AdrianMF Posted September 6, 2021 Author Share Posted September 6, 2021 I am beginning to lose track of the number of times that I’ve said “that’s the hard part done with”… Nacelles and undercarriage doors cut out and ready to go: I’m pretty pleased with them, although I’m beginning to think that the Frog undercarriage legs will be a bit too wide. So it may be Albion Alloys tubing time again… 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 Good Job Adrian. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed model. What happened to the Empire? Is it sitting on a shelf like my Beaufort? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 7, 2021 Author Share Posted September 7, 2021 4 hours ago, Greg Law said: What happened to the Empire? It's cosying up to the set of parts for a Fairey Long Range Monoplane, and they will be resumed after four more Blenheims (I rather optimistically hope in this GB), an ICM SB-2 and possibly a Martin Baltimore. I have been thinking about how to do the next steps though, and am starting to feel embarrassed enough to resume it (or the Fairey)... (Unless I start another random kit on a whim) Regards, Adrian 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted September 7, 2021 Share Posted September 7, 2021 I know the feeling. These wims can get you in trouble. Why would anyone want to do four Beaufighters. Oh yes. A wim...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 Finally catching up with this one Adrian. It looks like it could be one of your finest yet 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 3 hours ago, CliffB said: your finest No pressure then… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 Didn’t make much progress this week because I had a cold. It’s quite a surprise to be reminded that there used to be respiratory illnesses that were merely unpleasant but didn’t kill you! Back on it this weekend, after seeing how much garden and household recycling you can collect and stuff into a Fiat 500 and still be able to drive it to the local recycling centre. Quite a lot, it turns out. A final check on the nacelles and doors. Close enough for me: The FROG Blenheim legs are too wide for the Type 142. So I have provided alternative leg locations but have yet to construct the legs to go in them: Using the concept introduced to these forums by @Procopius, I’m not sure whether this is kind to Future Adrian or throwing him under a bus - I’m sure he’ll work it out somehow. The cowling of the Type 142 is rather different from the Blenheim, so I have prepared for that by modelling the forward taper of the nacelle, using a stack of plastic disks and filler (yet to dry enough to be sanded): I have also sanded down some of the profile curve from the back of the nacelle, after adding some Milliput inside to stop me sanding through. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 You're doing a pretty good job so far Adrian. I understand about the cold part. I'm getting rid of an aggravating head cold that I've have for about a week myself. I thought it was allergies flaring up again. didn't even consider it was an actual head cold. who'd a thunk it? and in this day and age to boot.🤧 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 12, 2021 Share Posted September 12, 2021 I should say that I stole the phrase (in bowdlerised form) from the Canadian author Joey Comeau, whose original formulation cannot be used on these forums, or indeed, within earshot of the impressionable youth. Looking incredible so far! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 I want to start whittling the lower wing roots so that they snuggle up to the fuselage, minimising the amount of filling that will be needed. The trouble is, without an inset wing box, the two top halves of the wings, although positively connected, slop about in the fuselage, so getting them square is a pain. So I measured the width of the fuselage at two places, measured the width across the wing roots, and added some spacers and tabs to butt up to the fuselage. Result: positive alignment every time: Quitting while I’m ahead tonight 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 12, 2021 Author Share Posted September 12, 2021 29 minutes ago, LorenSharp said: aggravating head cold The good old days, huh? 16 minutes ago, Procopius said: Canadian author Joey Comeau I think my interest has been piqued enough to add one to my reading list. I promise not to be shocked… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 Well I didn’t quit. Just wanted to see what happens if you whittle the lower half wing roots to make them fit their new position on the fuselage: That happens. Good enough for me. I can’t think of any reason not to glue the wing halves together right now, but I bet I will remember one tomorrow if I do. So I’m really quitting this time! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 27 minutes ago, AdrianMF said: Well I didn’t quit. Just wanted to see what happens if you whittle the wing roots: Plastic shavings all over the place? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ventora3300 Posted September 18, 2021 Share Posted September 18, 2021 Wow, Adrian, this is a job and a half!! Fascinating how you've moved those wings but I wish I hadn't looked now - I'm going to see all the shape issues with the Old Tool Kit. Looking forward to the rest of this build. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 19, 2021 Author Share Posted September 19, 2021 On 18/09/2021 at 18:03, Ventora3300 said: the shape issues I don’t think the old FROG Blenheim is bad on the fundamental shapes at all (in contrast to the old Airfix one!), but I’ve devoted most of today’s modelling time to shape issues! The fairings on the 142 (on the Right, post surgery) were much smaller than the Blenheim: I suspect they may simply have been too small on the 142, but they look more accurate now. I have also trimmed down the tailplanes, sanded the fuselage down more so the profile is pretty much spot on to the plan - the plastic is very thin now - re-profiled the wingtips and started on the cowlings: The cowlings had no cooling gills and they were perched ahead of the nacelle with a gap at the back. So they were basically hanging off the engines. I have put some spacers at the back of the engines to connect to the front of the nacelle and I need to thin down the trailing edge of the cowling. Next up will be roof windows, cockpit and interior, and minor rudder re-profiling. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Lovely stuff - another ambitious build I'd love to see completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 20, 2021 Author Share Posted September 20, 2021 2 hours ago, Jinxman said: I'd love to see completed. Me too! The original is a very attractive and unique aeroplane. I had high hopes of getting a bunch'o'Blenheims in this GB too, but real life has got in the way. If I can get this one done in time I'll be happy! The Blenheims will have to go in WIP. Regards, Adrian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc2 Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 Adrian, you choose some great subjects, I always thought the 142 was an attractive subject. What do we have to do to get you going on the Fairey LRM again!!???? M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AaCee26 Posted September 20, 2021 Share Posted September 20, 2021 23 hours ago, AdrianMF said: I don’t think the old FROG Blenheim is bad on the fundamental shapes at all Hi all, I think that Frog got the basic airframe pretty accurate in this 1/72 Blenheim. Worst thing is the slightly too far forward located wing, although not as drastically than in this project Otherwise IIRC there was a bit too much plastic in the rudder trailing edge upper part and possible a bit narrow empennage. And better nacelles than Airfix got on their new gentlemen scalers... Cheers, AaCee 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 On 20/09/2021 at 19:12, AaCee26 said: I think that Frog got the basic airframe pretty accurate in this 1/72 Blenheim I agree! The wing root leading edge can be fixed by sanding the leading edge inboard of the motors to remove the slight sweep back. This gives just enough room to make that last window on the port side rectangular again. And I agree about the top of the rudder needing a bit taken off. I've tapered the wingtips a bit more on this one to match the plans, and the tail plane is much smaller than the Blenheim anyway. I've been worrying about pictures like this for a while. They show a perfectly flat underside across the fuselage between the wings. My lowering of the wings resulted in a 1mm "belly" between and below the wing roots. My first inclination was to fill the bottom of the fuselage with Milliput to allow me to sand like crazy, but on reflection I decided to drop the wings by 1mm or so. This required me to dig out the newly-hardened Milliput inside the fuselage to make room for the newly-lowered wing tabs 🙄. However, it's done, and the fuselage has been restored above the wing with a strip of 1mm square held in by lashings of superglue, sanded smooth. Hopefully this won't shrink or crack: And underneath you can see that the good fit I got for the lower wings is now a bit adrift, but with some clamping and a bit of Milliput during assembly, and considerably less sanding I originally anticipated, I will be able to get a flat bottom (ooh-er): This task wasn't on my list but I think it's helped me avoid a future disaster! 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 On 20/09/2021 at 13:05, Malc2 said: What do we have to do to get you going on the Fairey LRM again!!???? I'm beginning to feel the heat so it is working its way up the list... You could have a word with my boss about my day job. Oh wait - I am my boss! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 Nice work indeed - good luck with the flat bottom. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted September 22, 2021 Share Posted September 22, 2021 15 minutes ago, Jinxman said: Nice work indeed - good luck with the flat bottom. 😉 RUDE! Oh wait! I thought you said Fat Bottom. My bad. Sorry! Chris 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted September 26, 2021 Author Share Posted September 26, 2021 Well, that’s the hard bit done - again! Roof windows cut out: At last, when cutting tiny bits of brass tube, I remembered to thread them on a rod to stop them pinging off into outer space: So you can stick them (after crushing them in pliers next to a piece of 40thou card so they are all the same ovality) to your cowlings instead: Weird tail wheel fairing made from sprue and inset into the fuselage: Windows made from slices of a polystyrene wine glass that I have been nursing since a going to a work drinks party in (I think) 2010! Very fragile and fiddly but curved and super-clear: Sharpied round the edges to kill internal reflection and given a coat of my old super-thick future at the back to glue them in: A bit of paint to undercoat the interior and check for booboos: Next up scribing, then we might actually even stick something together! Crazy talk… when does this GB finish? 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 I like that brass tube trick, and the resultant exhaust parts look very smart. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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