Out2gtcha Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 Nice! Lovely stuff Pete easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek B Posted October 16, 2023 Share Posted October 16, 2023 5 hours ago, easixpedro said: Thanks Dudes. Appreciate the comments--helps motivate me as I tackle the PE. Managed to get the upper half of a wing done last night. Unfortunately, PE is really the only way to replicate the intricacies of the perforated dive brakes. They look great, but it's a chore (mostly in my head though). Need to channel some of Pig-fighters Zen advice and simmer down a bit. All in all, we're on glide slope and about have the ramp made. Will need to focus though, as I'm already thinking about potential next projects... -Peter I do not use PE hardly at all, but as you say, sometimes it is the only option. When I do, I think carefully about how the PE is intended to be assembled and try and see if I can only use part of it (or the bit I need) and combine it with the kit part or other scratch built plastic part, that way I do not have to make a full complicated PE assembly! Great work Peter. Derek easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadBaron Posted October 17, 2023 Share Posted October 17, 2023 That's looking fantastic, Pete! Great work in pushing through easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted October 20, 2023 Author Share Posted October 20, 2023 (edited) Forgot to post this pic the other day. Here’s the aft canopy. I know it’s the one of the major complaints on this kit… mine fit fine. If you look there’s a bit where it looks like mold is a bit wonky. It’s not flash - it’s almost as thick as the kit plastic. Just a few swipes with a sharp blade fixed it though. (And don’t get me started on the aero fairings. They come separately and both went flinging down range like a sabot round…) And in other news, I have the dive brakes on!!!! Hallelujah! Still need to figure out the actuating mechanism, but this is a milestone for sure! Working on an APS-4 pod now. Tommy has a good write up and a schematic (with dimensions!): http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2014/11/things-under-wings-anaps-4.html?m=1 More soon! -Peter Edited October 20, 2023 by easixpedro zerosystem, Borsos, MikeMaben and 19 others 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 Awesome! The dive brakes really add to it, especially with all that red easixpedro and Derek B 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayW Posted October 21, 2023 Share Posted October 21, 2023 !!!!!!!! What an interesting project. I was a lesser man not being familiar with the Helldiver. Thanks Pete. easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted October 24, 2023 Author Share Posted October 24, 2023 Thought I’d share a bit about the dive brakes and some details for those wanting to make different variants. Here’s the kit offering. They might* work for some, but in this scale it leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe if you’re going to have everything closed…but even then they really don’t fit the bill… Here’s some up close pics of the PE (minus the actuators, which I haven’t made yet). I hate PE, but man, these look good! Note how you can see the layers, and see through them…just like the real deal. and from the other side (you’ll note I’ve made and mounted the APS-4 pod…more on that below) and the other side, complete with spare 75 gallon drop tank from the Trumpeter P-47 kit. And for grins, here’s a pic of the Beast in action post war. (Don’t remember where I’d saved this pic from) It’s a good confirmation that my scene looks about right! Now for anyone contemplating this kit, but wants to make a -1 or -3 with solid dive brakes, here’s some pics. If I was to make these, I’d just make them the same way I did the bomb bay doors, with sheet styrene. Here’s another view of the APS-4 pod. These were carried by the -4E and -5. These pods replaced the ubiquitous Yagi antennas, so it’s one or the other. In all my pics, Ive seen white pods, GSB pods and blue/white pods as they’ve cobbled ‘em together. So that’s what I went with. and the pic that gave me the idea for the blue/white pod. (Note Ive cropped this, as the rest of the pic shows the poor gunner being flung from the wreckage) So that’s where I’m at. Have a few bits left to do, but we just picked up our pup from the vet after massive surgery, so will be sometime before I’m back at the bench. -Peter Out2gtcha, scvrobeson, JayW and 15 others 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted November 23, 2023 Author Share Posted November 23, 2023 Alright folks, quick update while the bird cooks. Been a hot minute since I’ve posted on the Beast. Our German Shepherd had a TPL surgery, so took lots of time and attention as she healed. I did manage a stash clearing build last week. Not a LSP build though, so only one teaser pic… But it was good to get back in the groove prior to getting back after the Helldiver As for the Helldiver, here’s where I’d previously left her. Showed pics to a friend and respected NavAir author, and his first comment was the the gunner always faced forward during the dive. That way they could follow the altimeter and call out altitude. So I carefully got him out and rotated the seat so he’s forward. All that’s left to do is add the ammo belts to the .30s. So by my accounting (with my admittedly pea-sized noggin’), the punch list is down to just a few items. Need to do the actuators for the dive brakes. Then the antenna and rigging. Also need to make the aileron trim bits (circled in yellow) and then the radio altimeters (circled in red). I’ll do a write up on those when I build ‘em. That brings us up to date. Hope everyone is well, and Happy Thanksgiving for those of us that celebrate it. I’m thankful for you weirdo’s that follow my crazy builds in our little corner of the web. -Peter mywifehatesmodels, patricksparks, chukw and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 That looks SO cool Peter! easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepsGunsTanks Posted November 23, 2023 Share Posted November 23, 2023 I love that little Hellcat and Zero! Your action builds are awesome! The Helldiver really looks like a BEAST! I totally dig it. Happy Thanksgiving! easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywifehatesmodels Posted November 24, 2023 Share Posted November 24, 2023 Absolutely love it! The detail in the dive brakes is incredible and I love the display. I'm working on an In-flight Mig 3 right now and your build is certainly inspirational. Thanks for posting! John easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted November 24, 2023 Author Share Posted November 24, 2023 8 hours ago, mywifehatesmodels said: Absolutely love it! The detail in the dive brakes is incredible and I love the display. I'm working on an In-flight Mig 3 right now and your build is certainly inspirational. Thanks for posting! John Thanks, and following your excellent work on that MiG. If you search under my profile, you’ll find plenty of examples of in flight displays. Haven’t built a static display in a long time… mywifehatesmodels 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted November 27, 2023 Author Share Posted November 27, 2023 Alrighty amigos, calling her done! Managed to get the last bits done, including the actuators, aerials and the radio altimeter. Here’s some for anyone that wants to make ‘em: https://aeroantique.com/products/copy-of-antenna-an-69a-pair-radio-altimeter-scr-518-system-dummy?variant=6156248940574 And as always, Tommy has an excellent write up: http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2014/01/world-war-ii-navy-carrier-airplane.html It’s crazy to imagine the amount of tech thrown into these aircraft. Between systems like this and computing gunsights on the bombers, the US industry was pumping out crazy amounts of material. And without further ado, pichurs! (Here’s the radalt antennas. Can barely make ‘em out. Also, digging the exhaust staining - think it turned out well) And our steely-eyed aviator pressing home the attack! And here she is next to her stable mate! Need to do some rearranging in the ol’ cabinet, but she’s done. Thanks for following along. I appreciate everyone’s comments throughout, always helps the motivation levels! -Peter Shoggz, mc65, Paulpk and 21 others 24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scvrobeson Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 Wow, what a fantastic build Peter! Really one to be proud of. What a well done Helldiver in a dynamic pose Matt easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted November 27, 2023 Share Posted November 27, 2023 Congrats on a terrific build Peter. Excellent presentation all round. Kev easixpedro 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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