this area with the micro-saw again...

 

WIP233_zpsb4140dbd.jpg

 

...then shot some mr surfacer 1200 (carefully) to see the flaws that needed dealing with...

 

WIP236_zps4367270e.jpg

 

I added a bit of wire temporarily for the 'U' shaped pipe that runs between the rocker covers..

 

WIP234_zpsd76bcdce.jpg

 

..and the rear..

 

WIP235_zps4bddb9b1.jpg

 

..and dry fitted together - these two parts hopefully can be cast separately after I clean them up a bit..

 

WIP238_zps7a2c1c14.jpg

 

WIP240_zpsbe164ed5.jpg

 

..and again the rear - I blanked off the exhaust ports so when cast they just act as housings for the pipework that needs to fit to them..

 

WIP241_zpsec5c3a59.jpg

 

..and that's pretty much it - three weeks or so since I realised the Kinetic P47 engine I cast a copy of (thanks LSP_Ray!) wasn't really up to the shape/detail level I would be happy with, I have my first engine part...

 

WIP239_zpsec7c9e04.jpg

 

sigh - good job I'm not in a hurry, just hope folks stick around long enough to actually see an airframe come out the other end of this saga :unsure:

 

TTFN

 

Peter

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Guest Peterpools

Peter

"....I expect I will open the panels behind the firewall too as I am just so into getting lost in detail I never know where to stop..."
I can't believe it. No way.  :hmmm:

BTW: extraordinary work and a joy to follow

Keep 'em coming

Peter

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