Troy Molitor Posted September 24, 2020 Share Posted September 24, 2020 I can only agree with Anthony’s comment above. Unique for sure and the foliage green is also one really nice color. Looking good mate. Thanks for the updates. Troy Anthony in NZ and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted September 24, 2020 Author Share Posted September 24, 2020 Thanks, fellas. I've been quietly chipping away at this one, with a little bit of success here and a little bit of failure there. Such is modelling. My first task was to finish off the cockpit by getting the instrument panel installed: Apologies for the sanding dust, which I didn't even notice until editing the photos. Thanks, eyes! I've cleaned it all off now. While waiting for that to become secure, I turned my attention to the engine. I assembled it, gave it a quick squirt of Mr. Surfacer 1500 Black, drybrushed the cylinders with Humbrol Polished Aluminium, and then painted to rod thingies white: It's hopefully only going to be visible through the ports in the front of the cowling, hence the rough-n-ready paint job. I did briefly toy with the idea of opening up the engine bay, but figured I already have enough challenges with this build! Next step was to clean up the exhaust piece and drill out the end: Back to the fuselage, and I wasn't happy with how flimsy the lower join was feeling, so I added some sheet styrene to reinforce it: And here's the bit I'm really not happy with. I spent ages cleaning up and painting the stretcher bed and housing, but just couldn't get it to look good: I did replace the tiny little upright supports with guitar string, but this was a mistake, and I made a bit of a mess of it. Guitar strings can be great for stiff wires and cables on models, but is very difficult to cut cleanly to exact lengths, and I really should have stuck with styrene rod for this task. Because of how ordinary this looks, I'm now veering back to the idea of leaving the canopy hood closed to minimise its exposure. I've been holding off cutting open the vac canopy piece for exactly this reason. In test-fitting the hood to the fuselage, it became clear that without a spine to add rigidity, the fuselage sides had spread slightly, and would need to be pushed in to meet the resin hood piece. But the undercut in the resin is wider than the fuselage is thick, so I added a couple of spaces to keep the alignment where I wanted it: Once glued and clamped up, it'll be fine - which is my next task! Looks weird, eh? Kev D.B. Andrus, KiwiZac, AlbertD and 14 others 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.B. Andrus Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Doing great on this, Kev! BTW, what brand of paint are you using for Foliage Green? Cheers, Damian LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 4 minutes ago, D.B. Andrus said: Doing great on this, Kev! BTW, what brand of paint are you using for Foliage Green? Cheers, Damian Thanks, Damian. I'm using Foliage Green from a local brand called SMS: https://www.scalemodeller.com.au/products/premium-foliage-green-30ml?_pos=1&_sid=998fa110c&_ss=r I'm pretty sure they have some distribution in the US now. Kev Whitey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.B. Andrus Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Hmmm...lacquer, right up my alley. Thanks! Damian PS: Please see my question on Sponsorship Forum. LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nessus Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 2 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said: And here's the bit I'm really not happy with. I spent ages cleaning up and painting the stretcher bed and housing, but just couldn't get it to look good: I did replace the tiny little upright supports with guitar string, but this was a mistake, and I made a bit of a mess of it. Guitar strings can be great for stiff wires and cables on models, but is very difficult to cut cleanly to exact lengths, and I really should have stuck with styrene rod for this task. Because of how ordinary this looks, I'm now veering back to the idea of leaving the canopy hood closed to minimise its exposure. I've been holding off cutting open the vac canopy piece for exactly this reason. Just a suggestion about the piano wire, mark the locations of the supports on the top of the litter, remove the existing wire and then drill through the litter into the base below. insert the wire from the top and cut flush. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 1 minute ago, Nessus said: Just a suggestion about the piano wire, mark the locations of the supports on the top of the litter, remove the existing wire and then drill through the litter into the base below. insert the wire from the top and cut flush. That's exactly what I did. The problems with this approach turned out to be many, but mainly due to not being able to cut the guitar string flush, cleanly, or to the length required. Subsequent attempts to file them down only caused undulations in the surrounding resin, which now looks dreadful up close. Other issues were caused by my drill bit wandering and causing the resin to splinter (due to there not being a whole lot of margin for error), giving rise to messy repairs and crooked placement. This approach would have worked much better with standard styrene rod; even brass rod would have been a better choice, but definitely styrene if there's ever a next time. But that's the beauty of a project like this: what you learn on the journey is more valuable than what awaits you at its destination. Kev Nessus, D.B. Andrus, Chris Wimmer and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 I also need to thank you for chiming in and offering your advice, Brendan, which I rudely neglected to do in my initial response. I certainly didn't mean to sound churlish - just frustrated! If anybody knows of a tool that can cut steel guitar strings cleanly and accurately, please let me know! I have a Xuron tool that will cut them cleanly enough, but not with any precision (the tool's 'cutting' blades are in the order of 3mm thick, so you have to have at least that much clearance around your cutting point to make the cut at all). Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 (edited) Welcome to the world of creative 'fettllng' Kev! Every set back is an opportunity to enrich your experience locker a little more, as you have to be inventive and creative in order to correct it (and there are several ways of achieving it - this is one of the beauties of our hobby). Your model is is an unusual choice and will look really good when completed - keep up the good work Kev. Derek Edited September 25, 2020 by Derek B Anthony in NZ and LSP_Kevin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Another great update Kev....I cant see your dust...LOL I am paranoid now at what I am missing on my own photo's. Those 'tube thingys' are the pushrod tubes, I have a Gipsy Major sitting in my Garage dripping oil (which is good) that I was going to offer to take pics of for you, but you are correct, you have enough on your plate and I dont want to sidetrack you! What you have done will look perfect behind the nose cooling duct. Keep up the great work! LSP_Kevin, Whitey and Derek B 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobs Buckles Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Doing great work, Kev! Keep on keeping on. vB LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Looking good Kev, what would life be like without these "challenges" for us to overcome. Cheers Dennis LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadBaron Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Great progress, Kev! LSP_Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 Thanks for checking in on the build, chaps! I've got the spine pieces on the fuselage now, which has given rise to yet more challenges, but I'll have an update on that with photos later today. Kev Bobs Buckles and Anthony in NZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airscale Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 20 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said: If anybody knows of a tool that can cut steel guitar strings cleanly and accurately, please let me know! Kev Hi Kev - I use a dremel and a slitting disc for a surgical cut on guitar strings - works a treat Great job on the cockpit by the way Peter LSP_Kevin and Derek B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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