Building a Roden 1:32 PT-17 The Hard Way (Update: 03 Jan 21)

That looks great!  Time well spent given no cowl.  I take it you like the printer?

keavdog

That looks great!  Time well spent given no cowl.  I take it you like the printer?

 

Yes i love the printer. Very impressive what it is capable of.

Quite impressive perhaps you can sell.a basic engine correction set!

I sure will be following this thread.  I will be ordering this kit next week.

I have a found place in my heart for the Stearman.  The PT-17 is the second plane I ever had rides in. My dad was in the CAP in the forties, and though I was too young to be a cadet, the squadron kind of considered my a mascot. I was seven years old.  Dad was able to take me for  rides in it often, and let me handle the controls a few times.

 Beautiful engine!

I would be interested in purchasing one...if that's an option?!

I had a little "stick time" in a Stearman. Actaully, it was the first thing I flew that wasn't a Cessna! Sadly, the pilot/owner had a fatal accident at Osh Kosk in his Fouga Magister('02, IIRC). I did a model of his Magister, and it's in the lobby, here at the airport we're based at. I'd like to do his Stearman as well. In 1/32, it's big enough to be impressive, but still just small enough to fit the display case at the airport.

philo426

Quite impressive perhaps you can sell.a basic engine correction set!

 

That could be possible. Ill have to get in touch with the original designer first to make sure hes ok with it.

fermis

 Beautiful engine!

I would be interested in purchasing one...if that's an option?!

I had a little "stick time" in a Stearman. Actaully, it was the first thing I flew that wasn't a Cessna! Sadly, the pilot/owner had a fatal accident at Osh Kosk in his Fouga Magister('02, IIRC). I did a model of his Magister, and it's in the lobby, here at the airport we're based at. I'd like to do his Stearman as well. In 1/32, it's big enough to be impressive, but still just small enough to fit the display case at the airport.

 

I will surely let you know if i start printing and selling them.

And 1:32 is a perfect scale for the Stearman. I built the Revell 1:48 one but that thing was just too tiny.

Tragic to hear about what happened to that pilot btw. I hope his Stearman either stayed with the family or went to a good home.

Don Stauffer

I sure will be following this thread.  I will be ordering this kit next week.

I have a found place in my heart for the Stearman.  The PT-17 is the second plane I ever had rides in. My dad was in the CAP in the forties, and though I was too young to be a cadet, the squadron kind of considered my a mascot. I was seven years old.  Dad was able to take me for  rides in it often, and let me handle the controls a few times.

 

 

Thank you very much for the follow. Look forward to reading your comments.

I was almost able to get a ride in one. An older gentelman used to fly his Stearman from the neighboring town to my local airport all the time. And when i joined the EAA young eagles he was one of the planes giving rides but unfortunatley i did not draw his name. Hoping he still has the aircraft and ill get a chance to fly in it when i go home again as i became friends with him since i joined his EAA chapter.

Hello everyone! Happy New Year!

Some more progress on the Stearman over the last few days. 

Engine is just about finihsed now. I decided to add a bit more detail and install the external primer. Behind the #1 intake tube their is a external primer with fuel lines that go to the #1, 2, 6, and 7 cylinders. The fuel lines come off the primer and wrap around the cylinders to the front. 

Im not sure what size wire i used as it wasnt labled. I got it from a fishing store and all i know is it is VERY tiny. 

After the plumbing for the external priming was done i finished up by installing the oil sump lines that connect between the #3, 4, 5,and 6 cylinders. I used .025 lead wire for this and then wrapped the ends with aluminum tape to simulate the rubber connections.

Lastly the exhaust was painted and installed. I had to drill out the end of the exhaust sand down the inner ring that connects to the kit. I painted the exhaust with Alcalad Steel but i feel like its too dark so it will probably change later on before its installed.

Finally once the engine was done i started working on the interior. The interior actually looks really good. I did some basic painting and got it all assembled. But as the title says, im building this the hard way so im not done yet. More to come!

Short bench session tonight. 

Did some heavy chipping in the cockpit. These aircrafrt were used by both Navy and Army and probably trained every pilot that ever flew so i believe these aircraft would weather pretty heavily. Combination of both micro chipping and sponge chipping methods were used to achieve this. 

Another thing i did was in order to make final assembly a little easier, i added channels at the front leading to the placment holes for the cockpit. This way i can glue the 2 fuselage halves together and get everything straight before the cockpit is added and once everything is straight i can just slide the cockpit sub assembly into the fuselage. 

More to come, stay tuned!