moaning dolphin Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 That clear plastic looks quite horrendous, at least they have provided plenty of material for you to work with The reworked window looks a lot better, doing the same with the doors may even bring down the scale thickness. Excellent work so far! Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendie Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Personally, I'd be tempted to dump that glazing - or use it to crash/vacuum mold some replacements. It doesn't look like there's a great curvature on those windows so should be pretty easy to replace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 I did think about making replacements by vac forming, its what I did on the side windows of my Hormone which had irredeemable sink marks, but I have decided that the kit parts are worth persevering with. After sanding and polishing the windows don't sit flush (see RHS) so I filed the flanges to a slight angle and scraped around the aperture until a semblance of flushness was achieved (see LHS): I also reduced the width of the flanges as much as I dared and added the inner door detailing to one side: Here are both sides done: I wanted to make the cyclic controls next but first I had to get the seats to their final height. I added rails and adjuster bars to the seats: With the seats tacked in position I could get to work on the controls. Milktrip is quite right about the Extratech cyclics which are way underscale: I wouldn't have used them anyway. I am thinking a combination of 0.5mm brass rod and 0.7mm tube is the way to go. Bye for now, Nigel 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Lovely work Nigel, as always. I always find myself scrolling up and down your posts, then checking the scale... amazing stuff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louiex2 Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Looking nice so far and I'm glad to see you're tackling the glazing head on. Don't forget the fire extinguisher on the RHS of the pilot seat- it can't be an "Official Nigel Build" without one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 No problem Lou, I think I have the fire extinguisher well in hand. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 In preparation for the cyclic controls I punched out some 1.5mm discs and then drilled them though with a 0.5mm drill: I know those look a bit muddy but now they have dried out they look fine. Here is my first attempt at the cyclic, you can see how undersized the Extratech PE ones are: Before fitting the first I made the second one: Both were then glued in place: Well that's it from me for tonight. I am sure there will be plenty more tomorrow. Bye for now, Nigel 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Aaaah.....So this is what you've been up to! All the care and attention Heller lavished over their contribution to this kit is clearly evident in those finely moulded dual HOT launchers. Fairly sure you'll fix it though. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robvulcan Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 Beautiful work mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 Aaaah.....So this is what you've been up to! Yes, I have been beavering away in my secret lair.I was hoping to avoid detection but you have found me out. Please don't inform the others. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 11, 2015 Share Posted September 11, 2015 There are others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 11, 2015 Author Share Posted September 11, 2015 Few in number but stout of heart. I hope they are liking my current build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin56 Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Few in number but stout of heart. I hope they are liking my current build. Certainly do 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGKent Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Excellent places of pilots! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Coming together, those seat cushions look the business. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milktrip Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 fantastic Nigel. Cyclic sticks look excellent. Loving the details on the doors too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 I hope you appreciate that I like being' quite exclusive' Wandering along on one of your threads is rarely capable of that descriptor young man As Aaron says so graphically the detailing so far is great I'm glad the windows are thick enough to thin 'em, I dont relish another build where I have to trim acetate to fit inside a small 'ole I think I need to get a massive box of popcorn, you're bound to make me hungry soon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 If my memory serves me, you might need to be thinking about a stronger undercarriage, especially as you have added extra weight. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 My plan is to replace the plastic skids with soldered brass rod and tube. Its a no brainer really. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Well.....For you it is! I'd probably have wound up with a saggy all-plastic Gazelle TBH. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 Today I have added the collective controls. The kit design would have the central one standing upright but all my reference pictures show it at an angle so I modified the mounting to get it to sit properly. I also filed the back face of the blocky top to an angle. Then I scribed the rear seat cushions to give them better definition: Now for the battery. I used a piece of Blu Tack with the canopy to see how much space was available as well as thinning down some 2.5mm square strip: With a vac formed canopy there should be a little more room available. I glued it on being careful to leave a slight gap at the rear: Checking the upper binacle against its PE facia shows the PE to be slightly over size: There is not much scope for sanding it smaller without ruining the details so my solution was to pack it up with a strip of scrap: The acetate for the instruments is disappointingly blank, as I plan to paint the facia black I think one or two Mike Grant instrument decals are called for here: The Extratech rudder pedals won't fit by a country mile, they look a bit overscale as well: My first idea is to chop the pedals in half and glue back together with extra thin superglue, but the result is rather unsatisfactory: I think scratch building may be a better option. Any other ideas?Bye for now, Nigel 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Tiny soldering time Nige.....I'm sure you can improve on those. PS - Tend to agree with you about the acetate instrument sheets.....Spent ages faffing about getting them into my Bf.110 and you couldn't see a bloody thing on the dials even with a white backing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milktrip Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 very nice Nigel. Regards the pedals; I just scratch built them for my Gazelle. Unfortunately, they were already done by the time I'd started my WIP so no photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted September 12, 2015 Author Share Posted September 12, 2015 I have been trying to get a look at how you did yours but as you say there are no good photos. I think KT is right and if I want pedals they are going to be soldered together. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milktrip Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 I just remembered about the teabags!! Really sorry about that, I'll get them posted as soon as I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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