fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 The locations for the struts are marked in the kit almost everywhere they are needed (not on the aft upper engine gondolas for some reason, so you will have to measure, mark and drill holes as said on the aft part of the upper wing gondolas). Being the kind of person that needs sometimes to learn the lesson twice, I dutifully drilled all holes. But in the back of my mind memories started to creep about another Contrail Dinosaur: the Ineffable Blackburn Kangaroo that I built not long ago. And yes, the locations of the struts (and ailerons, and other things) were totally messed up, so they had to be measured, relocated where needed, etc. And what do you know! here too, there are discrepancies between the two lower wings, some marks being 2 and 3 millimeters out of place. While you check this on yours (if you happen to build one), bear also in mind that the distance between struts (fore and aft) is bigger in the upper wing that on the lower wing. Hence new holes are drilled and the old elegantly plugged with some styrene rod: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 I don't think this will come as a surprise, but some of the measures on the kit's plan do not coincide with those on the actual part of the kit, for example: the distance between upper engine gondolas (somewhat shorter on the plan) and the slats (completely different). Sigh..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 In the interim, I completed my 1/72 Aeroflot passenger bus (less Aeroflot decals, which are on the making). Coochee-coochee-coo! : Â 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 6 hours ago, Moa said:    6 hours ago, Moa said: That happens to you for trying to use despicable nazis' crap. Until now I thought better of Martians.   Hang on a minute! They nicked the design from us and anyway they were going cheap in 1945. 6 hours ago, Moa said: I hear Martians eat them like candy bars. No account for taste. Sigh... Many a true word and all that, I actually find the stuff sculpts better with saliva. The downside however, is that it tastes absolutely disgusting.  Martian 👽 6 hours ago, Moa said:    6 hours ago, Moa said: That happens to you for trying to use despicable nazis' crap. Until now I thought better of Martians.   6 hours ago, Moa said: I hear Martians eat them like candy bars. No account for taste. Sigh...  2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 The double-surfaced slats are ready: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 The upper wing engine gondolas are attached. Their fit has to be adjusted: 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 She's looking rgeat, Moa  Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 53 minutes ago, RidgeRunner said: She's looking rgeat, Moa  Martin Thanks, Martin. Long haul, but an entertaining one. Cheers  Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Assembling of the tail begins: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Hello Moa !! What an interesting thread !! And very inspiring one !! I always loved this aircraft !! And you make her justice ! Luckily enough !! my customers stayed quiet today, so I catch up with the build !! Really interesting... One was involved in a comic in french, I'll find it back too !! Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 With gondolas on and tail section building, she's taking shape. Good work. Â Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Assembly of the tail continues, and the tail wheel complex is under way. The kit's tail wheel is inaccurate both in shape and size, so it's replaced, as were the main wheels. Furthermore, the injected parts in the kit associated with the tail wheel are laughable miseries, and were mercilessly thrown in the trash can: 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 I finally decided which registration the model will bear (a secret for the moment). Consequently, since that registration had the aft cargo haul, and the kit presents none, the door is drawn with pencil and the part excised, carefully. The actual door did not look like the removed part (it was smooth and had structure behind), so a new one will have to be made to replace it: Â Â In a sequence that very much reminds me of Jorge Luis Borges' "Garden of the forking paths", where every path divides in two, now I have to create that aft cargo haul itself, adding floor and a corrugated bulkhead: Â Â Â 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 The new cargo haul door is made: Â Some structure is placed on the opposite side of the area: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.1127 Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 I'm really enjoying seeing this come together.  A fantastic build of a fascinating aircraft. Thanks for posting the build.  P. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 All fascinating stuff, and as inspirational as ever. My modelling has been put on hold due to Real Life being so busy at the moment, but this is great stuff for ‘vicarious’ modelling! The top tips for dealing with the various issues with Contrail vacforms are much appreciated, as I’m toying with the idea* of buying a Contrail Vildebeest. Keep plugging away - this is looking great.  Jon  * ie. trying, but failing, to ignore the idea 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 Hello Moa ! Here it is ! CC Â 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrzeM Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 Wow! WOW! WOW!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 8 hours ago, P.1127 said: I'm really enjoying seeing this come together.  A fantastic build of a fascinating aircraft. Thanks for posting the build.  P. Glad you are enjoying it, P. Cheers 7 hours ago, corsaircorp said: Hello Moa ! Here it is ! CC  Nice!! thanks for posting! Cheers 2 hours ago, GrzeM said: Wow! WOW! WOW!!! You are very kind. Cheers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 The additions are checked as always with yet another dry fit: 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 7 hours ago, Jonners said: All fascinating stuff, and as inspirational as ever. My modelling has been put on hold due to Real Life being so busy at the moment, but this is great stuff for ‘vicarious’ modelling! The top tips for dealing with the various issues with Contrail vacforms are much appreciated, as I’m toying with the idea* of buying a Contrail Vildebeest. Keep plugging away - this is looking great.  Jon  * ie. trying, but failing, to ignore the idea Thanks, Jon, glad it can be useful and entertaining. Cheers  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 Holy corrugations, Batman! 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted April 13, 2019 Author Share Posted April 13, 2019 Almost every model I have seen so far made form this kit presents a problem regarding the insertion of the lower wing in the fuselage. It is usually solved with a flat butt joint not shaping the corrugations on a curve, but that's not how things are in reality. Â Â The issue is that the kit's fuselage cross section is (surprise!) not very accurate, and it's more boxy (squarish) than it should be. The drawing bellow shows the differences with some exaggeration -but not much-, to make the point: Â You can see that the lower half of the wing extends further, while it should be the upper half the one that should do it, since it "mounts" over the fuselage in real life: Â This is how things should be (as per the real thing), and the pencil line shows what photos of the real plane show : Â Not only that, but the wing should be inserted with a noticeable angle of incidence: Â This means that some complex shaping will have to take place on both lower wings to accomplish a realistic joint, plus meet the spar, plus achieve to be symmetric to the other wing, in all axis. Trembling and biting nails yet? Â Â Â 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 51 minutes ago, Moa said: Almost every model I have seen so far made form this kit presents a problem regarding the insertion of the lower wing in the fuselage. It is usually solved with a flat butt joint not shaping the corrugations on a curve, but that's not how things are in reality. Â Â The issue is that the kit's fuselage cross section is (surprise!) not very accurate, and it's more boxy (squarish) than it should be. The drawing bellow shows the differences with some exaggeration -but not much-, to make the point: Â You can see that the lower half of the wing extends further, while it should be the upper half the one that should do it, since it "mounts" over the fuselage in real life: Â This is how things should be (as per the real thing), and the pencil line shows what photos of the real plane show : Â Not only that, but the wing should be inserted with a noticeable angle of incidence: Â This means that some complex shaping will have to take place on both lower wings to accomplish a realistic joint, plus meet the spar, plus achieve to be symmetric to the other wing, in all axis. Trembling and biting nails yet? Â Â Â The last comment says it all really: this is a b......r of a job to get right. However I am entirely confident that you already have a cunning plan and will reveal all to us mere mortal modellers in due course... Â P. 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted April 13, 2019 Share Posted April 13, 2019 2 hours ago, Moa said: Holy corrugations, Batman! You're not kidding! 1 hour ago, Moa said: This means that some complex shaping will have to take place on both lower wings to accomplish a realistic joint, plus meet the spar, plus achieve to be symmetric to the other wing, in all axis. Trembling and biting nails yet? ...and maintain the correct wingspan. And yes, nail biting it is  Stuart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now