Pin Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 I voted for "Made In Britain" GB with Contrail Mayo Composite in mind, but knowing my pace and determination I'm not sure that I could complete the whole stack in time so I decided to do one step at time and start with Mercury. Contrail's Mayo Composite kit was a joint effort between Contrail and Airframe each providing one aircraft. Airframe S.20 moulds look very basic but buildable, will require a lot of scratch building, scribing and detailing to look right. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu_davros Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 I'm looking forward to seeing this build, I have the same kits but I've not been able to find a lot about the Mercury. Most pictures I've found are of the composite or of the Maia but very few details of the Mercury. Stuart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 30, 2015 Share Posted December 30, 2015 The S.20 part of the composite has always interested me so will be watching your progress Pin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share Posted December 31, 2015 This is what we have Outlined only the parts that I intend to use 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 A great choice Pin Cliff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted December 31, 2015 Share Posted December 31, 2015 Looks as though you are in for a festival of scratch-building. Those propeller mouldings certainly seem to offer more trouble than they are worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 2, 2016 Author Share Posted January 2, 2016 I prefer modern marvels of Proxxon rotary tools to old-skuul flat sanding 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Good to see this one taking shape already. A lovely shape it is as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepureness Posted January 3, 2016 Share Posted January 3, 2016 Now this will be one to keep an eye on, love the aircraft and with no injection kits around will be interesting to see your result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 4, 2016 Author Share Posted January 4, 2016 Does anybody have a photo of Mercury from above? The point of interest is engine fairing - is it "round" or "square"? These well known plans show "square" blending of engine nacelles into the wing as implemented on this model: I don't trust these plans much as I have already spotted several inaccuracies. This graphics shows more "roundeded" blending, although I don't have any photographic evidence The best views I could get are from Flight archives https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202424.html https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202285.html https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%200353.html but it does not answer the question Again - this is just a sketch, blending is "round" https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%200448.html Any hints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 4, 2016 Share Posted January 4, 2016 I can see no reason why the blending would be square and can't think of another example where it is so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Nice choice - I'll watch buid with interest. Does anybody have a photo of Mercury from above?The point of interest is engine fairing - is it "round" or "square"?These well known plans show "square" blending of engine nacelles into the wingas implemented on this model:I don't trust these plans much as I have already spotted several inaccuracies.This graphics shows more "roundeded" blending, although I don't have any photographic evidenceThe best views I could get are from Flight archiveshttps://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202424.htmlhttps://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1937/1937%20-%202285.htmlhttps://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%200353.htmlbut it does not answer the questionAgain - this is just a sketch, blending is "round"https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%200448.htmlAny hints? (opinion) I think that either: the engines in that build are too deep (top to bottom), or (less likley) that build set the engines too high. Double check before rejecting the kit items - those nacelles may have been scratch built, even if the wings came from the kit. Same image as your Flight page ( https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1938/1938%20-%200353.html ) Source: http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/airfields/mat.html Once the tops of the engines are lower (or whole engine is less deep), a square-ish fairing would be more reasonable. OT Did you find these links? http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-mechanics-of-the-monoplane-hydroplane-short-s20-mercury-news-photo/104415444 http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-high-winged-double-floater-monoplane-hydroplane-short-s-news-photo/104414908 Right click on images in linls for a better/larger views Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Nice to see some civil subjects being cover in the GB. Very interested how you go with this Pin Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Robert, thanks for your opinion, I agree - the engine nacelles are way too high on the model (and on the plans provided), either simply installed too high or the dimensions are wrong (or both). By all means - the engines from the kit are barely usable. The dimensions of Napiers are well know - will check The shape of the fairing remains unclear though 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Just a thought. Looking at the plans, (#10) and the thickness of the wing, perhaps the square fairing is not a faring at all but where the rise of the wing surface meets the depth of the engine nacelle. If so, this would give the squared off appearance as no aerodynamic faring would be needed to blend the nacelle and wing together, (i.e. as seen in the Bristol Blenheim). just my Christian, exiled to africa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Christian, looking at these pictures I don't think the wing is that thick Quite an informative video - still does not answer the question Probably the best view - nacelles look squarish to me https://youtu.be/UiD6a6v4KkQ?t=21 Hmmm... https://youtu.be/zDx5pr_2OF0?t=42 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Oh - yesssss - engine covers are clearly visible lying on the wing. https://youtu.be/zDx5pr_2OF0?t=48 I guess this question is answered 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I was going to suggest rounded and blended in, surely that's more aerodynamic? Good choice of kit though Pin, looking forward to seeing this come together Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wyverns4 Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Hmmm, yet another problem with the plans shown above! You are quite right, the wing is not that thick and these photos do show a small step on the dorsal wing surface, which does look to resemble a rounded, pen nib style of aerodynamic fairing. This site is great! Christian exiled to the dark place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Expanding foam works just great! Above - foam is cured, trimmed and sanded, fresh foam below 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Combined the plans from the kit with a photo - not too bad 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Seen worse shaped bits of plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share Posted January 10, 2016 I was asked how I cut parts using rotary tool. Here is my Proxxon Micromot magic rotary tool ( Dremel? Never heard ) As usual, I start with outlining the part with permanent marker It is easier to cut from the opposite side where the edges are more clearly visible I leave 1-2 mm. clearance from part edge, holding the cutting ring slightly inclined outside outer surface of the part Stage one complete The next step is cut out "horisontal" excess of plastic. Again, the disc is sligtly inclined outside to prevent touching of outer surface These "tails" tend to vibrate then they are too long, so I cut or simply tear them off periodically The last step - remove remaining "white" margins This time I don't cut but sand. Melted plastic residue, easily breaking off with fingers Sanding on the surface is still needed, but not much - a couple of frictions yield to smooth and flat part edge The whole process from plugging the tool ( it shares power socket with airbrush compressor ) takes less than 10 minutes - quick and easy 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 Thanks Pin That looks more like it, I've always been put off building my vacforms, by the thought of dying of old age slumped over a sheet of sandpaper surrounded by banana shaped bits of plastic ! However this method although not for the faint hearted looks much more do-able. Cheers Pat 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted January 24, 2016 Author Share Posted January 24, 2016 Cockpit. Not much will be seen once closed so I did not spend much on it Glazing. Will be polished to transparency once closed Old trick to make trailing edges razor sharp - literally - "use metal blade" 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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