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Fifer54

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Posts posted by Fifer54

  1. well, I've been attempting "The Rigging" this evening. I started out using Aeroclub's lycra thread, but in the

    end had to give it up as a bad job. Not having the proper Cyano/Activator combination meant that I was

    mostly sticking the rigging wires to my tweezers rather than the model!

    So, I stretched some sprue and used that. That's why I have no pictures! I will need to use the "match trick"

    to tighten the wires up. Plus I need to clean up the mess I've made of the finish with all that glue.

    Still, it's my first attempt at rigging for many, many years- about 30, I think! And I do think the Tchaika

    looks better for it (or she will once I fix the mess I made!)

  2. First class.....................but it makes me want just sell the stash and collect stamps. :suicide:

    What he said!

    When I read Mr. Buckles' post about the scale, I had to scroll back to the top to see what scale

    it was, and my first thought was "f*** me, that's 1/72??"

  3. Nearly done, now! Here are some more build pix. The paint to the main airframe is done.

    pix001.jpg

    and

    pix003.jpg

    The decals (always a weak point for me!......Just one of many!) are on as well.

    pix004-1.jpg

    pix005-1.jpg

    and that's where we're up to!

    Clear coats and detail parts next then it's all over.

  4. Just a quick progress report. White colour coats on the upper

    surfaces are beginning to achieve coverage, but apart from that,

    I have to report that I haven't touched the Tchaika since new year.

    I've been in touch with Aeroclub, who are out of stock of the cyano

    accellerator that is essential for the rigging technique I want to try.

    I've never rigged a biplane before, so the rigging may have to wait

    as they don't expect to restock before the GB ends. Still, I'll press

    on. Does anyone know a good source for cyano accelerator (liquid,

    not aerosol)?

  5. Quoting from "Spitfire- the story of a Famous Fighter" by Bruce Robertson (Harleyford,1960),

    in his Type by Type review which starts with the Supermarine S.4 and works through to the

    Seafang, Robertson describes the F.XII thus:

    The Mk.XII (Supermarine Type 366) was the first Spitfire to enter service with a Griffon engine. It was a hurried adaptation of an existing prototype, and the completion of 100 airframes, already on

    production, to a similar standard, resulting from an operational requirement for a high-speed low-altitude fighter, capable of tackling the Fw 190s with dreated engines that were making 'hit and run'

    raids from across the channel.

    A Griffon IIB engine had been the feature of the Mk.IV prototype, which was, by1942, up to Mk. XX standard. By clipping the wings, it met the Mk.XII requirement, and when tests had been completed, one hundred Griffon Mk.III/IV engines under construction were allotted for production fitment. A new Spitfire order was not raised, but existing Mk.Vc contracts, which had already undergone several changes, were further modified. The 100 built emerged as EN221-238 and EN601-637 from basic Mk.IX production and therefore had fixed tail wheels, and MB794-805, MB829-863 and MB875-882 from batches of basic Mk.VIII airframes with the refinement of a retractable tail-wheel.

    Forward, however, there were pronounced changes. The engine mounting had been built integral with the power unit and the cowling was troughed to contain extruberances, consistent with the presentation of the minimum of frontal area. That this became a feature of the Mk.XII is evident from the Air Transport Auxiliary Handling Notes on Spitfires, which stated- ' The Mk.XII is a clipped wings fighter aircraft with a Griffon engine recognised by humps on the engine cowl'

    Flying characteristics of the XII differed considerably from all previous Spitfire types in service. The most important change was its tendency to to swing to the right on take-off, as opposed to a swing to the left of the Merlin-engined versions. A trend that was more pronounced in the XII than in subsequent Griffon-engined Spitfires, due, presumably, to it being the only Griffon-engined type with a four-bladed airscrew, as compared with the five-bladed airscrews of later models. In fact take-off drill was first to trim the rudder full left as a counter and in a power-assisted landing approach at low speed, variations in torque caused reactions on the rudder pedals.

    The Mk.XII formed the main equipment of Nos. 41 and 91 Squadrons and the partial equipment of a few other squadrons and miscellaneous units. It was restricted to home use only and was declared obsolete in February 1946.

    As far as is known, all the surviving examples were then scrapped"

    My knowledge of Spitfires is not great, but I thought that quoting this might put in context some of the facts that have

    come out in this thread, and provide some "meat on the bones" of the posts, for those of us who aren't Spitfire experts.

    My apologies to those here who are Spitfire experts! :sorry:

  6. Kitnut, as a newbie (relatively) to Britmodeller, I have to say how impressed I am with this

    project- it has (to me, anyway) a major WOW factor, and I'm really looking forward to seeing

    her finished. And you've taught us all how to create Pegasus liftjet nacelles from Harrier fuselages!

    :smartass:

  7. Further progress. I have now applied some colour coats.

    The underside in Humbrol Russian Blue- will be drybrushed

    in a lighter blue later. And touched up (oo-er, Mrs) where

    the hairy stick slipped!

    temp001.jpg

    Annnnd.... the uppersurfaces in Humbrol Dark Green (30), just to give a "camouflage"

    undercoat for the winter white finish.

    temp002.jpg

    Don't these big pictures show up every flaw!! These images are actually bigger than

    the model!

  8. Oh, go on then! I'll have a go! (at taking part- don't feel up to hosting)

    I'm sure I'll find something appropriate to put together.

    My Hs123 is probably too far advanced in construction, but does this

    timescale encompass the Norwegian campaign? If it does, would a bit

    of whiffery in the shape of an operational Spitfire floatplane be allowed?

    :please: :please: Or is that a no-no?

  9. Greetings, Comrades!

    Further progress has been made in constructing the glorious icon of

    Soviet high technology that is the Polikarpov I-153. The airframe parts

    have been assembled.

    007.jpg

    008.jpg

    In order to achieve the smoothest contours of the surface texture of this heroic

    aircraft, Milliput filler has been employed to ensure that the flaws created by

    Western saboteurs are destroyed.

    009.jpg

    The Lycra thread for rigging has arrived from the Imperialists at Aeroclub, and

    seems well suited to the job.

    A further report will follow soon.

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