Civil aviation group build Mar 3, 2007 to Dec 17, 2007

I started on the Staggerwing this evening.  I think I am going to build it in flight.  The Staggerwing in the air is like a shark in the water, to be groundbound is just cruel!  I was going to write beached, but that is too close to a very bad pun...groan.

So far I have been fitting the stabilizers to the fuselage and workiing on the fit of the cockpit tub.  It sort of reminds me of a car model.  I am a little curious as to the order of painting things, I suspect there is going to be a lot of back and forth on the interior. paint, glue, fit, paint, glue, touch up, etc.  Blue grey carpet, mohair seats.  I'm thinking a blue grey with some brown mixed in for the mohair, does that sound right?

The Heron is now more or less complete.( Brain 44 , it's the airfix kit, originally issued in 1959, and recently re-issued as part of their Civil Aviation set - see my post earlier with pics) Missed out on a few progress pics as my wife was out with the kids and camera.

The wing/fuselage joint was surprisingly good.

Painting basic - silver all over, and a white fuselage top. I applied the kit decals which were good and include the curving cheatline on the nose, I then brush painted in Humbrol midnight blue in between the two decal lines.

 All it needs now are the doors ( undercarriage and cabin) installed and it's finished. More pics soon.

Looks like I'm not the only "tail dragger"!  I thought I'd have my 1:48 F.M. PV-1 Ventura done by now , but it has gone from being a challenge to trying the patience of a saint.   If I don't make some significant progress in the next day or so, it goes into the closet and I'll be starting the Amelia Earhart Lockheed Electra tribute. Pics will follow!  All the builds look great so far, and what kit is the Heron?  I'm not familiar with that ac, but I'd like to build it one day!

Brian 

Thanks guys, hope to find some time today and get some progress made. 

I could see opening the front of this kit and scratch building an interior but that's a little out of my skill level. The kit comes with no cockpit or interior detail.  My Guppy will have the infamous "black" interior for this build. 

Looking good on the Guppy so far Grandpa ! Gulf - I've never built a DC 3, and I just got one on ebay. It's the airfix ( ex Italeri) one in 1/72 with BEA circa 1950 markings. I may get it done in time for this GB also as I intend to pose it alongside the Heron with a refuelling tanker.

Sort of 1950's/60's airport diorama.

More progress on the Heron - it's pretty basic really ;the nacelle/ wing joints leave a bit to be desired - but hey, it's an old airfix kit ! Anyway basic airframe is done, sanding joints etc is proceeding and intend to spray on the main paintwork tomorrow .

Model Grandpa wrote:

Looks like your off to a great start Simon.  Nice choice for the build gulfstreamV.  Someday I want to build a DC-3 model after one still flown today by MFI, it has been updated and is powered by 2 two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine engines. Well, this is what I was able to get done today, not much but far enough to see how strange looking the Super Guppy really is.  Doesn't look like it has enough wing to lift itself.  Wings halves are cemented together, the rest is just a mock up.

Looks like your off to a great start Simon. 

Nice choice for the build gulfstreamV.  Someday I want to build a DC-3 model after one still flown today by MFI, it has been updated and is powered by 2 two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR turbine engines.

Well, this is what I was able to get done today, not much but far enough to see how strange looking the Super Guppy really is.  Doesn't look like it has enough wing to lift itself.  Wings halves are cemented together, the rest is just a mock up.

Guys

The Heron is under way !

Here are some early pics. As stated the molds are in pretty good shape for a 40+ yr old !

The kit has large transparencies down either side of the fuselage, so I scratchbuilt a floor and some passenger seats, to give an impression of an interior - you won't be able to see much through the fairly thick transparencies anyway. I have dipped all transparencies in 'klear', and they aren't too bad. Also  there is a solid bulkhead between the flight deck and the passenger cabin. References shouw an arched doorway , so I have carved that in as well.

The kit features movable ailerons and retractable undercarriage - with a nifty feature on the mains that 'clicks' the wheels in place when 'up' so they don't sag. However, I will be cementing them in the 'down and welded' position. Ailerons, whilst posed to indicate a slight roll, will be cemented. The kit also comes with an 'air stair' and some standing crew and passengers.

Box Art

Fuselage halves, festooned with rivets - ahhh memories.

Kit flight deck and scratchbuilt cabin floor seats.

Installed in fuselage halves

Fuselage persuaded to come together and wings assembled.

More progress pics to come !

Simon

Frank-

Thanks for understanding.  I will keep an eye on this GB, and look forward to seeing everyones progress!  Good luck!

Is it too late to join this GB?

I would like to do AModel's PZL-104 Wilga in 1/72.

Daywalker,

Frank, sorry you won't be participating in the GB, but understand.    You take care and don't forget to drop in and comment once it gets going.

jeaton,

Roger that, John!    I breifly went through your page yesterday, and returning there this evening to cover it better; you have some NICE walk-around pictures!!       You're the one who signed the Guns A Go-Go website guestbook a while back, and traded pictures of the CH-37 in another forum?      I see you're using the J-3 GB badge.... here's a "stereo image" of the picture I used to make that badge, I thought you'd like to see.      

(for those who don't know how to view a stereo image: position yourself directly in front of your computer screen about 2 - 3 ft back and look at the little DOT between the two pictures.  Now begin crossing your eyes slowly until a "third" image appears in the middle.    Now put your wrist and fingertips together about 6 inches in front of your face, looking at the "Third" image through the hole between your hands.)

 Tomorrow's the day it starts!       Oh yeah, remember the story of the 172 that me and my wife first met?    Well, that airplane was in a crash later which removed the front end, nose gear, and half of the right wing.     It was bought as scrap and sold to someone who restored aircraft.... I had heard it was undergoing restoration, but that was a long time ago and the subject eventually died.     I always wondered what happened to it, as N number searches returned a No Longer a Valid Registration.       Anyhow, I get a phone call from this guy out in Little Rock who'd seen my pictures of N9690H on the web, who currently OWNS & FLIES it!     He does aerial photography with it, and said he'll send a good "plane to plane" photo of her, restored in the original colors even!!     I can't wait to see it.... and I'll let you all see too!

Take care,

Frank

Well fellas, I think I'm gonna have to bow out on this one.  I have a couple of other Gb's going, and think maybe I should just keep it to two at a time.  Enjoy the Gb, and happy modeling!

Daywalker wrote:

I opened up that Stratocruiser tonight, and after looking at the horrible canopy fit, gouges in the plastic from packaging, misshapen parts, and general poor fit, immediately relegated it to the scrap box.  I only paid four dollars for it, and decided that the frustration I saved myself by NOT building it was worth the money I spent on it.  But, it will make a good paint hack for practicing my NMF skills.  I will check and see if I have anything else I can build for this GB.  Sorry to keep making changes!

 Hi Frank,

  That's too bad about the Stratcruiser; I done the same thing to a 1/144 DC-3 a couple years ago after seeing how many modifications that was going to have to be made to make it look halfway accurate.    It went the way of the "spares box" just like yours has!!    

  I've got a Heller 1/50th Cessna 337 "Skymaster" that I was going to build as one of the Army's O-2A's, until I found out Heller made a 1/50th O-2, which I bought.      The "Slymaster" doesn't have decals or an instruction sheet (I got it off ebay), but if you'd like to "wing it", send me $5 for the shipping cost and you're more than welcome to it.     Message me.

  Aaron,

  I'm at the double yellow lines and holding on the GB, looking forward to getting started.

Take care,

Frank

Got it changed.

Its kind of ironic but I'm in the middle of changing jobs and moving so I probably won't get to start building until the 12th or so, I was supposed to have had this settled by now, but everything got pushed back 2 weeks.

I should at least get a little time on the 3rd to officially kick this off, but I won't be around much for the following week so behave yourselves and don't take my absence as abandonment, I'll be back.

Aaron-

Can you change my entry?  I bought a Minicraft 1/144 B-377 Stratocruiser last week at the LHS, so think I'm gonna do that one instead of the Hughes racer.  If I can get it finished before the end, I may try to do the racer too.

Daywalker no problem just let me know if you change.

Ok, I'm waking this up since we are just a few days away from the start. If there are any last minute changes or new people wanting to join now is the time to speak up.

Aaron-

I'm trying to locate a Special Hobby 1/48 Super Corsair in race markings, but am having trouble locating one.  If I can find one, I may switch to that one.  Thanks!

Updated the list, if I've missed anyone or have the wrong thing listed for you let me know and I'll fix it.

Thanks for all the guesses...      Dan's about the closest with his second guess... 

There's a lot of things that could be, but it's actually Mr. Charlie Kulp (in the J-3) as he begins his Airshow/Fly-In routine: "The apparent *pilot* chases down the runaway farmer,who rolls to a stop with the aft fuselage poised high in the air (breaks, a little power, and forward stick to hold the tail off the ground), the *pilot* pushes the J-3 180 degrees around".   

Many know him as "The Flying Farmer"!     For those unfamiliar with traditional old-time airshows, at some point in the activities an announcement is made about the winner of a free airplane ride....  this old man comes forward with the winning ticket!

He gets in the backseat of a pretty cub-yellow J-3 (his plane) to begin his ride, with the *pilot" in the front seat.      As they're taxiing out, one of the airport attendants points something out on the airplane, as if something's wrong....  the *pilot* stops the plane and gets out to see, when he does, the little old farmer goes full throttle, the Cub's tail up in the air, with the *real* pilot running along beside him....  

He rambles down the runway, first up on one wheel and then the other... sometimes they'll have a police car race out onto the ramp att his point... ....

He makes a low pass by the apparently dismayed *pilot*, watching from the runway...

He flies the old Cub as if he's never been in an airplane before, all over the sky doing low-level loops, heavy crabs, skids, slips, spins... ..... things you could ONLY get by with in a J-3!

Alas, it's all part of the show.     During one performance several years ago, a rookie police officer on duty at the airshow, thought it was all real and actually blocked the taxiway with his car and pulled Charlie out of the plane!  LOL!    He thought he'd saved the day.... but actually had messed up the routine!!  LOL!

http://www.theflyingfarmerofvirginia.com/

The old school

Frank