Dr_Fester Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Hi, Been a while since I have posted any modelling projects on BM but thankfully got the building bug back again. Wanting another BMF project and ever since Pierre posted his beautiful DC-3 build on ARC, I have wanted to try my hand at one of these workhorses. Having picked up a 1/48 Revell kit at a show recently I searched for a subject to base my model on, something real shiney! I came across a photo of an operational AVIAC C-47 based in Honduras :- Although rigged for passenger transport I'm sure at some stage it's used for cargo, and that is what I intend building. The Revell kit does have some inaccuracies, but then so does Trumpeters latest 1/48 C-47. Picked up the Trumpy kit from Hannants at the Telford show and now I can swap and change parts which will make life easier. Biggest difference between the 2 kits is raised detail on the older Revell kit and recessed rivet detail on the Trumpy offering (what else). I hope to add 'raised' rivet detail to the surface if practical so will be basing the build on the Revell kit. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) Hi, So first on the hit list, the pilots. The Revell Skytrain kit comes with 3 standing pilot figures which will soon see the knife..... From these 3 figures it is possible to make 2 seated pilots:- As part of the update I have to add headsets to the figures, not much will actually get seen in the office apart from the pilot's heads. Both pilot's windows will be open enabling the pilot's hand to rest on the window frame:- Cargo and net have also been added but none of this will be visible in the finished model. The cargo door has been glued in place partly to give a clean line to the fuselage but mostly because this model will be motorized with lighting and ready for takeoff. Cheers Doc Edited November 15, 2009 by Dr_Fester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 Hi, Next up altering the glazing, the kit parts have raised circular marks which will have to be removed. I first removed most of the marks with a scalpel then progressively finer sanding sticks and micromesh, finishing with 2 coats of Future to seal and add shine back. Next up a quick look at the reference photos show an additional smaller window at the rear of the starboard side:- This was drilled out and an appropriate clear piece added:- Next I need to remove the rudder which I will duplicate from resin to replace the inaccurate Trumpeter version for that kit. After 20 mins and a scalpel shaped dent in my finger:- My first attempt at the foiling technique I will be using on the whole model, this is the tail wheel bay. Using self adhesive foil I am using the rivet tool on the reverse to produce 'raised rivets', this is then applied to the model. More soon. Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) Those are some great pilot figures. I really like what you have done with them, giving them so much character.....I hate the lifeless little crotch-fondlers that you get in most kits and would love to see some decent multipose pilots in a (1/72) boxed set. All the best Andy S. Edited November 15, 2009 by Sgt.Squarehead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I love those figures,I'll keep watching this one. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 15, 2009 Author Share Posted November 15, 2009 Thanks Andy & Stephen, I have got an Eduard etch set for the cockpit but in all honesty with only the pilots head visible through the glass I will leave the superdetailing for the Trumpeter C-47 I am building next. Concentrating on closing the fuselage asap so I can make a start on the foiling. The tail will need a faired red light added later but for now I will thread wires through for this and the light at the rear to be attached at a later date. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skii Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Fantastic work doc, great to see you back with the modelling bug - and what a way to make a comeback!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 I like the rivet effect you've obtained with the foil Doc... very impressive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Ohh, I like the look of this one already. Nice surgery on the pilots. They look great. Will definitely be keeping a close eye on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunpowder17 Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Just in case you dont know, the Revell Cowlings dont fit on the trumpeter engines. The trumpeter engines are a bit bigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Nice job on the foiling so far Doc. Is it a branded foil? I used Bare-Metal and tried the same rivet trick but the foil was a bit too thin and kept tearing. Looking very nice so far. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Thx all, especially Mike & John for removing my gag! Regarding the cowls thanks for the heads up gp17, I've not tried them. I will be using Aires resin engines for both builds anyway so I'm sure more fit problems will arise. For those who don't know one of the issues with the Trumpeter C-47 having wrong shaped engine cowls, straight instead of tapered. Also the props I can do a straight swap as I need the later 'paddle' type props for this build. I've heard worrying reports of the Trumpeter prop blades being different lengths, might cause problems when they get spun up! Working on drilling out the tail for lighting and added both pilot windows in the open position, photo's later. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Thx all, especially Mike & John for removing my gag! Just sorry it took so long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Nice job on the foiling so far Doc. Is it a branded foil? I used Bare-Metal and tried the same rivet trick but the foil was a bit too thin and kept tearing. Al, The foil I am using is a roll of self adhesive auto foil from Halfords, it's much thicker than other foils which has the benefit of keeping the foil indents even during handling. About a fiver for 10m of the stuff. The real headache will come on compound curves and having to trace accurately on the reverse of the foil, something you just wouldn't get with indented rivets. I will post some pics of the process later in the build. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) Small update; As the official fuselage closing ceremony draws near a few little jobs need to be taken care of. The first being the wiring for the tail light and red acb on the vertical stab needs to be installed to enable fitting of the LED's at a later date when everything is closed up. Easy routing of the wires under the cargo floor, the only headache thinning the vertical stab enough to allow 2 meaty wires (smallest I could find lying around!) This leaves the wires for me to solder the LED's later and push back into the beast. Also a few shots of the pilot's windows installed, in fact seeing these photos I can see the faces still need some work. One looks asleep and the other constipated! More soon. Doc Edited November 18, 2009 by Dr_Fester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miduppergunner Posted November 21, 2009 Share Posted November 21, 2009 Huh... suppose you are getting better. bet you don't finish it though! Did not know Halfords sold that stuff! I presumed the days of sticking foil etc. on your Cortina were long gone. I have experimented with Uncle Edgar's special juice and cheapo foil from Morrisons (which is a bit thinner than the expensive variety) and seems to work well. Yes the curves are a bit of a pain - small pieces seem to work best. You can get different "textures" for individual panels by using a different side of the foil - one being more "matt" than the other. However rubbing down hard can bring up a high gloss! But I suppose you will say you know that?? As a matter of interest for the rivets have you tried using the wheel on a piece of plastic and then rubbing the foil over the indentation (like brass rubbing)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted November 21, 2009 Author Share Posted November 21, 2009 Ahhh Mr Parker chimes in, I wondered how long that would take! Good to see you are still scanning the board David. The foil used being much thicker than kitchen foil does keep the indentations very well. I feel that using a thinner foil the rivet detail would just get flattened with handling. One downside only being able to use one side of the foil and although the bird I'm modelling is shiney in the most part I will have to wire wool certain panels to matt them down before I add the rivets. As you know I have used many different foiling finishes and hope this one should give the results I'm after. Unfortunately this build will be shelved for a few weeks as I've now ordered the electronic gubbins from the States, made to order it's estimated to be with me in 3 weeks. In the meantime I will busy myself casting various bits rudder, engines etc and make a start on the Trumpeter C-47 Skytrain. That will be whole different story and different thread. Stay tooned. Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Hi, back again, So this build was put to one side whilst I waited the electronic gubbins to arrive from the US, postie delivered these on Friday:- I can now start again with this build, the intention was to add led's at a later stage to enable work to continue with the fuselage. Having taken advice the nav lights will be installed prior to assembly so I can test in situ before everything gets glued. Here is a video of the test bed in operation LINKY . The kit includes the 2 motors with sound, nav lights for tail and wing, landing lights for both wings and the flashing red beacon for the top of the tail. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkennerley Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) Heck thats brilliant, from whom did you buy the electronic gubbins in the US? Wayne Edited December 13, 2009 by wkennerley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 Heck thats brilliant, from whom did you buy the electronic gubbins in the US? Hi Wayne, The company is called dynamicscalemodeling.com and offer a range of sets for various kits. Quite like the smoke coming from the working A-10 gattling! Made to order. Cheers Doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahut Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 Wow! Sound, motors AND lights. Cant wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Fester Posted December 14, 2009 Author Share Posted December 14, 2009 (edited) OK installation of tail lights before I can close the fuselage commences. This entailed ripping out the makeshift wiring I had installed previously and replacing with parts from the new light kit:- The tail nav light uses a small section of Fibre Optic, the end of which was passed over a flame to 'mushroom' the end. This was then polished to give the best light throughput. The small section of foil is to cut down the stray light from the side of the FO. Checking and testing as I go:- Flashing red beacon gives exactly the right effect. A fairing will be added for the tail strobe after the fus' is closed. Just have to fix the pilots in with harnesses and close the fuselage...... More soon Doc Edited December 14, 2009 by Dr_Fester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Great work so far ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dahut Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Neat! Few things make me feel like a kid again, as a model with flashing lights and spinning props. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiffy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Extremely cool. I've been wanting to order something from these people for a while (maybe the set for the 48th Fortress). Seeing this makes me want one even more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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