Missing parts from older kits?

WHat are the kits you need parts for?

It's a problem that can be solved in a number of ways. As Ikar says, start by asking around.

If the kit has two or more parts the same, you can use one to make the other, either by molding or I usually just kind of hand make the thing and live with the results.

Canopies, that's tougher. I once lost the canopy for a little Airfix Dragon Rapide. So I bought another one and made a canopy by plunge molding the first. Kind of silly as I didn't really need TWO Dragon Rapides.

But then as luck (?) would have it, I had a little resin Breda 44 that was a very similar type of aircraft, so the second Airfix kit donated its tires, props and some other stuff that was cleaner castings than the resin A Model kit, and that was it.

Yes, the main thing is what kits and parts are you looking for. Revell often re issues kits under new stock numbers so the part you need may be currently available under another guise. I have taken that route from them several times in the past. Or certain canopies are available as after market vacuforms from companies like Squadron and Falcon.

One of the kits is a B-25J Liberator, revell kit #5629 released in 2011 that i received from a friend of mine who was a Vietnam vet who started it, but was never able to finish it. I am missing the clear sprue with all the canopies and turrets from. The other is an older Monogram P-51D Kit number #5207 that i am missing the landing gear doors, parts 5 and 39. Dont suppose anyone has any extras. 

I would certainly look for Revell to have the Liberator parts.

As for the P-51, those would be really easy to make, and figure they are down below anyways where no one will pay much attention. Usually, I do replace landing gear doors with thin styrene, or if curved, beer can material.

I'll bet if you enarged the instruction sheet or even the box art, you couls easily get a serviceable pattern, or do a pencil rubbing of the hole in the wings.

Get into scratchbuilding, its fun. Our old long gone friend Hans Von Hammer taught me that if you try to make something yourself, basically no one can reasonable say it's wrong.

Have you tried their customer service?  Top notch, really.

http://www.revell.com/support/index.html

Highlighted in blue is their "Online Parts Request Form".

I've used it twice with success.

Hey !

       What are you doing ? That Mantra about scratch-building has been what I've said for 54 years . LOL.LOL.LOL. No truth is , you are right " G " . Scratch - Building also gives you a more in depth experience with the model it's for.

        I normally use can material for all gear doors anyway .They just look better .  T.B.

Cdn Colin

Have you tried their customer service?  Top notch, really.

http://www.revell.com/support/index.html

Highlighted in blue is their "Online Parts Request Form".

I've used it twice with success.

 

I've contacted them through that before concerning the replacement parts. I was told that they were discontinued and that no replacement parts could be given. 

GMorrison

I would certainly look for Revell to have the Liberator parts.

As for the P-51, those would be really easy to make, and figure they are down below anyways where no one will pay much attention. Usually, I do replace landing gear doors with thin styrene, or if curved, beer can material.

I'll bet if you enarged the instruction sheet or even the box art, you couls easily get a serviceable pattern, or do a pencil rubbing of the hole in the wings.

Get into scratchbuilding, its fun. Our old long gone friend Hans Von Hammer taught me that if you try to make something yourself, basically no one can reasonable say it's wrong.

 

It certainly seems that i will have to try to scratchbuild the gear doors. I appreciate everyones insight on this issue. I will post pictures when i start them to share my first foray into scratch building with everyone. The canopies, i guess i will have to source elsewhere, as i do not have access to a vaccuformer. Thanks all. 

Call and give them the current kit numbers.

The P-51D is kit 85-5241. That kit is still in their catalog so the parts should be available.

As far as the B-24 goes, Squadron makes canopies and turrets for the various B-24 kits. They are vacuform and take some additional modeling skills to use, but actually look better than kit parts when used right due to their more to scale thinness.

The main canopy & nose glazing for the D is 9588, and a turret can be found off the J set from 9571.

Another option is to look for "parts kits" on auction sites or kit swap meets/collector shows where incomplete kits are often sold.

stikpusher

Call and give them the current kit numbers.

The P-51D is kit 85-5241. That kit is still in their catalog so the parts should be available.

As far as the B-24 goes, Squadron makes canopies and turrets for the various B-24 kits. They are vacuform and take some additional modeling skills to use, but actually look better than kit parts when used right due to their more to scale thinness.

The main canopy & nose glazing for the D is 9588, and a turret can be found off the J set from 9571.

Another option is to look for "parts kits" on auction sites or kit swap meets/collector shows where incomplete kits are often sold.

 

Or if you can find a Mono P-51B kit or buy the Pegasus P-51B kit from Squadron for $9.74.  Spruebrothers has the Squadron B-24J glazing set but Squadron doesn't have it listed on their site, but they do have the Falcon set listed.

Edit:  Aires has a wheel bay set listed for the 1/48 Hobbyboss D kit so look around for that if you can't find a set from RM.

That sounds good and all, but not everyone owns a 3D printer.

While other things, like the canopy, would be much harder, gear doors would be a good introduction to scratch building.  I encourage you to consider building simpler parts, and leave the finding of other parts for the more difficult ones.  That will slowly build up your capabilities for the future.  Not only do kits sometimes have missing parts, you may drop or mistake parts in the future, or ruin ones while working on them.  The ability to replace parts with scratch built ones is a valuable skill that is worth learning, especially when you can start with some of the simpler ones.

Note that you generally can (except for things like transparent canopies) substitute materials.  Many materials, when primed and painted, look alike.  Card stock, sheet metal, and wood are all excellent materials for parts that will be painted.

Update on this thread. 

I found a missing piece. Was removing a build-in desk in my office, and apparently it had slid into a gap and fell behind it. Guess i have no excuse to build my P-51D kit now. Atill havent found a replacement for the Liberator canopy.