LetLetLet ~ Warplanes
Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: Second Air Force on December 30, 2015, 04:25:31 PM
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Quite a long time ago our team-mate Daniel started this Must Have Curtiss. As events unfolded, he worked on this for some time, preparing the wing and fuselage for the photoetch and resin parts and assembling much of the cockpit. Later he very generously sent the excellent kit on to me to finish and I've only just now gotten it on the workbench.
To see the start of the project please refer to this thread: http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/forum/makete-aviona-aircraft-modeling/curtiss-75a-7-mohawk-(musthave!-148)/15/
First a photo of the box to refresh everyone's memory:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2638_zpsfns6u7em.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2638_zpsfns6u7em.jpg.html)
This kit consists of the old Hobbycraft P-36/Mohawk plastic parts and the new resin parts, PE frets and beautiful decal sheet that were provided by Must Have, along with comprehensive three-views of the markings choices. It's unfortunate that Must Have ceased operation as their concept and kit are both excellent!
Here is some of the work that Draken has already completed before he sent the project on to me. I've simply taped the wing and fuselage together for test-fitting in this picture. Next was decision time for me. I already have several Wright-powered Hawk 75 series fighters and have in my mind to build this one as a Pratt & Whitney powered craft. Since Must Have is no longer in operation this isn't a review article anymore, so I've gone into my spares and gotten out an R-1830 cowling set from one of my other Curtiss builds. Then I cast an early R-1830 that is appropriate for the airplane I'm building:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2637_zpsblgbii0w.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2637_zpsblgbii0w.jpg.html)
Here are some of the excellent Must Have PE parts, firstly the seat that Daniel assembled, ready for paint, and the instrument panel that I've started building up:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2639_zpspyctcbuh.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2639_zpspyctcbuh.jpg.html)
Next is the assembled instrument panel with detail painting yet to be accomplished and the floor and control stick ready for paint. The white semi-circular styrene piece is the front of the fuel tank that is visible through the oval hole in the aft cockpit bulkhead:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2643_zpsaafbqlcs.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2643_zpsaafbqlcs.jpg.html)
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Great!
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Excellent! I'm very happy to see you building that kit, Scott! :-ok
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I'm equally happy to finally get a start on this! I hadn't been properly "inspired" to start this until finishing up the R-1820 build/review and then my mind went to the Curtiss.
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On the last day of 2015 and first day of the New Year quite a lot of this has come together. The cockpit has been painted and primary parts assembled, then the fuselage halves glued:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2650_zps0dp67f5j.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2650_zps0dp67f5j.jpg.html)
While that was drying I started on the wings. Daniel has already expertly removed the wing flaps from the Hobbycraft lower wing and prepared the flap-well spars for both sides. It was quite a simple matter for me to do some small cleanup and put the wing and flap-wells together:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2653_zpskmeeqs4x.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2653_zpskmeeqs4x.jpg.html)
Now the instrument panel and cockpit floor are installed in the completed fuselage. When the wings are ready they can be mated to the fuselage and work will continue on the flap cavities, adding all the ribs and walkway stiffeners.
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:-ok
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Framing is excellent!
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Now the wing is assembled to the fuselage and priming/filling is moving ahead:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2667_zpsulfntlqa.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2667_zpsulfntlqa.jpg.html)
Here's the resin R-1830 mostly finished:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2663_zpsnaazx5gg.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2663_zpsnaazx5gg.jpg.html)
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When inspiration pump up :))
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Funny, too that Daniel and I both had "primer day" on the same day, and he is the one who started this one!
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Excellent!
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Last night was spent adding the flap-wells to the wing. This requires an accurate removal of the original flaps and bending of the flapwell spar and inboard segment that fits into the fuselage. These were accomplished by Daniel so my main effort was in assembling these parts and then adding each individual rib and the walkway stiffeners. Quite easy, really--but it did consume a lot of time. After finishing the flapwells, the resin wing flaps were prepared. These were both a little too short in length so I trimmed a small amount from the original discarded flap panels and simply glued them to the end of the new flaps:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2670_zpsxqibeknk.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2670_zpsxqibeknk.jpg.html)
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Gooood!!!
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Thanks, mate!
I'm working on landing gear legs now--the Hobbycraft parts in the kit are rather plain and I'm looking for new legs in the spares.....
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:-ok
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Today the engine was installed and cowling fitted for the final time. Next the windscreen was placed. After finishing the landing gear work the painting phase will commence:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2671_zpsgus3l5gr.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2671_zpsgus3l5gr.jpg.html)
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Fast!!!
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I go in short segments on this one......really not a lot of time, but relaxing for the little I can work on it!
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Excellent, Scott! :-ok
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As I mentioned earlier, I wasn't really satisfied to use the Hobbycraft main gear legs on this one. They are very much simplified with soft detail (even though the gear doors cover most of the legs) so I went to my AmTech P-40 kits and sourced a set of legs there. These needed to be shortened a tiny bit and the doors were then adapted to fit the new legs. All that remained then was to add the Must Have! PE downlock struts:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2672_zpsau5fbrc1.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2672_zpsau5fbrc1.jpg.html)
Then, on to lower surfaces painting and some details added to landing gear:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2673_zps2zatldwn.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2673_zps2zatldwn.jpg.html)
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Flaps structure look great!!
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It's excellent work, Scott!
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Thanks! (I rather wanted to paint the flap wells in interior green, but my references showed them to be the light grey....
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Time for some topside camo, first the grey and then masking for the khaki and that was sprayed yesterday:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2679_zpse2nc18ii.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2679_zpse2nc18ii.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2680_zpspvac40zr.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2680_zpspvac40zr.jpg.html)
I've cut the masks for the final color and this will be painted when the temperature gets a little warmer. It's quite cold this morning and I don't have very good luck painting at this temperature....
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:-ok
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A lot of precise work, this is nice to watch :-ok
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It took some extra work, but the final color is now sprayed. The cowling I used on this one came from my spares box (out of one I'd built on the earlier thread) and I thought that I'd properly prepared it for painting. When the masks were removed the BluTack I've been using lifted some of the paint........the first time I'd had this much trouble with the masking method. Not hard to fix, but rather annoying that I didn't properly prepare the model.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2685_zpsxwvcrgn6.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2685_zpsxwvcrgn6.jpg.html)
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Beautiful scheme!!!
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Yes, nice camo!
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Thanks, friends!
I'd forgotten an important painting task, the rudder........ This is a resin part that Must Have! included in the kit and is quite nice with good surface details:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2687_zpswdggi7lh.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2687_zpswdggi7lh.jpg.html)
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Closing to showcase :))
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Splendid!
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After quite some time since the start, the Must Have! Hawk is at completion. ;)
Once again to summarize the build, Daniel did the actual modifications to the Hobbycraft kit parts and adapted the new PE and resin pieces to the kit. My job was to assemble what he sent me (and I changed engine types as shown earlier in the thread) and paint the result. I used an AML Decals sheet "French Pilots on Hawks, Part II" for the markings.
I really recommend building this if you can find one--great upgrades from photoetch, to resin to an excellent decal sheet. Must Have! was certainly a great idea and it's unfortunate that the company was unable to continue producing excellent products like this one.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2705_zpsuddxlnln.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2705_zpsuddxlnln.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2696_zpsekzgm7nk.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2696_zpsekzgm7nk.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2698_zpsvgdhty9b.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2698_zpsvgdhty9b.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2702_zpsgy2q1bnq.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2702_zpsgy2q1bnq.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2701_zps6ed9zfgj.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2701_zps6ed9zfgj.jpg.html)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_2703_zpsahdwky35.jpg) (http://s174.photobucket.com/user/2AF/media/IMG_2703_zpsahdwky35.jpg.html)
My special thanks to the staff at Must Have! for the excellent product and all the work that went into producing something excellent for our industry. Great thanks also to Daniel for sending the kit to me for finishing. A "team build" in which he'd done all the hard work! :-ok
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Nice work :-clap :-ok
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Excellent result, Scott! Great kit indeed.
Must Have! was having good projects but the team collapsed...
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Very nice !