hsr Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 You would think that after punishing myself building the Unicraft Bird of Prey I would stay away from their kits, but when it is the only game in town what can you do. I have always thought that any kit is buildable but this one is stretching my conviction. Anyway as much to test out migrating to Village.Photos from Photobucket, here are some pictures; I am not sure that these pictures fully show the crudeness of the parts. Anyway we will see how far I get. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron1971 Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Ooh my word, is that an Airplane or modern art??? The very best of British sir!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 They look like Minions have been at them with a freeze ray! Good luck with this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 I am going to need to stock up on sand paper Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Drover Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 Holy smokes. Is there a model in there somewhere? Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share Posted June 30, 2017 (edited) I don't know. Part of the problem trying to figure it out is that there are no instruction, just a 3 view drawing. No parts list, no exploded diagram, no steps. At least with the Bird of Prey there was an exploded diagram. That way you can match up parts with the blobs of resin Edited July 1, 2017 by hsr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted June 30, 2017 Share Posted June 30, 2017 These Unicraft kits are a bit of fun aren't they? I've got their Trent Meteor conversion somewhere on the shelves, which was bought in a moment of weakness*, insanity*, euphoria*, delirium*(*delete where applicable). That was certainly not one of my proudest moments and ranks alongside my purchase of the Andy Pack Beechcraft Super King Air vacform (now that was a giggle). Best of luck with this one. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Ranger Posted July 1, 2017 Share Posted July 1, 2017 (edited) Those photos have convinced me to shy away from Unicrap Unicraft kits forever! Edited July 1, 2017 by Space Ranger Increase size. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 When it is the only game in town, you either have to go with it, or do without Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 So today I separated the fuselage halves from their flash and glued them together. The rest of the day was spent filling seams, filling holes and general cleaning them up. They still need work, but getting there I added a divider and firewall to the cockpit More work tomorrow 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share Posted July 1, 2017 just a reminder of its glider origins and huge wingspan 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 First time I've seen a kit manufactured from porridge. Best of luck - although you do seem to be knocking some sense into it already. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 She's coming on a treat. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Struth It looks like they mixed the resin with a whisk so they could get as many bubbles in as possible. Or it's isn't actually resin at all, but actually Angel Delight that has had hardener added to it ! I have some of the Unicraft Luft 46 aircraft which I have been too chicken to start, would you mind it I followed this to learn all your secrets cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 2, 2017 Share Posted July 2, 2017 Hmmmmm, it isn't a lot like the photos on their website is it, though the built two tone blue one is quite attractive in a come hither & build me sort of way. Is that what you're aiming for? Its a promising start you've made anyway. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 2, 2017 Author Share Posted July 2, 2017 2 hours ago, JOCKNEY said: I have some of the Unicraft Luft 46 aircraft which I have been too chicken to start, would you mind it I followed this to learn all your secrets Oh the pressure Please do, I just hope I don't disapoint. 2 hours ago, stevehnz said: though the built two tone blue one is quite attractive in a come hither & build me sort of way. Is that what you're aiming for Yes, I am just not sure what the colors are. Most pictures I have seen seem to use a dark green and a blue-gray, but their color quality isn't the best so it is hard to tell and I can't find any references. If I get that far I will have to guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 (edited) Last couple of days I have been working on the cockpit. I added some seats and Eduards bits from the spares bin. Then I worked on the canopy. The kit included a vacuformed canopy and while it was nice I hate vacuformed canopies. I can never cut them out right and it is so hard to make minor adjustments. And they only had 1 so only 1 chance to get it close. Once I had it cut as best I could I masked and added it to the fuselage Then blended it in and primed Next will be the really hard part of cleaning up the wings and getting them on straight Edited February 10, 2022 by hsr 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 4, 2017 Author Share Posted July 4, 2017 The wings are just s Swiss cheese of pin holes and bubbles. My technique, if it can be dignified with such a term, for dealing with pin holes is to * First give it a light sanding to smooth out the worst of the roughness * Then place a drop of thin super glue, in my case Zap CA, and spread it around the whole surface and let it dry. This serves several purposes; it gives it a shiny surface which will show the pin holes better, it fills in the low spots and some of the pin holes, and it adds some material that can be sanded without blowing though into the sub-surface bubbles * I'll then sand this smooth until most the shine is gone * Then repeat as needed until there are no shiny patches left. I have to be really careful here because all of the mottling you see as sub-surface bubbles waiting to be exposed * Then I will just polish until smooth Once that was done I cut out the overhead view from the 3 view drawing, taped it down to my work surface, whipped up a batch of epoxy and attached them with, hopefully the right amount of dihedral Tomorrow I will work on filling the joint 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share Posted July 5, 2017 It actually took 3 tries until I got the left wing the way I wanted it, but now I have that blended in and the tail surfaces attached. Tomorrow I'll work on the landing gear 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 I had hoped to get the first color of paint on today, but instead I spent time in pin-hole-hell. But I did blend in the tail feathers and get the landing gear on and, hopefully a final coat of primer. We will see what tomorrow brings 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 OMG You did great, turning a poor piece of rotted cheese into an Aircraft !!! Congratulations, I really enjoy your workmanship and tenacity Can't wait to see her finished ! Sincerely. Corsaircorp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 (blush) Shows what you can do when your retired and have nothing else to do Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 Looking good, it is a shape that grows on one. Note to self, "You do not need one" Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 Yes you do, yes you do 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 So I got the first paint color on. Not much to show since it doesn't look that much different from when it just had primer. I am a little worried of breaking parts off, the tail primarily, when I mask and unmask for the second color. But we will see how it goes tomorrow. Also concerned about the wheels and prop. The wheels don't look too bad; and I don't have anything in my spares box that matches, so I will probably just clean them up and use them. But the prop parts are not so good While the blades can probably be cleaned up I am thinking the spinner might be a total loss. I will have to go through the spares again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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