Hey FSM, I'm back with an update...
I'm always listening to music. Always. It's always on in my car. It's on when I'm building or doing chores. It's on in my classroom when the kids are doing independent work. I always have tunes playing. There are certain times during certain builds when certain songs or lyrics pop into my head. This Mustang's been one of those builds...
Remember when I said that in typical fashion my builds are usually two steps forward and one step back? Well, after this latest mix-up it seems like Mike Ness of Social Distortion summed it up best when he sang, "Taking two steps forward and four steps back..."
(sigh)
Let me fill you in...
So, I'm working on the fiddly bits, specifically the landing gear, when I notice something. As I'm dryfitting the parts, I notice that the instructions have you install the landing gear with the oleo scissor facing forward. That didn't seem right to me, so I checked my references and, sure enough, it's wrong. The oleo scissors should face back. No problem, I think. I'll just switch the parts from side to side to get 'em right. Well, that's not gonna work. The struts and holes are "keyed" to accept them in only one orientation. The orientation shown in the instructions. So, I decide that something needs to be done.
I decide to cut off the mounting pin...
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and make my own from stiff wire.
Easy enough. Now all I have to do is drill a small hole to accept the new wire mounting pin. Well, I start drilling, thinking the mounting hole is a part of the lower wing half. I didn't remember that the hole was part of the upper wing half. So what happens next?
I drill straight through the wing top.
SON OF A @#$%&...
(deep breath)
OK. I can fix that. No biggie.
I decide to be more careful on the left side when...I DO THE SAME EXACT THING!
C'MON! REALLY?
That's then Suicidal Tendencies starts playing in my head...
Sometimes I try to do things and it just doesn't work out the way I wanted to. I get real frustrated and I try hard to do it and I take my time and it doesn't work out the way I wanted to. It's like I concentrate real hard and it doesn't work out. Everything I do and everyting I try never turns out...
So I put down my tools and push myself away from my work table. I get up and have a foamy adult beverage as I try to think my way through the problem.
Hmm...
OK. Here's my plan: Instead of using wire as my new mounting pin, I'm going to use styrene rod. So, I drill down into the strut and install a styrene rod.
The rod will serve as the new mounting pin and filler for those holes.
After some careful trimming and sanding...
Re-priming...
and re-painting...
BOOYAH! Success!
(phew!)
Cue The Heavy: How ya like me now...How ya like me now...
So, now I'm putting the main assembly aside and I'm working on the smaller stuff. The fuselage is now standing on solid legs. I've painted and glossed the prop in prep for decals. I'm going to gloss the main airframe and set it aside to dry to get it ready for decals too.
Despite all the extra work, the Mustang is coming along.
Sheesh. Easy Build my rear. Next time Hobby Boss wants to slap a label like that on one of its products, it should let me build it first.
Anyway, share your thoughts!
Keep up the great work everyone, and glad my masking tip helped!
Cheers!
-O