stevehnz Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeusa Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 I cannot believe there is a kit of the Yo Yo out there. Granted, from your pictures, stating it is a kit is a bit of an extension. I have always wanted to find one of these to make. They were facscinating in Vietnam as they could be 100 feet above your head and if there was a breeze, you would not know they were there. From the ground, the only way you could tell one was around is if you noticed the obscure, low key vibration sound that was not a natural rhythm sound emitted in the jungle. It was more of a feeling than sound itself. I only realized they were observing us maybe half the times they were which was unusual as much didn't get past me. So far, you are doing a tremendous job of putting together plastic blobs with just a semblance to kit parts. There was more than one camo scheme for them even though I don't think more than about 10 aircraft were ever present at one time. Do you know what you will use as your paint scheme? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 (edited) I am going to be doing a 2 tone wrap around scheme using FS 36251 and FS 36081. I only use Humbrol paint so that will be HU32 and HU126. Thanks Howard Edited July 8, 2017 by hsr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 1 hour ago, stevehnz said: Steve. ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Looking at those prop blades, that'd make me feel for sure. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 I think I found some replacements I can use and I came up with an idea for the spinner. I'll know more tomorrow. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 I managed to mask and spray the second color today. Unfortunately there was some breakage as I had feared. Not the tail, but I managed to break off the right wing , twice The first time during masking I dropped it so it was fairly easy to fix and then mask so that the repaired area was painted the second color. But then it broke again when I was removing the mask. The original gluing was done with epoxy so I would be able to adjust the fit. The first break I fixed with super glue and that seemed strong enough, but I guess it wasn't. Not sure how I will fix this second break. On the positive side I think I have a solution to the spinner problem using the tip of a spare fuel tank. Tomorrow is another day 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 So drilled a few small holes in the wing and wing root in the hopes that glue will fill these and make the joint stronger. I then mixed up some more epoxy and it is now whole again I am going to let the epoxy harder overnight and then sand and smooth the seams. I think I will brush paint the thinned paint in several light coats rather the mask and spray again 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 So yesterday I blended in the repair. After thinking about it I concluded that I would need to prime the now bare sections of resin before I can paint over them. So I decided to repeat the process of priming and then respraying the 2 primary colors. I just hope that I don't repeat the part about breaking something off again. I will not bore you with posting new pictures that look identical to ones I posted a few days ago so I won't be documenting that process. I was able to cobble together a satisfactory prop and spinner after several abortive attempt Hopefully I will be back in a couple of days with some real progress. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 12, 2017 Author Share Posted July 12, 2017 I'm baaack. . I have recovered from the broken wing and have repainted the the camouflage colors and some of the details. As long as I don't break it again I should spray gloss for the few decals tomorrow , apply them Friday and finish with a flat coat and final assembly Saturday. Back then if all goes well 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Yup, thats real progress & looking far better than its any right to, given what you began with & the pitfalls along the way, good going. Steve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 Admit it; you threw away the original "kit" and scratch built a replacement, didn't you? An astonishing transformation, which (as you say) somewhat redefines "unbuildable"... Bravo, sir! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 An amazing transformation. I have toyed with purchasing this kit but I'm not sure now. A great build. Well done. BM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 Thanks guys, but so much can go wrong between now and the finish line I don't want to claim victory until it is done-done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 It is extraordinary what you have done with some of the worst parts I have ever seen! Martian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 I have a 1/72 Merlin Models HOK-1 in the stash. It must be in the running for worst ever plastic model kit ever released. The Andy Pack King Air has nothing on it! It appears that there is a reasonable kit hiding under all the flash and roughness in this YO-3 Unicraft kit. I'm not sure the Merlin Models kit can be turned into anything resembling an aircraft. Ironically, I think Unicraft have a Kaman HOK-1 in the offing! This YO-3 build is a great example of the fact that there is more to modelling than the latest Airfix/Hasegawa (etc) kit. There is all sorts of exotica out there if you are prepared to put in the work. This build is a good lesson in what can be achieved with a seemingly unbuildable model kit. BM. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 My guess is that Unicraft kits start out good, but their molds deteriorate quickly and rather then waste more RTV for a limited run kit they just push them too hard and this is the result. So if you can get one when it first is release it will probably be much better. In this case I guess the molds were a bit long in the tooth, but there were good parts in there just waiting to be released from all that flash. Thanks Howard 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booty003 Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 That is some incredible effort and skill there, never even knew of this aircraft! Well done that man. Phil 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 (edited) I never heard of it either until I picked up a copy of Squadrons U.S. Army Aviation in Vietnam and it had a small section and some pictures. So when I saw there was a kit of it, I just had to have it. Thanks Howard Edited July 13, 2017 by hsr fixed book title Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted July 13, 2017 Share Posted July 13, 2017 That is a pretty incredible job on some very unpromising materiel. Looked at Unicraft kits in the past, but they have never done much that excites me enough to part with the cash. Butt joints on resin kits (or on injection moulded for that matter) I always think area bit iffy and i drill holes and superglue or epoxy some brass rod to stiffen the joint up 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 13, 2017 Author Share Posted July 13, 2017 I thought about doing that but the wing profile was so thin I didn't think I could drill it thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted July 14, 2017 Share Posted July 14, 2017 I just read the whole build thread. Take a bow, well done . It's quite inspiring to see that 'Angel Delight' transformed into a very interesting and individual scale model aircraft. This reminds me of a quote attributed to Michaelangelo: "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it." In this case, it's resin, not stone . Superglue seems to go very brittle; I had a problem like yours with a couple of kits last year. I know what you mean about drilling into the very narrow wing. I resorted to buying a tiny 0.2mm drill and some wire. It has held since. I thought I'd mention it 'just in case'. Very nice work, thanks for sharing the build, Best regards TonyT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 14, 2017 Author Share Posted July 14, 2017 Thanks. Working on the decals today 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted July 15, 2017 Share Posted July 15, 2017 I imagine you have already seen this website but if not, it is useful for fans of the YO-3. http://www.yo-3a.com/ BM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsr Posted July 15, 2017 Author Share Posted July 15, 2017 Yes, that is where I was able to get the correct colors from. See Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now