Iain Ogilvie

Part - the third... My ugly mug from the early Naughties... Yes, I know - I haven't had much to update recently on Connies progress, but thought some of you might like to see a picture taken earlier on in the Spring (2000 if I recall correctly) at Hinckley Model Show. I think the picture gives a good idea of her size! The gentleman I'm talking to is the irrepressible Ted Taylor of Scale Models (and SIG Gallery) fame. You might also notice one of my other current projects - slightly smaller! - the Scratchbuilders Polikarpov I-16. Iain

Part - the second... Again - once upon a time: Well, here we are, another week on and I can honestly say that I have been working! These photos were all taken on Sunday 16th January 2000 using a digital camera that will only go up to 320 pixels in width - hence the lack of quality. Here is my prized new possession, bought specially for this project, a bench sander with a 100mm wide 80 grit sanding belt. This cost £69 from a local DIY shop - good value as this thing is worth it's weight in gold! Note the 3M mask - this is a MUST when contemplating work like this - note the dust!!! Connies Tip Tanks - exposed for all to see. The lower half shows the polyeurethane foam sanded back and the edges of both have been prepared on the bench sander. The Razor Saw lends a sense of scale! Both tanks have now been joined. Connies Tail Feathers. The two halves on the bottom have been sanded back, whilst the top two still need doing. It's amazing how much time is saved by using the bench sander - each half was prepared in a couple of minutes, rather than the half hour or so it would have taken by hand using the traditional method of a sheet of wet and dry taped to a flat surface. Be careful though, the sander is VERY aggressive and it is all too easy to remove too much material. The other problem to be aware of is that of heat - don't spend more than a couple of seconds sanding one area or you'll melt the edge of the plastic! The underbelly Radome, foam filled, prepped and ready to go, although some reshaping may be required later before fitting to the airframe. The foam filling has been 'locked' in place using very thin cyanocrylate glue (super glue). The distinctive top Sail, with the polystyrene components on the left (still joined to each other at the base) and the foam filler which has been removed whilst the two halves are separated. Before the foam was poured into the vacform shapes, they were sprayed with a silicone mould release agent to facilitate removal of the foam once cured. Here is the Port fuselage half with the foam plug removed - the plug is the buff coloured part at the bottom of the picture. I took the opportunity of comparing the fuselage with the plans supplied with the kit - they matched the plans almost perfectly. I just hope the plans are accurate! Once again, the Port half being compared with the plans. Note the now complete 'sail' fairing which has been joined using cyanocrylate glue and 'Zip Kicker' to provide an instant bond. The two halves of the sail matched perfectly, but there is some assymetry when viewed from above - easily fixed with some Milliput and a session with the sander! Well, if the drawings are to be believed, the tail fins are about right! (later found to be wrong!) Clucking Bell! - as they say.... More research needed here as I don't totally trust the plans yet. If the outer engine nacelles need moving and the wing tip extending it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Maybe the tip tanks are a little on the long side as well. I'll just show this photo to the next person that says the latest Tamigawa Wonderplane Mk3 has a slight warp in the wing, or a misplaced panel line! I get more fun 'modelling' than merely assembling kits - but each to their own! Iain

Hi all, A post this evening on using foam with large vac models has prompted the thought that I should post work to date here so that: a. It's more accessible b: I might actually extract a digit and crack on as she has become a bit of a running joke (well - the lack of progress anyway!) Early foto's quite poor I'm afraid - only digital camera I had to hand at the time - but you should get the gist... So - going back to Jan 2000 - in a Galaxy far, far away... Let me introduce you all to Connie - an elegant lady that I'm sure I'll be spending quite some time with ) Connie is the ID Models 1:32nd scale Lockheed EC121 Constellation kit (kit used in the loosest of senses - more a case of a set of reasonably accurate (so it would seem so far!) basic airframe shapes). This aeroplane is one of my all time favourites and when I came across the kit I had to have it. Needless to say, my fiancé Anne and myself are now house hunting - we need more space!! When finished she'll be resplendent in US Navy blue and white colours as an EC121K Warning Star. The moldings are reasonably cleanly formed on two huge sheets of polystyrene, roughly 60 thou thick. The box of Milliput placed next to the lower port mainplane should give you all a sense of size. This is the second of the two sheets. The first step is to fill the larger of the shapes with Polyurethane Foam, on order to provide some strength and rigidity, both during construction and once completed. Here's John Wilkes helping out by mixing up some foam - only use the two pack stuff, as the air drying type can continue expanding for a long period, causing real problems later! This was a big job and it's at times like these you need your friends (not just for the extra pair of hands, but also for the moral support and encouragement you need when starting a project this BIG!) First pour - port fuselage half. Don't use too much, this stuff expands like crazy! Starboard fuselage half - with foam in the process of expanding. All of this was done outside in sub-zero temperatures which slowed the process down and, we think, led to a denser foam. All the major components - fuselage halves, tip tanks, nose and radomes filled and curing. More foam was needed later! Port fuselage half and other bits removed from the backing sheet. Photo taken on my kitchen worktop on Sunday 9th Jan 2000 - UK readers will be able to compare Connie's size with the plug socket on the wall. Iain

Well... sonofjim - I'm really glad you started the thread (no pun intended) as I'd never come across it in that format... richc - and I'm really pleased you gave some background info on material properties... Thanks both... I may have a use for this on my sub

Lovely!

What Mr Sworld said... From the perspective of my favourite scale (there's a clue in my login name ) - for many years they were almost the only source of material - and some of the stuff they've tooled in the last 10/12 years - well - wow! And a 1:32 Ju 88 (and of such stunning quality) for under £30 - amazing. In fact the largest single manufacturer represented in my loft is probably Revell - including about 8 Hunters, 6 Tornados, 6 Sea Venoms, 4 Mirage - and a host of others... And don't get me going on subjects - they're the one's that came up with the 1:72 U-Boat - completely out of left field - and got me to re-widen my modelling scope and enjoyment. Iain

Some drawings here Would make a lovely subject in 1:32 and certainly doable... Getting more interested in classic civil stuff too Iain

From memory looks very much like the ID Vac + Paragon parts - am sure Neil will be along to confirm, or otherwise, on the resin parts... Iain

Hmmm... Good point - but I thought the walkway patters were different? <wanders off to dig out kit> BRB Iain

Thanks Walrus... I have been doing something - and that's hunting high and low for my vacform sanding tool thingy that I got from those nice people at Aeroclub years ago - it's a bit less agressive than my Bench Sander! Still not found it - garages next - then I can cut and prep the major sahapes in-between doing twiddly bits - and now that a *really* kind soul has given me a drawing of the Bomb Cells....

Tony, Brilliant work! I've sent you a PM re. Cunning Plan With regard to walkways - I thing the edging and the black areas should be included - but sep[separately so giving option of painting the black. Would also make them easier to 'fit'... Iain

Mia culpa guv - been a little busy with other stuff... Will crack on with mine shortly - maybe a few hours at the w/e Iain

Brilliant!! I thank ewe! Just need to find some time to do some more work on her... Iain

Oh feck... I've just succumbed too... It's taken weeks of willpower - but I've finally succumbed... I blame tonights bottle of wine... If only money were no object - I'd have one of each - but the Brisfit will do for now - in 1920's silver Roll on the Gotha - can't wait for that beastie!!! Hmmm - I have an itchy trigger finger on the Junkers and LVG too - I'm doomed I tell ya Iain

Sounds like the ID Models vac - perhaps with some of the Warbirds bitz that have been acquired separately? Iain

Sad - I remember 4(?) of them lined up at Abingdon after the project was cancelled...

Hi Robin - I suspect it was FS 34079 as per the later Starfighters etc.. HTH Iain

Beautiful model!

Bog - house sitting in Wendover tonight - so Wycombe a lot closer than normal - if only I'd read this yesterday! Hope the evening goes/went well!

http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/etihad.asp

Hi Tony - looks really good mate... Not made a lot of progress here to date - but I'll drop you a PM in the next few days (away with business) - I have a cunning plan... Iain

Nice work TurnerDad... What gloss varnish are you using? Iain

Hi folks - progress has been positively glacial as I've been working on real aeroplanes and going flying since the sun poked it's head above the parapet... Still - managed to get the hull washed (yet again!) and everything glossed ready for the oil paint weathering. Also dug out some figures - not sure which ones I'll use yet - but prolly just the resin conning tower set... Also got the finat coat of satin black on the base plinth and the aluminium pedestals polished. More this week, but I think she may turn out OK

Can't remember what I wrote (scare's me it was 25 years ago!!) but I do recall being pretty un-impressed... Not done smaller scale stuff for years - but I seem to remember the ESCI one being the best F-5A (clicky) - was that re-released by anyone else - Italeri? Iain

IIRC it is - and a little on the crude side at that... I reviewed it for SAM when it first appeared in the early 80's - best avoided IMHO. Iain