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Williams Bros. Schoenfeldt Firecracker

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  • Member since
    September 2012
Williams Bros. Schoenfeldt Firecracker
Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, April 5, 2018 1:02 AM

I searched my stash for anything left from WB and found this thing.

There's been several really nice WB models shown, so I wanted to jump on the train.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, April 5, 2018 8:36 AM

That's another aircraft genre I really like from WB- their racing planes.  I have their Hall Racer in the queue to my bench- hopefully get on it this summer.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2015
Posted by qlabs on Thursday, April 5, 2018 3:58 PM

I just recently put this together. There are some very notable seam lines and even differences on lines for each half of the fuselage. The rudder on my kit had different locations, thing didn't line up where the rudder met the vertical stab. It glued together but didn't actually match.
Also the fit of the glass to the fuselage needed a lot of filling, along with the wing.

Very neat subject matter, just needs some love when assembling.

  • Member since
    May 2006
Posted by Rob Beach on Thursday, April 5, 2018 10:27 PM

Aye, WB kits are wonderful little beasties that seem to often inspire stubborness in the modeler. With tender fettling and careful dry fitting, the results can be pretty amazing.  My Curtiss Sparrowhawk awaits my renewed attentions even now... best wishes on your Firecracker, I know you will do it proud!

Regards, Robert

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, April 6, 2018 12:28 AM

I've cut out the wheel wells and drilled out the oil cooler.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Friday, April 6, 2018 12:36 AM

Balloons

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, April 6, 2018 9:31 PM

Calling it a day. Lots and lots of flash, and the halves of the part sprue had slipped so every part has a step.

But it's shaping up. The edges of the wings and stabs are really thick, but I'm not really able to do much more than make them clean.

I can't find any period pictures of racing cockpits except looking forward. I assume the pilot at least had a seatbelt?

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, April 16, 2018 12:10 AM

Starting to look like an airplane.

400 pound engine up front on a 1300 pound fully loaded aircraft.

There's some info on the replica, flown by Gen (Ret) Pat Halloran.

With a Ranger engine, because the original Menasco Super Buccaneer is a museum piece.

275 mph. It could outpace the military fighter of the time in 1929, the Boeing P-26

No way to slip on the approach, it would snap at level flight.

 with any rudder.

No way to keep the ball centered, the nose always wanted to dive,

Gen. Halloran wore a parachute. It took him a month to fly the delivery.

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Monday, April 16, 2018 6:46 PM

Gee, that sounds fun to fly. Interesting real-life info, I'd never have guess those things would be such a handful.

Having never heard of Williams Bros, I looked them up and they seem to be alive and kicking, no?

Interesting array of kits.

I'll be watching.......

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 9:28 AM

Greg

 

Having never heard of Williams Bros, I looked them up and they seem to be alive and kicking, no?

Interesting array of kits.

I'll be watching.......

 

 

Yes, the originators sold out to the new firm.  They have promised to repop a number of the old kits, but it is sure taking them long enough to do it.  But I suppose getting the capital in the hobby business is hard.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 9:45 AM

Don Stauffer

 

 
Greg

 

Having never heard of Williams Bros, I looked them up and they seem to be alive and kicking, no?

Interesting array of kits.

I'll be watching.......

 

 

 

 

Yes, the originators sold out to the new firm.  They have promised to repop a number of the old kits, but it is sure taking them long enough to do it.  But I suppose getting the capital in the hobby business is hard.

 

 

Ahah. That explains why their website looks so new and robust. Thannks for the input, Don.

I'll bet you're right about raising capital in the model/hobby business. I'd never thought of that.

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, April 21, 2018 12:52 AM

Here we go low, left and fast...

The canopy didn't fit at all.

The gap was about 0.04 so I cut a piece of plastic out of that thickness, stuck it in the gap, and traced the profile. Cut and sanded just a little oversized.

 

Painted to look like plywood.

Installed.

 

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Saturday, April 21, 2018 1:35 AM

Whoa!  Now that's a seam!!! :-o

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, May 7, 2018 2:37 PM

The following is not suitable for young children...

Even after appliying a coat of decal bonder before trying to soak them.

These were the extras I wasn't planning to use, and I scanned the sheet. I'll try printing new ones.

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Monday, May 7, 2018 10:45 PM

Bad luck, Bill!  I had the same luck when I was building my C-46.

Seems like it might be easier to make a new vacform canopy, the fit on the front looks pretty approximate too.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 7:24 PM

Nice save on the canopy. Yes

Yikes about the decals, though..... Broken Heart

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Thursday, May 17, 2018 1:35 PM

Hi " G " 

    I am in the process of Building the Sparrowhawk . The only other W.B. kit I have done was a C-46 years ago .It wasn't bad but not perfect either .You will succeed though ! T.B.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, May 19, 2018 2:34 PM

Success! I was able to save the day with the decals. I always scan decals before use, and I've been able to solve a couple of additional parameters as well. Now just need to clear coat and stick on the breakables.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Saturday, May 19, 2018 11:28 PM

She looks good, Bill.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Sunday, May 20, 2018 9:02 AM

Your little yellow racer turned out great, GM!

Nice saves on the decals and the canopy gaps.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, May 20, 2018 11:07 AM

Looks beautiful!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2011
Posted by knox on Sunday, May 20, 2018 3:34 PM

It’s looking great!

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 7:42 PM

And finished! This was fun. The usual WB foibles, but this is an interesting aircraft. It could go 260 mph. in 1938. Owned by Bill Schoenfeldt and flown by Tony LeVier, later to be a famous Lockheed test pilot. That's not Tony there, but I added Roscoe to show scale. A small model even at 1/32 scale.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, May 24, 2018 9:04 AM

Looks really nice!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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