airscale Posted March 26 Posted March 26 No rest for the wicked they say, so with the paint drying on my S6B it's time for a new project.. I built a Hobbyboss Sea Fury back in the day and added loads to it including a visible engine and I have always wanted to make a large scale one. The problem was (and is) it doesn't fit in my display cabinet. I remeasured it the other day and somehow got my sums wrong and thought it would fit so off I went and started researching.. Turns out I was right the first time, the airfame is a beast and won't fit so will need a home once complete (or I get a bigger cabinet..) My last one was the civil demonstrator G-AKRY, but now I just proved to myself I can paint an aeroplane, this one will be a service machine. Choosing one is harder than I thought - it's got to be RN, but to be honest, they were all painted the same for now I chose this one VX620.. I started with Jumpeii Temma's plans and checked these with Will at DBMK on the one they scanned - they were bang on, so I designed the parts for my cutter.. also made a 3D cowling.. ..the brass bar is to keep the keel rigid.. ..the keel was taped to a flat sheet of acrylic and all the formers added - I also 3D printed a wingroot section to help alignment.. ..I have had problems with plastic card cores flexing during construction so I clamped an ali bar and added the other side, moving the bar as I went.. ..very quickly the fuselage took shape - it is huge.. ..the floor is too high here and had to be chopped out and lowered - this is the problem with not having drawings ..having designed the cowling, I spent some time doing the prop, spinner and a basic engine front.. I think it came out pretty good - it defines the aeroplane so has to be right.. ..starting to look like the brute it is.. ..so thats it - off and running with a new build ..A plea for help - if anyone has any good interior pictures of the cockpit, seat, seat bulkhead, rollover structure, please drop them here or PM me also if there are more unique RN schemes out there I am definately open to a rethink TTFN Peter 33 2 1
Keeff Posted March 26 Posted March 26 That really is s beast! The work so far looks more engineering than modelling, but the result will no doubt be impressive! Keith 😁 1
Nickthebrief Posted March 27 Posted March 27 Oh wow! A Sea Fury. The most handsome piston engined aircraft ever made, IMHO. Which means your recreation will be the most handsome model of a piston engined aircraft ever made if your previous masterpieces are anything to go by. I will be following with much interest. Nick. 3
Lord Riot Posted March 27 Posted March 27 Amazing skill and patience. I watch builds like this rather as a caveman would look upon someone building an iPhone. My hamfisted attempts at aftermarket cockpits and sticking tape to ejector seats is ambitious enough for me! Incredible engineering project, I imagine it’ll look outstanding once finished. 1
airscale Posted March 31 Author Posted March 31 Thank you folks - very kind I went to make a basic cockpit tub from 3D and once printed I needed to make some adjustments... while I was at it, I got a bit carried away.. still lots to do, but a great canvas, even if it is cheating a bit TTFN Peter 30 1 1
CJP Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Wow rapidly taking shape - its going to be one exciting build. Chris 1
Putty Animal Posted March 31 Posted March 31 Looking good already. Phenomenal in fact. If I get you a bigger cabinet, will you do a Handley Page HP.42? 1 1
airscale Posted April 4 Author Posted April 4 hey guys bit more done... ..I had done such a rudimentary job on the engine, so even though very little can be seen, I added what I could.. the fuselage formers were bulked out with hard foam and all the template outlines blacked out with a sharpie so I can see the sanding thresholds later.. also added some card formers to help shape the exhaust area around the nose.. I made up a 3D part to lock all the features of the wings together with the spars and dihedral on the outer wing panels and made up ribs from 2mm card.. ..and the wings & airframe start to take shape - it looks like an air racer without the last few ribs and the wingtips.. TTFN Peter 26 1 1
Pete in Lincs Posted April 4 Posted April 4 As always, coming along rather nicely. And, if that Cockpit is cheating, then please feel free to carry on doing so. 2
Keeff Posted April 4 Posted April 4 This is looking very impressive, and that cockpit is superb! 👌 It's a testament to your skill and patience! Keith 😁 1
airscale Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 hello ladies So, after a 3 week break in Bali things have been a bit slow on the Sea Fury - but some stuff has been done.. I made the gear legs by integrating brass and 3D. I assembled it all before I left and left it standing on my bench. By the time I got back, the wheel mount struts had completely warped under load proving what I suspected that the elegoo 8k resin I use just wasn't up to structural work. Having read up about strong ABS alternatives I went with eSun ABS like resin and printed the parts in that instead.. ..the great thing about 3D is you can get absolutely correct geometry and incorporate all the detail found on the original.. after clean up & prime it worked well and they seem strong enough but I am still testing load - if they fail, the lower wheel mount will be made in brass.. ..also hopping about all over the place, I made the basic gear bay roof out of litho & plastic strut.. and a centre rib in 3D with all the little valves & fittings.. ..there is a TON of pipework in the bay.. ..also made up the wingtips and finished the wing cores.. ..another experiment was trying the IP in 3D - I usually make all this in PE, but as my supplier has a 5 week wait, I thought I would give it a go. The panel is 0.3mm thick so I thought there was little chance of success without warping, but again, I stuck lucky & it came out alright.. ..time to get this cockpit worked up and properly sorted - I have a good basis now.. ..it's a fun build - I am enjoying it TTFN Peter 26 1
Keeff Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Wow! That cockpit is a mini work of art! I doff my cap to your 3d printing skills 👏 It's definitely looking like a sea fury .... fantastic work! 👌 Keith 😁 1
David H Posted May 4 Posted May 4 Hey Peter, I'm a little bit confused by a jump in the plot... In earlier photos, i see the keel built up, i see the bulkheads, and i see how you filled the voids in between with foam. Then i see the fuselage all skinned with a coat of grey primer. Did you lay a skin of very thin sheet plastic over the entire fuselage, or did you use some kind of primer that has gobtons of filler, so when sanded it fills all the air bubbles in the foam? Thanks, david 1
Whofan Posted May 4 Posted May 4 You mentioned unique RN paint schemes; the only differences from extra dark sea grey over sky that I've seen are red or blue spinners instead of EDSG. Which doesn't mean there aren't any, only that I haven't seen any. 1
hairystick Posted May 5 Posted May 5 Wow! There's no stopping the creativity here. Just a note: They have folding wings... possibly of use in the storage/display? Perhaps only 1 wing though, so we can perve at the 'pit! 1 1
heloman1 Posted May 5 Posted May 5 A Sea Fury, what's not to like? Stunning start and engineering. The 3D printed parts look superb. I'll follow your build with interest. I like the idea of the brass trailing edge to the wings. Colin 1
DJJunis Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Simply magnificent as always Peter. Thank you so very much for sharing your skills and results with us. Don 1
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