rob Lyttle Posted January 4, 2018 Author Share Posted January 4, 2018 (edited) I'm just wondering if a little video can be posted in the same way... I found 6 of these in discarded window display Christmas stuff, still flashing away, No, don't think it works. Cute little strobe light beacon, I'm thinking Edited January 4, 2018 by rob Lyttle Test video function 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Apart from that little diversion, I've been dealing with canopy troubles (again!) But at least I'm not quite so scared of it. The decal zigzags - I can't remember the name or acronym they go by - turned out a bit foggy. Especially the larger front one. The amount of compound curve on the canopy was producing wrinkles and the carrier film was showing up like a foggy day. Decided to have a go at releasing them. I'd used brush cleaner before with some effect at releasing a transfer, but not on a transparency. You know the stuff I mean.... the instructions read " pour into a suitable non-plastic container...."😃 It worked and I lifted both decals and I've left them floating in water. The inside of the canopy had started to feel the effects though. But I set to with washing and my 1500 grade used wet, and then some metal polish, and another good wash and dry, and it's looking pretty good! Phew... Now, do I try again? Or quit while I'm ahead? I'll think on it. They should be alright floating on water, I guess. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 I believe they're explosive strips to shatter the canopy instantly before ejection. I know it would be a pain in the backside. You could try to paint them, or use very thin strips of pinstriping tape to do them ? I think you could get pinstriping tape down to 1mm, maybe finer? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 (edited) MDC ( Miniature Detonating Cord ) not to be confused with Model Design Construction. John Edited January 5, 2018 by Biggles87 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 I decided to put a"laugh" icon on your last post, Dennis . Really, that symbolises the results of my efforts to do any of that! I did read about someone designing and making their own photo etch MDC....! All I do is marvel at the skills people bring to bear on their build. Might have one more go at application of the supplied decals, and I think that's the limit of my efforts. So much scope for things to go wrong! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Oh dear I hope you get it sorted out Rob. I think Steve Friday was one of the blokes who made his own etched metal MDC chord for the Hawk but that was in1/72nd scale 😮. If all else fails it is possible to make a jig using a paper copy of the decal, some foam and a few pins . Wind thin wire around the pins then glue the wire to the inside of the canopy with tiny blobs of future/klear. Keep us posted on how it goes. Cheers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 On 06/01/2018 at 16:08, geedubelyer said: Keep us posted on how it goes. Well, I said I'd give it one more go. I went with the rear one as it's smaller, simpler, and in a better condition. Cleaned up, bathed in Decalsoft and floated on, it looked promising, until it dried off. I'd trimmed off the surplus carrier , and given it maximum care and attention. If I wet the surface it looks quite good, but on drying the mist returns. Likewise with kleer. All I can think of is a gloss varnish, and that will open a whole new set of issues. The front decal suffered more extensively and is currently in 3 pieces. So, I'm going to call it. Do a clean up, and carry on with something I actually enjoy instead! I wonder if there is a successful application of these on a build thread somewhere... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 That's a weight off my shoulders!😃 I've saved enough to facilitate a try with thin wire in future, if the mood should ever take me - right now I can't see that happening anytime soon! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 22 hours ago, rob Lyttle said: Well, I said I'd give it one more go. I wonder if there is a successful application of these on a build thread somewhere... Oh dear. That's a shame Rob. Sorry to see all did n't go as planned. I'll have a look next time I'm in the mancave to see if I've still got some. You're welcome to them if I have should you want another go. I'm pretty sure that I've seen successful applications here on BM but I believe the carrier film is always slightly visible no matter how much care is taken. Oh well, onwards and upwards. Embrace the bits you do enjoy. Cheers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buccymad Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 have you tried thin wire? use the decals as a guide ,trace the shape onto paper,push pins into the corner points,then simply bend your wire round the outline ,paint it and secure it in place with a little klear might take a few goes but it does work! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 I was wondering about a test project for trying out rattle can paints, and I found one of these on the shelf in the LMS ... Of course, when I got the wing parts out for a look, I started - you know, like.... wondering... I mean, it's the same thing, just smaller. Couldn't resist! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 17, 2018 Author Share Posted January 17, 2018 The general idea is the same - ending up with two prongs sticking out at an appropriate angle to fit into the wing t.e.. Sawcuts required in the upper and lower wing panels to accommodate the prongs this time, This is all dry runs and testing. Now that I'm sorted in my head about what I'm trying to do, I've decided to glue -up the wings and onto the fuselage, leaving the flaps area unglued so I've not gummed myself up when it comes to fitting the flaps. And assembled.... Once everything is nicely set and firmed up, I can do a bit of sharpening and scraping on the prongs if necessary to get a nice fit into their slots. That's the plan.....!😂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 ok so are you going to do a forced perspective thing when displaying these together ? All you would need is a 1/48th or 1/144th to give you a trio of Red Arrows. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 Don't know if you're familiar with these Art Deco style duck ornaments in USA. Very popular here in the 1930s- There's a guy on here who started doing a set of EE Lightnings, but the thread seems to have gone quiet. As for 1/144 scale.... I'm going to leave that to the watch makers and the crazy people....! This one is plenty small enough for me. My newly acquired Connie is in 1/144, and even then I'm thinking this is a bit fiddly! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goggsy Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 To echo the wire suggestions, I did my 1/24 Harrier this way - I formed lead wire around some pins to shape and then fixed it in place with klear. It worked quite well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 18, 2018 Author Share Posted January 18, 2018 4 hours ago, goggsy said: - I formed lead wire around some pins to shape and then fixed it in place with klear. Thanks for that, goggsy. I can visualise the feasibility of it, and I may have a go at some point. But I'll need to be in the right frame off mind. You put it on the inside, yeah? What Lead wire dyou use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 19, 2018 Share Posted January 19, 2018 (edited) Im thinking fuse wire or very thin solder ? I would think the individual strands of copper wire from speaker cable might also work ? Edited January 19, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goggsy Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Yes, on the inside, I think I got the wire from LittleCars at a show, it’s fairly easy to get hold of. At a push solder will do but might be a bit thick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 Sorry I didn’t hear about this sooner Rob. Some of my notifications aren’t popping up at the top of my threads. Shame about the MDC decal. Fiddly I know and too late but did you try cutting the whole thing out from the carrier film with a super sharp scalpel? I did a similar thing with the “no walk” lines on a mozzie I did once. It’s a real struggle to stop the decal flopping all over itself but maybe a thing for the future? good luck with the flying ducks dear boy. I’ll try and pop in more often from now on. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 How about wire from a telephone or data lead? Thinner than solder. I have been using an old telephone extension lad for years 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Thanks for the feedback on the canopy zigzags all, and moral support too. But it's on the back burner while I have some fun instead. With the little 1/72 mini-me... I got a couple of the flap pylons split, opened and fitted. Easier than I was anticipating, to be honest! Just 4 more to do...👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 Definitely better if both pieces stay together at the hinge point ( I found..!) I made the cut down to the hinge bulge and put a little dab of poly-cement to soften the plastic. Give it a minute, and ease the pylon open, another dab of glue in the hinge point with a cocktail stick, and leave it. Go start another one..... Those are the middle pylons, up next.... The piece of stretched sprue on the far wing is a temporary handle fix for one that didn't stay together. I'm operating at the limits of my fingers and thumbs here - beyond the limits, really! One more pair..... YEAYY! Working on the 1/32 version is gonna be a breeze after doing these, won't it?😂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) Keep telling yourself that. “It’ll be easy” ... “It’ll be easy”. Maybe it will come true 🤞 Edited January 20, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bar side Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 (edited) Remember doing all of that with my Dominie. At least I was doing 1/48 - 1/72 must be fiddly. Good effort there Edited January 20, 2018 by bar side 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 That does look very tidy, barside. And very similar in construction. Did you have to scratch build from bits cut off the wing? I'm not familiar with the kit at all. She looks great.👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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