Airfix F-27

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

With all the talk about the Airfix F-27 reissue I have started one of mine.

I will sand all the detail off, it is hard to keep it intact with the sanding required.

I have removed the undersized tail fillet here and will replace with a resin part, the replacement is still not the right size but I am not worrying about it (it is still a little short). I have also filled the cabin window openings with epoxy and superglue instead of using the undersized transparency pieces. I am using an aftermaket decal that has cabin windows on it so I am not concerned about keeping the openings clear.

The replacement fillet is in place here as are the replacement intake scoop and the fairing behind the horizontal stab mount. Some more filling has been done since this shot was taken.

Here is the dissappointing part of the kit, the new radar nose. You would think the guys that did the tooling would make an effort to at least get the nose shape right! In the left hand picture the nose has been attached, you can see the bulge after the join. I think it must be the AEW version that Fokker proposed to the RAF is using the leftover Nimrod radomes on.

The nose is actually very pointed. I have tried to reshape it in the picture on the right, fortunately the new nose plastic is quite thick so a fair bit of material can be removed.

Here is a side shot of the nose after a lot of filing.

Back to the bench...

Edited December 12, 2009 by TrojanThunder

[richellis]

Ive got mine to this stage. the nose does take some work!

[Toe]

Looking good, in 2 minds whether to cough up and get one, you'll make my mind up for me, now get it finished!

Oh, and happy birthday for yesterday, mine too, wriggled the day off work, Friday night saw Zombieland at pictures and had Indian Takeaway and last night on the razzle for first time in months with couple of friends, not the same as when you're young though!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Ive got mine to this stage. the nose does take some work!

I used my trusty BIG file to hack the nose down, it works a treat in times like this.

Looking good, in 2 minds whether to cough up and get one, you'll make my mind up for me, now get it finished!

Oh, and happy birthday for yesterday, mine too, wriggled the day off work, Friday night saw Zombieland at pictures and had Indian Takeaway and last night on the razzle for first time in months with couple of friends, not the same as when you're young though!

Thanks Steve, and a Happy one to you as well. we had a quiet day if you can call running around getting the older boy toa softball game and then fixing a noisey toilet cistern We did get out for a nice feed at a steakhouse in the evening though.

I think I have gotten over the difficult part of the build, the rest should be a down hill run. I will keep you all updated.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Some progress to report.

Here it is with wings on and a test print of the decal sheet to be used.

So the big thing stopping me was the replacement gear, so I attacked them tonight. Here is a comparison of the kit and resin gear, you can see the resin attachement points are wider than the kit ones.

because the rear part of the strut is straight I had to separate the top section and pin it at a more appropriate angle

Side view test fit in the wells.

and finally with one installed, I had to cut down the attachment points to make them fit in the locating holes and slots for the kit gear. Some cutting, drilling and pinning got the job done.

So once I have the other strut assembled and in place I will need to putty and sand both nacelles before attaching to the wings. Did you notice the sink marks on the rear of the untaped nacelle?

That's it for now.

[Martian]

Following this one with interest!

Martin

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I now have the nacelles together and on the wings.

I just thought I would point out a trap for young players. I had one nacelle glued and and test fitted the other putting it on its gear...and gues what? It was a tail sitter!

I thought I had enough lead in the nose cone, it was not the case. Fortunately I was able to slip some more weight into the forward part of each nacelle. So after ensuring it would not be tail sitting I glued the other nacelle in place.

So next is masking the windscreen and installing it and then cleaning up the resin wheels and finishing up the other fiddly bits.

[AAbshier]

Some progress to report.

So the big thing stopping me was the replacement gear, so I attacked them tonight. Here is a comparison of the kit and resin gear, you can see the resin attachement points are wider than the kit ones.

because the rear part of the strut is straight I had to separate the top section and pin it at a more appropriate angle

So once I have the other strut assembled and in place I will need to putty and sand both nacelles before attaching to the wings. Did you notice the sink marks on the rear of the untaped nacelle?

That's it for now.

Nice work on the F-27, one of my favorite types!

Who makes replacement gear for the model? The icky landing gear in the kit was one thing holding me back from building one.

Andy

[Mr B]

Looks like a winner in the making mate

hope to see it done soon

best

mr b

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Nice work on the F-27, one of my favorite types!

Who makes replacement gear for the model? The icky landing gear in the kit was one thing holding me back from building one.

Andy

Hi Andy,

The update set is from Hamilton Hobbies. A small Aussie cottage firm. He does very limited run conversions (ie until the moulds brake )

He doesn't have a website but posts his stuff for sale over at the AussieModeller International forums when they become available.

[pacificmustang]

Great build Ray, watching with interest as I have one on the pile to do as an MMA aircraft

Regards

Bruce

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Cheers Bruce,

I have fitted the windscreen now after a little hassle. I had futured and masked it up only to find the clear peice is slightly too wide. So I glued it in and had to sand it back flush with the cockpit walls. So much for the masking! After polishing it up I re-futured it and found some glue had got on the inside of one of the panels. I am in 2 minds about painting over and using a decal or remasking it.

Edited November 26, 2009 by TrojanThunder

[atdb27]

I have fitted the windscreen now after a little hassle. I had futured and masked it up only to find the clear peice is slightly too wide. So I glued it in and had to sand it back flush with the cockpit walls. So much for the masking! After polishing it up I re-futured it and found some glue had got on the inside of one of the panels. I am in 2 minds about painting over and using a decal or remasking it.

Bugger!

Another area to look out for then Ray?

Perhaps fit/sand/polish/ then future?

We do love life's little challenges don't we!

Adrian

[Jeff Wilson]

I have fitted the windscreen now after a little hassle. I had futured and masked it up only to find the clear peice is slightly too wide. So I glued it in and had to sand it back flush with the cockpit walls. So much for the masking! After polishing it up I re-futured it and found some glue had got on the inside of one of the panels. I am in 2 minds about painting over and using a decal or remasking it.

G'day Ray. What did you glue the transparency in with? If it's white glue, then you can ease it out with water and patience, then start again. If it's something a little more sticky, then destroy the transparency that's in there and, as it's basically all flat panels, replace it with clear styrene sheet. Fiddle with paper and a ruler until you have the shape right, cut it from clear sheet and score the framelines in on the back with a scriber. Then you can bend it to shape along the framelines, run a miniscule amount of Tamiya thin cement along the lines to hold them in place, future it and slot it in. A lot of hassle, but it's either that or settle back with a coldie, put it down to experience and paint it black.

FWIW, the rest of the build is coming along well.

Jeff

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Bugger!

Another area to look out for then Ray?

Perhaps fit/sand/polish/ then future?

We do love life's little challenges don't we!

Adrian

Yes Adrain, I think that would be the way to go, I will do that with the other 3 4 I have in the stash.

I just wish I had a few less challenges and a few more easy wins!

G'day Ray. What did you glue the transparency in with? If it's white glue, then you can ease it out with water and patience, then start again. If it's something a little more sticky, then destroy the transparency that's in there and, as it's basically all flat panels, replace it with clear styrene sheet. Fiddle with paper and a ruler until you have the shape right, cut it from clear sheet and score the framelines in on the back with a scriber. Then you can bend it to shape along the framelines, run a miniscule amount of Tamiya thin cement along the lines to hold them in place, future it and slot it in. A lot of hassle, but it's either that or settle back with a coldie, put it down to experience and paint it black.

FWIW, the rest of the build is coming along well.

Jeff

Hi ya Jeff!

Been meaning to drop you an email, how's things?

I used Tamiya thin cement to put it in there. I think I will leave it in, mask it up and if the mark is too obvious whenthe tape comes off then I will just use the decal windscreen on the sheet. The mark is not that obvious in the picture (centre left panel is the affected one).

[Calum]

Hmm Ray . somethings wrong here............

I've got it ... there's not a tube of Sqn Green covering the kit

Nice work so far on what looks like it's not the easiest of builds.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Hmm Ray . somethings wrong here............

I've got it ... there's not a tube of Sqn Green covering the kit

Nice work so far on what looks like it's not the easiest of builds.

Hmmm.. I wonder if reducing the use of putty limits green house gas emissions? If so I am doing my part with this build

Thanks Calum.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Well the F-27 is now ready for paint, the windscreen is now masked and I now looking forward (not!) to priming and more filling

Photos to follow when I find the camera cable!

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Ok, some pictures are now available.

Cockpit masked

Seams sprayed underneath

Seams sprayed on top

...and boy doesn't it look good! Well as I thought a bit of work to do to tidy up some divots.

Edited December 3, 2009 by TrojanThunder

[NZKIWI]

I have only just come across this thread nice work . Back tracking a little the new u/c looks like it is a little longer than the original , is this true and thus is the original too short?

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

I have only just come across this thread nice work . Back tracking a little the new u/c looks like it is a little longer than the original , is this true and thus is the original too short?

I had not noticed until you brought it up. Yes it looks like the resin gear is taller. I suspect it should mount higher in the wheel well. I need to drag out my Esci kit and see if these are copies of that kit's gear. In this case I have used the original mounting points and the back end will probably sit high.

Something to remember for the next one.

[atdb27]

...and boy doesn't it look good! Well as I thought a bit of work to do to tidy up some divots.

Oh Yes Ray,

She does look good indeed bud!

Coming along nicely and the end is not too far away?

Adrian

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Oh Yes Ray,

She does look good indeed bud!

Coming along nicely and the end is not too far away?

Adrian

Thanks Adrian,

Yes, if I can remove the digit and do a little more filling and sanding. Been concentrating on my KUTA II build lately.

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Update time, first paint colour is on. I have found a few blemishes that need sanding and paint reapplied, hope to carry on with it this afternoon.

[Peter B]

Update time, first paint colour is on. I have found a few blemishes that need sanding and paint reapplied, hope to carry on with it this afternoon.

Hi Ray,

I have only just caught this thread. This is looking really nice. Inspirational build. You have given a new meaning to the saying, 'Patience is a virtue'. Great stuff and I am looking forward to the finished article.

BTW pass me one of those Cadburys Light Vanillas please.

Peter