Flying Start Models 1:32 Slingsby T.31B - RAF Air Cadets

[Iain Ogilvie]

Hi all, long time, no post - sorry!

 

Have started building this new kit in the last few days and thought I'd post here - as I suspect the subject is right up Britmodeller's alley, as Melchett would say!

 

This is a new, high quality, 3D resin printed kit from Tim Perry, of this parish. Some may remember him as the very nice man behind PP Aeroparts - back in the day.

 

As an ex. Air Cadet myself (who ended up commanding a squadron as an adult) I'm really drawn by this subject, even though my early gliding was in a different type.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"All clear above and behind - take up slack - all out!"

 

Iain

[Iain Ogilvie]

So, making a start...

 

First thing to address is removing the supports from the major components. It may look daunting, but it's very straightforward.

 

Use a sharp pair of side cutters - I'm using a Tamiya set here - and be methodical.

 

 

Work inwards from the outer edges, removing sections of support material once you've separated at the 'mounting' point to the part - this will give clearence to get to the next row of support attachments:

 

 

I've found it best to cut slightly proud of the surface, rather than flush. If you cut flush you can occasionally take a small divot out of the surface of the part - easily fixed with a dab of superglue as a filler.

 

 

And here we are - working back, section, by section:

 

 

Ignore the remnants of the attachment points - we'll come back to those.

 

Back in a mo...

 

Iain

[Iain Ogilvie]

We now have a Porcupine with a semi-baldness problem:

 

 

Next, a few minutes with a fresh scalpel blade to trim flush:

 

 

Which gets us to here:

 

 

Followed by sanding stick:

 

 

And some 800 grit wet and dry paper:

 

 

And, on a cautionary note - like traditional resin kits, the resin can be brittle.

 

I made the mistake of doing the starboard wing whilst sat on the patio - the support lattice 'let go' of the wing when I wasn't expecting it - and it dropped on the patio - chipping a small section of trailing edge.

 

Completely my fault - and easily fixed by cutting square and supergluing a section of styrene sheet in place:

 

 

Iain

[Iain Ogilvie]

And the fuselage prepped:

 

 

 

 

Hopefully more in the next few days - have to say though, this is a delightful change of pace!

 

Iain

[Aeronut22]

Going to have to get me this kit (and the additional decal sheet) in honour of the 4 minute flight in XE791 on the 9th October 1971, the first launch of what was to be a career of 8487 Air Cadet launches. I'll admit that I would have preferred the Barge to the Brick as most of my 'wooden fleet' launches (and solos) were in Barges.

[Iain Ogilvie]

My first gliding was in the Barge - hopefully if Tim can sell enough of these, he'll take a look at the Sedbergh too!  🙂

 

Iain

 

 

[Iain Ogilvie]

Chance for a few quick photos this lunchtime...

 

I wanted to start by illustrating the quality of design and printing in this kit - look at those rigging, strut and pitot mounting holes - all absolutely perfectly formed and sharp!

 

 

Front and rear cockpit bulkheads removed from their supports and prepped, including drilling out two 0.6mm holes at the top of the rear bulkhead, as detailed in the instructions:

 

 

 

Here they are dry fitted into the fuselage - absolutely perfect fit!

 

The front bulkhead needs careful fitting to lock into place around the printed internal details. I'll bond in place by running a little extra thin superglue around the joints from the rear of each.

 

From below:

 

 

From above:

 

 

And here's the cockpit base section dry fitted in place - with some gentle pressure in the middle, the fit is perfect!

 

 

Back soon, because there's been more progress... 

 

Iain

[Iain Ogilvie]

Cockpit - a start made.

 

This really is exquisitely done - and complete!

 

Floorboards, seat bases and control columns prepped and bonded in place with a thick superglue to allow a little positioning time.

 

One one minor issue - the tang at the front of the rear seat base needed trimming a little at its extremity in order to get a close fit of the angled profile to meet the 'V' of the fuselage underside. Tim is amending the instructions to detail this.

 

Paint is Xtracrylix RAF Interior Grey Green:

 

 

 

And with the seat squabs placed in situ - not glued at this stage:

 

 

A start made on the instrument panels - these should look great - and the kit includes decals for instruments and placards:

 

 

Ignore the gash yellow on the cable release - all will be neatened up!

 

The seat straps were mentioned earlier with regards to possible damage when removing from the print supports: happy to report no issues whatsoever - I still need to remove final 'pips' with the tip of a scalpel, but they easily survived trimming with the side cutters and are tougher than they look!

 

 

Hopefully a little more progress this evening, really enjoying this so far...  😎

 

If Tamiya released a range of 3D Printed niche subjects I reckon they'd look a lot like this, and might even fit together almost as well!!

 

Iain

[Paul J]

Looks very nice. Having soloed in one in 1970 I could forego my abstinence from modelling and I am tempted but whats the price???

[Iain Ogilvie]

Hi Paul,

 

It's not cheap - but then neither is the process done to this level - and it's been a real labour of love for Tim, so it's beautifully done.

 

Flying Start Models

 

Iain

[Aeronut22]

I can't recall ever seeing seat cushions being used in the Bricks or Barges I flew in, so that's a coupe of parts I wont be using.

Has anyone got a decent photo of the retrieve trailer used for the Mk III ? I feel the need to scratch build.

[LightningBoy]

There is a photo of a Cadet Mk 3 on a trailer in silver and yellow scheme. I found it when looking for photos of aircraft I had flown. The photo was taken at 613 VGS RAF Halton, the same aircraft I did my 3 solos in, on the same day I went solo and judging by the length of hair of the cadet sat in the seat, I'm 90% certain it's me. How wacky is that😀😀😀😀

 

LightningBoy 

[LightningBoy]

Actually the photo shows WT913 in silver and gayglo orange.. Senior moment. Search Kirby Cadet WT913 and it should get you there.

 

LightningBoy 

[Terry1954]

Great build thread representing the aircraft I first learned to fly! Looks like a lovely 3D model, I'll have to check this one out. Love the work you have done so far.

 

My 1/72  attempt, at the one I flew solo in during 1971..................

 

 

And if you share my interests in Air cadet gliding, this is my current WIP thread on many of these wonderful machines. The Grob Astir is complete, and the Grob Viking is nearly there., many more to go ................

 

 

I will tag along with this fantastic thread.

 

Terry

[Biggles87]

Ah, the good old Mk 3 ( I never called it the brick )bringing back lots of memories from both the front and back seats.

 

Looking forward to more.

 

John

🇺🇦

[heloman1]

Nice subject and a good looking kit. I remember them fondly from my air cadet days in the early 60's, not that I ever got to sit in one!

I'll follow your build with interest. Good to see Tim Perry is back producing again.

 

Colin

[Brandy]

Halton was my local too, being a member of High Wycombe Squadron. Although I went to Newton for my gliding course and lucked out on getting the Venture. 3 flights, 3 hours, done!

 

Ian

[Iain Ogilvie]

Thanks for the interest everyone - exactly why I posted on Britmodeller - I knew there's be some old hands here!

 

Question - instrument panels - all black?

 

I was looking at photos of a restored airframe that is grey green and black - but have been told a red/white/grey airframe would be all black?

 

More progress - will get some more photos when I get a chance in daylight.

 

If anyone's interested in more info on the kit I put together a review over on Large Scale Planes - hopefully the mods won't mind me posting a link.

 

Iain

[T-21]

Instrument panels  were all black throughout the Air Cadet use.

[Paul J]

Never known the T.31 to be known as 'brick' That term was normally applied to the Sedburgh. I see I could make XN250 the one soloed in from the decals provided. Certainly looks nice but I think I will stick with my 1/72 build and the 1/48 Heritage kit in my stash.

[T-21]

Paul, The Sedbergh was known as the "Barge" due to its nose profile. The T-31 or Cadet Mk.3 as the "Brick" due to its high sink rate.

[Terry1954]

32 minutes ago, T-21 said:

Paul, The Sedbergh was known as the "Barge" due to its nose profile. The T-31 or Cadet Mk.3 as the "Brick" due to its high sink rate.

 

Yes, that is ceryainly my very clear recollection of the time I flew these beauties.

 

No dinasor jokes please!

 

Terry

[Iain Ogilvie]

More progress...

 

The front and rear bulkheads bonded in place using extra thin superglue.

 

Spoiler actuating leavers fitted.

 

Cockpit area sprayed Interior Grey Green.

 

Data 'placards' added - from the kit decal sheet (includes spares).

 

 

 

Instrument decals added (again, spares are provided) and panels dry-fitted in place - along with cockpit floor section.

 

 

 

More work to do on the panels.

 

And the bulkhead fit - I filled the extremely minor joint lines with decanted automotive primer, applied by brush - let dry overnight and gave a light sanding before paint.

 

This is the result:

 

 

 

More when there's more - but a great change of pace so far! 😎

 

Iain

[Paul J]

5 hours ago, T-21 said:

Paul, The Sedbergh was known as the "Barge" due to its nose profile. The T-31 or Cadet Mk.3 as the "Brick" due to its high sink rate.

Ah. thats sounds about right. Its over 50 years ago since I did my gliding and the memory part is a bit hazy.  

Edit: Just found my unbuilt 1/72  resin kit of the T.31 made by Dujin.  And it will stay that way for now as I have one built as XN250.

[Aeronut22]

On 12/03/2022 at 20:40, Iain Ogilvie said:

 

 

 

 

Having received this kit I'll have to admit that I'll be taking your advice and will use great care in removing those support structures. However, that's probably not just for the reason you suggest, for as soon as I saw those gorgeous lattices my Modeller's ADHD kicked in and I started to to think what model they could be turned into; Gantry, building, aircraft structure, space craft. 🙂