Vietnam Air War GB - Extended!

Hi Everyone,

I have the sidewalls done for the cockpit complete with the canopy release handles.  This first picture is the right sidewall:

And the next picture shows the left side wall:

The next step is to epoxy them onto the cockpit tub.

Ken

can i enter this please?

f111a and a usaf tsr2 il get a build thread up soon

this is where the tsr2 is at so far this is the 4th time iv painted it and im STILL not 100% sure on the colours! i had no idea sea camo would be such a pita lol

Hi Everyone,

I thought that epoxying those cockpit side walls was going to be a piece of cake.  WRONG!  The forward end on each side wall did not want to conform to the shape of the cockpit.  The canopy release handle (the ones that I spent all that time making) popped off of each side in the front cockpit from the stress of me flexing the side wall to make them fit.  I lost one of them.

I was using rubber bands to hold them in place but it was not working for the front end.  I had to use a clamp, but there was only room to clamp one side at a time.  And since I had already put epoxy on both sides (5 minute), I had to do surgery on the other side last night and cut it loose so I could redo it.

I clamped it and let it cure overnight.  Here is a couple of pictures:

Here is the finished repair in the next picture.  To try and describe what exactly was happening, the bottom seam of the cockpit wall was not true to the seam of the cockpit tub.  It wanted to raise up towards the front.

 Here are some pictures showing the side walls in place:

Next is filing down those ridges off the exterior of the side walls to make room for the cockpit to fit into the fuselage.

Ken

that looks like a job and a half!

That seems like a frustrating exercise. Well done on achieving a good outcome.

Cheers

Tony

the decals iv got for the tsr2 are from part 2 of xtradecals what if sheets and is for an 80s bird would this be useable for vietnam era markings or not?

eatthis

that looks like a job and a half!

Thank you, I appreciate the compliment!

Ken

taxtp

That seems like a frustrating exercise. Well done on achieving a good outcome.

Cheers

Tony

Thank you Tony, I am just glad it didn't break in two!

Ken

Those look sharp! Just have to get into this build.

My entry is a 1:72 Testors C- 130H Hercules Gun Ship.

Nice work Eatthis.  Great camouflage job!     

Ken

Love the camo eatthis! I think it's spot on colourwise!

Hi Everyone,

I got a little bit done at the bench tonight.  I started to test fit the cockpit to the fuselage and realized that the braces molded into the fuselage had to go shown in this next photograph:

 Here is a shot with them properly disposed of:

 Next I trimmed off those ridges from the cockpit:

 And here is the other side:

That is all I got done tonight.  I will chat with everyone later.

Ken

done the gloss coat over the top of that ready for panel wash and top coat (matt) tommorow :)

Looking good Eatthis!

Ken

got to make the splodey things now

i just need to sort the pitot probe out then the splodey bits and its done :)

Nice work Eatthis!  The wash came out just right, the paint finish is clean, and the decals look real smooth!     

Ken

Hi Everyone!

I am still plugging away at shoehorning the cockpit, avionics bay, and front wheel bay into the fuselage.  The main problem is that the Aires cockpit instructions are quite lacking in what needs to be done to make it fit!  They make great cockpits but they sure could make better instructions!

Today I discovered that the ledge built into the fuselage that is behind the rear seat needs to be removed shown here:

 Here it is removed:

 At this point I could finally get everything stuck into the fuselage and rubberband it together to get an idea how it was going to fit.  Here are a few shots:

 As you might suspect, it is a bit crowded in there!  But I am surprised that it almost fits together.  I am pretty sure I will be able to make it all fit.  It is going to take some careful work.

The biggest thing is the avionics bay is wanting the same space as the cockpit.  Here is a picture peeking inside and you can see them against each other:

 This next picture shows where I have marked off the area that needs to be filed down to make room:

I have been spending most of the evening filing, sanding, test fitting, repeat.  I have been also sanding on the inside of the fuselage.  It is getting pretty close but I am ready to call it a night.

Ken

jbell30

Was wondering if it is to late to get in on this GB.....Was thinking either an EA-6B or a Skyraider in SEA colors..

  Welcome jbell30.  Tcepilot has been MIA for about a month but I am sure you can join in.  This build is not supposed to end until August 30th.

Ken

thats a crackin job keep at it :)

tcepilot

I have been watching from afar. With school, motocross season and girls. Well I've been on recon for the GB I guess ya could say. I'm working on a WWII build right now. I have the pics of the seahorse but I need to get on the desktop and upload them. Everyone is welcome to pop in whenever. Extra time is allowed if needed. -tcepilot

Everyone is doing excellent work and it is very inspiring...hopefully it`ll keep me inspired as well!

Len

troublemaker66

tcepilot

I have been watching from afar. With school, motocross season and girls. Well I've been on recon for the GB I guess ya could say. I'm working on a WWII build right now. I have the pics of the seahorse but I need to get on the desktop and upload them. Everyone is welcome to pop in whenever. Extra time is allowed if needed. -tcepilot

I finally got the urge to resume work on my Skymaster yesterday. I`m at the point of painting the first coat of exterior color. Thinking I`m just gonna go out to the garage and spray...yeah, right.......the air valve assembly on my Badger 150 was shot. Luckily, a local HS had a replacement so I was able to get 2 coats on it. Once it starts looking like something, I`ll post a few pics....been tough to get motivated lately...missing my old shop.

Everyone is doing excellent work and it is very inspiring...hopefully it`ll keep me inspired as well!

Len

Hi Len,

It is good to hear from you again!  How are you holding up?  I am guessing that it was salt water that got into the Badger?  Has there been any work done on repairing your house yet?  I know you were fighting with the insurance company just to get the paper work straighten out.  Then the government was dragging their feet on releasing the funds.

Ken

Hi Everyone!

I spent the evening doing some more sanding, filing, test fitting, and repeat!  It is a slow tedious process.  I found that if you hold the resin up to a bright light you can tell when you are getting close to sanding through by seeing how much light comes through.  I don't dare sand anymore on the avionics bay piece.  I have more room I can sand on the cockpit base.  I also need to do more sanding on the inside of the fuselage.

Ken

Finally made a start today so i am up and running. Currently trying to shoehorn ill fitting resin into a kit it was supposedly designed for. If it was indeed designed for it then why the flip do i have to perform openheart surgery on it every damn time. Grrrrrrrrrr.

Son Of Medicine Man

troublemaker66

tcepilot

I have been watching from afar. With school, motocross season and girls. Well I've been on recon for the GB I guess ya could say. I'm working on a WWII build right now. I have the pics of the seahorse but I need to get on the desktop and upload them. Everyone is welcome to pop in whenever. Extra time is allowed if needed. -tcepilot

I finally got the urge to resume work on my Skymaster yesterday. I`m at the point of painting the first coat of exterior color. Thinking I`m just gonna go out to the garage and spray...yeah, right.......the air valve assembly on my Badger 150 was shot. Luckily, a local HS had a replacement so I was able to get 2 coats on it. Once it starts looking like something, I`ll post a few pics....been tough to get motivated lately...missing my old shop.

Everyone is doing excellent work and it is very inspiring...hopefully it`ll keep me inspired as well!

Len

Hi Len,

It is good to hear from you again!  How are you holding up?  I am guessing that it was salt water that got into the Badger?  Has there been any work done on repairing your house yet?  I know you were fighting with the insurance company just to get the paper work straighten out.  Then the government was dragging their feet on releasing the funds.

Ken

 

Len