discussion A Really Bad Day....

[takeslousyphotos]

I've had a really bad day with the Vought Kingfisher. Tonight I spent two hours trying to fit the straining wire float supports and I've screwed it up. They are photo etch about 30mm long and damn thin. Two of them sticking out of a rectangular block. Two port and two Starboard. and the locating holes in the float doesn't line up............. and I've bent them all to hell and back. I've lost one in the bloody carpet and the Kingfisher came really close to it's maiden flight into the wall. A re-think is called for.

Peter

N.B. Photo Etch and me appear not to be a particularly good combination.

 

[john i am]

Oooooo dear frustrating times been there myself I normally find walking away calming down and thinking I ain't gonna let this bugger beat me sometimes I leave the opject on a shelf for a while n start something else to return later n kick its ass anyways good luck n I hope things get better for you John :goodluck:

 

[Dave W]

When I built mine I used thin rod/wire and threw the photo etch in the bin.It looks more realistic as its round section and not flat like the photo etch.

 

[Guest]

Know how you feel Peter. My last build was a Swordfish & I used the photo etch for the straining & tension arrangement.

26 of the little devils. As I thought I was clever I tried fitting before fitting the wings which did not work & had to remove & start again.

But now I look at it they all look fine except a couple I lost in my moving to a new abode. Fortunate as at one point I felt like taking the hammer to it.

Perserve it is worth it another day & things do not look so bad.

Actually found out form one of the crew of the Lynx which landed on the grass in front of our flat that the straining & tension arrangment are in fact metal bars on the Swordfish. He told me these are not square but aerodynamically shaped to present a fine line to the front of the aircraft.

Laurie

 

[takeslousyphotos]

I guess tommorow is another day. The rod wire thing is probably the way forward. I did think maybe tomorrow I might have a go at stretching some sprue. But right now. A cup of tea, plain chocolate digestive and a cigarette.

IT WILL NOT BEAT ME ........... At the end of the day it's just a damn bit of plastic.

Cheers guys.

Peter

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Know how you feel Peter. My last build was a Swordfish & I used the photo etch for the straining & tension arrangement.26 of the little devils. As I thought I was clever I tried fitting before fitting the wings which did not work & had to remove & start again.

But now I look at it they all look fine except a couple I lost in my moving to a new abode. Fortunate as at one point I felt like taking the hammer to it.

Perserve it is worth it another day & things do not look so bad.

Actually found out form one of the crew of the Lynx which landed on the grass in front of our flat that the straining & tension arrangment are in fact metal bars on the Swordfish. He told me these are not square but aerodynamically shaped to present a fine line to the front of the aircraft.

Laurie

I did exactly the same with my Swordfish I put the supports on the lower wing and used black thread. Took me ages to get them all on and tied off with some clear varnish over the knots. Then nothing lined up when I put the top wing on. They were either too tight or went all floppy. Stupid boy.

Peter

 

[Guest]

What diameter wire you need peter?????? do you burnish your PE? makes for an easier life

Martin

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Hi Martin,

I reckon something around the dia of a paper clip or a little thinner. I was going to go up to a model shop a couple of miles away from work and see if I can something there. Or maybe a welding ship get some Tig wire.

Burnishing PE ?????

Peter

 

[Dave W]

I got some stiff wire from my local model shop for mine.

 

[Guest]

Heat your PE till it's red hot then quench it into cold water . Makes it more easier to work with and doesn't snap when bending

Have put some wire in the post.

Martin

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Martin you are a diamond.

Peter

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Heat your PE till it's red hot then quench it into cold water . Makes it more easier to work with and doesn't snap when bending Have put some wire in the post.

Martin

Hi Martin,

I received the wire today. I've managed to get enough straight(ish) lengths out of it. I've done the four wires on the aft pylon. Fixed them on with a little two part epoxy. I'll eave them overnight and do the forward ones tomorrow. I don't think I've done a perfect job on it but I think it'll be acceptable. I've got everything else masked up so if all goes well I should be getting it in primer by the end of the week.

Many thanks again for your help with this.

Peter

 

[takeslousyphotos]

.............. and the front four wires are on now. So I'll leave them overnight. Then tomorrow a bit of a clean up and then primer..........

I think we are back on track.:smile1:

Peter

 

[Guest]

Sounds good Peter. Hope it continues.

Rotten evening yesterday. First airbrush session in the new flat & got paint on the carpet & all over trousers. Sent a full airbrush flying. Typical. But got all the paint off thank God & Harry for Acrylics.

All sorted to day. A cover for the carpet around my work statiom & towel over trousers so all sorted. First Airbrush in the new place & all went well.

Laurie

 

[Ian M]

Heat your PE till it's red hot then quench it into cold water . Makes it more easier to work with and doesn't snap when bending Have put some wire in the post.

Martin

Erm... If I may just comment on that. Thats how to harden metal. And melt brass. If you heat brass to red hot it on the verge of melting. I have the scars to prove it.

Heat the PE gently until its a dull cherry red and let it cool down. That will soften it.

Ian M

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Erm... If I may just comment on that. Thats how to harden metal. And melt brass. If you heat brass to red hot it on the verge of melting. I have the scars to prove it.Heat the PE gently until its a dull cherry red and let it cool down. That will soften it.

Ian M

Now I' m confused............. Generally the PE is ok just "itty bitty" tiny bits .............. The bits that screwed me up were about 2" long and about 1/16" wide. They were just too soft and could have been doing with hardening some. I understand the getting it too hot and it melting...... and to be honest I think it's just me not being able to cope with the damn stuff.

 

[takeslousyphotos]

Good stuff Laurie ........ Glad all went well in the end. My missus get's all Ansty when I do the spraying in the kitchen even though I use my spraybooth (big plastic tub from B&Q) and spread a dustsheet on the worktop and one on the floor. Spillages need to be kept very quiet and sorted without her knowing.

Peter

 

[Guest]

Ha ha Peter great minds got a big plastic box form B & Q for mine.

Laurie

 

[Guest]

Remembering from my schooldays ......

Case hardening = heat up and cool quickly in liquid to set the molecules stiff

Annealing = heating and letting cool down slowly in air to allow molecules to become malleable

Some research on PE shows that there is some aluminium added to the copper / zinc to make it less subject to corrosion from solvents. This would lower the melting point a tad so go lightly with the heating up.

 

[Guest]

Yes Colin when I saw the heating up thing something did not anneal but I now remember from school metalurge those statemnts on how to do.

What is PE made of ? I decided steel & chrome. All the PE I have used to date has a real spring & has not needed any amendment. Makes me think that there is a difference in the constituents of Manufacturers end result.

Real spring for the Swordfish stuff had a very ambitious way of travelling around the room. Such good FUN trying to locate it !

Laurie