The plane I learned to fly in

[billn53]

After having finished up 2020 with a couple of "boom-boom" military planes, I felt a need to offer penance to the modeling gods with a civil aircraft or two. A couple months ago, Bangseat posted pics of a 3D model he had printed and built. It was of a Socata TB9 "Tampico", a general aviation aircraft commonly used for flight training.

 

 

The Tampico has a special place in my heart, as it was the plane in which I earned my private pilot license way back in October, 2011. 

 

 

 

I contacted Harry (Bangseat), who graciously sent me one of his prototype kits with my promise to do a test build and report back any problems.

 

 

 

For details on my build, the WIP can be found here:

 

 

 

This was my first time building a 3D-printed kit, and it was a learning experience for me. Harry's kit is a gem, and I finished it up in just two weeks' time. I could have done it much quicker, but I'm OCD about details and added quite a few to better model the particular airplane I trained in.

 

 

 

With that introduction, let's get on with the pics! A good pre-flight inspection should always start with a walk-around:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now for some detail shots:

 

I added an exhaust pipe, engine cooling vents, nose gear scissors, and blade antenna on the belly:

 

 

I modified the cockpit to match the Tampico I trained in. This is as clear as I could make the transparent piece. Next time I do a 3D-printed kit, I might try vacu-forming the clear parts.

 

 

Here's what is mostly hidden in the interior:

 

 

All of the decals are home made, and my favorite is the "No Step" marking (for people who don't speak French). You can also see the steps, modified wheel hub, and brake line I added to the main gear.

 

 

Pitot tube and flap actuators were added under the wing:

 

 

Landing/taxi lights and wingtip position lights:

 

 

White lights on the wingtips and tail were made from a small drop of UV-activated clear acrylic gel:

   

 

Various antenna were added to the rear fuselage and fin:

 

 

And, that about wraps it up.

 

Oh, by the way, did I mention how tiny this plane is?

 

 

 

Many, many thanks to Bangseat Harry for producing this gem of a kit! He did a great job with it and I'm thrilled to finally have a model of the plane I learned to fly in! Thanks also to everyone who followed this build and provided helpful encouragement & suggestions along the way.

 

So, what's next? Well, here is a pic of the plane I earned my instrument rating in:

 

 

 

and, look what the postman just delivered:

 

 

Another tiny GA airplane, and me with old eyes and fat fingers! But, at least this one is made from honest styrene   

 

 

 

 

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Lovely job I need to find an EV-97 so I can build the aircraft I learn in (G-CEND)! I too picked up one of those Arii/Eidai/Minicraft Cessies recently - it looks very nice but I'm amazed that the only way you can build a 1/72 172 is with a 50 year old kit!

 

Will watch your WIP with interest !

 

Well done!

 

TT

[lunarhighway]

That's a pretty sweet model, capturing the handsome lines of the real thing! Doing historical research for our models can be good fun, but what better history to commemorate than our own personal experiences!

 

It's also exciting to see more obscure subjects can be brought to life with 3d printing

 

the only thing missing are those yellow wheel chocks

 

[swralph]

Very nice build.😀

[Bangseat]

Bill, she's a beaut! Much better than mine darnit! 😂 Seriously well done negotiating the brave new world of 3d print. I'm very humbled that you would take the time to make something so eye-catching from my simple kit.

 

Also thank you for your experience, I have already improved the wing printing process and can definitely incorporate some of your improvements into Socata v2.

 

Socata fans - its now on eBay..

 

Harry

 

[billn53]

Just now, Bangseat said:

Bill, she's a beaut! Much better than mine darnit! 😂 Seriously well done negotiating the brave new world of 3d print. I'm very humbled that you would take the time to make something so eye-catching from my simple kit.

 

Also thank you for your experience, I have already improved the wing printing process and can definitely incorporate some of your improvements into Socata v2.

 

Socata fans - its now on eBay..

 

Harry

 

All thanks are due to you.  If there is one thing I would suggest you change, it would be this: re-do the prop blades so they are a single piece that fits in to the back of the hub. As it is now (two separate parts), it is a pain to get the blades to prop-ely 😊 line up. 

I truly appreciate you sending me this kit. It was a joy to put together. 
 

- Bill

 

[SAT69]

Beautiful little model!

[Epeeman]

That's a great little model - makes a change to see a GA model

 

Regards

 

Dave

[billn53]

1 minute ago, Epeeman said:

That's a great little model - makes a change to see a GA model

 

Regards

 

Dave

Check out Harry’s website, he has some good things happening there GA-wise.

 

https://vfrmodels.wixsite.com/website

 

[Abandoned Project]

Impressive! Both the quality of the finished model and the 3D printed kit. Kudos to you and @Bangseat

[chrisbob12]

That's a little gem!

 

[foxhandybread]

Really awesome build, love the details, and the reveal at the end—wow! Was not visualising just how small it is until I saw that tamiya bottle. Great job!

[John_W]

Beautiful build there. We need more civilian light aircraft kits by mainstream manufacturers.

[noelh]

Love it. I never managed to fly a Tampico although the club had a couple. You did a brilliant job on it. 

 

It must have been a a rare bird in the US. You've done it justice for sure. 

 

I'd love to build a model of the aeroplane I mostly learned to fly in and first solo. A rather more prosaic C150, EI-BCV back in 1978. Incredibly it's still flying now in the England as G-BOBV. I didn't get my private in it though. But a relative of the Tampico, a Rallye 100. Therein lies a tale. 

 

Great memories. 

Edited January 20, 2021 by noelh

[billn53]

4 minutes ago, noelh said:

Love it. I never managed to fly a Tampico although the club had a couple. You did a brilliant job on it. 

 

It must have been a a rare bird in the US. You've done it justice for sure. 

 

I'd love to build a model of the aeroplane I mostly learned to fly in and first solo. A rather more prosaic C150, EI-BCV back in 1978. Incredibly it's still flying now in the England as G-BOBV. I didn't get my private in it though. But a relative of the Tampico, a Rallye 100. 

 

Great memories. 

 

The owner of the flying club I trained with is a Socata fan. He had two Tampicos, plus a TB10 (the latter I flew only once). I enjoyed flying the Tampico. I love the low wing and the Tampico is relatively spacious on the inside. Its downside is, the wide fuselage results in lower cruise speed and climb performance, compared to other GA aircraft with the same engine.

[Sky Keg]

Very nice Bill.  I`m certain that this one tugs at your heart for obvious reason.  I like it.  

 

Mike

[Eric Mc]

My flying school aircraft were Cessna 152s - EI-BMM and EI-BMN.

[Smudge]

Very nice. What a lovely little kit and finished model

 

23 hours ago, TEXANTOMCAT said:

........................... but I'm amazed that the only way you can build a 1/72 172 is with a 50 year old kit!

 

Too true. The old GA 1/72 kits always seem to fetch a good price, so there is a keen interest in them. Come on AZ, where's the Cessna 150/152 etc ?

[TEXANTOMCAT]

I’d rather like a 1/72 Auster Autocrat too and a 1/72 Flying Flea! 
 

TT

[klubman01]

Nicely done.  The personal connection makes it really special.

Trevor

[Booty003]

What a fantastic little kit and one with such a personal connection to.  Superb stuff.

[IanC]

What a super model. For a moment I thought the second pic down was another shot of the real thing.

 

Does anyone make a Piper PA 28-161 Warrior II?

[billn53]

1 hour ago, IanC said:

 

Does anyone make a Piper PA 28-161 Warrior II?

I am afraid not. If so, I would get one. I flew a Warrior for a while, before starting on my instrument rating. 

[bigbadbadge]

What a little cracker,  great job

Chris

[billn53]

I just found this video that I made while taking lessons for my pilot license. It shows going around the pattern in a Socata Tampico at Tipton airport (KFME), near Ft. Meade, Maryland. (Don’t worry, my instructor was flying the plane from the right seat while I took the video.)