Good afternoon chaps!
So, seven weeks after the last update, at long last some movement.
The old work situation was sapping it out of me although I had been looking at this in fits and starts
Now that is sorted in the form of a new job the mojo has been returning, although the stop/start nature of the process did cause quite a few problems. Also, I was trying some things for the first time – and so most of the issues were of my doing.
So, here’s a summary of what’s what:
• The pilot I had nicked from an Airfix 109 kit to replace the one I lost turned out to be much bigger and so caused fit issues when tyring to join the fuselage halves together.
• After gluing in the cockpit tubs, as per the instructions, I discovered they weren’t at all level when it came to joining the fuselage halves and so caused some problems – but that may be my fault.
• There were some fit issues around the engine covers, whilst it may have been my fault, the issue was in exactly the same place on both kits and so can’t rule out a kit issue.
• One of the wings on one of the kits also seemed slightly more bent than the others and so needed encouragement to glue in place at the correct angle.
• On one of them I forgot to put in the piece that includes the exhausts, which you have to do before you join the two halves…DOH!
• The holes I drilled in the bottom for the flight stands were too far forward, causing problems with the fit of the centre-line ordinance/drop tank – I’ve never done this before, so I’ll put that down as a learning experience.
• With the second plane I also found a better way to attach the magnet I am using for mounting on the flight stand.
However…..worst of all though and unusually, at least in my experience, the top wing halves were a solid piece and not separate parts that slot alongside the side of the fuselage.
I got it ok on the first one but given the long time-lag, on the second one, by the time I realised it was far too late. Fortunately though, I am doing these wheels up in flight and so not having the wheel wells is an issue, so I just cut out the mid-sections and slotted them in……next time I’ll read the instructions!!!
And yesterday morning they received a nice coat of black primer. They just need a few more hours for it to cure properly.
ACW as usual.
ATB
Andrew
PS sorry about all the pics……
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You can just see the wonky alignment of the cockpit!
The stupid wing error on the second plane and - in my opinion - my remarkably elegant solution!
Encouraging the bent wing to glue at correct angle!
The ‘in flight’ solution….
One of the holes…both are too far forward….
Solution 1 to mount the magnet was a block of styrene cut to the appropriate length….
The better solution was to lay thick-ish strips of styrene across the hole…..
An example of what one of the magnets looks like in place. This is one mounted on a block. The one mounted on the styrene strips is far more flush.
They will actually be mounted on these, with the small washers going over the stubs on the stands.
A quick test flight!
And finally on with the primer!
