perdu Posted May 7 Posted May 7 A light hearted remark in a post on Hendie's Valar Otter build led me to check out the rather amazing electric seaplanes being introduced in Canada by Harbour Air the floatplane operators in Vancouver. On opening a Googling I found this Wow, look at that truck, it's a little wonder and oh yes there's an aeroplane too for fun. As it happens I've had an Airfix dHC2-Beaver in my 'collection' awaiting the right chance to get out of its box, this looked like such a chance. So I began [it is possible that you may think I will be forgetting builds already in stagnation but they are held up for other reasons, my Sea Kings and Canberras for instance are awaiting repairs to my airbrushes, bad cleaning led to the airbrushes failing to paint but they should soon be back in business and I'll be able to get them finished] The Airfix Beaver is covered in Airfix style rivets whilst the real Beaver looks smooth skinned unless you are very close in, like so OK here's to tradition, the box Let it be noted that the box art shows a suitably smooth airframe, nice picture Airfix Inside This photo doesnt really show the warty nature of the kit, never mind I am going to get started now Amongst all the really fun fun I anticipate will be making decals for the model, luckily the aircraft is well pictured from many angles so taking images away to copy into decal sheet is likely to be a decent fit with my abilities. A test shot on ordinary paper That works I think. Back later maybe. 27 1
Hamden Posted May 7 Posted May 7 51 minutes ago, giemme said: I'm in, front row first seat! Ciao Mind if I join you Giorgio? Roger 1 1
giemme Posted May 7 Posted May 7 47 minutes ago, Hamden said: Mind if I join you Giorgio? Roger Not at all! The more the merrier, right Bill? Have you started painting it yet? Ciao 6
perdu Posted May 7 Author Posted May 7 Painting? Funny you should ask G, let the tale unfold. As this is going to need very accurate work at the design stage I am very luck that @AMB has had a hand in this book Which gives me some wonderful drawings by Sam Pearson to draw upon (and in this case over!) I discovered that copy printing of a drawing should not be done using tracing paper which was a drawback first then Adrian's book was delivered to allow fresh design work round the electric nose. More's the pity that the electric nose wasn't current (I hope you saw what I did there Ced) when the artwork was in pre-production but I am extrapolating what I see based upon what is in Sam's turbo nose form. All good I think My electric nose over laid up on the top right corner here with the oddball wrong shape on the smudgy tracing paper I'm working from my pencil drawing there, not the big one on the plan I love beautiful artwork like Sam's, doesn't that turbo Beaver cry out for another build one day huh? That was a digression for continuity's sake let me return to the smooth versus scabby debate for a few minutes The box top illustration looks very realistic with a smooth skin to attract a smooth clean airflow, there are rivets of course but all of them appear to be low height rivet heads, maybe 2 or 3 mm height maximum, show here in a painful close up Also shown here is a thin aluminium bulkhead panel presumably fitted to control weight carrying during trials of electrickery, nothing inside aft of the front cabin. This is a shot of the first electro conversion, I believe there is at least one more now. This week I have been de-rivetting the outer panels, not as easy as was the Belvedere from a few years ago, this one. The electric Beaver needs enlarged rear cabin windows before I close the halves too, but the interior has been done to the best this old geezer could manage The wings have been blanked off at its clear view roof panels and some humungous sink marks dealt with Here the sanding process is underweigh. To a detail hungry Perdu there is a problem at the windscreen, I will have to make new screens for this plane because the real thing follows a corner where the kit wants to stop at the edge . Not a killer but a definite own goal Airfix So paint Inside only though The cabin is almost ready to close up, after that window each side is remade In front of the pilot are a pair of rudder pedals lifted from a sheet of cockpit innards etch, not really visible now, but... we all know acos I tolled you so. just about capable of being seen here with a magnifying lens, oh well. Right, remember this? Taking inspiration... Not a Ford F-250 but with fettling... A hot wheels Tiny Studebaker truck begging for fillers and lurve It seems that all sorts of pick up trucks are used to ferry floatplanes around the airports to the harbours with modified chassis extension/trailers to the nose of the trucks designed to lift the floats out of the water and take them to parking or service bays. It was irresistable... And of course, The Fourth was with me. 21 6
giemme Posted May 7 Posted May 7 3 minutes ago, perdu said: So paint See? I knew that! Great start already, Bill! Ciao 3
dnl42 Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Ooh, this is fabulous! I'm so glad you're going to do the tug, too! 1
Brandy Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Wait for me! OK, now I have my seat at the bar, beer and peanuts ordered. Lovely interior work, and paint too! So much in such a short time! Carry on Sir! Ian 2
Billos Posted May 7 Posted May 7 Well since it was my remark in the first place I guess I better follow along! Way to Go! You da man! 1 1
heloman1 Posted May 8 Posted May 8 Oh Bil!!! What were you thinking, following Alan's lead (nothing wrong with that)? The old Airfix kit is still a reasonable kit. Once you have shaved off the rivets! I built one last year for our Vietnam Theme at our club. I'll be following your antics. Colin 1
perdu Posted May 8 Author Posted May 8 Milliput and SIHRSC shall be committed. The kit transparencies have been severely testing my will to live. So they will not be used instead most of them will be replaced with Krystal Kleer or thin acetate for larger windows. AIrfix 1/72 scale C130K wing mounted tanks, rear end used to make a body for the changes. Now to find a suitably radiused wheel from the box of Ced bounty wheels, gleaned during the currency of Ced#1. I bet they become rarer than a rare thing hiding behind you now he has acknowledged the beauty of wheels down, parked! 19
perdu Posted May 9 Author Posted May 9 Tried this but it is too long, by a country mile Stand by breaking in a new PC so I may be distracted on occasion 20
hendie Posted May 9 Posted May 9 Lovely work Bill. I wondered when you were going to get around to this one. This is already shaping up to be another cracking build. 2 1
perdu Posted May 9 Author Posted May 9 Cheers Alan, nowhere near the accuracy and precision of your build but 'tis mine own! Now then Cut back To build forwards I will be building the nose from Milliput and am using one of @CedB's donated 'unwanted' wheels as forward former The wheel needs time to settle in and so I am off in search of Settings in Win 11, more changes to make in the interest of comfortable compootings... Back in a bit I hope. 21
perdu Posted May 9 Author Posted May 9 Soon G mate In the meantime I think he is OK for scale Airfix's Beaver pilot on size I think 16
Terry1954 Posted May 9 Posted May 9 Phew, just got in on the first page. I now understand all the interest in Beavers ............ is that an ok statement for a family show? Lovely idea Bill and lovely work so far, even paint inside as well. Very impressed with the way you have formed the nose, using that wheel. Watching closely with much interest. T. 3 4
perdu Posted May 9 Author Posted May 9 Stick around Tez. Now, just to keep our G happy here's Milli! Lots of work for the Uberfile now huh? I think that should be OK to work with So should this Stoodi on its way to becoming Ford-ish F250-alike begins Well the basics anyway. 21 1
giemme Posted May 10 Posted May 10 15 hours ago, hendie said: The man knows no bounds! True that! Bill, I noticed you only use white Milliput: is there any real advantage over using the regular (yellowish) one for this kind of job? Ciao 2
perdu Posted May 10 Author Posted May 10 None at all Giorgio, that I know of, but there was white 'put going off if I didnt use it so... I dont much like it either, the instructions demand kneading the stuff for seven minutes because there are two white components and with me still having polymyalgia all the extra effort was a killer. But I digress. The working beginnings Early doors, doesnt it like to clog file teeth huh? All hail the file card The battery nose is in there somewhere, I'm sure. Rub, rub and rub again. Ah look, there's something... Found my guides.. And viola, here we go! Okeydoke that's me for this morning session, maybe more later but that depends on local VE day celebratings, if good we'll be going. 20 1
Terry1954 Posted May 10 Posted May 10 Love seeing you using that SIHRSC to excellent effect Bill. That nose is shaping up nicely. Always a good moment when you reveal your guides. T. 1 1 2
giemme Posted May 10 Posted May 10 I agree with young Terry here, the nose is already shaping up beautifully Ciao 3
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now