Basic components have been cut out.
Clear canopy has been moulded.
Fuselage pod has been roughly shaped .
It will be painted up as A79-215 a 25 squadron aircraft . All over Post Office Box Red . With 25 Squadrons black swan emblem.
Pics to follow when further advanced.
Cheers
Gordon
I look forward to your Mk I Vampire.
Lou
Where the Vampire is at.
All just clipped together.
Wings clipped.
Also in pic is the resultant two canopies . the mold and the clear plastic holder. Bit rough but worked.
Cheers
Gordon
Looking great Gordon. I have yet to seriously tackle canopies. I did try on a 1/144 Banshee, but it did not work out for me.
Lou
Looking good Gordon, I've thought about trying the clear canopy but never got round to it, may have a try when I get the time to start a new build, which won't be any time soon, regards Paul J.
A comment for Paul: An AirToon with clear canopy?
Lou
I might give it a try Lou, when I get some free time, regards Paul.
Thank You Paul.
Sounds like you are pretty busy.
Stay Safe
Cheers
Gordon
Plodding on with the Vampire. Working on the tail booms and going back over the fuselage checking things.
I'll post a pic when there has been definitive progress.
Stay safe
Cheers
Gordon
Love the looks of the Vampire. Clear canopy may be a next technique to try.
Fraser
Tail booms nearly done . A bit more work on outer fairings on the rudders. Checking fuselage contours and then summon up the gumption to
Cut the fuselage for the cockpit.
Cheers
Gordon
Cleaned up fuselage a bit. Getting ready to dissect the fuselage. I it all fails I'll stick it all back together and use the solid canopy.
Cheers
Gordon
A promising project. I tried the hair dryer canopy without success. I am considering using the oven to heat up the plastic, but need some more research on the subject.
Lou
Watching with great interest
Fraser
Coming together Gordon, regards Paul J. Comment for Lou, what you need is a craft heat gun, card makers use them for embossing inked in designs, I use one for shrink tubing. They get a lot hotter than hairdryers. Sorry to hijack your thread Gordon.
Thank you Paul.
Lou
No worries Paul. All I had available was the Imperial Hairdryer. It was a bit of a battle.
I think it comes down to the type and thickness of the clear plastic. What I used was clear plastic from a packet of strawberries.
There are heaps of methods on how to do plunge moulding on the net.
Experimentation is fun.
Cheers all
Gordon
Surgery performed on cockpit. I used a cockpit interior from Modelaid magazine. Scaled up to 1/48.
It was "interior" green . Looking at pictures it is all black. So I used the black one that I was going to use as a trial.
The "trial" appears to have worked. I have made my interpretation of a Martin Baker seat out of thin cardboard. Yet to to do the fine details.
Then make sure it all fits under the canopy.
Pic to follow.
Cheers
Gordon
Thought I'd better put something up.
I've been dividing my time between the CAC, De Havilland and Sopwith factories.
Wings glued and centre section contoured. Inlets started. Seat done (bit of refinement needed).
Cheers
Gordon
Opening up the cockpit worked out well. Looks like another excellent project.
Lou
Thank you Lou.
Progressing slowly.
Gordon
Will try to push on with this next week.
Gordon
Started putting the Vampire together.
Bit of cleaning up to do.
"Elephant ears" added underneath from scrap balsa. Fins still needed in inlets.
Cockpit and seat require more work. I have found a 1/48 pilot. He'll need some modification to fit in.
Cheers
Gordon
The Red is just to see how it went over gray primer.
Gordon
Red look good Gordon. I never knew about the elephant ears as the Canadian version did not have them.
Lou
The shaping is fantastic. You really got the inlets done nicely. Looking forward to the canopy installation.
Regards Fraser
Elephant ears?
Fraser,
The FB 30/31 used the Nene engine as the Canadian ones used the Goblin/Ghost.
There were issue with sufficient air intake. Various experiments were done with sizes of intakes. They settled on "elephant ears"
originally mounted on the upper fuselage. This was found to blanket the elevator. Hence mounted underneath.
Pushing on slowly.
Cheers
Gordon
Thank you for clearing that up Gordon. The Canadian T-33/Nene 10 uses spring loaded plenum doors over the engine to accomplish the same thing of getting additional air to the engine.
Lou
Bit of a clean up. Fins put in starboard inlet. Used strips of takeaway coffee top . Port ones will be done as the mood strikes.
It can be a bit frustrating to do. Not enough fingers or hands. Had a couple go ping and lost forever.
Will cut the red back and reapply. Bit more work on cockpit required.
I will probably finish it off with undercarriage up. Therefore somebody in the office will be required.
Working on the occupant.
Cheers
Gordon
The red really shows how well you mated the parts. Excellent job Gordon.
Lou
Your finish really shows the grace of the aircraft. Can you comment on what steps you used to ensure the grain was not visible?
Fraser
Thank you Lou and Fraser.
I use 400 wet and dry (dry) to fine sand. Coat of filler / primer - dry sand. Another coat - dry sand. Final coat and 600 wet.
Sometimes I will start of with a coat of dope .
I will cut back this coat of red and apply another coat. Rattle can "Gloss Red"
Cheers
Gordon
Cut back. Anti flutter balances added to elevator. Jet pipe cleaned out. Jet pipe made from PVA soaked paper and formed. Not added yet.
Avionics hump added. One plan I have has a profile of this but its in the wrong spot. Photos referenced and mark one eyeball used.
Pilot on left is home made. Using basswood and wire. He fits the seat. The one on right is too big. Seat is glued in.
The silver below the cockpit will be masked of for a bare metal panel.
Cheers
Gordon
Sanding with two colours really highlight the high and low spots. Nicely done so far.
Lou
The model is looking great. Can you elaborate a bit on making the sitting pilot. He or she looks very well done!
Fraser
Fraser,
I used the plastic one to get some measurements. Basically made from scrap basswood . Separate bits for head/trunk . Upper and lower legs.
Arms positioned to give some illusion of movement. Oxygen tube from thin wire. Mask from mix of poly filler ,PVA and some acrylic paint (so I could see it. Bit more cleaning up . Fits the "seat" . The seat was made using cereal box cardboard, balsa . Ejection handle from thin wire.
From the photo of 215 it would appear that the flight suit is a light colour. I will look into this a bit further.
Coat of red applied yesterday ( the rain let up for a while) . Need to fix a few blemishes .
Cheers
Gordon
Hello Gordon,
Thanks for the breakdown on the construction. I would have not thought to make the arms, legs and body from separate parts. The whole project is coming along nicely.
Fraser
Vampire update....
Second coat of red added.
Bare metal panel on starboard side was painted silver and masked off.
Avionics hump painted brown.
The original homemade pilot is a wee bit too small. Pilot MKII under construction.
Canopy has been cut down and trial fitted. Bit more work required.
Cheers
Gordon
WOW on that glossy red finish Gordon. Is the canopy cut while on the mold? You need to do a tutorial on making the pilot with close up photos.
Lou
I'll use a sharp blade ( and a steady hand ) and trim it whilst on the mold.
Gordon
Just have to clean up and finish the pilot. Fine tune the cockpit opening.
In the interim I will commence applying the decals. Not home made this time.
Picture to follow.
Cheers
Gordon
Hopefully will finish it by the end of the year.
Proprietary decals will be used. The Red centres are separate from the rest of the roundel .
Should be an interesting centering exercise.
Onward !
Gordon
Decals going on.
Gordon
Outstanding gloss finish Gordon.
Lou
Decals nearly done.
Left the nose decals until I have finished attaching the canopy.
I used a set of Nova Scale decals I've had for years. They went on quite well.
I have a set for the Bristol fighter ( in Australian Service WW1) . MMmmmm definitely back on the list.
Bit more quality control around canopy . Last decals then she's done.
gordon
Nearly but not quite.....
Better pictures to follow hopefully.
Cheers
Gordon
Looks magnificent from that angle Gordon. You have truly mastered the art.
Lou
Thank You Lou.
She's finished.
The decals are very thin and I did have a few foldups. Lost some retrieved some mainly the small ones.
Cheers
Gordon
Picture perfect Gordon. I am amazed at that finish. What type of clearcoat did you use?
May I repost these images to Facebook and flickr
Lou
You have certainly captured the look of the Vampire. The paint is beautiful and the cockpit with pilot adds the finishing touch.
Fraser
Thank you Lou and Fraser .
I'll add a picture of the the "clear " I use. This was over a Gloss red.
Feel free to post to FB n Flickr Lou.
Cheers
Gordon