Fvdm Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Huge!! Good luck with this one. tomprobert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Fabulous idea, I've always had a thing for the Sunderland after building a 1/72 scale Airfix kit when I was a nipper, will watch with much interest. Cheers Dennis tomprobert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 wow, thats quite a beast! Looking forward to watching you tame it. tomprobert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 I've had a productive few hours on the Sunderland and the fuselage halves have been removed from the backing sheets, rubbed down and prepared for the detail work to begin. The first job was to open up the cockpit, front and rear turrets as well as the bomb windows on the fuselage sides. I'm now having to deal with the numerous portholes along the fuselage halves. I did consider removing the whole window area and replace it all with sheets of clear plastic card, masking the round portholes and then painting. However, there is a real danger of dust and debris getting into the fuselage (especially with amount of filling and sanding that's going to be ahead of me) which would prove to be impossible to remove with the fuselage being sealed and totally ruin the look of the model should it get on the insides of the glazing. So, I've done down the more demanding route of removing each porthole individually and then they will be glazed when all the filling and sanding is complete later in the build. It'll mean cutting glazing individually for each porthole, but will remove the risk of the glazing being ruined by dust etc. So, careful measuring of the plans meant the layout of the portholes could be transferred onto the fuselage. These were then drilled first with pilot holes: Step 1 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Using a pair of old sprue cutters, the plastic in the centre is removed: Step 2 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Using a sharp blade, the window is then opened up to the correct size and shape: Step 3 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr Finally, the porthole is neatened up using some sandpaper: Step 5 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr And this is the progress so far - the left side fuselage is taking shape (still some portholes to be opened up before completion though): Step 6 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr I have a completely free day tomorrow so I'm aiming to get the remaining portholes opened up - stay tuned! All the best, Tom mark31, LSP_Kevin, Jack and 24 others 27 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
npb748r Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 wow, I wish I had the modelling skills to do justice to this and I'd build it as well. One of my favourite WW2 aircraft (the airfix kit made such an impression on me in the early 70's as a young kid). I'll follow this one with real interest, great start Tom. neil tomprobert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Its a monster tomprobert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 Awesome Tom, i see the styrene thickness is perfect to get some things "slapped" on in the interior, have fun building, will follow this one for sure. cheers, Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markjames1968 Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 You need to buy yorself a good quality rc tapered propellor reamer, its invaluable for holes and multiple windows in vacforms like this BloorwestSiR, Jack, Uncarina and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted January 2, 2019 Author Share Posted January 2, 2019 3 hours ago, Markjames1968 said: You need to buy yorself a good quality rc tapered propellor reamer, its invaluable for holes and multiple windows in vacforms like this Agreed! One tool I’ve been lacking today - will perhaps invest. BloorwestSiR and Jack 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted January 2, 2019 Share Posted January 2, 2019 3 hours ago, Markjames1968 said: You need to buy yorself a good quality rc tapered propellor reamer, its invaluable for holes and multiple windows in vacforms like this I was going to suggest the same thing. 19 minutes ago, tomprobert said: Agreed! One tool I’ve been lacking today - will perhaps invest. Here's the one I have. https://www.hudy.net/xhudy/products/proddesc.php?prod_id=26&kategoria=538 It's a great tool, well made and very sharp. Mine is close to 20 years old. Great progress on the plane too. Where do you display all these big builds of yours? Carl Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simmo.b Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Awesome project!!! Will look magnificent when done!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Madhatter Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 All I can say is most pretty much what everyone else has said in that this is one seriously cool project Tom! I had no idea you could even get a 32nd scale Short Sunderland, but I guess in vac form there is more variety. I'd love to know how you can keep these monstrous creations that you seem to have a never ending stream of come off your work bench. We reap the rewards for it none the less with items like this. I'll be tuning in for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozart Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 I'll be watching your progress very carefully Tom, especially for tips and techniques that I can use when I re-start my vac-form Anson, which of course is dwarfed in every respect by your Sunderland project!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevepd Posted January 3, 2019 Share Posted January 3, 2019 Now there are some great builds going on in the forum and the GB, but this for subject matter stands out (in my opinion). What a great GB this turning out to be. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted January 3, 2019 Author Share Posted January 3, 2019 8 hours ago, The Madhatter said: All I can say is most pretty much what everyone else has said in that this is one seriously cool project Tom! I had no idea you could even get a 32nd scale Short Sunderland, but I guess in vac form there is more variety. I'd love to know how you can keep these monstrous creations that you seem to have a never ending stream of come off your work bench. We reap the rewards for it none the less with items like this. I'll be tuning in for sure There are some seriously cool subjects to be found in the dark and mysterious world of vacforms... no doubt the fact I've decided to build this will mean an injection-molded one will be released soon In regard to where they're kept - the attic, sadly, as it's the only space in my house big enough! 7 hours ago, mozart said: I'll be watching your progress very carefully Tom, especially for tips and techniques that I can use when I re-start my vac-form Anson, which of course is dwarfed in every respect by your Sunderland project!! I'll look forward to seeing you get back into the Anson again - I was enjoying your progress. There's a great article on the Anson in this month's 'Aeroplane' and I thought of your build when I saw it. 6 hours ago, Stevepd said: Now there are some great builds going on in the forum and the GB, but this for subject matter stands out (in my opinion). What a great GB this turning out to be. Steve. Agreed, Steve. One of the best, if not THE best, group builds to date. There's so much variety and some super projects taking shape. In regard to the Sunderland, I've had a quiet day at home today without the wife and child and have completed the drilling out of all the portholes. The light beat me for decent photographs so I'll try to get some uploaded tomorrow. All the best, Tom blackbetty and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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