Violator1991 Posted August 21, 2022 Share Posted August 21, 2022 Great review, as always. Bought two copies. Not in my most-desired kits list but I always believe manufacturers' efforts must be supported. Making wish-lists is free but a modeller must walk the talk as much as he can afford the when a new kit comes. Fanes and Kagemusha 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 On 8/21/2022 at 4:04 AM, Alain Gadbois said: Just note the dive brakes and flaps have a greater surface area. Alain I also found another difference in comparison with the kit configuration: the rear belly lights. Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 39 minutes ago, thierry laurent said: I also found another difference in comparison with the kit configuration: the rear belly lights. I know there’s uncovered and covered (with small openings) configuration. The F3 in Ottawa has covered lights for example. I’ve seen both in ordinary Vampires. What have you found with the Sea Vampire? Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 22, 2022 Share Posted August 22, 2022 2 hours ago, Alain Gadbois said: I know there’s uncovered and covered (with small openings) configuration. The F3 in Ottawa has covered lights for example. I’ve seen both in ordinary Vampires. What have you found with the Sea Vampire? Alain It had the configuration with three lights (?) closer to the front of the plane. Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydesign Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 (edited) Done some further investigation on the shapes and general dimensions of the Infinity Vampire. Used various books, photos etc. A few drawings were scaled up to 1/32 and most have some inaccuracies in areas. So measuring and comparing. After a day..... my impression is that the Infinity Vampire wing planform and tail shapes are spot on. But agree with Iain..... that the Vampire kit nose looks a tiny bit too blunt in upper planform view. Can if desired be improved by removing a slice of 1 mm on both nose halves, bend a bit and blend in shape. ADDED: than glue the upper nose halves, after the slices were removed, slightly more inboard on the lower half edge and and than sanded particularly the lower nose part section. (the lower nose part with gun nozzles I will retain as per kit). I purchased 2 Vampire kits but will use 1 Infinity Vampire kit for cross kitting: [1] using forward (separated) Vampire fuselage to combine with the Matchbox Sea Venom FAW twin to get a single seat Venom FB.4; also needs tail fins modification. All inspired by a nice article of J. Howard in the recent Scale Aircraft Modelling magazine/ August 2022. ( 60% Matchbox + 20% Infinity + 20% scratch) [2] using the other parts of the Infinity Vampire to combine with the (separated) forward fuselage of the Matchbox kit to get a twin seat Vampire T.11 trainer ! Will also need a major tail fins change and off course new twin cockpit interior. ( 20% Matchbox + 50% Infinity + 30% scratch) Work in progress. Edited August 23, 2022 by mydesign scvrobeson, dutik, Anthony in NZ and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 I did exactly the same with similar goals: a Sea Vampire, a two-seater T22 Vampire and a single seat FB4 Venom. With regard to the Vampire nose, you cannot really remove material from the top fuselage without doing a similar exercise with the bottom of you want to improve the plan view. And, to me, this is where the problem is actually starting. Indeed, with the LG well, the gun holes and chutes, this implies rebuilding fully the lower fuselage. Personally, I'm assessing two easier routes. First, as the fuselage is thick, sanding the nose sides could already help a lot. Second, I'm also wondering if adding a little bit of material at the nose tip would not help. This has yet to be finally assessed but this would be far easier. BTW it looks the rear fuselage of the Matchbox kit is 7mm larger than the Infinity one. I do not know how large is that difference where the cut should be made to combine both kits at mid-fuselage level. Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydesign Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 (edited) Hi Thierry regarding the Vampire nose... you are right. I glued the upper nose halves, after the slices were removed, slightly more inboard on the lower half edge and and than sanded particularly the lower nose part section. ( I forgot to write this in my suggestion above so ADDED. This will give a better nose upper planform). The nose side profile looks OK for the Infinity Vampire. [ The Sea Venom rear fuselage is indeed a bit too long, this will be tackled by removing some materials; to be described later on in my Work in Progress ] Edited August 23, 2022 by mydesign thierry laurent, scvrobeson and Landrotten Highlander 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 15 hours ago, thierry laurent said: It had the configuration with three lights (?) closer to the front of the plane. Good observation! Looked through my books but could only find a picture from slightly below. Not very helpful, except to see they are forward one panel. Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 5 minutes ago, Alain Gadbois said: Good observation! Looked through my books but could only find a picture from slightly below. Not very helpful, except to see they are forward one panel. Alain There are three pictures showing the belly in the Wingleader booklet. Only one is clearly showing the area but this is sufficient as other initial Vampires got the same configuration. Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Actually it looks there was one light on the starboard side and the two other disks were probably access panels. I'm still looking after a close-up picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerhard Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 Good review. I am pretty sure I can source decals for a SAAF version. We also flew them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan_G Posted August 25, 2022 Share Posted August 25, 2022 AM flaps set https://www.facebook.com/infinitymodels.cz/ Landrotten Highlander, Kagemusha, Rockie Yarwood and 5 others 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jboldt007 Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 i ordered the Infinity Mk.3 kit... i guess i need to build it ...as i live about a 20 minute drive from the 442 squadron 012 prototype ... i can always take a tape measure out and go settle any dimensional questions! Iain, Landrotten Highlander, Kagemusha and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jboldt007 Posted August 26, 2022 Share Posted August 26, 2022 seriously ... it's just sitting there... Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted August 29, 2022 Share Posted August 29, 2022 On 8/25/2022 at 4:43 PM, Jan_G said: AM flaps set https://www.facebook.com/infinitymodels.cz/ Hello! Just want to point out that the shape of the air brake is a bit off. The outboard side is a straight line as is shown in this drawing: All the dimensions are noted in Imperial and Metric. The smaller number in Metric is the size in 1/32 scale. The 1'8'' measure is on the inboard side of the dive brake. Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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