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As promised on another thread, This will be the AH1 version. Still early stages yet but the build is well under way now, Combination of styrene sheet build with ply / balsa, some vac-forming of parts and some fibre-glassing of parts. DSCF4064 by Mark Stevens, on Flickr DSCF4066 by Mark Stevens, on Flickr DSCF4069 by Mark Stevens, on Flickr Mark

Depron is plastic isn’t it, so this should qualify as a plastic model just about! if you haven’t seen microaces stuff, they are like card models - made from preprinted flat sheets, only Depron, not card. They use a mono block micro RC and a tiny 1C battery and fly really well, if a bit too fast for scale but hey. I thought I would have a crack at drawing and 3D printing the Clerget 9B rotary engine as the model requires a bit of nose weight anyway. I found a cut away drawing which made it dead easy. So draw one cylinder, circular pattern x9, done. Only took about 3 hours to draw, so I think some more rotary/radial engines will follow. i then modified the engine to fit the model. The tiny electric motor/gearbox has quite an offset angle to counter torque, which means the shaft doesn’t emerge in the centre, hence the offset hole. I also gave it some chunky arms to bond to the inside of the cowl. This is a flying model so there will be some rough and tumble. I had hoped to have it rotate with the prop as rotary (not radial) engines should, but the offset shaft killed that idea. Probably done me a favour as it would have been too much for the drivetrain and a lot of gyroscopic effect like the real aircraft had. I wasn’t sure how this would print as one piece, so I just left it to the mercy of Chitubox with just platform supports and low expectations! Amazingly it came off almost perfectly with no supports for the pushrods. The cylinder fins are too fine to print strictly at this scale, but even they came off pretty well it turns out. a bit of Ali foil to dress up the firewall and it looks OK i think. it even fitted in the cowl which was an added bonus. All the off-centre weirdness is hidden by the prop boss, so I’m fairly relaxed about it. I guess I could have straightened out the drive train and put some rudder offset in, but this is good enough without redesigning all the motor mount. heres a few more pics of the finished ac the rigging on these things is functional, it stiffens the aircraft up to an amazing effect. The struts are like a tough plasticard any you sandwich a 1mm carbon fibre rod to them with a sticker to make them double sided, the rigging passes through holes in the struts. Very clever design in fairness. I haven’t weighed this yet but I reckon it’s about 35g all up, that’s with the battery, so about an once and a half in old money - that’s a powered 3 channel RC aircraft with stabilisation. Crazy. We truly live in an age of wonder. Almost makes up for the election. Sorry got carried away there. Doesn’t obviously. Anyroadup, maiden flight soon, then I plan to do some air-to-air filming with the drones, that sounds like a fun job for the Avata as well as a recipe for disaster of course. Stand by, and thanks for looking at another slightly unhinged project 🤓👍 Nick

Okay folks. This is going to be a combined WIP with my good friend and neighbour Shoey. Shoey's grandfather Ron Gibson (Papa) flew the MkIIc in Burma with 11 Squadron. Ron served with distinction in Burma flying his "Buccaneer" Hurribomber all year round (even through the monsoon season) and survived the conflict earning a D.F.C. R.H. Gibson D.F.C. now lives quietly in Adelaide South Australia....a very much loved and admired member of his family. For this build I am making a Revell 1:72 Burma Hurricane (I actually had one in the stash before knowing the story) with modified markings to depict exactly Ron's aircraft. Shoey is going to add something different. Being an RC enthusiast he is going to finish a full flying version of his grandfathers aircraft again with modified markings. The basic plane is built but together we're going for some extra authenticity with some of the paint finishes, weathering and panel lines So that's it. It's a two for one deal (one small static plastic one and one huge composite flying version).......and we both hope to do Ron justice with our efforts. More to come soon..... I think I have model envy already Ha Ha!

OK. ive decide to get this kit but what size prop do i need? any help would be apreaciated MT in advance

So chaps, It's now done and dusted, what a great little project indeed. She runs a treat and is fast. First time on the water was last Friday. Click on the last picture and it takes you to the short vid clip of MTB running. Link to the build Cheers Dan

Hi May I first introduce myself. My name is Jason. I was told many a story of my Grandad who was killed in action during the late end of WW2 while serving for the Royal Navy that I became transfixed with the thought of doing the same when I grew up. During my childhood I learnt to swim, first under water then on the surface and I loved the feeling of the freedom of being beneath the surface, so a submariner I would become. During my early teens I joined the Sea Cadets as an introduction and hoped to join the regular service upon leaving school. But this was stopped as I failed the medical upon application following a motorbike accident, which I suffered a blood clot to the brain and was told although treated and cured I would not be able to deep dive.. Since then I have lead a full and fruitful life on the work front from working for others to owning my own company's. But in spare time the Navy was never far from my mind so I built model ships and submarine kits. Later to become more radio controlled rather than static. I have followed the Astute Submarine project for a number of years and always thought I would love to build a Radio Control Model version of Astute but could not as one did not exist. In 2012 I sold my last company and dedicated my time to create a Radio Control Model version of Astute and upon completion by using a mold I have made mass produce the model and sell to the general public, and calling the Company Astute Models. I do not have a website as yet as still in the building stage, your more than welcome to leave comments and follow on here or on any of my social media sites. https://www.youtube.com/user/Asutemodels Look forward to comments and sharing with you updates as they happen. Jason