fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 (edited) Special Hobby models belong to that kit category that could be best described as "I am glad they kitted it, I am glad it does exists and I can buy it and build it, I only wish it would have been a little bit better". Hey, I am grateful for some of their releases, I have built a few. But they sometimes present some issues: - Instruction of the type of "This part goes somewhere in this area, you figure it out" (as in this kit's landing gear). - Sprue gates that are often located in places that compromise fine detail (as in this kit's props, for example). - Wishful thinking (as in this model, where drawings -more like sketches- of Earhart's plane are presented, but you have no alternate parts (fuel tanks for the interior, nose lights, antenna loop, different LG mechanism, for example), nor details or instructions good enough to serve as a guide for the adaptation. - Resin bits that, if welcome, present occasionally fit problems. - Oversize small parts (in this case the dorsal fuselage vents) - Vacuum-formed canopies difficult to trim and blend with the surroundings. - No masks whatsoever, even if this canopy needs it, nor templates to make yours. - Inaccurate color calls or details (Earhart plane had International Orange painted areas). - The fit is not the best on some parts. - No locating devices per se, but there are marks for some parts. - Ejector towers and the occasional sink marks are present. Not difficult to overcome, but annoying. Yes, I know, they are short run technology. But somehow they give you a long run. Now, this was released in 1999. Later kit releases from SH have showed improvements. In any case, the two other Electra kits that I know of (Execuform and Dekno's) would require quite a bit of effort themselves. The model came to me with no resin bits, so some cheeky monkey at some point sold it second hand -to the friend that finally got it for me- without them. Thanks very much, you despicable rat. Not terrible, since the engines are very common (P&W R985 Wasp Junior) and can be ordered from different manufacturers of your choice if need be. The best, by far, are the Small Stuff (72113) ones. White metal "Vintage" Aeroclub (E012) and resin Engines & Things (72021) are options too. The instrument panel can be made; the seats, control column, etc., can be sourced from the spares bin or manufactured. The Earhart particular bits (mainly long range fuel tanks, navigator station and miscellaneous details) will have to be fabricated. We'll see if this one has better luck than its full size homologous and manages to arrive to its more discrete destination, the boxes where I keep all completed models. So nothing you don't know about: The particular bits pertinent to Earhart's version are fashioned, plus the parts needed to replace the missing resin bits. Fuselage long range tanks, first console, parts to make the LG accurate: General view. Some parts fabricated, some from the spares bin, some adapted or made better (like the props) You can see I didn't use the kit's bulkheads, which are inaccurate at least for this version, or the kit's props, which are quite so-so. Lenses for the nose, navigator station accoutrements, miscellaneous bits: Edited May 30, 2018 by Moa to add info 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickthebrief Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Excellent - another gem in the making. I know exactly what you mean about Special Hobby kits - it's a love/hate thing - but where would we be without them? Looking forward to following this one. Nick. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 29, 2018 Author Share Posted May 29, 2018 27 minutes ago, Nickthebrief said: - but where would we be without them? Indeed, Nick 😉 All parts have to be individually cleaned up to get rid of sprue gates, small flash and rough edges: 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 58 minutes ago, Moa said: Now, this was released I think around the year 2000, so it is not a newly released kit. May be they have improved. There is always hope. Make that 1995. One of their very first kits. They have improved out of sight. Recent kits are mainstream quality from metal moulds, but more mass-market subjects than their earlier efforts. But you can get good results from that L10 kit. See here (would be happy with that one myself) : http://s15.zetaboards.com/72nd_Aircraft/topic/812071/1/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 29, 2018 Author Share Posted May 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, Roger Holden said: Make that 1995. One of their very first kits. They have improved out of sight. Recent kits are mainstream quality from metal moulds, but more mass-market subjects than their earlier efforts. But you can get good results from that L10 kit. See here (would be happy with that one myself) : http://s15.zetaboards.com/72nd_Aircraft/topic/812071/1/ Good news, Roger, thanks for the update. And yes, splendid model! (Fortunately not the same I am attempting!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 29, 2018 Share Posted May 29, 2018 Good start and excellent work! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 29, 2018 Author Share Posted May 29, 2018 Knock-knock. Who is it? Fred Noonan. Come in. There is no door. Oh, ask the modeller to open one: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 3 hours ago, Roger Holden said: Make that 1995. One of their very first kits. They have improved out of sight. Recent kits are mainstream quality from metal moulds, but more mass-market subjects than their earlier efforts. Hey Roger, where did you find that date? Here it says 1999: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/132017-special-hobby-sh72015-lockheed-model-10-electra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Holden Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 6 hours ago, Moa said: Hey Roger, where did you find that date? It's my approximate memory of when I bought the kit. They did a few experimental WW2 aircraft first; then the Orion and L10. It was definitely in the 90s. i normally write the purchase date on the instructions, but that one is buried in the loft.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Great! Another Moa build. Martian 👽 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 7 hours ago, Roger Holden said: It's my approximate memory of when I bought the kit. They did a few experimental WW2 aircraft first; then the Orion and L10. It was definitely in the 90s. i normally write the purchase date on the instructions, but that one is buried in the loft.... I corrected the date above to reflect 1999. Apparently I was one year off, and you four. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 A cowl lip not completely formed, easily corrected with some putty and sanding: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Brilliant I'm in. This will be great would like one of these myself. Great work so far. All the best Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisTheBear Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Ohhh, famous pilot aircraft! I'm interested in doing this aircraft some time in the future, so I'll sit quietly taking notes and asking stupid questions, if I may. DennisTheBear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, DennisTheBear said: Ohhh, famous pilot aircraft! I'm interested in doing this aircraft some time in the future, so I'll sit quietly taking notes and asking stupid questions, if I may. DennisTheBear Of course, Dennis. I had many questions myself. After a very large number of hours on the Net and studying photographs, lots and lots of photographs, one can see that this same plane went through a large number of small modifications during its life. Window arrangement: window pane present or not on door. Additional large window aft fuselage right side or not. Landing gear: Retracting hydraulic jack or circular (likely electrical) retraction gear. Wire antenna: connecting wire to fuselage from mast to side or later from one of the wires midspan. Loop antenna: First faired directional finder, then small thick loop. Cowls: painted in Purdue University colors for Bendix race. Color trim: Like above, or no color anywhere: just aluminium airframe overall; or -likely- International Orange on L.E. (above and bellow) and upper surface of stabilizer, bordered with very thin pinstripe, likely black. Props with and without spinners. At one point at the beginning of its life the plane's pilot's hatch opened (quite stupidly) to the other side (hinge on the left instead of on the spine). And a large number of other details. Study your references and chose according to place in timeline represented! Cheers Electrified Edited May 31, 2018 by Moa add data Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Share Posted June 1, 2018 Some elements of the interior are assembled: The nose tip is cut to later represent the hatch: The plastic is thick, so some thinning is necessary: Shaving little amounts at a time from the inside with a rotary tool: The nose tip halves are glued. A vacuum-formed, thinner part will be later produced from it: Bulkheads for the nose compartment and the back of the restroom are fashioned: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted June 1, 2018 Share Posted June 1, 2018 You don't hang about do you? Nice work all the same! Martian 👽 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 (edited) The kit's windows are clear, but the sprue gates are rather thick. They have converging sides, not only facilitating demolding at the manufacturer, but also helping with press-fit: Only two of the windows remained in Amelia's plane, plus the one at the door and a larger added at the back where the restroom was on the right side (that are not present at certain stages, earlier -the door window- and later, the aft-most added window which was blanked). So the blanked windows are pressed-in and secured form inside and out with cyano glue. I will leave the "clear" windows for later addition: Edited June 2, 2018 by Moa to correct typo 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Brilliant stuff and quick too. Blimey I model at a somewhat glacial pace. Keep up the good work. All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Progressing nicely! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 The windows are covered with putty and sanded flush. A new door is made with its window opened: Drawings describe a canister for the physiological needs of the occupants, so one is made from metal: In consideration of the lady pilot, a wood seat is provided: Long trips require ample supply of...commodities. Here the toilet roll is being made from tissue paper: My test pilot, Alain Gilbert, approves of the installations with a sigh of relief: 7 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 Little by little more details are added. Door for the aft compartment, some plumbing, and the pelorus -a navigation instrument- (seen in the foreground): 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Progressing nicely! Håkan 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikolay Polyakov Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 Very attractive work @Moa! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 The parts that represent structure on the well are glued: The left rudder was the one with the trim tab, so don't misplace it: The cap for the nacelle is too large... ..and the walls of the cowl too thick: The cowls' trailing edges are thinned down: Now those caps fit in, but I think I will make other arrangements: The lower wing halves are glued on. Their chord is slightly shorter than on the upper wing half: A pass with the sanding stick takes care of the difference: The lower halves of the nacelle are glued at their spine: And positioned on the wing to set at the right width: Elevators are separated. This is not easy at all, the plastic is very hard, and the stab quite thick: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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