SimonL Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 (edited) Ok, first cab off the rank this Merlin which has been sitting 90% complete in the back of the garage for the best part of 4 years. It was already a second hand kit which I picked up at a swap meet. It's looking pretty dusty and sorry for itself. A little issue - I have no instruction sheet :-( lost somewhere over the last few years. I will need to check other builds in the forums to see where the final few bits belong. Pictured sitting on my recently moved and cleaned up modelling table, should have plenty of natural light to work by! (family had enough of me taking over kitchen). Edited December 23, 2015 by SimonL 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 12, 2015 Share Posted December 12, 2015 Oh got one of these to build so will be watching Oh and welcome to KUTA Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 Thanks Mish. First task, when I first put the main airframe together I attached the sensor thingies at the front the wrong way round. Doh. Some quick work with a sharp knife, flipped them around and stick them back on. Needed a bit of filler as well to fair them in. A lick of paint and it doesn't look so bad, still a bit rough though. I think I will try and use some PVA to smooth it out later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 (edited) Next the main rotor blades which I had originally painted black, but from looking around they should have been green with a strip of metallic edge to the blades. Took a bit of masking, but I think the end result is OK, just needs a few touch ups. Before; Painted dark green and masked up; Completed; Tail rotor done as well; Edited December 13, 2015 by SimonL 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Looking good Simon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Great recovery Simon, and it's great when one of these stalled builds finally gets completed- One detail for you, that should't be too tricky to include- if you decide to- There is a section of the Main Rotor Blade that has the metal erosion shield overpainted with the green- it's purpose is to stop reflections from the erosion shield causing issues with the Rotor Track camera. A couple of pictures here to illustrate- good luck with the rest of the build. Cheers, Troffa http://www.b-domke.de/AviationImages/EH101/Images/EH101_Merlin_HC3-10353.jpg http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/401-500/walk467_EH-101_Matthews/13.jpg 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 Thanks Troffa, is that section in green just on the underside of the rotor blades? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 Hi Simon, Its on both upper and lower surfaces of the blade. Cheers, Troffa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted December 16, 2015 Share Posted December 16, 2015 Nice work Simon. I'll PM you with a scan of the instructions this weekend if you want...just shout. Cheers, Dermot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Well done for getting back on the Merlin Simon, looking forward to you finishing it. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 17, 2015 Author Share Posted December 17, 2015 Nice work Simon. I'll PM you with a scan of the instructions this weekend if you want...just shout. Cheers, Dermot Dermot that would be very much appreciated :-) I think know where the last bits go, but it would be nice to have a safety net! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Some more progress, I painted in black surrounds to the side windows and windscreen (sealant?). Somewhat overscale, but it is a bit more like the photos I have looked at on the web. I painted the top windows with Tamiya X19 smoke as they appear on photos to be tinted. Under carriage wheels all done, looks like I am on the final stretch. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 (edited) Nice work Simon. I'll PM you with a scan of the instructions this weekend if you want...just shout. Cheers, Dermot Aahhh...so sorry Simon, my apologies. We're moving house for a few months while we get some renovations done and I've packed it away into a storage unit with all my other kits and bits... Hope it doesn't stall your build.. Maybe one of the lads here will sort you out for any parts placement issues. Apologies again. Dermot Edited December 21, 2015 by Dermo245 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 21, 2015 Share Posted December 21, 2015 Looking rather good Simon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 21, 2015 Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 No worries Dermot :-), I was able work out the last couple of bits by looking at other completed kits on the forum. Best of luck with the renovations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 22, 2015 Author Share Posted December 22, 2015 (edited) So close to finishing! Added a few little bits and pieces to the airframe using images from the web and on the forums as a guide. I then used my own homemade brew of raw umber acrylic paint mixed with floor polish to grubby up the undercarriage and the freshly painted areas on the main airframe. I've decided to go with it all closed up, will need a bit of PVA for the little window in the door as I have lost the transparency. Undercarriage on, tail rotor on and test fit of main rotor. Will be finished tomorrow, some minor paint touch ups and matt varnish and she will be finished. Edited December 22, 2015 by SimonL 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 23, 2015 Author Share Posted December 23, 2015 And finished! Couple of minor disasters while finishing her off, including a major issue with the front canopy clouding over. Managed to knock off a little aerial from in front of the windscreen, so had to paint over the spot where it had been glued. But it is done! Thanks for watching, and thanks for the supportive comments. More photos in the gallery. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted December 23, 2015 Share Posted December 23, 2015 Very nice Simon, well done 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermo245 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Very nice job Simon, turned out great! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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