Army_Air_Force Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Cabin section today! While the firewall former is slightly narrower than the main cabin, it was attached to the front of the cabin block as a guide to the shape and size. The upper and lower edges were cut and sanded first. The sides were sanded next, running parallel forwards towards the firewall template. After sanding the upper and lower curves the brass templates were removed. Because of the saw cuts and sanding the ends smooth reducing the overall length of the front block, a new piece was cut for the cockpit window section up to the firewall. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) The new block was cut along the horizontal separation line and the lower piece glued to the main cabin section. The firewall brass template was then screwed to the front and this lower part sanded. This includes a slight taper inwards towards the firewall. The upper part of this block was rough cut for the windscreen angle. The windscreen section was then glued to the main cabin window section ready for shaping. In order to get the fuselage shape right ahead of the glazing, the cabin piece was attached up against the firewall for sanding. A spacer at the back kept it against the firewall and it was screwed through the brass templates from both ends. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Once the windscreen was sanded, a small piece was cut for the section between the firewall and the start of the screen. This was cyanoed to the brass template to hold it still and it was then sanded to match the firewall. The horizontal break line between the upper and lower cabin area was then covered in Sellotape as a glue barrier, the spacer and main cabin fitted together and a little thin cyano run into the joint to glue them together. This now just needs a little filling and sanding for the fairing that blends the fuselage into the screen. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipthepilot Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Really interesting build, looking forward to following your progress. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) Can you tell what it is yet? I'm pretty pleased with the progress so far. It's not been particularly difficult so far, just tricky working with quite small parts and sub-millimetre tolerances. The cabin roof will need sanding for the centre wing section. I'll probably make the centre section as a seeparate part, rather than it being part of the cabin casting. So that and the tail cone next and that will be the basic fuselage structure done! Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 That's seriously looking the part! I'm impressed at the speed this project is coming along and enjoying watching the Broussard take shape. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 No progress over the past week. I've been busy finishing some other projects for an "RAF 100" event at the local aircraft museum. I also spent a day removing and rebuilding my Jeep starter motor - a job more fiddly than scratch building in 1/700th scale!! I hope to get back to 'Bruce' shortly. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted March 30, 2018 Author Share Posted March 30, 2018 (edited) I'm still not back to the Broussard yet! It's been a busy couple of weeks with other projects. I had seven models to finish for the RAF 100 event at the Aircraft Museum this weekend. They are now complete and the last delivered yesterday. Here's one of them, the Airfix starter kit Hurricane in a 20 x 16 inch frame. The guys are now thinking about getting some 607 Squadron decals made for Hurricanes as they were based at RAF Usworth where the museum is located. My Jeep also gave me no end of starting problems, but the issue was inconsistent. I'd bought two new batteries to start with ( it's 24 volt ) as the others weren't doing so well. The voltage regulator was cooking them. Then there was the starter overhaul. The fuel pump was checked, coil swapped, electronic ignition swapped for points and back again, leads and wiring checked, plugs, and dizzy cap. I kept thinking it was sorted and it started well, then the next day, it would turn over but refuse to fire. With the first event now only two weeks away, I was getting desparate for a fix. There wasn't much left to test except the ballast resistor that drops the voltage prior to the coil. Earlier continuity tests didn't give reason for concern. This was now giving intermittent readings on resistance, so I used a jumper wire to bypass it and the Jeep immediately burst into life when I pressed the starter. It was removed from the firewall and while the resistance wire was intact, the core insulation was broken. I ordered replacements, one of which was fitted yesterday and the starting issue now finally seems to be solved. I could have done without the time lost to tracking down this problem, but it did result in the starter overhaul which was also needed. Here we are now at Easter weekend and off to London for a few days where my daughter is dancing at Saddlers Wells theatre. With two weeks of school holidays now starting, I'm going to have to do some child care on some days, but I'm really hoping I can get back to the Broussard at some point next week. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Family gotta take priority, especially for important stuff like Sadlers Wells. I'll still be here when you get back. I do like the framed Hurricane, it looks great. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Good work on tracking down the starter snag: fiddly, frustrating and time consuming, but no doubt ultimately quite satisfying. Plus you now know your ignition/starter system inside out! Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Steve, Well done for your persistence with the ignition fault - I hat snags like that though! Ultimately, very satisfying when you finally fix it. As @stevehnz has said, family comes first and that presentation of the Hurricane is unusual but impressive, certainly overcomes dealing with fit issues. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 Glad you got the Jeep issue sorted. Always satisfying when you finally nail the problem. Like the framed Hurricane too! Neat idea. Still munching the popcorn and patiently awaiting the next Broussard update! Best regards; Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted March 30, 2018 Share Posted March 30, 2018 First, big catch up LIKE! Great detective work on the Jeep. And I too like that Hurricane display. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 (edited) I had a very busy Easter holiday period, and none of it to do with modelling! However, my daughter was back at school today after two and a bit weeks off, so I finally had time to get back to the Broussard. The cockpit roof forms part of the centre wing section. While I'll probably be moulding the centre wing separately to the clear cockpit part, I still need to shape the top of the cabin to fit the wing - and that required - the wing! I found a block of resin which happened to be a little bigger than the wing chord and span and easily thick enough for both wings. After wet sanding what would be the leading edge on a flat bench, I ran it through the bandsaw, just slightly over size for the wing chord. This rough cut side was then also wet sanded, carefully measuring as I went, until the trailing edge was free from blade cuts and was the correct chord. The bottom of the block was then wet sanded flat on the bench again, and the block run through the bandsaw once more, this time set to a bit over the depth of wing. The cut side of this this blank was then wet sanded giving a nice neat slab to work on. Next, the cut side of the remainder of the block was wet sanded so that too could be cut to depth on the saw, and its second side sanded smooth. I now had two thin blanks for the main wing panels. This process was repeated once more on the remainder of the original block, and that gave me a piece to use for the centre wing panel with a bit left over for the tailplane. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 (edited) Both main wing panels were cut to the correct span and then clamped together. A styrene template was then carved for the wing tip shape. That allowed the tip shape in plan view to be sanded. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 16, 2018 Author Share Posted April 16, 2018 (edited) The left over piece for the tailplane was then reduced in thickness on the bandsaw again and the leading edge and rudder cutouts made. Neither the wing or tailplane have their aerofoil sections sanded yet. Even like this, it's looking quite Broussard like - which is a positive sign!! The components so far. Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Great progress :)..... It is great to see such skills Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Watching and learning! Gotta get me some of that resin! 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesP Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I think I may have some Model Art decals for a Broussard if you are interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Great progress, I like the way you are tackling this project. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillidragon Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I've very much taken to that aircraft... Is it going on general sale? I really, really hope I can afford one when it does. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Just read the whole thread again, just as good (perhaps even better) second time through. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 4 hours ago, JamesP said: I think I may have some Model Art decals for a Broussard if you are interested. I'm thinking of getting some made, as I need at least two sets of the specific aircraft shown at the start of the thread. I'll also need more if people want a set with the resin kits ( if the project goes well!! ). However, if you can post up a picture, I'll have a look at them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Chillidragon said: I've very much taken to that aircraft... Is it going on general sale? I really, really hope I can afford one when it does. These are the master patterns for some silicone moulds. I've been asked to build two for a customer, and there are several members here who have expressed an interest too. So keep watching, and if the two prototype resin models turn out well, I hope to make a few more to order. I'm thinking of getting some decals made, but may offer the kit with and without decals, for those who already have decals to use. I could probably offer the 300+ walkaround photos on disc as an extra for those who want to add extra detail. That will hopefully allow a price to suit a few different pockets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 (edited) A slightly out of focus picture of the tailplane, now sanded to section. That was the first job today, working up towards sanding the main wing aerofoil. I wasn't sure how thin to go on the trailing edge. I didn't want the master or the cast part to be too fragile, so I stopped sanding at 0.7mm thick. What do you guys think? Drop it down to 0.5mm? Edited October 23, 2020 by Army_Air_Force 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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