Out2gtcha Posted December 12, 2021 Author Share Posted December 12, 2021 Some progress............. Well, she has gained 80% of her control surfaces and it has expanded the wing area considerably. As with E V E R Y T H I N G on this kit, it took a lot of finagling to get all of the flap and aileron parts on, an even remotely sitting where they should. I still have yet to put on the underside PE that covers the flap-gap as it were. The port inner flap is CAed to the top of the engine nacelle atm, but that is actually on purpose, as I had a chunk missing out of that flap after it was installed, so needed to correct that. I will saw it free and create the small gap it needs later after its cured. Im still working on the rudder and surrounding lower vertical fin, to get a good fit. Still some work to be done for sure. Leaving the elevators painted separately for ease of painting later. Pot of Tamiya paint for size scale of the big girl: The inner flaps too a LOT of work and filling to get in right, but did fit in the end. you can also see the lower gap that will be filled with PE shortly.There are already PE hinges in the flap parts and ailerons: The added area of all the flying surfaces really makes her even more of an imposing model. Big, heavy, bulky, and fragile in parts shes coming together, but is becoming increasingly hard to handle (literally) with the delicate spine and attached flying surfaces and newly installed IP cover: More............ Violator1991, Greg W, Martinnfb and 14 others 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 12, 2021 Author Share Posted December 12, 2021 I've started the PE process with the cowls. The PE side disks got fairly dented in the application process, so had to be filled but still will be fine in the end. All of the previously made PE cowl flaps have been assembled from 3 parts per piece, 6 per part for the upper cowl flaps, and glued in. The inside of the cowls received considerable finish sanding and a coat of Mr. Surfacer 1500 black. These will later receive a coat of interior green prior to installation as well as some stainless steel flap actuator rods: Skipping around once again, I re-started the landing gear. The next issue that reared its ugly head is that of the incorrect angle of the MLG now. It fits correct, but the side to side angle of the main landing gear body is way too severe. Next fight is to get that angle tamed back down, then start in on the outer supports and how I'm going to attach those to the already assembled and painted landing gear parts. I think after that, it will be on to attempting to finish detail the MLG so I can prime and paint them. After that I have one MORE very dodgy thing to take care of that I almost forgot about, the exhausts! Cheers till your older! scvrobeson, themongoose, Fanes and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 Always a fight with this one, Brian! But you're certainly solving each of its problems with courage and skill, and I'm sure it will be the same with the landing gear. Kev Martinnfb, Out2gtcha and JayW 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 The final result will be worth all of this gargantuan effort though Brian. Keep on plugging away at her. You're getting there! Cheers. Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 Martinnfb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 Still challenging you, but you seem to be taming it, it wil be very much worth it in the end. Cheers Dennis Martinnfb and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepp Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 The awesomeness continues... Love it. Martinnfb and Out2gtcha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 As what everyone else is saying, this is truly an epic build! I admire your skills and perseverence. This is going to be a masterpiece and probably one of only very very few that will actually get built/finished Love each update, keep up the amazing work Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 12, 2021 Author Share Posted December 12, 2021 Thanks all! The generous comments do keep me motivated indeed. As you can see with the 1:1, I have some work to do with the angle of the mains: Sepp, MikeMaben, Martinnfb and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violator1991 Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 What a piece of master modelling!! Cowls look great, as the rest of the model already does. Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayW Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 Brian - gobsmacked with the engine nacelles!! As for the LG, it would be nice if Aircorps library had drawings or at least some manuals on the F7F, but they do not. However I see lots of general arrangement drawings on the web, and if you are guessing at all about the angles of the struts, they can help. Gotta get it right!!! Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 Well knock me down and call me Susan, your back on the Bearcat! Keep it up Brian Ron Out2gtcha, Landrotten Highlander and Martinnfb 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Barry Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 This is great to see, Brian. You are inspiring a return to my Bearcat. I gave it up 4 years ago, but have recently dusted it off and mused over a return. What do I have to lose? JayW, Out2gtcha and Martinnfb 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 Thanks all! It's inspiring to hear when you are working on a "kit" where nothing clicks together or fits really accurately. Plus, since it's a twin, you usually have to make two if everything, and they usually have to match. I sound like I'm b@#$*ing a lot, but it's probably closer to a scratch build with a lot of parts that are a basis for a start on the part itself. This is however a labor of love and I keep looking to the future & getting to have a model of my all time favorite airframe in my all time favorite scale. I've also re-stripped the windscreen, and will wash it and try again on the Future. Citadelgrad, Martinnfb and Greg W 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 13, 2021 Author Share Posted December 13, 2021 22 hours ago, JayW said: Brian - gobsmacked with the engine nacelles!! As for the LG, it would be nice if Aircorps library had drawings or at least some manuals on the F7F, but they do not. However I see lots of general arrangement drawings on the web, and if you are guessing at all about the angles of the struts, they can help. Gotta get it right!!! All true Jay. I do have a set of very nice 1/32nd 3 view drawings that I'll be busting out as well. In the case if this model I also have to take into account making all of the various MLG struts contact with all of the parts in the nacelles they need to, as some of it is not perfectly aligned or even the exact same length or size. That is part of what is so utterly frustrating about the kit and why its taken so many years to come to fruition, every single thing needs to be either scratch built, or adjusted so its identical with its counterpart or so it actually fits within the confines of the model itself. Quite frustrating, but I've all but come to expect all of it, but its none the easier to deal with when it happens with nearly every single part on nearly every single step. I'm back on the gear tonight hopefully, as all presents have nearly been accounted for so hoping to grab some bench time. JayW and Martinnfb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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