Combat Models 1/48 XP-67 Moonbat

[LorenSharp]

This Aircraft I did awhile back on another site that was doing a group build on the lost art of Vacuform and Resin.At the time it seemed rather straight forward

and simple. I caught it half way thru the build cycle and since I didn't think I would be able to complete the B-52 I had started at the time to finish within the given time period,

I chose a "Nice, Simple, Little Airplane" I had in the stash. The build was anything but Nice and Simple ,thought the plane was smallish. So gather round Gents and Ladies as I spin you a tale

you can tell your Grandchildren.....And mightily bored they'll be.😴 

 

Once upon a time..... long,long ago,, there was Vacuform....

[LorenSharp]

 Combat Models 1/48 XP-67 Moonbat. Basic plan with Bare minimum instructions and plastic sheets with basic aircraft plus a small bag of metal parts. Better than some I've built. I can work with this.Added Quick Boost P-51D Props and True Details A-26, F7F wheel sets and P_38 Interior. The former because I didn't care for the Vac Wheels(never can get them to look right) and the P-38 had the closest looking interior that needed the least modification.

 

I can already see I need to stock up on more Guinness.

Edited May 28, 2019 by LorenSharp

[LorenSharp]

I had actually cut many of the pieces away and painted them before I realised ... Oh I should be documenting this process.

 

meanwhile back to back to the tale....OUr plucky Hero is....

Edited May 28, 2019 by LorenSharp

[LorenSharp]

It's been a long summer.Now finally making progress on this little gem from Hell .  The wheel wells I built from Plastic card and bits of rod. The cockpit is an after market P-38 tub thats been shortened slightly to fit due to the size of the nose well and the narrow confines of the nose.

 

About Vacuforms is that when cast not everything gets formed. Case in point the back end of the cockpit fairing partially was formed and I had to take a few pieces of strip plastic and some Milliput to reshape and smooth down the fairing.

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2019 by LorenSharp
Image Change

[LorenSharp]

Now while Building this vac, I attempted to locate as much history and visual references as possible.

Only one problem.... there is not much out there. and because the aircraft was modified constantly during testing

It was never the same from week to week. Even went as far as using old Collect-Aire sales images to help with adding detail.

I was that desperate  Any way on with the tale.....

[LorenSharp]

All the vents and ports were misshapen and had to be cut out and new pieces made and flared out.

Unfortunately, My camera didn't save the images I took of the strengthening of the cockpit or the crossmembers for the wing/fuselage section. Now all closed up.

 

[LorenSharp]

Since the tail section didn't quite match the fuselage a little surgery was called for. I added some strip for strength then filled in with Milliput and once cured sanded and tidied the fairing with a touch of white putty.Its starting to look like a plane... I think.
 

A bit rough at the moment nothing a little sanding won't fix. Right,?

[LorenSharp]

Ok, a lot of sanding, and a tiny bit of putty filler. There are two things I've discovered building vacs. You learn extreme patience and lots of new curse words.

 I used Milliput to correct the exhaust ports In addition to filling in the Tail area. Milliput is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

 

That begs one to ask... What came before Sliced Bread?

[LorenSharp]

Exhaust fairings are just about there.
 

[LorenSharp]

Sanding to smooth out the tail and nose. Next attacking the part that is the biggest problem I've got on this journey. The main intakes on both engine

 

[LorenSharp]

I really didn't understand what I was getting myself into at that point. Popcorn anyone? It's about to get interesting.

[LorenSharp]

Now to begin the hardest part. Reshaping the engine nacelle intakes.

 

Moonbats short career. the intakes were modified multiple times.The engines had a nasty habit of catching fire due to over heating.Especially during the taxi tests. Trying to find the last modification was difficult.I think I found the latest ,but honestly, I'm not sure, but this is what I went with.
 

Edited May 28, 2019 by LorenSharp
Image Change

[LorenSharp]

Almost looks looks a Pod Racer from Star Wars.

Minus that ridiculous Jar-Jar.

 

[Nikolay Polyakov]

13 minutes ago, LorenSharp said:

Popcorn anyone? It's about to get interesting.

Sure thing - the front row!

 

1 hour ago, LorenSharp said:

At the time it seemed rather straight forward

and simple.

and...

11 minutes ago, LorenSharp said:

Now to begin the hardest part. Reshaping the engine nacelle intakes.

Ah...

 

You’re choosing an interesting planes for your builds, @LorenSharp! Now the Moonbat take its shape and it’s become more interesting.

 

But what about a «normal» kits? 

[Troy Smith]

36 minutes ago, LorenSharp said:

That begs one to ask... What came before Sliced Bread?

erm, bread and  a bread knife?   

 

Very interesting build.  Not the worst vac, and a build like this is very valuable as it shows what you get, and the kits pitfalls.   Unfortunately Combat Models seen the US equivalent of Sanger, terrible website,  no details on what is actually in the kit,  and IMO, overpriced for what you get.

One point, you don't need to make multiple separate posts,  you can edit in comments and post multiple pictures.

 

That aside, fascinating and I'd still probably buy one of these if I found one. 

 

cheers

T

[LorenSharp]

Gee Nickolay,I thought this was normal. At least it doesn't take up a half a hectare of shelf space😉

[LorenSharp]

Actually Troy, the latest offerings aren't too bad. I got a C-121 Super Connie a few months back. Better than I expected .Decent detail bits now. One draw back,if you want to call it that, I saw was it's a draped model rather than a cavity mould. And quick on email replies if you have questions.

 

Edited May 29, 2019 by LorenSharp

[LorenSharp]

Yeah I've built my share of Messerschmitts and Spits and P-51's in the last 50 years I like building the rare gems. Unfortunately most are either Vacs or Resins. And since my eye sights not the greatest anymore, 1/48 is the limit for me. doesn't take up much space and I can see what I'm doing. Anyways, lets see what else I dealt with back then.

 

[LorenSharp]

I tried to cut out where the intakes would go but that proved too problematic when using a piece of thin card for the basic shape. So I carefully cut the top of the nacelle off making access easier. It also gave me an opportunity to add a little bit of clay and birdshot to keep the plane from being a tail sitter.I reattached the nacelle tops using small bits of card for strength.

 

The back side of the intake I used a piece of brass screen from a faucet kit.Then took some Milliput to create the intakes,the openings and extend the nacelles since they were too short.

[LorenSharp]

Set it aside for a few days to let the putty dry and harden. The a little bit of carving and a whole lot of sanding to get the shape right

 

I took some plastic tubing slicing it to make some parabolas for the oil cooler intakes.

[LorenSharp]

After the starboard nacelle I did the same thing for the Port side making it identical to the first (easier said than done).

 

 

The shape of the nose wasn't symmetrical either,so I used some more putty to fix its shape.

 

 

I attached the prop spinners smoothing out the shape to match.

 

 

I attached to outside wingtips with some card to use as tabs to hold in place. Unfortunately, the tips don't match neither the leading edge,thickness, nor the panel lines. Thank God for Milliput. Speaking of which, isn't this how "Bondo" Brandt got started and gained his nickname? I let this dry and harden the do some more sanding. I'm almost ready to put this plane in the paint. 

 

(And sanding I did. And did, and did, then did some more for good measure because I wasn't filthy enough.That was the messiest job I'd ever encountered)

[LorenSharp]

Finally my primer coat. there are a few areas to touch up but not as much as I feared.

From here the next Item will be to scribe my panel lines back. This is the part I hate with a passion. Never quite seem to get it the way I want. Cross your fingers.

[72modeler]

The late, great 'Bondo' Phil would be proud of what you have done!

Mike

[LorenSharp]

 

Ahh, Coming into the home stretch. Primer coat done. I re-scribed(the part I hate the most) Sanded down again with 2000 Grit paper to smooth out. 

Adding the rudder and ailerons, I scraped out the plastic to give a ribbing covered fabric look.

I preshaded the upper and lower fuselage panel lines then sprayed a 
light coat of olive drab for the top and Light gull grey for the underneath with a second coat of dark green for the camo effect around the outer edges.

[LorenSharp]

Building the landing gear I used brass rod cut and rounded on the ends soldering the axle on and using a smaller rod for the shock strut.Then plastic card to make the compression scissors and I clipped a bouquet pin to make the scissor rods and part of the shocks for the gear and doors. The larger portion of the shocks I used aluminium rod.

From there I added some thin rod that's bendable to the strut and attached the main wheels,

Nose gear and wheels along with the gear doors.