AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Hello All, I'm in! I have a ton of work stuff to do between now and the end of the build, and a couple of boxes full of training goodness (this, Pegasus Master I, Frog/Novo Master III, Frog/Novo Oxford, Frog/Novo Proctor) that are candidates. So I'm starting with something simple and hopefully quick. I think I built this from balsa when I was about nine or ten, it being the simplest shape from Aircraft of the Fighting Powers Vol 1. There are newer and better kits out there I believe, so I will try to improve it a little as we go along. I'm intending to do an all-yellow version, serial L8338, as pictured in the book. Here's the real thing, courtesy of Wikipedia commons: So, what have we got? Fuselages have a moulded-on blind flying hood, which I have removed to replace later. The ding in the wing root is not me, it's a moulding flaw, honest! Insides got a scrape down to remove the moulded in part number and a big ejection pin mark: Wings and tailplane went together nicely, with the elevators slightly drooped (so I didn't have to prop them up while drying...): Starboard side doors and hatch were scribed using the raised kit lines as a guide: The back of the cowling was scribed to represent the gap: The vague inlets moulded on both sides of the cowling were removed. I'll get that sink mark later! The anti-spin strakes were also removed and will get replaced with card later on: Cockpit time! Some freshly-stretched sprue for the internal structure: (It was only after that I remembered this is a wooden aeroplane and so it doesn't have a tubular internal structure) Floor and wing root blanking plate over the top of the two floorlets provided by the kit: Bulkheads courtesy of trial and error fitting: Control panels same: Seats. I have seen pictures of nice leather seats, and I quite liked the kit ones, so I scribed up some leatherwork: Some card and stretched sprue details: Compasses are slices of an overspill pip off the end of the old Airfix Seaking door runner. It's good to have a spares box! New inlets and a hinge from stretched sprue bits, hollowed out with a file or scraped down to a half round: Wine bottle foil belts and a splash of Hubrol's finest acrylic: And ready to close up: Thanks for looking, Adrian 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Coming along very nicely. I’ve recently acquired an original Frog boxing of this kit, which I am saving for another GB. I shall keep this thread bookmarked for some handy hints and tips! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Flying bits on: Thanks for looking, Adrian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Some good old fashioned modelling going on! Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 Got one of these myself & I'm going to copy off you so you'd better do a good job. Love these Frog trainers, just wish I had more than one, good job up to now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 3 hours ago, spaddad said: you'd better do a good job. No pressure then, gulp! They are proper old school kits and fun to just build in a weekend-y sort of way. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Trouble is, I gotta have spats: Three laminations of 40 thou sanded down. Seems to match my reference: And on, together with the anti-spin strakes. Time for some filler and supper! I’ve cut out a slot for the exhaust too. Yes it would have been easier to do it before sticking everything together! Thanks for looking, Adrian 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Well, that wasn’t meant to happen: I was using PPP and smoothing it off with a wet earbud. It was all touch dry so I thought a first coat of yellow was in order. On the couch now trying to catch up with Endeavour (when the WiFi starts working) Thanks for looking, Adrian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted March 31, 2019 Share Posted March 31, 2019 You're not much for hanging around, are you? That is impressive progress & great looking modelling going on, the cockpit is a honey. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2019 Author Share Posted March 31, 2019 Thanks Steve! I’m away for two and a bit weeks on Wednesday, so I’m trying to get this one done by then. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted April 1, 2019 Share Posted April 1, 2019 Just found this one. You are turning this into a masterpiece looking forward to seeing how this ends up Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 3 hours ago, Hamden said: how this ends up At the moment it seems to be a race between applying layers of yellow too thickly and sanding them back smooth! Regards, Adrianm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 Very nice work Adrian! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 Well the yellow has had a few more coats and a lot more sanding. I realise that I don’t have any roundels small enough for it so I will have to print some (and the serials) when I get back at Easter. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 On 3/31/2019 at 11:50 PM, AdrianMF said: catch up with Endeavour I thought it was a good series even though it was a bit short. Well done all around. You too. Loving the M1. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 Home at last. We talked about software and video encoding for a week and a half in Las Vegas, and we gave away about 2000 of these: Back at home I had to mend the loo and turn the small meadow at the back of the house into something resembling a lawn. The joy of homecoming, eh? I think I have enough yellow on now, and I took a leaf from Stuart @Courageous‘s Sea Fox build to make a front cylinder behind the cooling aperture: The cylinder is made from the peg that serves as a seat in the Airfix Thunderbolt, wrapped in a strand of electrical flex wire. Thanks for looking, Adrian 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 And I’ve got to here today: Just the canopy frames to paint, make and apply some decals and lightly weather it. Regards, Adrian 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 Very smart. I like. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 A Proper Job. Cant wait for the next instalment. Trevor 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 That's very smart. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 Thanks all! I was looking for serial number decals when I found these: which meant I could do this: I had checked my 1939 onwards A type roundels but I’d forgotten the inter-war ones. On to serials. I may try out the Lazertran inkjet transparent-with-oil-varnish paper today rather than waiting for a laser printer on Tuesday because suddenly I’m feeling lucky! Thanks for looking, Adrian 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 Well the Lazertran inkjet decal carrier dries to a fairly opaque white. The instructions say that if you coat the decals with water-based varnish the carrier will stay white, but if you cover them with oil-based varnish the carrier will go clear. I’ve never had much luck with oil-based varnish, so I thought I would give this a go: it works! Props to Mr William de Coster over on the Hyperscale forums for attacking his decals with this. but if it goes a bit wrong you had better clean it up before it eats through the paint and plastic: Yes, you may ask me how I know! I should have let it harden until tomorrow, then sanded, painted and waited etc. Nah. Let it dry during dinner, sand-paint-decal-extrathinagain: Front window shield painted, rear shield adorned with some aluminium tape. So tomorrow there will be a bit of weathering, more for the control surface and body hatch emphasis than for dirtying up, because I undersand that the training units kept their kit in good condition. Gallery after that! Thanks for looking, Adrian 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 Nearly there with this one Adrian great work it's looking good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 I'm liking, quite a lot in facr. I've just got this urge to go find me a Frog Magister, who knows where that came from. Steve. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 1 hour ago, stevej60 said: Nearly there If I’d remembered I had inter war decals before I went away I might have finished by now. But I would have laser printed the serials and wouldn’t have discovered the Tamiya Thin trick, so it’s swings and roundabouts.. 9 minutes ago, stevehnz said: go find me a Frog Magister Recommended! The Novo ones are just as nice, mould-wise, and the Miles Master And Percival Proctor are also cracking weekend kits. The Frog Oxford looks a bit strange around the canopy, but I have a Cunning Plan (if I get the time...) Regards, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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