Messages

4861

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: November 06, 2010, 06:14:24 AM »

Excellent tip, Nico! That's the kind of information I hope comes out in the vacuform discussion.

I still remember the very first vacuform kit I purchased and how near-impossible it looked to me. After working with the stuff, and learning from others, I got to a place where I didn't mind building with vacuformed parts. I must confess that I never did finish the old 1/72 XB-35 Flying Wing, though--the styrene kit came out before I ever got up enough intestinal fortitude to build my vacformed one!

Scott

4862

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: November 05, 2010, 07:43:12 PM »

Thank you for the interest. Perhaps I'll take better and more photos and others can add their techniques if y'all would like.

Have a good weekend,
Scott

4863

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: November 05, 2010, 06:35:40 PM »

I know that most of the contributors on this forum are familiar with vacuum-formed modeling, but I thought I'd do a little how-to for those who haven't yet attempted a vacuform modification or kit. I apologize to everyone who's already familiar with this media, but I will share my techniques for those who aren't.

My first step is to plan where and what to cut out first. That can actually be important with some vacuform kits as damage to outlying parts can occur if you're too aggressive with the big pieces. Here's a Koster PB4Y modification kit for an example:

On a sheet this size I usually cut the major parts into individual segments before the close trimming begins.

Next, get out a SHARP X-Acto blade and scribe fully around the part, leaving just a little bit of the flat sheet with the part:

When you've completed scribing the outline, very carefully snap the extra plastic off and free the part from the sheet.

Here's half of the horizontal stabilizer for the YB after being snapped out of the sheet.

Now, prepare a flat, hard, stable surface--a desktop works well--and secure some rough sandpaper (I use 180 or 240 grit for this) to the tabletop. Then, carefully sand the excess material from the part you're working with by using slow, deliberate strokes, keeping steady pressure on the entire part so as not to over or under sand the seam. This is the critical step in preparing vacuform parts as it's easy to sand off too much material. I also wet-sand as it keeps the sanded material from collecting on the paper.

I'll add to this process when I get more time to do so,
Scott
 

4864

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Boeing Y1B-17 Project--1/48th Scale

« on: November 03, 2010, 07:01:53 PM »

Well, after a long hibernation, I rebuilt the damage I caused in the right wheelwell last weekend. It actually wasn't too much of a bother and served to get me back into the habit of working on the model again. My next project is going to be the aft fuselage section and empennage. I'll have much more time at home on weekends now so I should make progress.

Scott

4865

Warplane Art / Re: Boeing YB17

« on: October 16, 2010, 07:00:57 PM »

I

Thank you friends for your kind reply Scott- just take your time, your build is so good and it is worth some time to wait

I've been waiting eight months, though!

S

4866

Warplane Art / Re: Boeing YB17

« on: October 16, 2010, 03:24:01 PM »

Very nice, and appropriate that you posted the update now, No.1. I am hoping to resume work on the project in the near future as model-building weather is just around the corner. We're finishing up some much needed painting and maintenance of our home and shop and after I finish with that project I intend to start again on the '17. Perhaps this fall and winter I can actually start assembling the little bits into larger bits!

Scott

4867

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Tidal Wave Anniversary

« on: August 16, 2010, 05:55:16 PM »

Scott- any plans to build model with two blue colors on insignia?

I have a set of decals for a B-24 with the darker borders somewhere but no plans to start it as yet. I actually have two Liberators started, one is Harper's Ferry of the 449th Bomb Group and the other is the very early LB-30/B-24A AM927 that will end up in her original RAF configuration and paint scheme.

4868

Combat Warplanes / Re: Unknown Junkers project

« on: August 13, 2010, 04:13:29 PM »

It almost seems that the designers were building on the idea of the Savoia Marchetti S-55.

Scott

4869

Warplane Art / Re: OS2U Kingfisher

« on: August 09, 2010, 06:01:49 PM »

I think a much larger engine would balance the airplane.  Being a Vought product it has similar lines to the Corsair. If it had an R-2800 things would look just about right!!!

I love the Mexican markings and camouflage. I may have to build the kit I have in storage now that you've inspired me....

Scott

4870

Warplane Art / Re: OS2U Kingfisher

« on: August 09, 2010, 12:43:32 AM »

It's fun to watch you build these!

Perhaps it's just me, but the Kingfisher has always appeared awkward to me when it is equipped for shore operation. I suppose it is because I'm so accustomed to the seagoing version.

Scott

4871

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Hellcat overview

« on: August 08, 2010, 04:26:51 AM »

Here is one of the old Otaki Hellcats that I built in the 1980s. I dug it out of the storage area and cleaned it up a little, but it's been hidden away for many years.

As I recall, the fit was good on all the parts but the cockpit was pretty basic. I seem to remember replacing the engine with one from a Monogram P-61 but I could be incorrect there. I built a number of Otaki Corsairs and substituted the Monogram engine with modifications in those models--I may be confusing the two.

Thanks for mentioning that kit, Nico. It gave me a chance to dig mine out of the shed and clean it up a bit!

Scott

4872

Aircraft Modeling / Re: North American F-51K Mustang

« on: August 05, 2010, 06:24:29 PM »

Beautiful! And, I must say, I really enjoy this site and the models you folks build because I get to see the diverse markings. Being here in the U.S.A. it is always "stars and bars" over and over again. Not a bad thing, but it is more fun to see a variety of markings in my opinion.

Those photos bring back fond memories for me as I built a couple of the original Hawk kits when they were current production. I still have some parts of those models in my spares boxes.......

Scott

4873

Aircraft Modeling / Tidal Wave Anniversary

« on: August 01, 2010, 06:58:20 PM »

Someone just mentioned on another forum that it was 67 years ago today (1 August) that the AAF low-level mission to Ploesti occurred. A number of years ago I helped do a group-build of Medal Of Honor recipients' airplanes for the Dallas IPMS Nationals. Two of the B-24s I did flew the Tidal Wave operation.

First is Colonel John Kane's Hail Columbia:

Hells Wench, flown by Lt. Colonel Addison Baker and Major John Jerstad:

The other two recipients of the MOH that day were 2nd Lieutenant Lloyd Hughes and Colonel Leon Johnson.
Hughes, Baker, and Jerstad were awarded the medal posthumously.

Scott

4874

Warplane Art / Re: Consolidated B-24 Liberator

« on: July 23, 2010, 05:08:10 PM »

Yes, excellent work, and fun to watch the "build-up" from conception to completion!

Scott

4875

Warplane Art / Re: Consolidated B-24 Liberator

« on: July 19, 2010, 07:28:49 PM »

Yes, and the Liberator served in the antisubmarine role for the entire time the RAF and Coastal Command had them, not to mention the USAAF and Navy ASW units.

Scott