stevehed Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 I'm going with this vacform. It's 1/72 and I've had a bunch of vacs from this company for a while. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbjorn Posted March 17, 2021 Share Posted March 17, 2021 I’ve been tempted by some of their offerings. Will be interesting to see one being built. 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray S Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 This looks very interesting. Back in the day, I always got the impression that Sierra was one of the best vacform brands around. I never ended up with one, so I will follow and see if that holds true! It looks like a very sleek aircraft. All the best with it, Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 Including this one I have six in the stash. Built the other in the WW1 100year anniversary in 2014. It was an AEG GIV twin and went together very well I thought. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted March 24, 2021 Author Share Posted March 24, 2021 Have made a start and cut out the main parts. The lower wings are painted using Hu 65 Spanish Blue which isn't a bad match to the WSDF colour patterns. Internally there is a floor with a petrol tank and the seat sits on top. Three bulkheads will come in handy and I'll probably add some strip to aid with aligning the fuselage halves. White metal parts include the prop and spinner, exhaust, axle claw brake and a spandau and parabellum. No ring for the latter but I have a spare. There is also a Benz engine but I'm going to model the winter version which has most of the engine hidden behind the raised cowling. I'm saving the Benz for another project so I'm going to use the cylinders and tappets from an Eastern Express Starstrutter. These just have to show a little above the top of the wind guards so should be ok. I'm going to crew up so I'm not going overboard with the internals. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 A little progress to report. Cockpit internals installed. Extras include a control column and rudder pedals from spares. I'd have liked a control wheel but there's none left and tiny wheels would drive me to distraction. In the rear cockpit I've added a flip up seat and a black box to act as the radio. Gunner is Franz from the Airfix Hannover. The upper section of the engine is also in place and the wings are going to get another coat of Spanish Blue. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted March 31, 2021 Author Share Posted March 31, 2021 Wings are painted and I've made a ply colour mix using HU7 and Revell 382. I'll have to add the forward mg and windscreen before the wings are started. The holes for exhausts too. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 31, 2021 Share Posted March 31, 2021 Looks great Steve! Is it going to be a natural wood fuselage? I’ve been following your WWI builds on another forum for quite a while now, nice to see one here. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted April 1, 2021 Author Share Posted April 1, 2021 Thanks Adrian. Most of these aircraft had natural wood fuselages so I'm going for that. I have been using Revell SM382 to replicate ply recently, particularly on Austro Hungarian types. Using a dry brush with paint only on the tip I lightly tap the surface to try and get a wood effect. This time I would like to get something nearer to the warm yellow description hence the addition of HU 7. My colour guide is the WSDF 77. Regards, Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted April 7, 2021 Share Posted April 7, 2021 Just found this Steve. I too have followed some of your vacuform builds over the years and must write how I respect the way in which you turn lumps from plastic sheet into very good models. This one looks as though it will be very similar. PS I thought that the character in the Airfix Hannover was Frederik. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 I must check out the group build area more often. I had no idea there would be so many vac WWI kits being built here. I could have guessed maybe, but it seems from the main site that everyone is afraid of rigging. I'll be following! Ian 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted April 10, 2021 Author Share Posted April 10, 2021 On 4/7/2021 at 9:59 PM, pheonix said: Just found this Steve. I too have followed some of your vacuform builds over the years and must write how I respect the way in which you turn lumps from plastic sheet into very good models. This one looks as though it will be very similar. PS I thought that the character in the Airfix Hannover was Frederik. Thanks Steve, you should really try one. BTW Franz und Emil are the observer and pilot respectively. My source is PM Grosz of WSDF fame. Frederick is probably a von somebody. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 22 hours ago, Brandy said: could have guessed maybe, but it seems from the main site that everyone is afraid of rigging. Not everyone , I actually like rigging. I’d have to for things like this 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted April 11, 2021 Author Share Posted April 11, 2021 I ran out of suitable iron crosses which led to a slow down in production. I made the ear type side radiators. There are sections on the card that have grille patterns to use. I shaped a couple and added 10 thou strips to the outer edges and a couple of pieces of strip as the base which allows a gap between the radiator and the fuselage. Apparently this gap improved the efficiency compared to earlier sorts used on the Roland's for instance. An over engine reservoir is again required and this one is a slightly different design. It was shaped from a bit of card and sits on rod pipes. I have built WW1 kits for close to fifty years but still regard rigging as a chore which I try to keep to an acceptable minimum. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Delighted to see a Sierra vacform being built, lots of us have at least one of these manufacturers kit in the stash, you are giving us all the perfect reason to build them ! Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted April 12, 2021 Share Posted April 12, 2021 This is coming on really well Steve. Personally I do not like vacuforms (easier to scratch the parts, but I do like to watch how others do so. Lots of tips for scratch builders here too. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Have resumed work on this one today. Got distracted by what was supposed to be the fall back build while paint dried. Not much to add but I've attached the radiators and drilled the location holes for the struts. Windscreen and cabanes will be next, not forgetting some rigging holes before the lower wings are attached. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 May be a small addition but it all helps! Looks good from here. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 3, 2021 Author Share Posted May 3, 2021 Production has resumed after further distractions. I've managed to get the wings in place after several mishaps. First, I knocked the port lower off and took two attempts to relocate. Then the rear cabane was too short and had to be cut out. Then the starboard inner interplane strut holes were not aligned. I've redrilled the forward hole to get the strut straight and replaced the rear cabane supports. Just to make the day complete the starboard radiator was too low and had to be removed. I think I'm ready to sort the rest of the struts now but what a kerfuffle. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted May 4, 2021 Share Posted May 4, 2021 So even vacuforms fight back! P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 11, 2021 Author Share Posted May 11, 2021 So right P. This one has fought me all the way. I forgot to mention the observer's gun ring that didn't like it's intended home. The observant will notice one of the wing struts is not quite in alignment. I'd relocated the others but as one can guess it is the one that was most secure. As an appeasement to the modelling gods in a quest for a quieter life I've decided to leave it where it is. It seems to be working as I've managed to rig the wings and install the undercarriage without any, touch wood, further interventions from outside influences. Can see the end now. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 (edited) Bringing this one to a close to clear the decks for the Under a Tenner GB. As others have noted I'm also suffering from GB overlap. Since the last post the undercarriage was constructed from 20x40 strip. The axle is 30thou rod with a cover made from 30x80 strip. I cut a groove with a saw and file for the axle. I don't usually bother with the cover but the CVII has an axle brake and I fancied adding the white metal part and needed the extra width. Wheels are the kit parts which were cut out and had card inserts stuck into the backs. The trap doors for any internal bombs and presumably camera work are represented by a couple of transfers I found in the spares. A tiny bit of rod acts as the weight on the end of the aerial line and the tail skid is white metal and came with the kit. Final work was at the front end with a cap for the water reservoir and the exhaust stack, the spinner and prop are white metal kit parts and the wireless dynamo is from something I found in the spares. No idea what is was or came from. The crew are Airfix with Emil the pilot transferring from Roland CII's and Franz fancied a change from the Hannover. Will post final shots in the Gallery. Edited May 15, 2021 by stevehed 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjwomack Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Just seen this in the gallery and hadn't appreciated how good the paint work on the wings is- a result and a half. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbjorn Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 It’s a beautiful machine and model. I think the yellow varnish is spot on. First time I see a model of this aeroplane. The relation with the scout is evident. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted May 15, 2021 Share Posted May 15, 2021 Excellent build thread and finished model Steve. You have made some first class models from vacuforms and this is another to add to your collection. P 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
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 accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now