Rareplanes 1/72 KC-97 Stratocruiser vac form

The kits injection molded landing gear seems very sturdy. Looks like I added enough weight too!   

I forgot or did not realize that this kit requires you to cut out the front of the cowlings and install the engine faces before the halves are joined together.So I used my dremel to drill out the front and turned the engines down to fit.I backed it with a dowell rod to mount the engine up.   

OK since the wing roots have rather large gaps,I decided to try something a bit different.i recently bought a grab bag of K&S metal shapes,tubes and copper foil.The foil is thicker than Baremetal but thinner than Reynolds Wrap.Roofers use copper flashing to join a chimney to a roof to prevent leaks so I thought why not do the same at the wing root?I still have to use a bit of putty but the foil is thin enough to show some surface detail .I will not try to hide the texture but may paint black stripes in the wing root area.  

Yes,about a 24 inch wingspan!

Its looking good, Philo. ...and big!

Thanks Toshi!it is coming along!

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

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

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

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. 

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.  

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!     

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)!    

Interesting 

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.

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.

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  :)

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

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,

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!  

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.

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

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.

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.   

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

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

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.

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

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

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