AdrianMF Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Hello All, I have been permitted to bring my long-running scratch-build of the Fairey Long Range Monoplane across from the WIP section, here. I have reached the point where I almost have a set of basic parts. This has been a long time in the making - I first acquired a pile of reference material in 1997 for a flying version (didn't happen), and I've been working/stalling on this project for over two years. Hopefully being part of a GB will keep my posterior in gear so I can finish it! The Fairey Long Range Monoplane was built to capture the world distance record, powered by a single Napier Lion engine. Two were built - the first one crashed in an attempt, but the second one succeeded, setting a record of 5,309mi/8,544km from Cranwell, UK to Walvis Bay, South Africa in February 1933. The UK for two months held all three of the speed (Supermarine S6B), distance (Fairey) and altitude (Vickers Vespa) records. So it's got to here: I built the wing and tail surfaces out of balsa - the wing is OK as far as it goes, but needs cutting up to free the control sections and detailing to add the fabric wing effect. The tail fin and rudder need separating and fabric effects, and the tailplanes need to be started again because they should be about three times thicker than the ones I have made! The latest fuselage is made from a plastic card profile with card formers, filled in with scrap balsa and Milliput. The Milliput has been sanded away until you can just see the edges of the formers. This is my third attempt: The first two fuselages ended up being too small, so I have used one of them for experiments on simulating fabric covering, using fishing line and filler. Although I had some success with that I think scored plastic card (as seen in the picture) will be neater and easier. I'm back at home next week so I hope to be back at the bench then! Thanks for looking, Adrian 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted March 11, 2017 Share Posted March 11, 2017 Don't know why, but I keep reading this as a "Fairly Long Range Airplane", and imagine that the manufacturer was being "slightly optimistic" when naming it! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Real model making Adrian,how it was before we were spoilt with I.M. kit's a lost art now so looking forward to this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisk Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Wow, great effort. Cheers, Peter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 What an amazing project. Been searching for stuff about it and it is an incredible and quite lovely aeroplane. I hope it goes well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 That is some amazing scratch work Adrian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 It's wonderful to see this in the group build Adrian. Wonderful to see it full stop ! Its the sort of subject I could imagine possibly FROG having a go at long ago, one of the series with the Vimy and Southern Cross. A very attractive aircraft. I like the scored plastic card for the fuselage ribbing; it looks to me like that might be the winning technique Looking forward to this Best regards TonyT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted April 1, 2017 Share Posted April 1, 2017 This should be excellent Adrian Thanks for the reference to the Vickers Vespa too. I hadn't realised that it was a record breaker. It's on the 'to do' list for my Chaco War collection. At the time, the Bolivians particularly appreciated aircraft with good high altitude performance (La Paz being the world's highest capital city etc.), so it all makes sense. I've yet to find a kit, although there is a very small scale 3D printed model available. Cliff 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 9, 2017 Author Share Posted April 9, 2017 On 01/04/2017 at 07:34, CliffB said: Thanks for the reference to the Vickers Vespa too. I hadn't realised that it was a record breaker. I was rather hoping it would be the Bristol 138, but that was a couple of years later. Shows what a futuristic item the S6B was at the time! I have been distracted by the old Airfix Blenheim and work recently - I've managed to finish the Blenheim at least! So I can now get back to what I was subconsciously putting off - skinning the fuselage. I have got to here: Fuselage is at the top. I had had made a test skin (second down) from 5 thou plastic card, just for the sides, which looked fine. I made a paper template of that (third down) to include going over the fuselage to the mid line. I cut out two sides from 5 thou card to match the template. I scored the right hand side but forgot to get the stringers horizontal. This wasn't a total loss because it allowed me to check the fit of the scored piece and trim the other side accordingly (fourth down). I've now cut out a replacement side (bottom) and I will resume scoring tomorrow. Regards, Adrian 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Great stuff as always, Adrian! I would say I'm amazed at your work, but anybody who could turn the Airfix 'Il-2' into something that actually resembled the Shturmovik no longer amazes me. Best of luck on this one! It is a rather graceful aeroplane. Regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Adrian- look! I've found the updated thread! Thanks for the directions. Looking forward to more Fairey Monoplane action. Reconcilor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 It looks like you're very close with the fuselage skins Adrian. They look great as they are to me. You're going to beat this into submission, I can tell . Brst regards TonyT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Ah, this is such a bravura piece of 'from the ground up' building that it's irresistible. Great stuff Adrian. Tony 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 I forgot to mention- the cowling above has had a quick coat of Hu64 because I could feel bumps. The plastic is slightly more resistant to sanding than Milliput so I've very carefully sanded the bumps away (I hope). Thanks for looking, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Just found this agin too. I am very interested in your methods, especially the skinning as I have never attempted that before. I will be interested to see how that goes as I may have to attempt it myself one day. Great to see one of these lesser known types in the making - all the more interesting. P 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 14, 2017 Author Share Posted April 14, 2017 A bit more progress - I've had a frustratingly busy week at work and I'm just about to go away for two weeks, but I want to get the fuselage covered before I go. I have scored my two selected half skins and am wondering how to attach them to the fuselage. Plastic cement - don't want them to dissolve. Superglue - no wiggle time and not sure I could do it in stages. So: PVA. I have spare skins and spare fuselages so I'm trying it out with them first: Note the extra padding to make sure the middle of the curved area is pushed hard down to the surface. I will leave it a few hours to dry. Thanks for looking, Adrian 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 Hi Adrian Just had a chance to look through this build, simply superb. I feel such a fraud whinging about my Vacform now, with you making this one from scratch ! keep up the good work. cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 Fantastic work. I love to see a scratch build - I feel like I'm being adventurous when I use a resin conversion kit, but I'm in awe of scratch builders. This group build keeps sending me off to wikipedia to read about all the interesting things people are modelling. This aircraft flew 8,544km non-stop - I can't help thinking about what it must have been like to fly this thing for such a long distance. Its cruise speed was 177km/h - so it must have been airborne for over 48 hours. I doubt the in-flight entertainment was much good... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hmmm... PVA is not the answer. I need something with more grab. I will be looking for something else when I get back at the start of May. Thixotropic contact adhesive or some such. Any suggestions that don't come in 1L tubs for over £30? Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 This continues to be fascinating Adrian. Sorry, I'm way out of my depth here, and don't have any useful glue suggestions to offer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whirly Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 (edited) Hi Adrian, I would use 5 min. epoxy adhesive like this one: It gives you some time to position correctly the parts and it sets quite hard, also it doesn't harm plastics in any way. Any excess can be wiped off with alcohol. Just a bit messy because you have to mix two components but I find it great for acetate canopies and other "problematic" joins. Fabio Edited April 18, 2017 by Whirly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles.w Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 Good to see this one brought into the group Adrian, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles.w Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 .. & here's a nice summary on your subject that popped up online today: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/24-27-april-1929/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles.w Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 .. & here's a nice summary on your subject that popped up online today: https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/24-27-april-1929/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 On 15/04/2017 at 23:57, AdrianMF said: Hmmm... PVA is not the answer. I need something with more grab. I will be looking for something else when I get back at the start of May. Thixotropic contact adhesive or some such. Any suggestions that don't come in 1L tubs for over £30? Regards, Adrian Hi Adrian, For what it's worth, I find myself using two-part arildite epoxy more and more. Very strong, grips plastic and wood ok and plenty of wriggle time. Also very cheap and readily available. Only drewback I can see is it tends to be a bit thick and 'gluggy' so if you want a thin skin of glue might not be so great. And it stinks the house out!😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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