Lunatech Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 (edited) I haven't posted an actual build or subsequent completion on here before, but felt now might be the right time. Well, why should I suffer looking at this thing in silence!? This is -as many here migth know to their cost- the Avis kit of the 'mighty' Zerbe Air-Sedan. A member of the 'one-time-only' aeroplane club, which decided it didn't like flight and therefore refused to cooperate any further once it got back down. Or, yes it crashed , but only slightly. It's not known if they tried again, but I suspect sanity resumed at some point? Kit is OK with a mix of good and OK fit, the engine is seemingly not right, but looks nice. the wings being the one area to really concentrate on though. I used Model Colour sand ochre for main colour and MRP Swedish black for the metally bits. I followed the kit paint scheme (although they said cream for main body) where they say paint the gear black, the pics of the real Zerbe show them same the body. I bought the excellent Gaspatch spoked wheels, which are stunningly good I think. I haven't fitted my machine out with all the mod-cons to be bound being jammed-into some builds around here, but I kept to the rationale that flights would be very short... Only read the following if you're interested in how I attached the wings; -build notes. As for attaching the wings, I first glued the 2 wing-actuating pieces (with the V shaped attachment points) in place securely, which left them a bit floppy but with OK to handle strength. I then mounted to the fuselage the central support piece and mounted the most-outer brackets to the fuselage also, these required a hole drilling into the glass work where none existed. I also drilled the fuselage pick-ups to make these a bit deeper. I used a 'tool' I made to measure the gaps on the wings so that these brackets would align to the wings, this worked OK and the bracket pieces are quite firm. I then looked at making a firm attachment on the wings where these brackets will pick-up. This didn't work as when everything was presented, the points didn't quite meet. That might have been because I did the work with this up-side-down and then turned it right-side-up to attach it. After a long pondering session, I had noticed that the real AC has square plates on the wings where the brackets meet; long story short, I thus made sure that the bracket pick-ups were 'level' where they needed to be with the wings (some trimming needed of brackets at the rear) and then I used some plastic card to make small square plates which were then glued onto the brackets. When set, I then re-presented the wings (all glued together still) with the feselage and glued it all together. A few of the plates needed 'padding' a little to meet the wings squarely, but it all worked well and is actually quite solid. Sorry for the long-winded description, but I thought it important to mention this to avoid others making my mistake. There might be a better way of doing this, I don't doubt, but my way worked for me and is strong. Included is a pick of the fuselage before final attachment attempt with plates. Thanks for looking! Here's what I got to before attaching all of this madness together. Edited February 11 by Lunatech 46 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
europapete Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 YOU DID IT!!!!!!! AWESOME!!!!!! WELL DONE THAT MAN! The General and Martian will be sooo jealous you beat them to the finish. Regards, Pete in RI 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedingBlue Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 That's a bizarre looking aircraft. I had to google it and was amazed it actually flew. The model turned out great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
echen Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 I think that if I arrived at the airfield and found one of these waiting I'd have gone home again Great build of a very unusual subject. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Fantastic build of a phantasmagoric project! Was the pilot's only view forward through that window (if it is that) below the engine? Your perfectly symmetric construction of the wings is nothing if not amazing… Like BleedingBlue, I had to google the contraption. Professor Zerbe was probably wise to leave town after the first and only test flight… A real conversation piece, beautifully rendered. Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 that looks completely mad!!!! fantastic looking model, the wheels do look good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UberDaveToo Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Very cool! Avis Rent-a-Zerbe? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunatech Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 2 hours ago, Spitfire31 said: Fantastic build of a phantasmagoric project! Was the pilot's only view forward through that window (if it is that) below the engine? Your perfectly symmetric construction of the wings is nothing if not amazing… Joachim Yes, seemingly, the pilot only had the side windows and the lower front window available to them. It probably didn't help that this window was also under a LeRhone rotary, which chucked-out a fair bit of oil -IIRC like a gallon an hour or something! Bit like pinning the tail on a donkey, allied with Russian-roulette... No wonder perhaps then that the one landing it did didn't come-off successfully. Yes, the wings... -bit of luck with that TBH! I did try to keep everything level, did lots of dry-fitting, and I think in hindsight that glueing the 4 together before attaching them to the fuselage was helpful in keeping them on an even-keel. I was mightily relieved when it was done! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pantherhawk27263 Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 Great work and what a fascinating subject!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Well done Sir... At last, one finished Zerbe.... The thing can clearly spin out of control.... More zerbe to come methink.... Congratulations !! It look great... Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 Congratulations on your 'flying' venetian blind demonstrator. It's a great model of a questionable Aeroplane. Oh, nice wheels, BTW. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Great job Luna, came out very nicely. Interesting to see the finished article. Thanks for the tips, they'll certainly come in handy with our builds. When it comes to the door I think I'll model mine, 'tackle out'... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luka Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 This thing looks so awkward yet so cool.. Good looking and unusual build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Nice build and thanks for the heads up about those struts. Martian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 I do like to see these strange looking aircraft ,this one definitely looks like one of the Dick Dastardly constructions out of the cartoon series. You are to be congratulated on a fine model well done 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RidgeRunner Posted February 15 Share Posted February 15 Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 You've made it look good, which is a stunning achievement! Love the font too. Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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