Supertom Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) So while I'm still working on the MiG-29s (one can only build the same thing over and over so many times, despite variations in build and markings), I decided to take a short break to keep from burning out (plus I ran out of Alclad primer, so I can't do burner cans for the time being). I've been obsessed with Colombia's wicked-looking AC-47T Fantasma, a turboprop conversion of the AC-47 by Basler. I mean, look at it. It just looks so sinister: (Photo credit: dc3dakotahunter.com) So anyway, I saw an article about it on Combat Aircraft magazine, looked it, up, wondered if there was a conversion of it, and lo and behold, AlleyCat was just about to release one for the new Airfix kit! So I saved up my pennies and ordered one as soon as they became available. A few weeks later, it showed up on my doorstep and I was pumped! To do the conversion, I picked up A08015, which I had to make sure would work. Alleycat says that while it is designed for the Airfix kit, this conversion could be used on the Esci or older Airfix kits, though adapting the engines might be a challenge since it was designed with the new kit's engineering in mind: I wish I had put up pictures of the parts. I washed them and laid them out nicely, but I forgot to take a photo. The first cut is to separate the front cabin floor from the kit floor: Unfortunately, AlleyCat's instructions were a little vague on how to put the kit together. Hopefully, this writeup will come in handy for other people wanting to do this conversion. The first question I had was whether to remove the bottom part of the molding stub, as marked below. The initial pour stub had been cut off, but after fiddling about with it, I wasn't sure if was necessary to remove it. It wasn't fitting right, and it wasn't until I discovered later that it was because the replacement front cabin floor was deliberately made significantly longer (over 1cm) to allow for adjustment. The pour stub for the forward fuselage was also interfering with the fit. I asked AlleyCat on Facebook and they advised that it was not necessary to remove the stub, but I ended up removing it anyway as my piece was slightly warped, and the thickness of the part made it difficult to reshape in hot water. Removing the stub also made it easier to attach to the kit floor, as I glued some strip styrene at the bottom to reinforce the join. Edited October 25, 2016 by Supertom 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aidy Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Very handsome subject, Tom. Can't wait to see you get to work on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vultures1 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Interesting-looking subject - great choice! Looking forward to this ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) The first cut to be made on the cabin floor is just behind the slot where you insert the bulkhead, though I would recommend you cut just ahead of it, so that you'll still have the slots to stick the bulkhead tabs to (otherwise you'll have to butt-join the floor). The disadvantage to cutting ahead of the slots is that you'll need to factor in that length when you cut the replacement floor; as mentioned earlier, it was deliberately longer for adjustment. In my case, since I cut the slot off, the cut line would be approximately where the first notch is located on the floor piece, as illustrated below (as always, measure twice, cut once). Next comes cutting the front of the fuselage off for the replacement front end. With Basler conversions, the fuselage was extended about 1.2m. I heard that this was done in order to offset the center of gravity, what with the new engines and all, though I believe that the new OBOGS system is under the floor where the new extension is located at. Either way, I was sad about making the cut because the fuselage truly is a work of art, Airfix did a beautiful job on it. (EDIT: I emailed Basler for clarification on the extension, and they kindly confirmed that both are correct). Dymo tape is pretty handy for this, as well as a fine sawblade, of course. The cut is that vertical panel line just forward of the wing root. Ten careful minutes later, and the cuts are done. Edited October 31, 2016 by Supertom Added notes from query to Basler 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 25, 2016 Author Share Posted October 25, 2016 (edited) Opened up an extra window for the 20mm cannon. Airfix anticipated the possibility of opening up that extra window (not sure why though), but fortunately for the modeller, that means that the shape has conveniently been set up for cutting. A few minutes with a dremel, #11 blade, and some sanding sticks, and that new window is open. Here you see the forward fuselage. I've already removed the casting stub, and then removing the "flashed over" resin windows. As a testament to the quality of the castings, the flash was really thin and easy to remove. 10 minutes later, it was done. And here's a comparison of the two forward fuselages. Note the absense of the navigation dome and pointier nose. And here is where I leave off. Construction of the interior has begun in earnest. Test fitting indicates that the first firewall (right behind the cockpit) will drop into the new one-cast forward fuselage piece, but the second one will be a challenge.I'll have to think this over as this is where the FLIR console is located and I intend to scratchbuild that bit Edited October 31, 2016 by Supertom 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Watching this with interest, I have this conversion in the stash and their Dackleton conversion on order Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 25, 2016 Share Posted October 25, 2016 Most of your pictures don't seem to be showing? Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 S'true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Watching with interest. I have the same in the stash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 7 hours ago, Martian Hale said: Most of your pictures don't seem to be showing? Martian That's odd....I'll check again in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 Try the last two again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Interesting subject mind if I follow along? Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 (edited) Moved text to next page due to cockup from Google Photos. Edited October 31, 2016 by Supertom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Ditto the no pics showing comment... shame, but I'm sure they will be back. I also have the kit and conversion... bought it at last years SMW. Really can't wait to build it, but it has to wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 (edited) 50 minutes ago, Radleigh said: Ditto the no pics showing comment... shame, but I'm sure they will be back. I also have the kit and conversion... bought it at last years SMW. Really can't wait to build it, but it has to wait. Still?! I redid the images and they seemed to work. I viewed it from another device as a test. Edited October 26, 2016 by Supertom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Still picture issues. It's the last pictures of every post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 56 minutes ago, snapper_city said: Still picture issues. It's the last pictures of every post. Just out of curiosity, for those of you having issues viewing the images, are you using mobile devices? And if so, if you reload the page, are they showing up now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 (edited) I'm on my tablet. Yes I can see them now all apart from the last two pictures of you chopping the nose. (Curse the new forum for not having post numbers now). Tomorrow I will get a picture of all the Alley cat components for you. Also the metal barrel on my 20mm is slightly off being straight. I'm going to have to straighten it somehow. It's held in well and don't want to break it. Not sure how to tackle this at the moment. Edited October 26, 2016 by snapper_city Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 26, 2016 Author Share Posted October 26, 2016 (edited) I don't get it. All of a sudden Google Photos is randomly deciding to break the image links. This is infuriating. I noticed that the pictures that weren't showing up were ones that were differently sized, because the image link generated automatically sizes stuff based on the size of the window. Anything that was wider than the first image was automatically broken. I redid the links and manually changed the URL to reflect the standard sizes but apparently it didn't work on the last two, so that might not be it. Incidentally this appears to work only on Chrome. I thought it might have to do with image privacy or sharing, but the pics are all in the same album. Edited October 26, 2016 by Supertom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niki Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 I was just thinking the other day of getting the Alley Cat set, because I am also a bit "troubled" by the Fantasma The 'bit pricey Airfix kit (subjective, momentary opinion of mine, I know) has stopped me so far, but seeing your work (as soon as you figure out the pictures issue* ) might change my mind. Cheers, Niki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted October 26, 2016 Share Posted October 26, 2016 Windows 10, laptop... You should use Flickr, no problems what so ever 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niki Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 15 hours ago, Radleigh said: Windows 10, laptop... You should use Flickr, no problems what so ever +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 I too don't see all the pics, and I'm on my laptop. All are OK up until your post of Tuesday, when only the first 2 show. Same for your second post on Tuesday. I don't see any of the pics from yesterday's post. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supertom Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Would someone let me know if all of the images show up if viewing from Chrome? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 I'm viewing on Chrome, no change since my post yesterday. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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