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Post by mstokes on May 15, 2009 12:45:03 GMT 12
Not much of an update here, but finally have some spare time to put together more of BOF. The only major progress done since my last update was to rescribe the panel lines on the tail to a more accurate level and to add the flaps, ailerons and tips onto the wings. I was going to model the wing tip with the aileron extension through it, however I found out that BOF still had the original wing tip and aileron combination, so this made my job very easy ;D Originally I wanted to model the fletcher with the flaps down, however I since found out off my brother that dad always retracted the flaps on BOF when she was at rest, so up they went. Apparently this was after witnessing an aircraft take flight in a gale in the Hawkes Bay once. This worked out good for my cockpit as I had also modelled the flap lever as 'retracted'. I still have a bit to go on the wings, the riveting needs to be dones, and I need to finish adding the corrugates to the Aileron on the left, and then the bottoms of the wing. I also have to add the detail around the undercarriage brackets. The fuel caps and tank straps I am going to do with bare metal foil, so this should look very good. Still have to make the mould for my canopy and vac this, however I figure this can wait and be done in syncro with the painting. I also have to work on the hopper, the pitot (top of tail unit), the extra oil cooler under the nose and finish the prop. Hope you enjoy
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Post by agalbraith on May 15, 2009 14:37:47 GMT 12
Wow, that is very cool indeed!
I amreally enjoying this build immensley. Your level of detail is superb. What tool are you using to do the rivets?
Cheers Anthony
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 15, 2009 14:43:45 GMT 12
Awesome!
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Post by Fletcher400 on May 15, 2009 15:02:23 GMT 12
Mate, She's looking awesome! The wing really fills out when the flaps and ailerons are on eh! Its quite a time consuming job putting the corrugates on isnt it! Really looking awesome Mike, Well done mate!
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Post by mstokes on May 15, 2009 16:02:38 GMT 12
Thanks fore the comments guys, they give you the motivation to continue putting minute pieces of .4mm styrene on the wings hour after hour!
Anthony, I have a ponce wheel tool (apparently it is a tool used mainly in sewing) which I must admit I find a little bit infuriating at times. Mine has a swivel end which sometimes works itself loose, and always in the middle of a line! I have seen that Tamiya, Trumpeter and Czech manufacturers are putting together some really nice purpose built tools that are even in scale. A bit like my Waldron punch set, these seem to be a bit tough to find over here.
I won't tell you how much dymo tape I have gone through, however it really does allow you to keep the scribed panel lines and rivets straighter than you could by hand.
Work has dried up for the rest of the week, so hopefully more WIP shots soon.
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Post by mstokes on May 25, 2009 20:40:27 GMT 12
Hello all fletcher observers... This is going to be a bit of a tongue in cheek update, to the naked eye it appears this fletcher progress is... well not moving . However, rest assured that there is progress being made (even I am annoyed at myself on the time it is taking! ) Today I received from Archers tranfers in the US the non slip decals for BOF. These look incredible and will really add a bit of realism to the wings. Archer have pioneered the resin casting of detail onto decal paper, and these look just like the real non-slip surfaces that were on our fletchers. This looks a lot better than the tactic of using fine sandpaper to reproduce the effect. The only changes thus far is the addition of all the corrugates on the top and bottom of the wing control surfaces, and the commencement of the wings rivet details. These will be suggestive only, I don;t have the motivation to do all the rivets, and I am sure Zac can vouch for the fact that Fletcher wings are made up more of rivets than actual skin Anyway, as soon as the rivets are done top and bottom, the wings will permanently be stuck on and priming will start. ;D Cheers Mike
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Post by Fletcher400 on May 25, 2009 20:52:25 GMT 12
Awesome Mike, will look forward to the new primed BOF and seeing the non slip decals! sounds like a cool invention! By the way I keep meaning to ask you... what type of filler is it your using?
Cheers
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Post by mstokes on May 25, 2009 20:59:13 GMT 12
The green stuff is actually yellow milliput. It is great stuff as you mix the two fillers together (they are like plasticine consistency) and you have about 3 hours of play time before it starts to set. It is good forr where you have substantial gaps (the filler doesn't sink in like more viscous varieties), but you can also make details out of it as well. The seats in BOF are actually constructed out of milliput as well, kneaded into a plastic card base.
The grey stuff is your normal tamiya filler, I also find this good buts sometimes it seems to go a bit chalky. In cases where I might miss a rivet or drill one in the wrong place, I actually blot it with a liquid paper pen. It works well and can be cleaned up easy.
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Post by agalbraith on May 25, 2009 22:07:56 GMT 12
Fantastic Mike!
I am really loving this build too. I am glad to hear you like the Archer stuff as I am looking at getting some hinges and rivets for my BK.
Just beautiful indeed
Cheers Anthony
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Post by mstokes on Jun 16, 2009 19:28:22 GMT 12
A small update... very literally! Progress has been happening, but it is funny how the smallest things can take the longest! I now have a 2 bladed prop with a scratch built hub and proper McCauley shaped blades made from a suitable prop in the spares box. In all the prop took 4 evenings to construct as I knew that a quick build and butt joint job would not have much strength or probably sit correctly (the prop is meant to be tilted 3 -5 degrees to the right). The hub was made out of plastic tube stock which was drilled and sleeved internally with brass. Once I got the hub shape correct, I drilled some holes into the hub to take piano wire, which was to form a male/female joint with the prop, allowing strength and also for the blades to be positioned correctly before the CA glue sets. The drilling of rivets on the top and bottom of the wing is basically finished, it has taken a few evenings doing that. I have also rescribed the previously inaccurate tail panel lines. In this image, a closer look at the scratch build prop, awaiting a little bit of filler, then some primer, and then some Alcad aluminium on the front and black on the back (worn near the tips). The sistema container below also has the plug for the canopy which I have completed, and the red thing in the corner is a pair of 1/32 scale ear muffs. I usually keep all my parts in these containers to save them disappearing into the carpet. I have also worked on restyling the wheels to ensure the scale hub (which is smaller than those on the Airsail wheels) is suitably sized. Th hopper is also being worked on at the moment, it is funny how everything tto me was looking a bit out of proportion (shouldn't, everything is always measured twice... cut once and always referred to references) with the Mark 1 eyeball, however dummying up a cardboard hopper made everything look so much better! Fletchers don't look right without the bump on the belly. Also found out that BOF has a rectabgular mirror on the right when we had her, due to a lack of references I was going to assume there was no mirror. I suppose all these delays means that progress doesn't move too fast and that there are still opportunities to improve the model.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2009 20:10:20 GMT 12
That really looks fantastic. Great progress so far.
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Post by Fletcher400 on Jun 18, 2009 3:35:54 GMT 12
Looking great Mike! That props looking the business, be cool to see when youve got the canopy on. The decals you sent turned up today, youve done a awesome job with these.... and s/n6 950 is heading your way.
Cheers
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Post by agalbraith on Jun 23, 2009 14:47:34 GMT 12
Fantastic Mike, I greatly admire your Fletcher!! I would love a 32nd scale one one day. She looks superb!!
Are you cross-eyed yet doing all of those rivets?
Cheers Anthony
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Post by mstokes on Jun 24, 2009 23:46:15 GMT 12
Thanks for your comments Anthony, I think you mentioned that it is very motivating to get good comments on your models and I appreciate them. I am very cross eyed from doing rivets!!! It took me two weeks with a pin vise to get it right, then I have spent the last three nights making a mirror for the wing... The model has become an obsession, however I am really keen to get it right as I would love to bring it back to NZ in Septemeber and show it as a guest. Also, the old man liked it when i super detailed things Hopefully I can see your great BK, I am trying to compete in a friendly way with your level of detail! Cheers all!
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Post by agalbraith on Jun 26, 2009 11:12:34 GMT 12
Ha.....well mate I think you could teach me more than a thing or 2 about scratchbuilding! It would be great to see it over here at a show in September!!! We will have to get together somehow too. Friendly competition is always good fun for me too.
I know what you mean about the obsession thing.....................8^)
Cheers Anthony
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Post by Fletcher400 on Jun 26, 2009 14:23:51 GMT 12
This would be great to see, you guys are both doing some really quality work with your models, could even be a second fletcher if I could make it to NZ, but I'd need to do a more detailed one with the panel lines and go to town! ...maybe next time ... Im probably going to head back next year for 6 months so might bring one or two with me.
cheers.
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Post by mstokes on Jun 28, 2009 2:57:58 GMT 12
A bit more of an update, undercarriage legs have been finished with their axles in place meaning the wheels are now able to be propped onto the fletcher at the moment. The support and mirror for the left wing has also been constructed, this took a while as I needed to fashion something that was quite reflective and strong, the result has worked quite well. The hopper is currently being filled out, this should be done in a couple of days. Pictures are attached below cheers Mike
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Post by ZacYates on Jun 28, 2009 11:28:20 GMT 12
Loving it! The surface detail is amazing, nice work Mike!
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Post by mstokes on Jul 18, 2009 16:44:10 GMT 12
Hi all, finally have my internet fixed... it has taken three weeks. One thing about oz, it seems that the smallest things take ages to have fixed. In the mean time, I have been doing quite a bit on BOF. I am having real issues with the canopy at the moment, I can't get it to mould exactly which is annoying. I have dummied up one of the better examples to show what it will look like I have also done the hopper, this is now added (took one week once all the levers and such were added!) On the main undercarriage legs I have now added the scissors, this makes them look a lot better! Apologies for the picture quality, the light is not helping me today! Cheers Mike
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Post by agalbraith on Jul 18, 2009 22:28:46 GMT 12
Great to see another update Mike........she is looking better and better every time I see her. The hopper looks awesome!
Well done! Cant wait to see her primed up!
Cheers Anthony
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