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Post by Bruce on Jun 13, 2009 17:33:22 GMT 12
A while back I posted a thread about link trainers etc as I had just purchased a little model kit of one. By little I mean REAL little! it is the Red Roo Model 1/72 scale ANT-18 Resin kit. I have finally summoned up enough courage to make a strt on it, and its really quite fun. I have a late edition kit which has a lot of the fiddly bits supplyed as a photo-etch fret , which is great, in fact they even provide excellent interior detail as well, so I have decided to build it with the door and hood open. So far I have assembled and painted the "fuselage": To give an idea of the size of this thing - it is blue -tacked on to the top of an AA size battery!  I have decided to build it as a "mini-diorama" with its plotting desk as well. The desk doesnt come in the kit, but there are 1/72 scale drawings of it for those nutters who want to scratch build one - needless to say, I have built one out of plastic card!  also visible are the wings and base unit, with the overhead light for the desk awaiting painting. I will have to vac form a new hood, as the resin one in the kit is solid, for display in closed position. I'm not sure how fussy I'll get about the wing bracing wires etc, Will have to see whether I am still sane when I reach that stage! This is actually quite fun as it is something a bit different to build, I'll post photos when its done. |
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Post by mstokes on Jun 13, 2009 17:42:31 GMT 12
Now that is an example of nano-engineering!
Nice timber effect on the desk as well.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 13, 2009 18:34:35 GMT 12
I was expecting it to be small, but that is really small.
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished diorama. Have you got some 1/72nd RNZAF men?
I wonder why, in a time of war when materials were short, they insisted on giving these machines wings and a tail. I mean once inside the pilot couldn't see them. Was there another reason?
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Post by Bruce on Jun 13, 2009 21:22:16 GMT 12
The early Links didnt have moveable control surfaces so goodness knows what the wings were there for. Later ones like this ANT-18 did have control surfaces which probably gave an indication to the instructor whether the student was over controlling or not.
I will have one airman in the diorama. I brought an Airfix "RAF refuelling set" today which has a number of RAF airmen. I have modified one so his arms are in a more suitable position, which will give everything a sense of scale. Had to build a chair too, thats quite a tricky thing!
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Post by Bruce on Jun 14, 2009 17:56:50 GMT 12
Finished today - for such a tiny model it actually is quite quick to put together (probably becuase less filling and sanding are required). here are some pics ofthe finished article, I'm really pleased with it although closeup photography shows up all manner of little flaws I hadnt seen earlier! (unfortunately super glue flash stands out really badly in photos....  ) As you can see I repainted the blue a lighter colour as it didnt look right initially, then scratch built the desk and chair, and modified an Airfix refuller crewman to suit.     just another reminder of the size - the baseplate it sits on is 55 x 110mm. Standard NZ $1.00 coin for scale.  Overall assessment? I really enjoyed doing some "nano-modelling" for a change. I still wouldnt get too heavily into super-detail in 1/72, but as the kit came with the nice PE parts, it was worth doing. This is the first "diorama" I've done, and I'm not sure whether I would want to do one again, its just this is the most effective way of displaying a link trainer in context. If you want a challenge and something unusual I would recommend the Red Roo kit. there is a guy in Aussie selling them on e-Bay. |
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Post by Bruce on Jun 14, 2009 17:59:45 GMT 12
BTW I see the Links from the Wanganui ATC on TradeMe sold for just under $3000.00 the pair, I hope they go to a good home...
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jun 14, 2009 18:35:52 GMT 12
$2141.00 - and the reserve was just $250!
At least at that price someone will value them.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 14, 2009 18:56:21 GMT 12
Great work Bruce. That's a neat little model. I really like it.
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Post by ZacYates on Jun 15, 2009 7:40:26 GMT 12
Superb Bruce! As I let the real ones slip through my fingers perhaps I should snaffle up a Red Roo kit! I followed the Link Trainer action very closely, the winning bidder appears to be connected to the Classic Flyers Museum in Tauranga. Much as I am disappointed to see them leave NZWU, at least they'll go to a caring home  I think someone from Ferrymead was also bidding at one stage. |
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sprogs
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 4
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Post by sprogs on Oct 21, 2010 22:06:18 GMT 12
When I was in the ATC in leeds in 1969 I did a navigation course in a link trainer, for my exam I plotted a course over Salisbury plain. I was nervous but thought I did pretty well all told until I got out into the light. The warrant officer smiled kindly at me and said "Well done cadet Sparrow, that would have been a perfect flight had you not been 180 ft below the plain" Well, we all make mistakes.
Isn't there a larger scale model of it out there somewhere?
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Post by alias on Oct 22, 2010 16:50:56 GMT 12
Nice model Bruce.
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)
I think someone from Ferrymead was also bidding at one stage.
