BIG X Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 With the first wheel being pre-made from a previous build it was time to make the second... Horrible rubber tyres again... So that completes Saturdays work - quite a decent leap forward. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antb Posted July 1, 2018 Share Posted July 1, 2018 Top work mate. Interesting that the IP has the same issue wouldn't have thought it would have had. I thought it would just have got damaged or whatever but guess not. On the plus side look how far kits have come since this one. Thank goodness we have much better ones nowadays. Just need to build one though instead of setting these challenges 🤣 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 1, 2018 Author Share Posted July 1, 2018 28 minutes ago, Antb said: Top work mate. Interesting that the IP has the same issue wouldn't have thought it would have had. I thought it would just have got damaged or whatever but guess not. On the plus side look how far kits have come since this one. Thank goodness we have much better ones nowadays. Just need to build one though instead of setting these challenges 🤣 HEY - We can do it - we cannot be stopped - I hope 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 I seem to remember watching a youtube video showing the MLG problem you have (had).....was it the same with the other spitfire - do they all have it? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 I spent all Sunday posting updates of progress from Saturday - but I did get a lot done on Sunday - in between the updates. I'm stuck in a hotel in Bristol tonight and Belgium have just beaten a very unlucky Japan - so here is what I got done on Sunday... I filled in that sink hole near the rear of the fuselage. I also filled the jacking hole behind the rear wheel as a bronze sculpture wouldn't have a void. I also filled the slight void around the rear wheel. I found a very strange blemish - almost like a flat melt mark - on the top engine cover... A bit of ettling and sanding got rid of it though... With the second wheel assembled and then chopped to size - it was time to glue them to the undercart doors... With the legs chopped down the wheels sat in a more correct looking position... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 As the gun ports are going to be filled - it made sense to put some rough filler in now - for the neater filler to but up against... The bottoms were first - then the tops for good measure... I also spent some time neatening up the seams - just with a scalpel and a file - I used so much glue on these joints that I think filler probably won't be needed... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 Covered in flash - there was a socket port on the starboard engine cover - I drilled it out... Though it actually needed the back to be capped - to make it look right on my sculpture... ...so a 'representation' of the port will be present on the finished build. I also got the tail stuck on--- ...and did a trial fit of the 'in flight' nose and engine cover... ...it's actually beginning to look a bit like a Spitfire... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 Nice progress on what is a bit of a dog of a kit! Whilst I do have rather a soft spot for Airfix they could do with some better quality control at times! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 1 minute ago, badger said: Nice progress on what is a bit of a dog of a kit! Whilst I do have rather a soft spot for Airfix they could do with some better quality control at times! It may be a dog - but boy it's a BIG DOG - I'm rolling with it now and enjoying every minute... 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger Posted July 2, 2018 Share Posted July 2, 2018 1 minute ago, BIG X said: It may be a dog - but boy it's a BIG DOG - I'm rolling with it now and enjoying every minute... And that's what the hobby is all about. Personally I get far more pleasure from some of the older kits that require a bit of work than I do the latest "shake and bake - all in the box" type. Really intrigued as what this will look like when the paint starts to go on as its a great idea. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 I messed around with the exhausts and 'butchered' part of the engine to give me something to fix them in with - but all that was last week. Yesterday I was going to slide the exhausts though the appropriate hole in the body framework and stick them to the bit of engine I was left with when I had a thought... Cut the framework you idiot... That allowed me to assemble all the exhausts bits together... Then position them and glue the frame back in place... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 2 minutes ago, badger said: And that's what the hobby is all about. Personally I get far more pleasure from some of the older kits that require a bit of work than I do the latest "shake and bake - all in the box" type. Really intrigued as what this will look like when the paint starts to go on as its a great idea. Thanks mate - it may not be as 'pretty' as I originally hoped - maybe more of an abstract work of art - in the style of Salvador Dali's 'melting period'... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 The other bit of the engine that I still needed to use was the prop shaft to fill the front of the fuselage... All in all it's not much of an engine - but it serves it's purpose. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 2, 2018 Author Share Posted July 2, 2018 The last big job yesterday was getting the top wings on - first one... ...and when that has dried - remove the clamps for the other side... ...and before I forgot - the plastic for the bottom light... As with @Antb's build there were no 'major' issues with the wing root fit - but on my build a bit of plastic putty will suffice to cure it - as it is more 'naïve'... What I did get - - and I was fully expecting it - - was a rear wing mating point gap... I had this on the last build - but I'm going to put a couple of strips to evergreen in here... ...to act as a 'step' and increase the area of the mating points - MORE GLUE = MORE GRIP. That's me all caught up - I'm in Bristol all day tomorrow so no more progress. I need to glue this on and tidy up the wing edges - so probably Thursday before I can update her again. Thanks for looking in - Steve 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ventora3300 Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 Inspiring and excellenr work BigX. Like others, I am a bit shocked by the quality issues with the basic kit but you have hit on a great way of beating that and I'm all agog to see what the final finish will be like - should grace your desk at work when finished? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted July 3, 2018 Share Posted July 3, 2018 I knew this kit was "challenging" but didn't realize it was THIS bad!!!! 😨 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 3, 2018 Author Share Posted July 3, 2018 10 hours ago, Lawzer said: I knew this kit was "challenging" but didn't realize it was THIS bad!!!! 😨 It might be bad - but it's fun - I think... 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 Afternoon folks - it's as 'hot as curry' out there - just as well the office has air con. Time for a 'quick update' if you are interested... I have 'rummaged around' in my box of flash to find the bits I need for the radiators - but I'm not putting them on until I've glued the wing on and sanded it all down... For whatever reason one of the wheels doesn't completely fit into the wing not to worry - 15 coats of primer followed by 10 coats of bronze and 5 coats of gloss and you'll never know A quick 'test flight' on the stand shows the dihedral is 'OK'... ...but that 'see-saw' gap is always apparent at either the front or the back - in this case the front... The wing edges all the way round are very rough and the guns still need the rest of the filler in... ...but I'm waiting until everything is fully set with the fuselage before take to it with some heavy duty sanding action. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 it's getting there mate! so the view from the front - is that how it sits if no "external" forces are applied?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 1 minute ago, Lawzer said: so the view from the front - is that how it sits if no "external" forces are applied?? Exactly Ian... To combat the 'see-saw' effect I have added some extra plastic for all the gallons of glue to stick to... ...at the back here - and also at the front... So last night - with a full bottle of liquid poly and a moorland fire 'dangerously close' (I may be exaggerating a little) I set about splashing the glue on - at the risk of blowing the house up. OK - In reality it was a 'little warm' and a bit smoky - but I've got to liven this build up somehow 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 A gallon of poly later the Spit is was more clamp than kit... I did hear an ominous 'ping' at one point and I haven't dared to look what gave way yet - but I did remove a few of the clamps this morning and will get the rest off tonight... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawzer Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 That looks like a spitfire under pressue! Get it? 😁 I'll close the door on my way out.......... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GREG DESTEC Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Ah yes, This takes me back to my build. Mega clamps and heavy weights will get the job done. Nice progress. Cheers Greg 😁 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badger Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 On 02/07/2018 at 22:46, BIG X said: Thanks mate - it may not be as 'pretty' as I originally hoped - maybe more of an abstract work of art - in the style of Salvador Dali's 'melting period'... Cool - a friend of mine had this on their wall at uni and I was always quite intrigued by it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 5, 2018 Author Share Posted July 5, 2018 8 minutes ago, badger said: Cool - a friend of mine had this on their wall at uni and I was always quite intrigued by it. I know me stuff - educated me yer know... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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