CarLos Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Any Messenger lovers out there? I started work on the Aeroclub kit some time ago but I have a lot of doubts for lack of references on the subject. First, I am using this set of plans: http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pid=4435 Are there any better ones around? From countless photos grabbed from the web I cannot find any relationship between the windscreen (shorter and more vertical in profile vs more bulbous) and the back windows (bigger rectangular ones vs small curved) but restored aircraft sometimes change in these details. Is there a clear differentiation between Messenger models and windows? Ex-military vs civil from the ground up? The kit seems to have a wing too thin at the root and with incorrect profile (I think it should be more symmetric), but it's difficult to analyse from most photos. A photo of a wingless fuselage, or a wing rib, or good detailed drawings would be welcome! [the Pavla kit is the opposite, I think the wings are too fat - or at least they should taper more towards the tip. I'm planning to convert the Pavla kit into a Gemini] Thanks, Carlos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Wyllie Posted February 16, 2014 Share Posted February 16, 2014 (edited) nt Edited August 5, 2014 by Iain Wyllie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted February 16, 2014 Author Share Posted February 16, 2014 Thank you for your contribution, but that drawing doesn't reply to many doubts I have, particularly about the windscreen. One more detail I would like to know is if the flaps ever retract on the Messenger. See in the photo bellow the concave trailing edge just ahead of the flaps. Could be for aerodynamic reasons, though. (Invasion stripes are very helpful to modelers!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Wyllie Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) nt Edited August 4, 2014 by Iain Wyllie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 The Air Britain book is in my list. Does it carry detailed scale drawings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Ian beat me to it re Peter Amos's book. However, I can add that the small curved windows are on the M28 not the M38 Messenger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Those drawings are the ones I used as a basis for this model some 40 years ago. They are not completely accurate and they are the same plans which appear in the Amos book. I have a lot of Miles stuff including three copies of the Harborough ' Miles Aircraft where these drawings originate.. some M.38's also had the Gemini windscreen. On production a/c the flaps did not retract they just pivot. The curved underside of the trailing edge is to aid the slot effect on the flaps. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 I also have the Harborough book and ended up ordering the Air Britain one. So I put the kit away until I receive it. I confess I had hope that more recent and correct drawings surfaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 I think that the tail unit on those drawings is slightly too far forwards, including the centre fin.Move the lot back by a a mm John The 40 year old quickly made prototype done on a homemade Vacformer. The reg is actually a Gemini but I thought a more appropriate use.. On the map just below it's port wing tip a cream and red Messenger used to operate out of the field in the 50's. Ignore the dust! John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarLos Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Very nice! Miles had beautiful aircraft, no doubt. The Falcon is my favourite! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshiretaurus Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 This was the first full vacform kit I made in early 1987 at the age of 15, finished it as RG333, Have 3 in the stash, would make a good conversion to a Gemini. Watching with interest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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