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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

My current project is the venerable Heller 1/72 EC-121 AKA WV-2 kit. In another thread it was suggested that I do a WIP for it because of all the after market sets I am using and after some thought I have decided to inflict one on you . This kit has been on my pile for a few years, but early last year a fellow member of my modeling club brought in this magnificent build. At the meeting he went through the a litany of errors with the kit and the after market parts that he had gotten for it. After the meeting I sort of went on a buying spree and bought a boat load of them, spending far more then the original cost of the kit. So in addition to the original kit I also have, in no particular order: The Fisher wheel set The Plus Models Wheel well interior set. note that it also comes with wheels The Plus Models tail surfaces Fisher tip tanks Fisher nose Fisher radar set Plus Models engine nacelles and to support all of this the Scale Aircraft Conversions' metal landing gear In addition I got the Caracal decal sheet(s) with which I will be going for this scheme Finally I have the Ginter book as reference Needless to say my work table is covered with parts and and instruction sheet. So, I started by cutting off the Heller nose from the fuselage, painting and installing the Heller interior, joining the fuselage halves and attaching the Fisher nose. When I did that I saw that this band Was much lower then both the fuselage end and the transparency rear edge. I am guessing that mine was slightly warped. I used some sculpting epoxy to fill the depresion in and blended the nose into the fuselage I was at this point that I realized that the Plus Models from wheel well was not just an insert but a resin replacement for the kit part also that the front gear should be installed before closing up the fuselage. , There is not much I can do about the wheel well, but I will have to deal with the front gear later. Build in haste repent at leisure, sigh. The instruction show to add weight to the nose, but are silent about how much. With all the resin their suggestion probably would be off anyway. Using the #6 shot from 2 1/2 disassembled 12 gauge shot gun shells, relics from my unsuccessful attempt to take up trap shooting, I think I have it balanced to sit on its nose . Today I plan on working on the wings, engines, and tip tanks.

Does anyone know what color, if any, the wheel wells and landing gear of the WV-2 Warning Star were painted? I am working on the Heller kit and the instructions say they were unpainted aluminum. That is probably true of the civilian versions, but I have my doubts about the military versions. I have found pictures on the web of museum display Air Force EC-121's and it looks like the interiors were white. But those are not the Navy version, and you can't always trust museum display aircraft for accuracy. Anyone know, have pictures? Thanks Howard