Stinson/Vultee L1F Vigilant - the conversion to float plane from MPM L1 kit (1/72)

[JWM]

Hi,

Following the discussion started in this thread in WW2 airplanes section 

and then conducted vis PMs with Mr. Lars Opland from Khee-Kha company which is an tru expert on EDO floats (many thanks to him and to @VH-USB for suggestion to contact Mr. L.Opland) I'd like to do a conversion of rare and old MPM 1/72 kit of Stinson/Vultee L1 into a float variant L1F (the L1F was the  L1A with floats instead of wheels). The L1A (and L1F) were longer by 33 cm (in nose) then L1. This is 4.5 mm in 1/72 

So I glued the fuselage halves together  cut out the nose section, put inside a belt of a thin (~0.3 mm) ~1 cm x ! 4 cm of polistyren sheet which allowed to construct the 4.5 distance. Then I filled up the space in nose with Milliput.

Here you can see the belt inside:

 

And Milliput from outside

 

I glued the floor

 

Using Humbrol ClearFix I glued the canopy, then I am planning to fill it with all steel tubing filling it in a real thing... 

 

I 've learnt from Mr.. Lars Opland that the amphibian floats used in L1F were model EDO 77. The total length without water rudders was 248 in., the maximum height was 28.31 in. and the step was on 51.3 % from front. Given 1 inch =2.54 cm its is 629 cm for length and 71,90 cm max height. So in 1/72 it is 8,74 cm and 1 cm (respectively), with step at 4,57 cm counting from from nose. 

 

I was adviced to use the Airfix Beaver floats as donors. However I do not have this kit, so I am thinking on using as donors for conversion either EDO (erroneous in shapes) floats from Matchbox Norseman or from Marivox SAAB B17 (Edo-like rather then a tru EDO)    

Meanwhile I am doing some other kits, among them the Contrail's Vickers Valentia having a thread in this section as well so we will see how fast it will go.

 

The goal is that machine:

 

 

Which was used during WW2 in Burma for rescuing the crew of lost airplanes over jungle using rivers as landing places.  

 

Comments to profile - it is not a precise one, for example it shows blinded canopy and photo show it clear, also many other small differences one can notice.

Comment on photo - if it is an OD/White scheme why the White is obviously darker then white on insignia? I am not sure if it is not an alu-dope  plus Olive Drab (or overall like in further photos)

More photos I have found (the same machine!)

https://live.staticflickr.com/2849/9763964582_11ba98931c_b.jpg

  

 

Regards

J-W

[Ed Russell]

I think you are right - overall Aluminium Dope, later given an upper finish of most likely Olive Drab for camouplage. While it is most probably OD the unit may have beeen operating within the British supply chain and there is a possibility that it is Dark Green. I would probably go with OD.

[JWM]

24 minutes ago, Ed Russell said:

I think you are right - overall Aluminium Dope, later given an upper finish of most likely Olive Drab for camouplage. While it is most probably OD the unit may have beeen operating within the British supply chain and there is a possibility that it is Dark Green. I would probably go with OD.

Ed, many thanks! The another observation is a lack of US insignia on upper side of left wing. It should be there at least partially visible

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

One more profile from Net

It goes to dark green and have red crosses, however  I did not seen photo for it ..

 

The another of likely "118912" (not sure of course, serial not visible)

 

Something is strange with canopy - like removed? The floats struts are all dark here for sure.

Regards

J-W

 

[Ed Russell]

10 hours ago, JWM said:

red crosses

The linked photo is marked "MEDICAL"

[JWM]

Hi,

Ed, thank for this observation. It menas, that "medical" is covering also a rescue machine, the rescued people were suppose to  be wounded... 

 

I started plastic surgery on floats. I took the Norseman (Matchbox/Revell) one at firs cut them on 45.7 mm from front and 41.7 mm from back

 

The rear part I squeezed  to make it less deep:

 

From front part I cut out some 1.5 mm of height at step which diminish to null at nose:

 

This will produce more flat top then it is in Norseman, the total height of float should be only 1,00 cm. The other problem are too vertical  sides, I will fight ahains it as well...

To be cont.

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

Today's progress report:

 

I have cut the wheel bays, filled up the front ones with Milliput. I put also some lead to nose of floats secured with Milliput to avoid tail sitting. Prior I scaled the photo to have closer float of the 1/72 scale size (Lars called this photo "A Rosetta stone for this project" )  and I've got the wheels size. Front 6.5 mm, rear 8.8 mm. In spare parts drawer I have found such wheels, The larger I recognize, they are from Monogram P36, 

 

 

 

 

I sanded the nose extension

 

and put some more lead into nose of fuselage as well (also secured with Milliput)

 

To be cont.

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

Hi,

Some progress with floats after tonight sanding

 

Still more work needed to get right shape of floats...

Regards

J-W

 

[J.C. Bahr]

Looking great so far.  Interesting project! 👍

[JWM]

19 hours ago, J.C. Bahr said:

Looking great so far.  Interesting project! 👍

Many thanks! 

I started work on inside and engine

 

To be cont.

regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

Today I was installing frames in canopy. Made of a stretched sprue.  I drilled first some openings to have well positioned spars and then I glued smalled elements using Humbrol Claerfix. The spars I glued with poly cement (the Tamiya liquid poly. Canopy halves glued with Clear fix but on the edges (so at front and at end)  I added a dots of CA glue). This was done to make canopy stronger - then it will hold wings togeteher, 

 

The engine was also glued (prop can rotate)

 

To be continued

Regards

J-W

 

[Courageous]

Just caught up with this thread and is looking interesting. I have quite a few float planes in the stash and wouldn't think about robbing a kit for its floats, I know very little about float designs...wish I did.

On 11/20/2022 at 9:27 PM, JWM said:

The another observation is a lack of US insignia on upper side of left wing. It should be there at least partially visible

The insignia is most probably there, we just can't see it. If you look at the underside pic of starboard wing, the insignia doesn't spread onto the aileron/flap(?). 

Nice work on the canopy framing, I'll try and remember that.

 

Stuart

[JWM]

2 hours ago, Courageous said:

The insignia is most probably there, we just can't see it. If you look at the underside pic of starboard wing, the insignia doesn't spread onto the aileron/flap(?). 

Nice work on the canopy framing, I'll try and remember that.

 

Stuart

Stuaart, thank you. Regarding framing today I have found a clear picture of it and had to change it a bit... I mean that photo https://images.app.goo.gl/fUeWDMUmZWcExj9S9

So now the framing is like that: 

 

I glued it with fuselage before I will found next reason for changes...  

I used Humbrol Clearfix, however then I was adding some CA liquid glue to enforce the connection. 

 

Regards

J-W

[JWM]

I masked and painted the frames (not all - without three perpendicular on top. While painting using brush I found this much better to mask frames using simple tape and  doing it twice  for both perpendicular basic directions in sequence. 

 

 

 

The bars which went outside the canopy I secured now with some small cylindrical elements drilled through. This will enforce the canopy. I am a bit afraid, that whole wings assembly base on canopy, so this must be made truly strongly

To be continued

Regards

J-W

 

Edited December 1, 2022 by JWM

[JWM]

Using the pins standing out of canopy the assembly of wings was not difficult

 

The floats needs extra work on bottom side

 

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

Hi,

I did some initial coating with OD on top. There was suggestion, that it might be the UK Dark Green, perhaps it was any green color available in Burma hose days - used for car masking for instance?  I am not sure, I will try to go with some approximation of OD...

 

I made some attempts to go on with floats. I assumed the same proportion of length/width as in case of an another EDO floats. I added the distance struts. I also sanded the modified bottoms of floats

 

To be cont.

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

More work on floats

 

 

To be continued

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

I have combined floats with plane

 

 

 

 

To be continued

Regards

J-W

 

 

[JWM]

I did riging of floats and tail

 

 

 

To be cont.

Regards

J-W

 

[JWM]

Hi,

Third coat of Humbrol 150 as OD

The bottom  side is in Humbrol 56 with dash of white (Humbrol 34). This is as alu dope. On floats as NMF Humbrol 56+191 mix.

During Argentina-France World Cup final I applied decal, listening only to radio in large parts of match... .

BTW - congrats to all BM members from Argentina! 

 

I started to work on wheels

 

 

To be cont.

Cheers

J-W

 

[JWM]

few more takes from today evening

 

cheers

J-W

[TheBaron]

More of your quality modifications Jerzy - and a pleasure to witness the transformation. Lovely work.

[JWM]

3 hours ago, TheBaron said:

More of your quality modifications Jerzy - and a pleasure to witness the transformation. Lovely work.

Many thanks! I appreciate

Regards

J-W

[JWM]

Hi,

What left regarding the shapes are the front wheels. 

I made them 

and glued them in position. Meanwhile the model got the mat coat (Vallejo)

 

I think that the next my post will have the link to RFI

Thank you for watching

Regards

J-W

 

 

[stevehnz]

J-W, that is some wonderful modelling, I have one of these too & even though it will be without floats, this build is very instructive. Hi wing light planes with glasshouse cockpits do present their own challenges.

Steve.