DMC Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 6 hours ago, rob Lyttle said: Tidy work on all counts, Dennis Thanks, Rob. Not sure which bulge you mean but for sure it is not perfect. Tabs would have to be fixed to make it work. Biggest problem I had with vacing was the flare around the base. PETG is tricky stuff to work with. Thickness, temperature and time need to be just right for the best results. It’s not as forgiving as the white stuff. Enough experimenting now, though, closing it up will be the main focus. ......and a little work on the Came. I’m sure you’ll sort the repairs out to your satisfaction. Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 Splendid work on both models gents . Hope you're able to sort out the split okay Rob, what a I talking about of course you will be able to sort it out. Keep up the good work Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 15, 2020 Author Share Posted August 15, 2020 Thanks for the vote of confidence, Chris 😁. I think I'm about there. Well, it's better than before anyway. I got back to the original fuselage side under the Tailplane mount and repaired the glue damaged surface. I'm often singing the praises of Muller Corner yoghurt pots as a source of styrene. I'm at it again here! A carefully selected corner piece of pot with the right amount of curve was persuaded to fit the void from the the Ventura fuselage side down to the centreline joint. Some of the spongy modelling clay I've been messing around with has gone into the void first to support the thin pot plastic. It's also quite gluey stuff and seems to be doing the business behind the plastic. A touch of the perfect plastic Putty here and there and the tail is sorted. So I'm going on with the foiling process to complete the area It has the air of a well used and stressed metal airframe, there's no doubt! That's all part of the beauty of these planes though, isn't it?? 🤠 More panel detail can be brought out with additional layers of foil if required. Nose done, roof done, really just the bottom to do and she's there 👍 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 16, 2020 Share Posted August 16, 2020 Well done. Do you do call outs? 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 Well, the fuselage is covered. All I need now is a cargo hatch and a passenger door. I am having doubts about the shape of the underside being ideal for a Lodestar. Looking at the little MPM model in 1.72 there is a look of roundness.... ........ that doesn't really come across with the Ventura. I know the MPM model has shortcomings in relation to shape and depth, but.......? I'm wondering if the shape was altered to a more boxy profile to accommodate a bomb load and doors, plus a bomb-aimer's window underneath the nose. Or am I just imagining things?? Maybe I've been messing around with these planes too long 🥴🥳😳 Just that getting the foil on underneath caused me to take a look at the overall shape. Thoughts.....? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 15 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said: Well, the fuselage is covered. All I need now is a cargo hatch and a passenger door. I am having doubts about the shape of the underside being ideal for a Lodestar. Looking at the little MPM model in 1.72 there is a look of roundness.... ........ that doesn't really come across with the Ventura. I know the MPM model has shortcomings in relation to shape and depth, but.......? I'm wondering if the shape was altered to a more boxy profile to accommodate a bomb load and doors, plus a bomb-aimer's window underneath the nose. Or am I just imagining things?? Maybe I've been messing around with these planes too long 🥴🥳😳 Just that getting the foil on underneath caused me to take a look at the overall shape. Thoughts.....? John W. Bell plans show something closer to what you have, but never getting to a completely flat bottom, while other plans show a slightly rounder cross-section. Some others seem to show something in between, for what I can see on the Net at a glance. I make it clear that have no experience whatsoever with this type, though, and my initial enthusiasm (as I have the kits I posted early on the thread) has completely evaporated, considering all the different variants, modifications, and shenanigans of all the kits. } Too much information scattered in too many places, and some contradictory. Sigh... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 18, 2020 Author Share Posted August 18, 2020 28 minutes ago, Moa said: John W. Bell plans show something closer to what you have, but never getting to a completely flat bottom, while other plans show a slightly rounder cross-section. Some others seem to show something in between, That sounds like a free pass to me, Moa! Thanks for the feedback. Whatever shape I achieve, it will match some plan or other 😀 I'm not getting all worried about this - - I was sort of thinking out loud and putting it out there, so to speak. It is all a bit varied and various with these planes, isn't it? 🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Hi Rob, Sorry to rain on our parades but it would appear you are on to something re the fuselage belly. At least as far as this one goes. I think there is also something about your bomb load theory. Anyway, dashing out, more later. Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Fixable with some judicious plunge moulding but as you’ve got the doors on and foiled maybe a mod too far. I’ll mull things over a while before deciding. Dennis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 It's a revision too far for me now. I'll stick with what I've got. Interesting to see what you can come up with, Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 8 minutes ago, rob Lyttle said: I'll stick with what I've got. Understandable, sometimes you just want to get things over with. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrfan Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 The Lodestar drawings I have found on the net that include fuselage cross-sections show a flatter bottom than you are suggesting is the case. For instance https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/42502790218163995/ Thoughts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 1 hour ago, dcrfan said: Thoughts? Well that's Interesting. Not a million miles off what you get with the Ventura fuselage, is it? From what Moa says, there's quite a variety among the drawings. I've used the kit bay doors with the centre line flanges removed to fill the space.. They have a definite local bulge included on the outer doors, but once they are removed the doors do the job OK. And they are looking fairly close to that drawing...... Maybe the issue is more up around the front with the aiming window? I did a bit of rounding there as it leads up to the nose, just abrasion on the kit plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Heck, I don’t know, looking at the #308 photo and the semicircle of the lower nose cap that seems to flow right into the rounded underbelly. If that is indeed a Lodestar then the kit nose bottom is definitely too flat. My two cents. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 The question is “what do I intend doing about it”. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Definitely more rounded then this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) 28 minutes ago, DMC said: The question is “what do I intend doing about it”. Yes! It's us who will be doing most of the looking at these artifacts when we're done........ So what will you be happy looking at on the shelf?? And what's going to drive you nuts every time you see it..... 😳‼️ Edited August 19, 2020 by rob Lyttle Addition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrfan Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 15 hours ago, rob Lyttle said: Yes! It's us who will be doing most of the looking at these artifacts when we're done........ So what will you be happy looking at on the shelf?? And what's going to drive you nuts every time you see it..... 😳‼️ If there was a definitive answer I would look at it differently but there is sufficient doubt that I'm going with existing Lodestar underbody shape. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 15 hours ago, dcrfan said: If there was a definitive answer Yep, modelling skills and interpretation required here! We're free-styling with this, guys. I'm kind of thinking I could have done a bit more abrasion and rounding under the chin and around that aiming window in the lead up to the nose cone. But having got this far - and it's a bit more rounded than the 1st Ventura nose- I'll stick with what I've got and enjoy it. 😎 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted August 21, 2020 Share Posted August 21, 2020 Have a good look at a Lodestar from this angle guys. Definitely not fully rounded but with a hint of flat. Trust photos a little more than plans? As I haven’t got the fuselage closed up yet there’s still the option of a correction. Right now, however, I’m enjoying tinkering with a 747. Dennis 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Hi Rob, Been pretty quiet on the “Twins” thread.lately. Looks as though you might have moved on to another project? I’ve been puttering around on the 747 build I started last year all the while thinking about what to do about the Ventura ‘s flat belly. I’ve done a little work on a, perhaps, solution and I intend, picking up where we left it, to start a new thread titled something like Yada yada converesion rather than one covers all the variants I should have a couple of photos to post by tomorrow so you can let me know what you think of my “solution”. Apprieciate all the help and advice you’ve given me on the Lockheed’s and trust you will approve of what I do. Cheers Dennis 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 Yes, once I got the fuselage sorted I took a break and started messing around with cars. Then I got a bee in my bonnet about the lack of steering on some of the car kits and started scratch building solutions for that! I know I got to tackle the wings and nacelles next on the Lodestar, and to be honest I'm not sure of my approach. Posting threads etc, proceed as it suits, Dennis. Make sure that you put the links! I'm going to need all the insight and help I can get on the next stages ‼️😎 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Hi friends How are you two doing with these projects? Did I miss something, a RFI? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted October 17, 2020 Author Share Posted October 17, 2020 21 hours ago, Moa said: Did I miss something, a RFI? No!! 😜 Dennis has a dedicated WIP for his ongoing, and a big Camel to be dealt with. I took a break once I got the fuselage sorted and ready, because I knew that the next phase is the wings, nacelles, cowlings...... ‼️ And all I have is the kit and a nice pair of resin Wright Cyclones. I'm going to need some serious ideas and a plan of action. Then I've got involved with the Heller Group Build..... And opted for these, But I did manage to fit this Airfix reissue Vintage Classics into the schedules, I must catch up with Dennis's progress. I haven't seen anything for some time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob Lyttle Posted January 3, 2021 Author Share Posted January 3, 2021 **NEW YEAR RESOLUTION ** I've really got to get back on the case with the Lodestar! 2021 is when this job will be dealt with. I'm lost in the far reaches of the BM forum, in the Heller Classic Group Build at the moment, but THIS year I'll be back on this. @DMC @dcrfan and anyone else with one, any progress....?? 😎🧚 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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