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Question on Technique

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Question on Technique
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Sunday, November 23, 2008 4:38 PM

When glueing the two fuselage halves together to do you find it easier and more controle to glue the cabin section in one side before attempting to glue the other side to the other half? The reason I ask this question is the Academy instruction say to glue both halves together with the cabin inserted all at the same time. I find a couple of things wrong in my opinion. First I do not like glueing the cabin roof to the top of the cabin. I think this should be glued first and separate to which ever half you are going to start with. THen I think you glue in the cabin and finally the other fuselage half. I just am too worried the cabin will not fit properly if you do it the way the instructions illustrate leaving me with little opinions trying to get the cabin to fit properly after you glued the to halves together. The cabin I found fits fine, but it takes a lot of finesse'to get it to fit properly.

Any comments suggestions.

Charlie

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 23, 2008 4:45 PM

Charlie,

  I was very concerned about the same thing with my 1/72 UH-1B, especially since the pilot/copilot doors were removed and the floor joint would be visible.  So I decided to leave the cabin free floating and trapped between the fuselages while I glued them together.  For me, it worked great but I have no idea what it would be like in 1/35 scale.  Anyway, after gluing the two halves together, I cemented the cabin floor to the fuselage and filled the gap in the floor up front.  I'd be interested to see how this worked in 1/35 scale.

    Ray 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Sunday, November 23, 2008 4:51 PM

Thanks Ray, I am leaning towards gluing the cabin roof in the right half, then gluing the cabin into the right half and then finally gluing the left fuselage half on. Every test fit I did the cabin became very hard to get it to sit right. It kept wanting to slide back. The cabin roof also does not fit very tight to the roof unless it is actually glued in place. It tends to droop at the front sides. I am thinking I might have better control over the whole process the way I explained...on the other hand, if I get anything out of alignment this way, I will be starting from scratch.

Charlie

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:07 PM

Charlie,

  The one I built had the roof seperate from the fuselage so my cabin ceiling was glued to the roof.  I think your build aounda a lot more complicated.  Good luck!

    Ray

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Australia
Posted by Helo H-34 on Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:09 PM

Hi Charlie , most of my Helicopter builds have been in 1/72 scale ; but like you have done , I also try a number of test/dry fits to see how the cabin fits in between the fuselage . Usually I glue the cabin interior and both fuselage halves at the same time . If there are any gaps where the cabin floor meets the the edge of the fuselage , I just even up the gap both sides before the glue has time to set . I guess in 1/72 scale any small gap isn't that noticable .

Sorry I couldn't be of more help !!!          

                                             Kind regards John

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: SE Alabama
Posted by Retired Gunpilot on Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:12 PM

Well I have another day or two to think about it. I'm gluing in the windshield wiper motors and covers and still have a little painting to do before gluing this all together. Hopefully, Monday or Tuesday night I will attempt the big glue job.

Charlie

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Auburn, Alabama
Posted by rotorwash on Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:15 PM

John,

  The Italeri Hueys don't have ceilings in the cabin.  Do you make a ceiling or just let it go without one?  I stole mine from a UH-1D kit.

   Ray 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Australia
Posted by Helo H-34 on Sunday, November 23, 2008 5:49 PM

Oh ,  your right Ray , I didn't add any ceilings in the Italeri Huey's , I've been working on a couple of 1/72 Blackhawks this past week and I got confused , Confused [%-)] , the blackhawks have ceilings . I'm also having a frustrating time today , twice in the last hour or so I've tried posting two pic's of my finished IDF/AF Blackhawk and Gazelle and type some text for each pic but the internet keeps dropping out .

I'll keep trying Banged Head [banghead] .John

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