CapnMac82

 

 

Bakster

I am not sure I'd have the space under the stand. It is very limited.

 

 

They make speakers that fit in the "leftover" spaces in HO locomotives.  Saw a high-fidelity speaker tha measured 5x15x2.5mm (wxlxd)

Sound cards appear to be similar.  Check under DCC supplies and videos.

Also, you seem to need mp3 sound files for best results.

 

With the current plan it won't fit. Or more correctly, the bigger problem is power. I ordered a 2 cell AAA battery holder and it won't fit under the provided stand. The stand has odd tapers/angles making the holder a no go. It is that tight. Plus, I have to fit an on/off switch in there.

I researched coin cell holders, and those should work but... coin cells won't power 2 LEDs long. Nobody likes blowing money on expensive batteries and I don't want to go with an external supply that tethers the model to some sort of power source. The latter limits a person to where the model can be displayed.

So... it looks like a new plan has to be hatched. The only thing I can think of is to get a wood base that the kit base mounts to. Then, I cut a battery compartment under the wood base. I could mount the power switch to the wood base too. And if I'd want to do the sound stuff, I could notch openings for that as well, or mount it under the kit base.

Adding a wood base solves a lot of problems and it would dress it up nice. The downside is it is more expense, and for sure, more work. I don't think I have a choice unless I go with compromising power.

This is turning into a bigger project than I had hoped. My bothers Birthday is in January. Maybe I'll make that deadline. Lol.

Back to work. The new compressor is received and hooked up. It works great!

Below: I decided to go with blue light for the window ports. I feel it has a more sci-fi feel to it. The image does not do it justice. To the eye the light appears as a sparkling bright blue light. Fiber optic is the way to go for stuff like this. I love how the color and brightness remain consistent.

Tomorrow I will install fiber optic to the other half. On Sunday I will glue the two fuselage sides together. It will be a trick guiding the optic strands of the second half into the light engine. Fingers crossed. 

Days ahead--cleanup of the joins. I am disappointed in the quality of the outer fuselage. There are a lot of sink marks and defects. It is pitiful what manufacturers allow in their product at the prices we pay. 

End of update.

Halves are joined. As suspected, it was a bit tricky to feed the remaining fiber bundle into the light engine. What helped is that I tightened the bundles using magnet wire, thus making room within the engine. Then through the small gap that I had to work with I used an airbrush needle to guide the remaining bundle into the housing. 

Below: The image is somewhat underexposed to not blow out how the lights look. It gives the gist.

I will let the internal glue points set and then start gluing the join around the airframe.

End of update.

The battery compartment and the switch bay have been cut open facilitating the install of both. The noted components are yet to be glued in and the underside of the base needs to be prettied up. You can sort of see how things will look from above. The plastic stand will be painted black, hiding the wiring.

The model itself is progressing. The center airframe join has been dealt with but gaps at the wing roots and some minor work with the canopy are still on the docket. I will use perfect plastic putty for that. Then-- it's on to mask--primer-- sand--followed by a layer of gloss white--ending with dullcote. 

The entire airframe had to be sanded because it has a stipple texture to it. It is hard to imagine that this was intentional. If it was--I don't like it. How often do you see the skin of a jet with a rough texture? So, in that process to smooth things out, I had to repair some panel lines. Again--they could have done a better job along these lines. It is just more work for the builder.

Anyhow--that's that.

That looks really good Bakster- love how she's coming along! 

Hopefully next year you'll be recharged and ready to go ape again on the Icarus (sorry, couldn't help myself). 

Great updates!

Blue lights look very cool. The wiring job is very neat. And the base is cool too.

Thanks Greg and Cliff. I appreciate the comments and support.

With the coming days off from work, I hope to put a dent in this project. Mainly, get paint on it. Then, it is downhill from there and the project will finish quickly.

More updates to come.

Thanks again guys.

Good luck Bakster. 

And Merry Christmas to all of you guys!!! 

Gamera

And Merry Christmas to all of you guys!!!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas to you too, Cliff (and the rest of the loyal Icarus followers here.

Back at ya guys and amen!

Christmas Update

A lot of dust, noise, and patience to make those cutouts.

Two part epoxy to fill the holes.

Adhesive backed felt to dress it up and cover the mess. The flap is a makeshift battery cover. 

The model comes with opaque Nav lights requiring paint, and I didn't care for the shapes. I sanded them off. While at Hobby Lobby getting felt I came across some plastic rhinestones. I thought they might work, and they had them in the colors I needed too. I did some testing. After sanding, shaping, and polishing, I concluded that it's doable. They are what I was hoping for.

Gaps are filled. The model needs a wiping with IPA, then masking, and I am ready for primer.

End of update.

Nice work on the base ...

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

(Do you think Cornilous got Zera what she wanted?)

Your getting close to 70,000 views. That's gotta be a record!

littletimmy

(Do you think Cornilous got Zera what she wanted?)

Thanks about the base!

littletimmy

Your getting close to 70,000 views. That's gotta be a record!

Great to hear from you, Tim. Hope you had an awesome Christmas...

Progress is coming along really good on this one Steve. Love the bird man.

mustang1989

Progress is coming along really good on this one Steve. Love the bird man.

 

Hey thanks, Joe.

I wish I could take credit for making the bird video... it's genius. 

Nice work on the base, she's coming along nicely!

And good to see you Timmy, did you get your ISP issues straightened out?

Yes I did .... I took a hammer to my old computer and then my wife bought me a shiny new chrome book !

Then, I stepped into the 21st century, and got a Galixy A10 e  as my new phone.

So I can see what's going on here even if I'm at work.....(which is hard to do, considering I'm a truck driver...)

Anyways, as a "prize" for Baxter hitting 70,000 views, I have hired Dr.Zaus to design a whole new wardrobe for him .

Your welcome.....

( hope those crazy Ape shoes dont hurt your toes ...)

littletimmy

Anyways, as a "prize" for Baxter hitting 70,000 views, I have hired Dr.Zaus to design a whole new wardrobe for him . Your welcome..... ( hope those crazy Ape shoes dont hurt your toes ...)

Oh no. Zaus will make me do readings from the unholy scrolls. Thats his MO ya know: Cloths designer extraordinaire, Ape indoctrinator. He is ever the Ape evangelist. Maybe you can ask Zaus to ship em UPS?

littletimmy

So I can see what's going on here even if I'm at work.....(which is hard to do, considering I'm a truck driver...)

You better watch that. MAAD will be looking for you. (Monkeys Against Ape Driving)

So that I can't be accused of doing just monkey business, here is an update. 

Primer is applied. For the first time I had a small issue using Tamiya Surface Primer. The areas between the tail wings came out extremely pebbly. I know that can happen in areas like that but this was off the scale. The other odd thing is that in those areas the white primer came out yellowish. I have not seen that happen before. I planned to sand it anyway, so that fixed the texture issue. The yellowing is a mystery. I am painting the color coat today, I hope I won't have similar issues. Fixable stuff, just more work. 

Ah sorry Timmy I was thinking it was an issue with your internet connection and not your PC and phone. 

In any case good to have you back! 

Bakster: Good luck with the primer. Odd, I've never had issues like that with the Tamiya. I guess the pebbly part could be the paint bouncing off the wing or tail fin, partly drying, and then hitting the surface. The yellow I have no idea... 

I did have an "issue" with my internet provider. I was trying to double my account from  15 gigs to 30 gigs a month. Then ,for some insane reason , right on the first of the month ( this was several months ago) they said I had already used my 30 gigs AND THROTTLED ME!!!

I gave customer service 2 chances to fix it... the third time ... I let em have it!!

Canceled my service, and now ,with my new phone, I am my own mobile wi-FY hot spot .

I won't name names, but it rhymes with huge pet...

Pretty sure General Urko had something to do with it.  

I'm also impressed with the base. Nice work, Stevie.

It's good to hear from you, Timmy.

Thanks, Greg.

Good to see Timmy is back.

Color coat went well. Except for a few dust specs, I was able to draw out a near perfect high gloss finish. I used Tamiya X-2 acrylic gloss. The dust specs are in areas where you'd have to look hard to see.  Because I am anal--I will probably repair them, but I will give the paint several days to thoroughly dry.

In the meantime, I will paint the plastic base and add the provided decal. 

Bakster: That does look good!!! 

And congrads on cracking two-thousand posts here!!! 

Timmy: Ahhh, hope things hold up!

Gamera

Bakster: That does look good!!!  And congrads on cracking two-thousand posts here!!! 

Thanks, Brother.

You know what is kind of odd? About the time I started on the Dragonfly the posts were around the 1960s. At one point we crossed the same year the cartoon was released. We are now in the 2000s and nearing our current year of 2020. It's a sign!  Of what? I do not know.

Happy New Year guys- and hope the Icarus is finished in 2021!!! 

I gotta work New Year's Day... 

Gam, laughing my tail off. That is a hoot!

I'll drink to that. Cheers!