CedB Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Terry1954 said: Looks like I almost hit page 7! Can't keep up with you Ced, but agree with all before me, a great subject and a great build so far. Those old Aeroclub models are a great source of enjoyment, and weren't that bad for their time. I have a stalled Gamecock on the go here somewhere. Must get back to that soon. Meanwhile, skeeter on! Terry Thanks Terry 1 hour ago, AdrianMF said: Is that PETG clear plastic? It will be interesting to see how you get on with the bubbles (I got plenty!). I've just ordered some 30 thou acetate to give that a whirl. Regards, Adrian Yes, that's the stuff. Tony has already warned me (and it's somewhere in Steve's too I think) only to move the sheet half way towards to heater and gently does it. Fingers crossed 57 minutes ago, perdu said: Ced what are you doing? Er, trying to build a Skeeter? Sorry Bill… 57 minutes ago, perdu said: That curved shield should sit further back, the rear edge begins at the undercarriage strut and at the front is over the pulley spindle I think you need to relocate it back a tad and a quarter Ah, OK, I'll see if I have anything more suitable. Or move it back and open up the foothold a bit more. 57 minutes ago, perdu said: PETg, remember you need to warm it first then give it a reheating to make the workpiece bubble Thanks Bill Do I want the workpiece to bubble?? Starboard exhaust. Wide shot to show Heather some of the files and the drills: Opened out with drills and glued on: Tricky to get the angle of the dangle but I think that's right after much fettling. I don't like this Plastruct much to be honest - it doesn't melt with TET so I've used tube glue. More greebie hunting once I've worked out how big the bits need to be. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 All of this stuff you've been doing is good, Ced - but now get on with that clear vacforming, please. It's not for me, I'm just asking for a friend... Jolly good job! Ciao 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Kay Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, CedB said: Wide shot to show Heather some of the files and the drills: *wolf whistle* Oh, the new Plastruct, apparently, works with styrene solvents. The old stuff needed a concoction called Plastic Weld. The stuff plumbers use to glue together pipes might do it, but watch it doesn’t completely dissolve the polystyrene. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 1 hour ago, CedB said: Or move it back and open up the foothold a bit more. That's all it needs - whip it off, move it down and back, 'n stick it back on.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 10, 2020 Author Share Posted February 10, 2020 2 hours ago, giemme said: All of this stuff you've been doing is good, Ced - but now get on with that clear vacforming, please. It's not for me, I'm just asking for a friend... Jolly good job! Ciao Thanks Giorgio - the plastic is here, just waiting for the plaster of Paris so I can (gulp) make a buck 1 hour ago, Heather Kay said: *wolf whistle* Oh, the new Plastruct, apparently, works with styrene solvents. The old stuff needed a concoction called Plastic Weld. The stuff plumbers use to glue together pipes might do it, but watch it doesn’t completely dissolve the polystyrene. Thanks Heather Brace yourself, there's some punches coming up. Oh wait, that sounds a bit violent… More tools I mean! 56 minutes ago, andyf117 said: That's all it needs - whip it off, move it down and back, 'n stick it back on.... Thanks Andy, but as this kit is a gift from Bill it has to be as good as I can get it - the cover was a bit narrow. Found several candidates for the gearbox but I won't know which one fits until I get the fuselage together, or do some measuring… It's all getting a bit messy: …but with a new wider cover and a disc cut and chopped for the thing poking out of the top: …I'm getting close to finishing what I'm now going to call 'The Ugly Side', if only because most photos are of the port. Closer up: The cover needs filing flatter when the glue's dry but I think that's done all bar the drive shaft, if Bill's happy? 12 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Yes Ced Bill is very happy thank you And thank you for not blowing up at me, it IS your model That new cover looks great mate Yes, by the way I do want it to bubble A far better shape than a piece of flat PETg 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Well, Ced you are giving this one the works. Best of luck with the vac forming. Simon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Nice progress Ced, but I think that grey bit needs to be further back. The front edge should be about halfway back over the hole, and the rear edge just aft of the landing gear strut, It's still too far forward! Ian 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted February 10, 2020 Share Posted February 10, 2020 Is true But Ced this is YOUR MODEL, do it how you see it 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 6 hours ago, perdu said: Yes Ced Bill is very happy thank you And thank you for not blowing up at me, it IS your model That new cover looks great mate Yes, by the way I do want it to bubble A far better shape than a piece of flat PETg Really pleased you're happy Bill Ah, bubble of PETg, not bubbles in it - got it! 6 hours ago, Spookytooth said: Well, Ced you are giving this one the works. Best of luck with the vac forming. Simon. Thanks Simon 6 hours ago, limeypilot said: Nice progress Ced, but I think that grey bit needs to be further back. The front edge should be about halfway back over the hole, and the rear edge just aft of the landing gear strut, It's still too far forward! Ian Oh Ian, from the references I have it's hard to see where the back of XL812's cover is but I'm pretty sure the front is ON the edge of the foothold… Done with it now I think, sorry 3 hours ago, perdu said: Is true But Ced this is YOUR MODEL, do it how you see it Thanks Bill A blanking plate has been stuck over the hole for the drive shaft: So that I can cut this down and fit it at the end of the build once the hole's been painted: Hard to see the detail in that shot but it's pretty close, honest. Time to start building the internals; cabin and engine bay. I shall be looking at WWGMD! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Bit of work this morning, bit of reference lookup. The shaft and rotor head has been cleaned up and a gearbox candidate chosen: In The General's thread, Steve (? @worm) posted some useful drawings including this one: Which I hope will not be all blurred for you - if it is (and you're interested) click the link to Melchie's thread and it may be better - thanks PB It shows a tray for the secondary gearbox and lots of supporting rods. Hmmm Some time ago I bought this lot: … and a soldering station cheap(er) from Maplin as they were closing As I'm pretty scared already I may as well scare myself stupid (what do you mean even more!) and try to make the tray and frames from brass. Gulp. As I'll need pretty precise measurements I decided now was the time to join the fuselage halves: Bit wobbly so I've just glued the tail boom for now. Scary! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 There's no stopping you, Ced! Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Thanks Giorgio - kind of you, but things happen to slow me down! Like just now. Before we get to that, I've dry fitted the internal White Metal (WM): Not bad once the parts are cleaned up a bit more and the plastic's trimmed (the shelf should be level with the front - I checked). More WM: Nose wheel, two short-shot control columns and the tail rotor mount. A new game for you. Which way round does this go? Having turned it around and around I think that's right 'cos there's definitely a lumpy bit on the port side and a bit on the back etc. I sanded flat and drilled out the plastic and put a drop of CA in the end. Then I offered up the metal and pushed gently. No luck, it twisted. Lesson 1: Do NOT try to adjust the location with you fingers. The part will stick to your fingers and come away. Ask me how I know… OK, WWND? 5 minute epoxy, that's what. Mixed a drop or two on an old business card: … and placed the part in the hole. Then all hell let loose. The window cleaners arrived and started banging their brushes on long poles on the upstairs windows. Molly goes mad. Tilly goes mad. Part slips. I go mad. Mrs B comes in and asks if I can make her pre-work coffee. Calm, calm. It's drying now: Then I can glue the front (ooh, I could do that now). Then I can clear up the seams. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Ced, this is excellent! Really brilliant little additions! Also I only realised how tiny this thing was till you pulled out the spitfire cannon bulge, very impressed with what your achieving especially at this size. Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) On 2/10/2020 at 8:58 AM, CedB said: I keep looking at the drive shaft (the white thing). Y'know, I keep looking at the 'drive shaft', aka 'the white thing' as well... ....and thinking it looks familiar - are we sure it's not a cunningly-disguised one of these? On 2/8/2020 at 11:55 AM, Biggles87 said: Probably a “ proof of concept “ attack version, you can see the gun barrel under the nose. I think that might be right! A pre-Vietnam 'gunship' helicopter, with a fixed transverse-mounted Gatling-type gun... ....,in similar manner as later employed by the USAF's better-known 'Spooky' AC-47, AC-119 and AC-130 aircraft... 9 hours ago, CedB said: Hard to see the detail in that shot but it's pretty close, honest. So perhaps that cylinder thing should really consist of six barrels.... Ah, no, wait - even if the gun was the traditional British .303 calibre, given the Skeeter's load-lifting ability... ....it could probably only carry enough ammunition to tear up an area about the size of a table-tennis table! Meaning it probably is a drive shaft, then... Edited February 11, 2020 by andyf117 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 22 minutes ago, CedB said: Then all hell let loose. The window cleaners arrived and started banging their brushes on long poles on the upstairs windows. Molly goes mad. Tilly goes mad. Part slips. I go mad. Mrs B comes in and asks if I can make her pre-work coffee. he builds models he makes poetry What can we say, in awe old man Utter absolute awe I love that sprue injection port(?) rotor gearbox Lovely work Are we all popping round to Ced's for coffee, Mrs B seems to be advocating it 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 32 minutes ago, CedB said: It's drying now: Then I can glue the front (ooh, I could do that now). Then I can clear up the seams. Like I said.... There's no stopping you.... Ciao 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 2 hours ago, rob85 said: Ced, this is excellent! Really brilliant little additions! Also I only realised how tiny this thing was till you pulled out the spitfire cannon bulge, very impressed with what your achieving especially at this size. Rob Thanks Rob - yes, it is tiny, my poor eyes! 2 hours ago, andyf117 said: Y'know, I keep looking at the 'drive shaft', aka 'the white thing' as well... ....and thinking it looks familiar - are we sure it's not a cunningly-disguised one of these? I think that might be right! A pre-Vietnam 'gunship' helicopter, with a fixed transverse-mounted Gatling-type gun... ....,in similar manner as later employed by the USAF's better-known 'Spooky' AC-47, AC-119 and AC-130 aircraft... So perhaps that cylinder thing should really consist of six barrels.... Ah, no, wait - even if the gun was the traditional British .303 calibre, given the Skeeter's load-lifting ability... ....it could probably only carry enough ammunition to tear up an area about the size of a table-tennis table! Meaning it probably is a drive shaft, then... Thanks Andy 1 hour ago, perdu said: he builds models he makes poetry What can we say, in awe old man Utter absolute awe I love that sprue injection port(?) rotor gearbox Lovely work Are we all popping round to Ced's for coffee, Mrs B seems to be advocating it Thanks Bill, very kind of you matey You're always welcome for a coffee, as are other BMers - just ring ahead in case I'm, ahem, indisposed! 1 hour ago, giemme said: Like I said.... There's no stopping you.... Ciao Thanks Giorgio. Not quite your level of detailing but I hope to get close Lots of pictures this post. The arms were chopped off the 'gearbox'; Looks about the right size (just the top): The shaft was chopped (using my 'old' razor saw): I needed t chop the top off to fit the shaft so the Micro-dividers came in handy: …and dry fitted: THEN I realised this is going to take the weight of the rotor so I fitted some 1mm brass rod: Now put aside until the bay is done. Seams have been filled with thinned Humbrol filler, sanded and polished when dry: Not as easy as it looks 'cos the plastic has a weird 'skin' on it that sometimes 'lumps off': See that bit? Weird. It sticks back down with TET though: That's all for now 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I’ve got a new(ish) razor saw that looks like your old razor saw, haven’t got any callipers though. ’ Not as easy as it looks’! It doesn’t look easy at all to me. Can we have a proper picture of Tilly please? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 2 hours ago, Biggles87 said: Can we have a proper picture of Tilly please? Thanks John. Like this? Tilly by Ced Bufton, on Flickr Butter wouldn't… stand a chance! 10 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Question: How many idiots does it take to model a Skeeter? Answer: Just one, but they have to be inattentive and really addicted to tools. What's that about? While waiting for the plaster to arrive so that I can use my new vacforming machine to mould a double-bubble canopy I thought I'd better check the kit canopy to assess how much work it will be to modify the buck: That'll be 'None' then. Oh well, at least I've got my vac former. Don't tell anyone… I'm an idiot. Now I have to decide whether to risk the kit canopy on my experiments or to just use the kit one. Safer to use the kit one and not risk messing it up? Risk assessment please… 6 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomprobert Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) I want you to play with your new vacformer so when you've mastered it I can send you bits and pieces to mould for me! It's something I've never dabbled in (despite having a massive stash of vacs) so will be interested to see how you get on... Edited February 11, 2020 by tomprobert 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 32 minutes ago, tomprobert said: I want you to play with your new vacformer Me too Tom! I might experiment on some Airfix Catalina canopies like what Perdu did. Nice try for the bits moulding 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Really excellent work on the kit canopy Ced I wuz gonna suggest dropping a hot steel rule across the canopy to give it a double bubble But I forgot... do you want any Catalina pod bucks to play with? I will never build another Airfix Cat 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyf117 Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, CedB said: Risk assessment please… I'm sitting firmly on the fence - you've only got the one original... ....so whichever way you decide to go, exercise extreme caution... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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