Jump to content

Chester Jeep ** Finished ** - Golden Age Racing Plane - 1/48 - Brengun - First Resin Kit Build


Recommended Posts

Hey Everyone, I am starting my first resin model kit build of the Chester Jeep - a golden age racing plane.  This resin kit is made by Brengun in 1/48th scale. I chose this kit because of the very interesting subject matter (golden age aircraft are of tremendous interest for me) and because of a recommendation by @dnl42 in another thread that it would be a good first time resin kit.

 

1udodDX.jpg

The kit comes in a nice (although very small) cardboard box with a printed label.  

 

3gCRGPx.jpg

The kit comes packaged in a nice zip-lock bag with a fairly detailed instruction sheet and decal sheet.  It includes a reasonably accurate engine (I believe a Menasco C4-S, though I don't know how accurate it is since it doesn't appear to include the super charger) as well as interior detailing.  I may elect to construct the model with the engine bay open to better see the engine (if it turns out ok).

 

 

Anyways, would love to hear any tips or tricks people recommend as I progress though the build!

Edited by sjsald
  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Moa thank you! It will be a very long while till my results are as good as yours though! 
 

@stringbag thank you! I personally find the Menasco (and other inverted inline engine powered) planes quite fascinating. It’s a look that has really fallen out of style. 
 

@dnl42 thank you! It showed up in the mail last night and I couldn’t help but get started on it :) 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Opened up the packaging and got started in earnest on the kit this afternoon.

 

Also, for anyone interested, the airplane has a fairly awesome history that is detailed out here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Jeep.  A gentlemen out of IL made a full scale flying replica of it a few years ago as well: 

 

I'll actually be painting this model to show it's earlier markings in Yellow and Green though.

 

First thing I did was wash all the parts in soapy water since you could clearly feel the mold release agent on the parts.

vmjSG9u.jpg

 

After washing I set them all out on a paper towel to dry.  They all come on fairly substantial mounts which makes it easier to avoid losing anything.

dUAQ0ZE.jpg

 

Next I noticed that the main body section needed a small repair near the tail. Nothing a little putty and sandpaper can't fix though!

Mh3iZxi.jpg

i5Qhhrw.jpg

 

Next I worked slowly and removed the bases from each set of parts with a razor saw and using sandpaper and a rotary tool to clean them up.

EV0kRgW.jpg

9QEP5G1.jpg

The engine and seat have substantial detail in them! The molded in seatbelts are quite nice.

 

Menasco_C-4_Pirate.jpg

 

Also, of note, the instructions mention painting the engine block grey as well as the cylinders.  I believe, though please someone correct me if I am wrong, that Menasco engines usually were painted with the block and accessories painted blue and the cylinders painted black.

Edited by sjsald
Typo
  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Made some more progress this evening.  

 

Sanded the tail repair and it turned out ok.  Probably going to have to take another pass with some putty and sanding.

BJSUoSA.jpg

 

I also primed and airbrushed the interior grey, painted the seat, stick, and throttle/trim assembly.  It is difficult to see, but the nobs on the ends of the throttle/trim assembly are painted red and look pretty cool!

jVcELEb.jpg

 

Next up I primed and painted the engine.  I went with the black/blue scheme that was previously mentioned.

i3yPFkV.jpg

 

Given that the engine actually doesn't look half bad I am going to try and have it on display.

 

 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Following with interest. This is one on my list which I have come just so close to buying several times myself.  Thanks for the parts preview .. I suspect this thread is going to cause me to finally commit & make that purchase!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, dnl42 said:

Nice recovery on the fin! :thumbsup:

 

That is one small aircraft in 1/48 scale. 

Thank you @dnl42! And I know right - the real one (according to Wikipedia) was only 15 ft long. I think it will be good preparation for the 1/72nd scale work I am looking to do next.

 

3 hours ago, greggles.w said:

Following with interest. This is one on my list which I have come just so close to buying several times myself.  Thanks for the parts preview .. I suspect this thread is going to cause me to finally commit & make that purchase!

@greggles.w although I am only a day into the build it has been a blast.  Would highly recommend 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice start on this model into have one to build just thinking that to aid painting, leave the wings off until the fuselage is finished then add the wings. Good luck and I’ll be watching with great interest. 
keep safe 

Simon 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Moa thank you!

 

2 minutes ago, sammy da fish said:

Very nice start on this model into have one to build just thinking that to aid painting, leave the wings off until the fuselage is finished then add the wings. Good luck and I’ll be watching with great interest. 
keep safe 

Simon 

Thank you @sammy da fish This is a great suggestion! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

'I'll actually be painting this model to show it's earlier markings in Yellow and Green though.'

 

Except that it wasn't 'yellow and green' , it was cream and green, as even the Wiki page states. Rather shocking research considering that all the plans made of the plane give the correct colours. Makes you wonder what they used.

All Chester's planes, back to 1924, were painted in those 'trademark' colours.  Green was also darker than shown on their model picture/decal sheet. There are other mistakes on the decal sheet, which seems to cater for the 1935 and'36 versions. The small lettering was also cream, like the wings and trim. The fuselage racing number was metallic gold, with black outline on both versions. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Roger Holden said:

'I'll actually be painting this model to show it's earlier markings in Yellow and Green though.'

 

Except that it wasn't 'yellow and green' , it was cream and green, as even the Wiki page states. Rather shocking research considering that all the plans made of the plane give the correct colours. Makes you wonder what they used.

All Chester's planes, back to 1924, were painted in those 'trademark' colours.  Green was also darker than shown on their model picture/decal sheet. There are other mistakes on the decal sheet, which seems to cater for the 1935 and'36 versions. The small lettering was also cream, like the wings and trim. The fuselage racing number was metallic gold, with black outline on both versions. 


@Roger Holden thank you for this correction! I am not sure where I saw that other paint scheme written (clearly my research ability can improve!) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice, one of my favourite aircraft. Made my own rubber power flying model from the Aeromodeller 3 views.

There is a good book about Art Chesters racing planes called 'The Art Chester Story' by Caler and Underwood, comes up on the bay quite often.

 

Malc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi sj,

        It's a nice little model and so tiny.

A mistake, I think is that most of the period photos show two large outlets at the rear of the lower engine cowl and only on the left side. Both the green and cream versions show this. I think Brengun based their model on the replica which has louvres here.

Another area to watch is that there are no wing or stabilizer locations. The wings can be located with a hole and a bit of wire but the horizontal stabilizers are really thin which makes them a bit tricky. From memory, I think it's also missing the racing number from under the starboard wing or maybe they gave it in solid black when it should be the same as the rest ie gold with black outline.

Too much reliance on what's on view at the moment I think and not enough checking of original photos of which there are plenty of large pictures.

Good luck with your build.

 

Dave

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Malc2 said:

Nice, one of my favourite aircraft. Made my own rubber power flying model from the Aeromodeller 3 views.

There is a good book about Art Chesters racing planes called 'The Art Chester Story' by Caler and Underwood, comes up on the bay quite often.

@Malc2 thank you! I'll search Ebay to see if I can track it down.

 

1 hour ago, Fastcat said:

Hi sj,

        It's a nice little model and so tiny.

A mistake, I think is that most of the period photos show two large outlets at the rear of the lower engine cowl and only on the left side. Both the green and cream versions show this. I think Brengun based their model on the replica which has louvres here.

Another area to watch is that there are no wing or stabilizer locations. The wings can be located with a hole and a bit of wire but the horizontal stabilizers are really thin which makes them a bit tricky. From memory, I think it's also missing the racing number from under the starboard wing or maybe they gave it in solid black when it should be the same as the rest ie gold with black outline.

Too much reliance on what's on view at the moment I think and not enough checking of original photos of which there are plenty of large pictures.

Good luck with your build.

@Fastcat this is great advice! I'll search for photos of the original plane to ensure my kit has a semblance of accuracy 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Everyone, perhaps an aviation historian can fill me in on the coloring of this plane.  I have seen some pictures of both a mostly green with cream accents version as well as how it sits now in the museum with mostly white with green accents.  Also, Wikipedia states that it started out Green and Cream but didn't cite a source.

 

Green with white:

29.jpg

30.jpg

 

White with green:

Art_Chester_Jeep.jpg

 

Does anyone have any recommended reading detailing out these changes? Stay safe everyone!

 

Edited by sjsald
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi sj,

           Personally I'd ignore the museum example if you want to do a period scheme. I'm pretty certain that the original colour was green with cream flying surfaces and stripes. 

The next scheme was again overall cream with green details. I think the race numbers were always gold with black outlines and the registration was black under the wings.

See here:Link and here: Link Also here: Link   Link

Googling Art Chester's Jeep will give you lots of images. If you look closely you'll see variations of the nose intakes, spinner and trim lines around the wheel pants. There's also detail differences in the sponsor arrangements. Incidentally, you can see the the two  outlets I mentioned previously just below the leading edge of the port wing on both the cream and green versions.

The best way could be to choose the best match for the kit decals and then go with that unless you can make decals yourself. OR a second decal sheet from Brengun would provide the nearer match for the underwing race number and a bit of leeway if you go adrift with decal placement.

 

Dave

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Made some progress this evening on the Jeep.

 

Specifically, I installed the instrument gauges and then glued in the top of the cockpit.  I need to work on my photography skills because IMO it looks a bit better in real life.  Also, not shown, but I painted the inside of the upper part of the fuselage since it appeared a little translucent which I wanted to avoid.

CYJar2p.jpg

 

PbZJXAd.jpg

 

Next I did a quite a bit more sanding on the rudder to continue the repair job.  It actually looks quite good.  Since the repair spanned the seam between the fin and rudder I used a razor saw to re-mark the seam (once again difficult to see in the photo.  I think the white putty doesn't help.  Perhaps a panel line wash once it is painted?). Next I installed the horizontal stabilizers and elevators.  These took a little work to get straight and even since there aren't any mounting tabs.  Even though the wings have small holes drilled I suspect they will be more difficult.  I then primed the entire fuselage, wings, and engine cowling.  I am going to dry fit the cowling to the fuselage for painting and then cut out the engine access hatch so that the paining masks all match up.

 

QuRoGuI.jpg

Really having a blast with this model and learning a ton! (Both on technical skills and researching)

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...