Jump to content

80383 - E-3F/E-3B "AWACS"


Recommended Posts

I have been slowly working on the E-3 and boy it is fighting me!

 

The fuselage went together with little fuss and I decided to assemble the rotor dome legs to its dome mount to avoid issues when mounting the dome to the legs later. So far so good

50525908261_b9b13afaed_b.jpg

 

Next was the stand mounting point, I drilled a hole in the centre wing part

50525179398_0277ae8e9f_b.jpg

 

and glued the tube and support structure in place

50526067037_09f438589c_b.jpg

50526067007_43ec496f79_b.jpg

 

Here is the assembled dome temporarily attached to the fuselage to get the correct angle for the legs (still going OK)

50525908126_136a54ed62_b.jpg

 

I also made up the replacement main gear doors as the kit ones are moulded in the open position

50525907956_6964a59c59_b.jpg

 

Next I decided to glue the centre wing section to the fuselage, the wing dihedral was not quite right so I thought I would help it along with some tape as the glue set

50525179148_fe440ed3a2_b.jpg

 

After this I went to add the outer sections on the wings, the dihedral was not good leaving a 2mm gap where the top wing section meets the fuselage 😞 So as the glue was still not quite set I removed the wing centre section from the fuselage and went to Plan B

50526066797_7b6c041d92_b.jpg

 

Prior to that in an attempt to remove a warp from the wing, the tip separated with a very loud 'crack'! So I will need to go the hot water treatment once repairs are made to reduce the warp. 

50526066742_29934d798b_b.jpg

 

The center section will also needs the hot water treatment as a test fit showed a 1cm gap at the inboard engine mount where the inner and outer wings are supposed to meet

50526211467_940635869d_b.jpg

 

Finally the second wing is attached.

50525179038_08c1241978_b.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

That's some excellent and robust progress Ray. You are well and truly taking to his big bird rather well and although it's giving you grief, I'm sure you'll win out comfortably in the end. 

Cheers and great update.. Dave 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Overcoming some hurdles now, the broken wingtip refitted.

50543134162_cf7a44737b_b.jpg

 

I looked at the contrail rear sensor and decided to make my own, I cut off the rear section of the fuselage and built it up with card, I then added the rear sensor from other card stock

50542269668_71d3130c2e_b.jpg

 

The wing dihedral issue was sorted with some hot water and  and a lot of tape and clamping when the fuselage and lower wing were brought together

50542999581_f48017dc8b_b.jpg

 

and a stand was made up and main assemblies test fitted

50542999616_779e404b3f_b.jpg

50542269618_9a8f67e759_b.jpg

 

Once the putty dries some more sanding required, then I will have a look at the antenna fit and see what need scratchbuild to make this a B or C model E-3. I will also have reshape the other parts from the contrail set before they are fitted.

 

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have not been doing much to this one as I sort out the other Contrails parts. Not much of the original shapes are obvious.

 

On the left you can see the new shapes and on the right what came in the pack. There is still some refining to do to the chin sensor mount

50558508192_9d80ab4bd5_b.jpg

 

50558329181_646656cc76_b.jpg

 

and I have started to reshape the second cheek fairing

50567710031_ea68c03c35_b.jpg

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I have finally started to finalise the shape of the chin and cheek lumps

 

The tail has been reattached

50603101533_c56875771b_b.jpg

 

Cheek pod added and putty applied (very messy) These look nothing like the parts I started with, I reckon I removed about 50% of the material supplied in the update set ( same for the chin part)
50603962902_c5cd41409b_b.jpg

 

And the chin pod added and reshaped some more and some putty applied to fill some pin holes, this also shows the shape of the attached cheek pods as well
50603101428_880a1194c9_b.jpg

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 hours ago, Jabba said:

Nice work, but that is a lot of filler around those resin parts.

It is, they were very rough and not really made to fit snuggly, I did sand the mating surface but a lot of filler was still required, If you go back a few posts you will see how much the shape of these parts has been changed.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kudos to anyone building one of these big birds. I have a Warning Star in the stash that I’m considering offloading simply because if I’m honest I don’t think I’ll ever have the cojones to take it on.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Hi Ray

Have you had a chance to do any more to this one since we last heard from you ?

As we now have an extra 2 weeks in this GB it would be brilliant to see this one completed. 

Cheers Pat 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/2/2021 at 3:23 PM, JOCKNEY said:

Hi Ray

Have you had a chance to do any more to this one since we last heard from you ?

As we now have an extra 2 weeks in this GB it would be brilliant to see this one completed. 

Cheers Pat 

 

G'day Pat, 

 

I lost my way on this one and the others I was working on before the Christmas break, total loss of modelling motivation. I was also way halfway across the country on that break and am now rejuvenated to finish this one off. Even without the deadline extension (which is very welcome) I had planned to get it done by the end of January, so now I can coast a bit more on this one :D. Hope to post an update shortly.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

It's a long time coming but I have recommenced work on this one.

 

I started by filling the void in the top of the engines intakes with some strip plastic as an easy fix to the hole

50840842657_309c313eaf_b.jpg

 

But then as it does some thoughts of accuracy for the subject matter crept in, I was looking at pictures of the engines and saw that the nacelle shape had changed with mods done to the TF33s. So put with the putty to try and round the shape of the rear half and filled the turbo cooler (TC) intake section as most of it will be removed and reshaped

50840750526_4da6fe2ac1_b.jpg

 

I also started to add the remnants of the TC hump to the number 4 engine and it will be reshaped to match the other 3 engines

50840842517_b82f46dfa7_b.jpg

 

So when the glue dries and the putty sets I will be reshaping most the engine parts.

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

More filling on the engines, the basic shaping of the back end is complete and the intake cowlings have been modified and filled, more sanding to come.

50850492257_f587c7a4ca_b.jpg

 

I also added the kit antennas above and below the fuselage and marked out where the extras need to go, which will be made up and fitted next.

50850492302_767b836faf_b.jpg

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The antenna fit is finished

50859092767_4b2faa403a_b.jpg

50858277358_4ef030023b_b.jpg

 

Including the wing tip HF antennas, which are being faired in with some putty

50859092697_0744f6aa20_b.jpg

 

Work on the engines continues with the continual filling and sanding after finding bits not filled enough. Though as that was coming to a close I realised I had to added the IR counter measures sensor the the back of the pylon, so out with the saw, some tube and more putty.

50858997381_e03f656e2f_b.jpg

 

and finally a shot with the fin and radome dropped on, almost ready for a lick of paint. more sanding to go in the mean time.

50859092682_f02354abc9_b.jpg

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Finally motivated to do some more, the major assemblies are together and now ready for some paint (after I fix the wingtip probe I broke off).

 

50899674533_862a6ef3e3_b.jpg

50899674523_cd3015532c_b.jpg

50900387396_a06b895d75_b.jpg[/url

50900505677_4567c78b87_b.jpg

 

I have since added some filler the the wing/pylon joint on each engine which is in need of clean up, so that is the next task.

  • Like 6
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...