Vacuform GB is On!

Sure, I'd be interested.  I've almost no vac experience, but I've picked up a few vac kits here and there of subjects I'm really interested in.  A GB would be a great introduction into this branch of the hobby.

Hi Jeff: OK, let's standby for a few days and see if there are more takers......Airmodel of Germany is still making many great kits.....

I do not wish to go insane!

 Will

Well it just happens I ordered an Aeroclub C-23 Shorts Sherpa last night, its not a pure vacuform as it has injection molded plastic and metal parts along with some vacuform components, I know the fuselage is vacuform, don't know what else.

If that is enough to qualify I'd be interested, it will be my first attempt with anything more than a vacuform canopy so I'm sure I could use the help.

Aarown..........You bet, that Aeroclub qualifies. Many Vacs used all kind of materials
for detail parts.......OK......we wait some more and see ( How about a week). If no more takers will just start on our own...I guess!!!!

I have many old kits stashed away so I don´t know yet what model it will be....... Usually Vacuforms have to be done "carefully"and slowly. They are a lot of fun and usually makes you a better builder. You will enjoy the Sherpa allright!!!!

Daywalker,

I've only done one, and that was a simple Airmodel Bell X-1 I picked up on ebay for a couple of bucks.  Didn't even bother with the landing gear, just make it "in flight" to simplify it as my first vac.  Despite my inbred fear of vacuform kits, it wasn't as hard as I expected.  Once the pieces were cut out and sanded, it really went together like a short-run injected kit. It gave me the confidence to order several more vacs of hard to find subject that interest me, most of which are only available in vacuform.

Others involved in this GB can certainly give more expert opinion than mine, but I'd say for your first you may want to consider a simple Airmodel or Rareplanes kit.  They are very basic, but seem to be of good quality, and can be had for a couple of bucks on ebay all day long, so if you screw it up, you won't be out much.  I ordered several more from one seller on ebay to save on shipping, picking up a Fairey Fulmer and Curtis CW-21 Demon from Rareplanes, and an Airmodel Fokker G.1 for a couple bucks each.  I may try one of these for the GB.

Im tempted to pick something up and have a go. It may not be for a while as i have a few other things on the go.

 What do people think of Sanger models kits? Im tempted by their T-28.

Hi Guys.........

Well, we might get more people interest yet!!!!!!

About Vacuforms........The most important step is, like Jeff, mentined: cutting the parts correctly. Once you have them its a question of gluing and sanding to the final shape. Before you jump in and do something.....think it over and see the best way of doing it, for instance: some models do not need fuselage re/inforcing since they are small and the plastic is hard, but on some it is best to put re-inforcements inside befor gluing it. Open cockpit planes look nice with a fairly well built floor, seat and instruments....just cut them from the extra card. Go easy with glue and just take your time. The nicest thing about them is that if you have patience and work carefully you will end up with a very original model.....
Pace Models in E/Bay usually have a variety but doing careful searches will bring many to the surface....Airmodel of Germany makes many models and Wings Models makes  a large variety but they are not cheap.

OK......................we wait one week and Start!!!!.....

Thanks everyone.

Hi Guys:

 OK.............Its 5 of us to start: Jeff, Aaronw, Daywalker,Ollie and me.
                                             Charlie is in with a conversion 1/2 & 1/2

                     Rules:
                             1) Any Vacuform Kit of any Scale can enter.
                             2) Kit must be started on the GB dates not before.
                             3) Participants should place photos of their progress
                             4) Starting Date: Feb/01/2007
                                 Ending Date:   Nov/01/2007
                              ............That´s It!!!!!!

                              Happy Modeling and have a lot of Fun with your Vac!!!!!! 

Do vac conversions count? Or does it need to be 100% vac?

I've got an Koster XP-72 waiting in the wings, but its a half and half!

Charlie 

Hi Charlie...............well, I guess you can come in with your 1/2 & 1/2, the idea is to have fun
and learn a thing or two.....Welcome...

Well, I'm overextended already but I'll sign up for this one anyway since I like doing vac kits.  I'm currently working on a vac kit, the Airmodel Bv238, but I hope to finish that in the next couple of months.  For this one, I think I'll do the AIM 1/72 scale KC-10 kit - should be interesting.  I don't know where I'll put it on the workbench (currently I'm working on the Bv238, an An-22, an An-124, and an An-225, all in 1/72 - I'm running out of room).

Bruce

solid wrote:

Hi Charlie...............well, I guess you can come in with your 1/2 & 1/2, the idea is to have fun and learn a thing or two.....Welcome...

Great! I'm in!

Thanks!

Charlie 

bwr1 wrote:

For this one, I think I'll do the AIM 1/72 scale KC-10 kit - should be interesting.  I don't know where I'll put it on the workbench (currently I'm working on the Bv238, an An-22, an An-124, and an An-225, all in 1/72 - I'm running out of room). Bruce

Oh my, that's a big kit. Many years ago a co-worker of mine ordered one of those. I saw it when it came in. It's a HUGE kit!

 Charlie

Great Jeff,......... all those planes are nice, I like the Avia B-135.........yea send a pic once you
deside which one it´ll be!!!! ........am sure you will produce a nice model.

Well there is no chance of my having a false start, I'm still waiting for my kit, hopefully it will be here by the 1st. I've gotten out of the habit of taking in progress pics but I can get back into the habit. This should be interesting since I've never really worked with vacuform. I don't have a pic of the kit since it hasn't arrived but this is what I'm hoping it looks like when I'm done.

Ok, here's my first pics.

First pic I borrowed from another site, basically just shows the lay out of parts. 2nd pic is my current progress. Not much really. Just primed the 2 fuselage parts, cut them free, and have started sanding away the excess plastic. They're pretty close

I need to dig out one of my monogram P-47s for the rest of the parts. I haven't decided whether I'm going to make bulkheads to beef up the fuselage, or go with some kind of foam filler.

 Still haven't decided on a scheme. If the plastic holds up well, I'll do a natural metal bird. Maybe some fictional "1946" markings, if the plastic looks like hell (this is my first vac), I may do a fictional "1946" olive drab bird!

 Charlie

Hi Charlie............Ok, nice. I am sure you will enjoy your 1/2 and 1/2 and finish this GB with a full Vac....

I took out my vacs last night but did not deside which one, they are all nice!!! I will tonight..

I do may natural metal birds with " Chrome Spray" let them dry for about a week and then "rub" in different areas with my thumb.....this gives you a very good "metal look" with different "tones" like the real jobs. Do try the "spray" on the plastic first to see if it does not "eat" it up!!!!!!

solid wrote:

Hi Charlie............Ok, nice. I am sure you will enjoy your 1/2 and 1/2 and finish this GB with a full Vac....

We'll see how well this one goes! Then maybe move onto a full meal Vac! I do have a few full kits stashed away, along with a number of Koster conversions.

Charlie