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Rareplanes 1/72 KC-97 Stratocruiser vac form

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  • Member since
    March 2005
Rareplanes 1/72 KC-97 Stratocruiser vac form
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:21 AM

Next up,The old Rareplanes KC97 vac form.What is unusual is that it is molded in black plastic which is a new one on me as all the vac forms I have encounterd to this point have been molded in white styrene.Cut out the engines and they are pretty rough.Cuting out the chin scoops was a chalenge and body work will be necessary.  

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Saturday, July 9, 2016 10:56 AM

This will be an interesting build, I'll be following!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:08 PM

Thanks Tosh!it should be fun!

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:23 PM

Cool, Philo but why not build the Academy one? It's a nice kit.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 12:37 PM

Well I got this one on trade and decided to build it!  Fuselage halves broken out   

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 1:10 PM

Here's a couple inspirational shots to keep you going:

 

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Saturday, July 9, 2016 2:10 PM

Hello!

Say, ikar01, where were those photos shot?

Philo, good luck with your build, be sure to pack some reinforcements inside your model! Have a nice day

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: UK
Posted by gregers on Saturday, July 9, 2016 3:38 PM

I'll be following this one. I'm plucking up the courage to get back into vac kits.

Incidentally I had a vacform Nimrod in 1/72 that was in dark grey plastic. not sure who the manufacturere was though.

All the best.

Greg

Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 8:41 PM

I took tose while on patrol at Dover A.F.B. in 1973. 

Here's one I took at a air show at Cleveland's Burke Lafe Front Airport:

I was on a security team with a C-5 we brought up from Dover.

With the damage we caused when we left, I'm sure they remembered us for some time.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, July 9, 2016 9:38 PM

Thanks guys!The kit seems to have pretty thick plastic and internal bulkheads are included.

  • Member since
    January 2010
Posted by CrashTestDummy on Monday, July 11, 2016 11:57 AM

ikar01

Here's a couple inspirational shots to keep you going:

 

 

Wow.  I saw those pictures, and immediately thought you had one from a photo shoot with my Dad and his brother.  My uncle was a test pilot for Republic, before going on to Lear Jet, and we have pictures of them posing together.  My uncle was flight-testing/acceptance testing the F-105, and my Dad was the pilot of the KB-50 they were using to test refueling procedures. 

My Dad had flown KC-97s, but in this instance, it was a KB-50.  It was a few years before 1973, though. 

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

G. Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, July 11, 2016 12:11 PM

Cool photos!I elected to use the included vac form canopy section.I taped it off to ensure an accurate kit.This may complicate assembly as I do not want the canopy section fogged when I join the fuselage halves.I will Future and mask off the windows before I install it into the fuselage.   

  • Member since
    January 2016
  • From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posted by Sailor Steve on Monday, July 11, 2016 12:25 PM

This is fascinating. I used the RarePlanes Y1B-17 fuselage and clear parts many years ago as a basis for the prototype Boeing 299, and I think they are great kits. That said, I've never seen a black one either. How odd.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, July 11, 2016 1:02 PM

Yes it was kind of a shock when I opened the box!

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Orlando, Florida
Posted by ikar01 on Monday, July 11, 2016 7:35 PM

I used to have a vacuum model of a T-39 and it came molded in green.  Sure woiuld like to find another one. Not the best quality, but the only one ever produced.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, July 11, 2016 9:07 PM

Joined up the fuselage halves and like all of the vacs I have ever built there are gaps to be dealt with.The Bondo spot putty is up to the task!  

  • Member since
    August 2013
Posted by Putsie on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 5:21 AM

Hi guys!

As to color of plastic...I have some kits in green....some clear....mostly white.

I always spray the parts sheet with black or grey before cutting out parts......makes it easier for me.

Have fun,

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 10:29 AM

Mounted up the tail.any misalignments or gaps will be dealt with after the glue sets.     

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Tumwater, WA.
Posted by M. Brindos on Thursday, July 14, 2016 10:41 AM

I've never picked up a vac kit before. They've always intimidated me for some reason. But watching your progress makes me think I should give it a try the next time I see something interesting.

I'll keep watching this for further inspiration  :)

- Mike Brindos "Lost Boy"

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:09 AM

Yes you have to adjust your mindset when building a vac form.There will be problems,and you must be prepared to deal with them.Ok because they are not jigsaw puzzles.

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Close to Chicago
Posted by JohnnyK on Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:28 AM

Hi,

I am going to watch this thread REALLY close. I just ordered a B-47 vacuform in 1/48 scale. That will be the first vacuform that I will build.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: the redlands Fl
Posted by crown r n7 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:43 AM

Interesting 

 

 

 Nick.

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Thursday, July 14, 2016 11:44 PM

Took a good bit of putty and lots of wet sanding to fair the tail into the fuselage.I hope the horizontal stabs wll not require as much work(Yeah right...dream on buddy)!    

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Friday, July 15, 2016 11:07 PM

Putting on the horizontal stabs went pretty well.I put a brass tube through the fuselage and drilled holes in the appropriate places.Expected gaps at the stab roots will require filler,but all major joints will need it so no big deal!     

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Saturday, July 16, 2016 11:31 PM

Cut out and joined up the wing halves.One strange thing about this kit is a consistent misalignment of about a sixteenth of an inch.I do believe that the mirror images are a bit larger on all major halves thus far.This is a new one on me,as previous vac form kits did not have this problem.I will fix the problems of course,but it is an anomoly.  

  • Member since
    December 2002
Posted by 7474 on Sunday, July 17, 2016 11:15 AM

Wow, you're off to a great start, I'll be following this. Like some of the others, I too am intimidated by these vac kits. 

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Sunday, July 17, 2016 11:19 AM

Due to the mismold,every part will require putty.Whole lot of work,sure hope that it is worth it!

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, July 18, 2016 12:40 AM

Mounted up the wings and engines.Much gappage to deal with!  

  • Member since
    March 2015
  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Monday, July 18, 2016 1:02 AM

You've got a big job.  This is looking great, your moving forward and tackling any type of issues.  You got this under control my friend!

Toshi

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2005
Posted by philo426 on Monday, July 18, 2016 7:23 AM

Thanks Toshi!it is coming along!

 

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