AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Start of a build of a kit from a new to me company Valom from the Czech Republic. Its a short run low pressure injection moulded kit which I think means the moulds are made from a metal other than the tool steel used by the big companies. I have never built a short run kit before and I admit I was a bit worried about what I would get in the box but with the encouragement of a few other modellers particulary General Melchett I took the plunge and ordered from Oxonian Plastics. IMG_20191207_150202911 by Stuart, on Flickr When I opened the box I was pleasantly surprised there is not a lot of flash and a quick measure up showed the fuselage and wing sections are almost an exact match that wont take much filing and fitting. The engine castings are resin mouldings and are a lovely model of the original Bristol Peggy engines. IMG_20191207_150104996 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191208_200037757 by Stuart, on Flickr I am not bothered by cockpit detail I will never see again so its just the bare basics IMG_20191208_200109689 by Stuart, on Flickr I decided to add push-rod tubes made from 0.45 brass wire, one of those little jobs you begin to regret about an hour in. IMG_20191211_164021687 by Stuart, on Flickr I decided to have a break from tiny bits and cut out the fuselage window holes fitted to the Sparrow and fit the glazing. The fuselage moulding is pretty thick and the plastic is a soft grade that doesnt cut very easily cutting the slots took a lot of time and the glazing was a bit crap. IMG_20191211_164040932 by Stuart, on Flickr 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan_Farsight Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Good start so far! Although time consuming, adding those little push rods does make a difference to those engines! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 After finishing the push rod tubes I thought what the hell I will fit exhaust pipes made from 15amp fuse wire. IMG_20191211_174719852 by Stuart, on Flickr Checking the fit of the engine and cowling IMG_20191211_174739207 by Stuart, on Flickr There is no positive way to locate the engines into the wings so I fitted a couple of small sections of spare sprue to make sure it all lined up when I do the final assembly IMG_20191211_181710794 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191211_182037593 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191211_182107530 by Stuart, on Flickr 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 1 minute ago, Kushan_Farsight said: Good start so far! Although time consuming, adding those little push rods does make a difference to those engines! Thanks I think I might paint the push-rod tubes gloss black so they really stand out against the matt grey cylinders. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 The effect I am going to try and copy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 Theres one thing I need some help with and would appreciate some advice. Painting is my least favourite part of modelling and Invasion Stripes are giving me the heebie geebies with memories of attempts to do it in the past with masking tape. I have seen transfers but I am wondering are they black and white or just black stripes I need to apply over white paint. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 11, 2019 Author Share Posted December 11, 2019 I wasnt happy with the fuselage side glazing it looked really murky so I used a spot of toothpaste on a damp cotton bud and gave the glazing a light polish to get most of the marks and ripples out. This brought it up a lot better and I have just splashed a coat of Humbrol Clear and its looking a lot better, still not very clear but looking more like perspex and less like something you would find on the beach. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Most i've seen are black & white stripes. But I'll be honest, that was some time ago (say 1990 build of a matchbox B-26) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted December 11, 2019 Share Posted December 11, 2019 2 hours ago, AltcarBoB said: Theres one thing I need some help with and would appreciate some advice. Painting is my least favourite part of modelling and Invasion Stripes are giving me the heebie geebies with memories of attempts to do it in the past with masking tape. I have seen transfers but I am wondering are they black and white or just black stripes I need to apply over white paint. This may be of help: There's loads more on here about Invasion Stripes. The easiest way to find stuff is to add 'Britmodeller' to your search term(s) on Google. PS. Nice work on the engines, I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the build. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted December 12, 2019 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Nice start Stuart and I'll follow along if I may - Valom kits are a guilty pleasure of mine! I only have one main tip - dry fit everything first and have the elastic bands / clamps ready - there aren't usually any locating pins and things can move. You'll also need some Lego (or similar) to support the model while you glue on the wings and tailplanes. I usually do this as shown during my Airacuda build here. Hope this helps and good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 12, 2019 Author Share Posted December 12, 2019 9 minutes ago, CedB said: You'll also need some Lego (or similar) to support the model while you glue on the wings and tailplanes. I usually do this as shown during my Airacuda build here. Hope this helps and good luck! Thanks for the tip about the Lego I was wondering how to keep everything squared whilst gluing up. I don't have any Lego but I will hit the charity shops on Saturday looking for some. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Checking that everything looks okay not glued yet just masking taped together IMG_20191213_121014917 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191213_121001972 by Stuart, on Flickr The nose fairing proved to be too narrow so I made a sandwich with a piece of 1mm Plastikard which brought it almost there IMG_20191214_130838750 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191214_130850808 by Stuart, on Flickr Theres a fair bit of filler needed the fuselage halves were close but no coconut in a few places. IMG_20191214_130903589 by Stuart, on Flickr 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 Because of the nature of the construction of the 1 to 1 aircraft which was doped linen over a steel tube frame there are lots of ribs on the model. Its very difficult to sand down at least with panel lines a few strokes with a scalpel and or a file will restore them but not sure how to restore a ribbed surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, AltcarBoB said: but not sure how to restore a ribbed surface. I use .005" plastic sheet. Draw the ribs on, then use a ballpoint pen with a little pressure to draw them again. This will give you an indented piece of sheet which, when turned over, looks like ribs. Use gator grip if you can, if not, something like Tamiya thin but be VERY careful. Too much will melt the thin sheet! Ian Edited December 14, 2019 by limeypilot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 14, 2019 Share Posted December 14, 2019 Some images that show a good view of a Pegasus engine: I know these are all Swordfish, but they're the best views of war-time Pegasus engines I can find on the IWM site. Chris 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 14, 2019 Author Share Posted December 14, 2019 I wasnt happy with the two shallow dimples that were all that was to fixing the horizontal stabilisers a very weak fixing. So I decided to drill the stabilisers with a 1.2mm drill and then through the fuselage and fix everything together with some Piano Wire, it should be a lot sturdier now. IMG_20191214_185834129 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191214_185854548 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191214_185842089 by Stuart, on Flickr IMG_20191214_191034419 by Stuart, on Flickr I have also glued the wings in place with some extra bracing made from a single Piano Wire to go with the kits plastic brace but I forgot to take any photos before I shut the joint IMG_20191214_192505926 by Stuart, on Flickr 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Nice tip, using Piano Wire, and something I'd like to try but how do you make sure the holes are in the right place 'vertically' please? I can see the marks for the 'lateral location' (nice) but I've never been able to work out how to get the up-and-down location right… Is it just care/skill? If so, I'm lost Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 46 minutes ago, CedB said: Nice tip, using Piano Wire, and something I'd like to try but how do you make sure the holes are in the right place 'vertically' please? I can see the marks for the 'lateral location' (nice) but I've never been able to work out how to get the up-and-down location right… Is it just care/skill? If so, I'm lost I marked the horizontal and vertical centre lines on one side of the fuselage stabiliser mounting point using a ruler and a pair of dividers. Then I transferred those measurements to the other side and drilled the holes from both sides. I put the piano wire through the holes and used it to mark the position to drill the stabiliser. Drilling vertical and horizontal is just a matter of eyeballing it turning the piece round a lot to make sure I didn't wander off line. It helps if you have a background with a grid marking to have a visual reference. Hope this makes sense 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Two questions. Firstly, mine does not have the openings in the fuselage sides for transparencies. Can you please say what the height and length of these are, as a useful starter? Secondly, I'm suspicious of that fairing on top of the fuselage. As the artwork shows, there should be a raised fairing running aft from the cockpit, ending in the turret on the bomber. I suspect that you have this piece reversed, and even then it is not a convincing shape. When I get the Sunday chores done, I'll pop up and see what this is like on mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 15, 2019 Author Share Posted December 15, 2019 Your right about the turret fairing I only spotted it very late last night. I have rather butchered it whilst removing it and I will have to scratchbuild a replacement I think. Don't know how I boobed so badly.🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 13 hours ago, AltcarBoB said: Hope this makes sense Makes perfect sense - thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 On 15/12/2019 at 10:12, Graham Boak said: Two questions. Firstly, mine does not have the openings in the fuselage sides for transparencies. Can you please say what the height and length of these are, as a useful starter? I have photographed the relevant page in the instructions IMG_20191215_124233714 by Stuart, on Flickr 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 I have repositioned the turret fairing making a bit of a mess which I have filled. I have given the area a quick coat of dark grey to show any spots that need extra filling or filing and I need to do some more filling at the front of the fairing where it blends into the wing. IMG_20191216_112831966 by Stuart, on Flickr 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AltcarBoB Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 I have fixed the vertical stabilisers using my favourite drill and wire technique. IMG_20191217_171450266 by Stuart, on Flickr cut from the sprue IMG_20191217_171505987 by Stuart, on Flickr Pilot holes drilled IMG_20191217_171650018 by Stuart, on Flickr Drillium being installed IMG_20191217_171734997 by Stuart, on Flickr needs a bit of filling but is good and sturdy IMG_20191217_172450668 by Stuart, on Flickr 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 Great stuff, fantastic subject ! 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