Kiwikitbasher Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) I've joined in a Gordon Stevens Memorial Group Build over on HyeprScale with what will be my first attempt at a vac-build. Just to complicate matters I plan to use a Red Roo Mariner GR.1 conversion set intended for the Minicraft kit, plus the gun turrets from the Minicraft kit (Ed Russell of Red Roo gave me the turrets when I found out he was converting his Minicraft kit to an RAAF PBM-3 transport without turrets). For details of the Red Roo Mariner GR.1 set see my in-box review:http://www.hyperscale.com/2014/reviews/accessories/redroorrr7251reviewmd_1.htm Being new to this vac-form lark I'm off to a slow start. I must admit Rareplanes' plastic seems nice enough to work with so far. There are some shape and dimensional differences compared with the Minicraft PBM, so I anticipate a some dramas when I come to use the Minicraft turrets (especially with the nose one). I only noticed that the cockpit canopy was quite misshapen and malformed after cutting it from its backing sheet in preparation for trimming: I tried using the vac canopy as a mold for an Amazing Sculpt (like Milliput) master, but was none too happy. Besides, the kit canopy is not that good to begin with, if you're used to canopies by Falcon like me.So I decided to scratch-build a canopy master in order to better achieve the faceted effect of the lower clear panels, and would match Rareplanes' slightly inaccurate (IMO) overly curved shape using Amazing Sculpt for the top panels. I hope to plunge mold a new canopy over the weekend when I've sanded the Amazing Sculpt to shape and polished the master up. After basic filing and sanding down to plastic-card forms: I have a usable canopy after my third molding attempt. I would like to do one in thicker material, but I need to source something suitable as the scrap packaging I was using is a bit thin. But I have proof of concept, so work on the Mariner can resume now I know I have a workable canopy solution. Not a lot of progress. I made a representative flight-deck based on photos,cutaway drawings and the Minicraft kit. It's enough to convey the "flavour" of a PBM's flight-crew stations given the little that will be visible. I also cut out the portholes and windows which will be glazed with clear styrene sheet punched out and cut to fit respectively: Edited February 21, 2016 by Kiwikitbasher 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristol boy Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I always like to see Vacforms on the forum- I've only done one so far but have more planned. There's something satisfying about knowing the parts didn't come off a sprue! Looks great so far look forward to more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I like what I see, great job on the cockpit and new windscreen I have the Rareplanes and Minicraft kits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Great start ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crobinsonh Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Fantastic build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Thanks guys for all of your comments, I must admit construction of this kit is a fun challenge, I just hope that my finishing skills are up to preserving the surface detail! especially removing the little air-hole blisters and major seams of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Nice flight deck, I'm looking forward to doing that with my Mars! Keep up the good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Most excellent progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadrunner Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Great works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Impressive work on your flight deck. Looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Great, a vac-form build and a good start as well! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 Nice flight deck, I'm looking forward to doing that with my Mars! Keep up the good work I assume it's the Combat Models kit? How are you off for reference pics of the flight-deck? I have plenty if you need some, just drop me your email if you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 (edited) I have a few but more would be great thank you! I'll PM my email, thanks! A link to my build if you hadn't seen - http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234993191-combat-models-172nd-martin-mars-fuselage-together/ Edited February 18, 2016 by Radleigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Drover Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I've never built a vac before mark but this is looking interesting. You're flight deck looks suitably busy too. Tagging along for the ride. Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks Mick, I hope you enjoy the ride, or get tempted to join in on the group build with your first vac like me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I'll tag along with this too, as I have a Meteor F8 ongoing, although it will be pretty basic compared to this. Different type of modelling altogether. Amazing cockpit.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Nice start! Do you know which of the 2 (Rareplanes or Minicraft) is actually the more accurate re the shape and dimensions? Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 I'll tag along with this too, as I have a Meteor F8 ongoing, although it will be pretty basic compared to this. Different type of modelling altogether. Amazing cockpit.... Thanks Sean, I kept the cockpit fairly basic as not much will be seen, but I do still need to make and overhead console with throttle controls etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Nice start! Do you know which of the 2 (Rareplanes or Minicraft) is actually the more accurate re the shape and dimensions? Ian Thanks Ian, I don't know which is more accurate, but I differences have noted so far are: 1. Minicraft is longer in the rear fuselage. 2. Mincraft has a longer vertical section from the end of the planing hull to the beginning of the rear fuselage. 3. Mincraft cockpit canopy is a lot less rounded in both plan and profile. 4. Mincraft is shallower in the fuselage where the nose and especially the tail turrets sit. 5 Minicraft has a shallower up-sweep to the chine. At glance, I think Mincraft is better possibly 3, also 5, but less accurate on 1,2 & 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) Part 6, Turret test-fitting... The Minicraft turrets Ed Russell sent me were a good fit after some adjustment of the Rareplane fuselage. This was necessary in the main because the vac kit's turrets were not fully formed and rotatable; instead being simple butt-fit items. Edited February 21, 2016 by Kiwikitbasher 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 It's coming together rather quickly, those turrets look pretty good in there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 PBM Mariner - Part 7, Cockpit painted and some parts cut out.... A little more progress (forgot to blow the plastic dust off the cockpit floor)... It's coming together rather quickly, those turrets look pretty good in there Thanks Woody. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Oh wow - I hadn't seen this although I knew it would happen some year....... great work so far Mark - I'll watch with interest.One of my references says the conversion work done in the UK was "modified to absolutely minimum standard" so if in doubt, follow the USN pattern. PS - I hope you go back through all those posts and correct my name..... it's an "L" of a difference lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwikitbasher Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Oh wow - I hadn't seen this although I knew it would happen some year....... great work so far Mark - I'll watch with interest. One of my references says the conversion work done in the UK was "modified to absolutely minimum standard" so if in doubt, follow the USN pattern. PS - I hope you go back through all those posts and correct my name..... it's an "L" of a difference lol Thanks Ed, And sorry, I have a mate called Russel with one L, it's a habit. I have corrected the posts here and will try to do HyperScale's later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus.Q1000859 Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Great work Mark. Once you have cut the plastic free from the sheet are the pieces behaving like regular styrene? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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