SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Rareplanes 1/72 KC-97 Stratocruiser vac form

5464 views
63 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • 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!

 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.