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


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A little more progress...

 

Seat cushions added - important to note that they are different lengths - they'll only work one way!

 

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I used a punch and die set to create flat clear glazings for the instruments - added over a small blob of clear varnish to hold in place.

 

Panels were then installed - adding thin superglue from behind each panel.

 

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Added separate spoiler linkages from 0.2mm silver steel rod. There are 'printed in' linkages - but I just wanted to add a little 'bling'.

 

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Next - buttoning up the fuselage/cockpit...

 

Iain

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And the lower front fuselage/cockpit section is now bonded in place - using thin superglue.

 

Excellent fit that will take minimal sanding to blend everything together...

 

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Off to take a look at the wings.

 

Iain

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A few minutes work with some 400, then 800, wet and dry and the forward fuselage section is perfectly blended in:

 

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The wheel housing has also been bonded in place - again, a perfect fit.

 

And a dry fit of the printed seat straps - they work beautifully! May have to trim a little off the bottoms to get them flat on the cushions - but for a first dry fit they work!

 

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Iain

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Tail surfaces have been removed from their print supports, and the elevator separated from the tailplane so that I can re-fit at a jaunty angle.

 

Tim will be changing these in subsequent kits...

 

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Spoilers fitted in the closed positions on each wing half - and the stainless 'spars' removed from the box:

 

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This is just a dry run - and I need to cut a couple of brass rods to go front and rear - but these rods just slide perfectly into the holes in the wings:

 

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And, partially slid together:

 

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All the way home. Not bonded yet - but this is going to be very straightforward!

 

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Blue skies,

 

Iain

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Back on the T.31 - and more progress...

 

The holes at front and rear of the central wing joint have been opened up with a 1mm drill bit, in a pin vise, and short sections of 1mm brass wire (supplied with the kit) cut to act as additional alignment - details are in the instructions.

 

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Ailerons: holes in wing and ailerons opened up with a 1mm drill - and sections of 1mm diameter brass rod bonded to the ailerons, before trimming to length:

 

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Assembled wing, using superglue - and access wiped away after drying using de-bonder. Ailerons are dry fitted at present:

 

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All good!

 

Next item was the rudder - I'd managed to damage the control horn on the starboard side - so this was repaired using spare support material, bonded with thin superglue and filed/sanded to shape.

 

As with the Ailerons, relevant holes were drilled out in the fin and rudder for 1mm diameter brass rod, which has been bonded to the rudder and trimmed back:

 

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It's worth pointing out that, with a few tweaks done to the kit parts in production, Tim has updated his instructions - the latest version is available to download here.

 

This really is great fun - looking forward to getting some colour on her next! 

 

All Out!

 

Iain

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Mainly looking at photos this afternoon - and deciding which airframe to do.

 

One important factor is the kit provides alternative winch-launch hook positions - and I wanted to choose a subject where I could clearly see te position on that particular airframe.

 

Added to that, I wanted to do a red/white/grey scheme - as most were in those colours back when I was a cadet.

 

XE799 on the instructions looked good - and I found a clear image confirming details.

 

Decision made:

 

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Image from glidingheritage.org.uk

 

So - rear hook mount filled with superglue and sanded back:

 

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Front mount masked with Humbrol Maskol.

 

Elevator - previously removed from tailplane - re-attached at an angle - more representative of an airframe on the ground.

 

I believe Tim has modified the kit so these items are no supplied as separate parts.

 

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And the cockpits all masked up:

 

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So, with a few attachment point also masked up with Maskol, we're ready for some white primer:

 

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And it looks like I'm out of automotive white primer - so may have to do some shopping!

 

More when there's more...

 

Iain

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52 minutes ago, Iain Ogilvie said:

One important factor is the kit provides alternative winch-launch hook positions - and I wanted to choose a subject where I could clearly see te position on that particular airframe.

 

I can only speak for when I flew these back in the early 70's, but the T31's back them used both cable attachment points as I recall. The under fuselage for winch launches, and the nose position if aerotowed I think, but most certainly both remained available on all airframes. It is the same today I believe for most gliders, certainly on the Viking I am just finishing.

 

This shows both in place on a museum T31 .................

 

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I built my 1/72 T31 a few years back and managed to put the rear hole on the wrong side!

 

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Brilliant progress on your T31, and such a big model!

 

Terry

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Hi Terry,

 

Yes - but that's not what I mean!

 

Ignoring the nose aerotow attachment...

 

There are two possible attachment points under the fuselage for winch launches - most in the position shown in your underside photo - but some airframes had the attachment point further aft - the kit covers both options.

 

Build is getting there - but maybe stalled whilst I get some suitable primer.

 

Iain

 

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23 minutes ago, Iain Ogilvie said:

Yes - but that's not what I mean!

 

Ah, my mistake Iain!

 

My haste in response was to try and help, but I now understand. Something more I have now learned re the T31.

 

This kit is rather special and may tempt me to get one, as this scale invites so much more detail, as you are showing so well.

 

Thanks for clarifying.

 

Terry

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Hi Terry,

 

I only knew about the two positions from reading Tim's instructions - and having to make a decision on which to go for!  :)

 

It's a nice size for a subject like this IMHO!

 

Iain

 

 

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Great progress so far.

I don’t recall ever seeing more than one under fuselage cable attachment point plus the one in the nose on any Mk3s I flew on either of the gliding schools I was involved with or at Spitalgate where the instructors courses were held.

 

John

 

🇺🇦

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Didn't get as much done over the weekend as I'd planned - got a little sidetracked with a real aeroplane needing its 'Annual'.

 

First 'colour' is on the airframe - gloss white fuselage uppers, light aircraft grey wing central area (looks darker than it actually is in the photos) and red. All Tamiya gloss, thinned with neat Isopropyl Alcohol to speed up drying:

 

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I've used the lighting - and upped the contrast a lot - to illustrate the lovely fabric effect - yes, there is a very slight layering effect from the print process, but this is a lot less noticeable in normal lighting - and if you do notice anything, it looks like a fine fabric effect:

 

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Once decals are on, everything will be given a fine coat of satin varnish - buffed lightly when dry with some cotton scrap fabric to impart a slight sheen.

 

Very pleased with how this is coming together now...

 

Next job - to mask up for the areas of red on fuselage and wings.

 

Iain

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Latest progress on the Flying Start Models T.31 Glider - ready for the decals now!

 

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A little neatening up required around cockpit edges - but nothing major...

 

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Off to do the decals now - will post an update when done.

 

Loving this project! 

 

Iain

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I checked my flying log as an air cadet and flew in XN241 from South Cerney, so thought it would be great to build this kit...until I found the price of it!  Regret I can't justify £134.00 for any kit, regardless of this being a 3D-printed kit!!

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Fully understood Adrian - and a pity IMHO.

 

It's certainly not cheap, but I don't think it could have been done in such a complete, high quality, low volume, run at any lower price, or Tim would be running at a loss I'm afraid.

 

Some photos with all the decals/stencils done.

 

The decals are excellent - beautifully thin and opaque, with no hint of silvering - anywhere...

 

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The decals for the under-wing serials where cut and trimmed between the 'X' and the 'E' on each, to remove a section of clear film where the strut mounts are located on the wing underside - makes things soooo much easier!

 

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No setting solutions were harmed in the application of decals - so a firm 10/10!

 

So - item the next - and I couldn't resist removing the wing/cockpit struts from their supports and trial fitting to the fuselage:

 

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And then, well, I just had to see what she looked like with the wing balanced in place:

 

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This model makes me smile! 🙂

 

Oh - and these are just a smidge over-exposed - I could have tweaked, but too late now. The grey is just a fraction darker on the model!

 

Final finish won't be this shiny - will cover that later.

 

Meanwhile - I have a plan - possibly a cunning one - to improve on the look of the kit supplied metal wing struts.

 

These are supplied as aluminium tube for strength and are probably the only compromise in the whole kit. and one that prevented the cost escalating.

 

I have some 1mm diameter stainless steel rod on order. If strong enough when cut to length, then I'll have a go at forming an airfoil shape around them with 5 thou styrene sheet - but news on that when I have it...

 

"All Out!" :pilot:

 

Iain

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  • 2 weeks later...

In latest news Tim has been experimenting with 3D printed wing struts - and initial results are very encouraging.

 

Being relatively long and thin, these are pushing the envelope with current resins - but with a little shortening of the CAD master it looks like they may work perfectly - *providing* the wing is very firmly attached to the fuselage first.

 

Photos below are a test fit on the airframe I'm building:

 

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Next job is to sort the dayglo strips for the outer wing leading edges...

 

Have fun!

 

Iain

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I've been considering how to print struts as well, and my thought is to leave a hollow all the way through, to allow the insertion of a suitably sized brass rod. The rod will be the actual load bearing member, the strut will be no more than a cosmetic fairing. One of these days, I'll actually draw the thing up and have a go... 

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On 15/05/2022 at 03:49, Rob G said:

I've been considering how to print struts as well, and my thought is to leave a hollow all the way through, to allow the insertion of a suitably sized brass rod. The rod will be the actual load bearing member, the strut will be no more than a cosmetic fairing. One of these days, I'll actually draw the thing up and have a go... 

Solid ones, in a newer resin, work just fine, much to my surprise!  I too expected the assembly to require metal somewhere in the wing struts, and I did investigate getting some bespoke tubing rolled to the correct profile. This was doable apparently, and the cost per metre was fine. However, the minimum run they were prepared to do was....... 5 kilometres of the stuff!! So, back to the drawing board. Hence the metal tubing in the current kits, which was a painful compromise, I know! But very sturdy.  Anyway, with a bit of encouragement, and against my better judgement, and, to be fair, the arrival of an apparently more suitable resin, I gave the printing route a try, and after a tiny bit of adjustment in both geometry and processing, they work! So, from now on, kits will come with resin struts, and I'll be sending out sets to those customers who already have the kit.

In the meantime, I don't think I have had as much fun doing research for a product as this....

 

 

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The model is looking superb, and that video made my day. XA310 was the aircraft I Flew solo in back in January 1971. I was like re-living my first solo! Fantastic!

 

Thanks for sharing that @Tim Perry

 

Terry

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4 minutes ago, Terry1954 said:

The model is looking superb, and that video made my day. XA310 was the aircraft I Flew solo in back in January 1971. I was like re-living my first solo! Fantastic!

 

Thanks for sharing that @Tim Perry

 

Terry

Me too! 1975 at Locking, we had a snow storm the night going down in the train from Bristol Parkway, and my mum said the train disappeared into the snow like something out of Dr Zhivago!!  But the following morning was flyable, but really cold!  The flight above was also in XA310, which is now privately owned, and at the time based at Hullavington, since moved to Nymphsfield. The owner knew I was coming up to show a prototype of the model, and had let my old instructor, who is also a member of the team, know I'd be there, so he arrived with his log book, with me in it! We  realised we were flying on the same Easter Sunday as I had soloed, 40 years earlier, in the same aircraft!!  No names, no pack drill, but there is at least one member here in the vid! Small world!  Thanks for the comments on the kit,  it has been a labour of love!

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Well, that certainly brought back a lot of memories.

I’ve got one point to make about attaching the cable, I was taught never to open the release for the cable to be attached  so that the back release was tested by pushing it back to insert the cable ring. Occasionally the CFI would try getting people to open the release for him and then give them an ear bashing when they did ( he was the CFI after all ), I never did it nor let any of my students do it. The wisdom of this practice was brought home to me when I attended the gliding school annual dinner a couple of years after I had actually left and heard that one of the instructors had his cable release jam and overflew the winch by some distance before the back release functioned and saved him. He said he was shaking from an overdose of adrenalin when he landed, the winch driver wasn’t feeling too good either.

 

John

 

🇺🇦

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