The defenders of Malta...
There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.
Group Build: Biplane - barnstormer to fighter
- Thread starter BarleyBop
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There is a Spit Mk V out there with a Buzz that is calling me to build it.
Edbert
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I admit my knowledge is sketchy, but were not all of the (few) Spitfires they had ferried over from a single carrier in the far Western Mediteranian?
Bear43
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A little progress. Time has been at a premium the last few days, but I had some to spare tonight. Still have to put the exhaust stubs on the engine but it fits well in the cowl at this point.
According to the chronology in this interesting book:
There were quite a few delivered.
But the combined Axis bombing campaigns on Malta took its toll.
I couldn't get interested in another model, so I pulled this one back out and worked on repairing it. For some reason I just couldn't let this one go.
The fuselage just above the tail section is the area that broke and flattened. I had to take some debonder and take the top of the fuselage off (not a fast process). Then I straightened the sides and reinforced it with small strips of plastic strips from Evergreen. Reprimed the area I repaired and then reattached the fuselage top back in place.
I don't have photos of the repair process, I had a minor problem with my camera and the photos didn't turn out well.
(In case you're wondering, the problem was me, I smeared some first aid ointment on the lens and didn't realize it.)
Here is the tail section. I had to do some major sanding to get the rudder support and elevators to fit properly after disassembly, but they fit properly now
If you look close you can see some of the damage is still visible but a layer or two of paint should hide it.
The fuselage just above the tail section is the area that broke and flattened. I had to take some debonder and take the top of the fuselage off (not a fast process). Then I straightened the sides and reinforced it with small strips of plastic strips from Evergreen. Reprimed the area I repaired and then reattached the fuselage top back in place.
I don't have photos of the repair process, I had a minor problem with my camera and the photos didn't turn out well.
(In case you're wondering, the problem was me, I smeared some first aid ointment on the lens and didn't realize it.)
Here is the tail section. I had to do some major sanding to get the rudder support and elevators to fit properly after disassembly, but they fit properly now
If you look close you can see some of the damage is still visible but a layer or two of paint should hide it.
kevin
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improvise, adapt, and overcome.
Edbert
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YES!
For me, overcoming adversity gives a lot of satisfaction. Sometimes I have to wait a year or two to come back to a scene of sorrow, but eventually I will.
Yes. I picked up my Lancaster last night and did a little work on it- just needed time.
Bear43
Well-Known Member
Did even more cleanup... sigh.... Then I went to paint the cockpit and my old bottle of interior green was a congealed, rubbery mess. I already had another bottle on the way, it should arrive Monday, so no big deal. Plenty of cleanup and fitment issues to keep me occupied. This is the same kit as the Sea Gladiator too. You can see the arrestor hook is included.
So I found this saved as I was scrolling through my phone today. Pretty good info on ways to do rigging with some references as well. Thought I'd share. https://www.austinsms.org/Rigging-Scale-Mode-Biplanes.pdf
Bear43
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Guys, I'm going to bow out of this build. I'm simply not enjoying this Roden kit. The last kit was a trial and this one is worse. I'll come back to it, probably after I build something that's a little less hassle.
I hear ya. Taking my time with mine so I don't flip out...
Always better to put a build aside when there is no fun to be had.
Thanks for your input to the RODEN 'commiseration club'!
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I understand completely. The rigging on my plane was a nightmare. It would have been so much easier if I would have done things much different. Next time I'll put the top and bottom Wing halves together. Tape them together somehow and stick the wire in the pre-drilled holes for the bracing wire and cut them to length. Trying to drill holes for wire on a wing that's already built? It was very trying. I primed and painted the wing and the body and it sat there for days. I just didn't want to deal with it. But I let a little bit of time go by and I'm going to hit it again.
Bob T
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I get it...I've spent the last week working on the propeller for my Roden kit...
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All righty. Painted the wing and got it glossed up and ready for decals! Just put gloss on the airframe body and doing a little bit of Gray panel lining. I figured to get the body all weathered and then attach the wings. This plane was a Navy plane so the wings did fold back which makes it easier to paint and weather them separately.
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Sorry, I accidentally put that one picture in. But just in case anyone wanted to know or wondered what it was? That was the front armor on a naval gun of a Japanese battleship. The US Navy took it after World War II back to the States. They wanted to test it. So they positioned it and the USS Iowa came cruising up with a 16-in navel gun and blew a hole right through it. That's 26 in of Japanese armor
Haha I was wondering!
Know that feeling. I enjoyed the build of my Bulldog but just can't get into rigging it at the moment.
Might suddenly get inspired and have a go, but probably not any time soon. Pantherman
That link is a piece of gold! Thanks for sharing it.
I've recently started a 1/72 scale Sunderland flying boat and will need to do a bit of digging on the underwing pontoons.
Edbert
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BEST advice, mine is on-hold temporarily too, there's no deadline on these GBs.
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Dang, boys. We're losing aircraft left and right! Spread out a little bit, don't let them get a bead on you. Oh crap, they got Bear43. We're in the s*** boys. Mayday mayday
Don't worry, I'm still in. Wounded by still going.
I'm planning on repriming and putting some paint on the spad this weekend if nothing interferes.
To paraphrase John Lennon, Life happens when you are planning to build a model.
... hmmm, this GB subject seemed innocuous enough.
Turns out the mechanical simplicity of the technology presents gotchas that are hard to sidestep: unlike higher tech whatchamacallits, a bit of rigging that isn't taught stands out to just about anyone who's ever tied a shoelace!
A good time to lessen expectations of ourselves, just a wee bit, enjoy the process, be grateful for the learning, and cheer what we manage to get right!
And for those who enjoy pushing their limits, go for it!
You're likely teaching the rest of us a thing or two while you're at it, whether it works out or not.
Turns out the mechanical simplicity of the technology presents gotchas that are hard to sidestep: unlike higher tech whatchamacallits, a bit of rigging that isn't taught stands out to just about anyone who's ever tied a shoelace!
A good time to lessen expectations of ourselves, just a wee bit, enjoy the process, be grateful for the learning, and cheer what we manage to get right!
And for those who enjoy pushing their limits, go for it!
You're likely teaching the rest of us a thing or two while you're at it, whether it works out or not.
. Maybe it's good that I got out ahead.
Edbert
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I'm not out, not giving up!
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I'm still in. I never built a biplane before and I tried the PE for the rigging and messed it all up so now I have to scratch build the rigging. Which, for the first time scratch building I think it looks kind of neat. When I can look at a plane I'm building and kind of Nod my head a little bit?? That means I'm liking it and it's not going to meet the Flakhammer..
