Fleet Air Arm Group Build

It's really quite simple, build yourself a wooden box, it doesn't have to be pretty, my son built the one below.  Just make sure it's as air tight as possible by calking the seams.  Drill a hole in one side that the end of your household vacuum can fit snuggly into.  Then drill the top full of smaller holes. 

You can buy sheets of acetate or you can just scavenge pieces from packaging of store bought goods.  Sandwich the sheets between the two pieces of cardboard seen in the pic (cut to roughly the same size as the box to allow all the holes to be covered and thus maximize  suction) with tape and then heat it over a stove top element until you see it sag.  Then throw it over top of your mold as you turn on the vacuum.  It's best if your mold is raised off the surface of the vac box a little so that you don't get a ridge in the corner.

FSM did an article a little while back which I have scanned into the computer somewhere but can't find at the moment.  Let me know if you want it and I'll dig it up.

EDIT: one other thing, you want to make sure everything is good and clean before you do it as dust can cause blemishes in the plastic. 

47 hrs done.

I am too.

.............................

I'm back

The trip went well, should know next week on the jobs.  As for me, it happened that one of the guys doing the interview I have worked with in the past.  he told me later that the job will be mine  As for the wife, from what she told me I have a good feeling that she will get her's also.

Mike, congrats on the 2,000

Alain, bummer about the canopy  The build still looks great.

decaponeII, the Gannet is looking good.

I just want to thank you all for the well wishes, it means alot to me. 

Welcome back Roy.  Glad to hear all went well.  Keeping the fingers crossed for you.

Regards,  Rick

Hello Roy!

Great to see you back with us. 

Sounds like it went well-I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you and the missus.

Roy's back!

Its Friday!

I've got ten days leave! 

Bring on the RUM RATIONS!!!!!

Hey-for those whose think its too quiet around here........

That should wake you up!

Have a great weekend everyone! 

 CHEERS!

Darren, thanks a bunch

PM inbound to you my friend.

Thanks Dave for showing me that. I'm very busy with college classes and work right now so I don't have much time to work on models right now. I'm sure I'll try vacuforming some day.

Alain

Geeze ROY!.....we haven't had cocktails in a week out of respect for you!....well, maybe some....

Sounds like good news!

Here's to you!...and your wife, the non-modeler, I guess

TANGO 1 wrote:

Roy's back! Its Friday! I've got ten days leave!  Bring on the RUM RATIONS!!!!! Hey-for those whose think its too quiet around here........   That should wake you up! Have a great weekend everyone!   CHEERS!

I'm awake now!!!  Cheers everyone!

dcaponeII- Looking good thus far, just be very careful with the glue and all will be well!

That's great news Roy!  I'll keep my fingers crossed and you will tell us as soon as you hear any news, right?

10 days leave Darren?  Enjoy it my friend, you have DEFINATELY earned it!  Again, well done!  EXTRA rum rations for the cap'n!

UGH.  I discovered a problem (which I've now fixed but I thought you'd all find it interesting).  If you look at the wing photos carefully you will notice that I cut the slot for the support strut on the outer end of the middle segment ON THE WRONG SIDE!!!  It's on the top surface and it's supposed to be on the bottom.

I've got it sorted out now and am proceeding with the folds but waiting all afternoon for the filler to set up and sanding around those decals was tedious to say the least.

It's supposed to be the difference between good modelers and great modelers to stop and fix incorrect things no matter when you find them.  Hopefully this means I'm on the right track.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes.  I will keep you all informed as to what happens.

Dave, the vacuform you made is great.  How's it work for you?

Nam, it's good to know that you stayed off the rum while I was away.  I think you deserve a extra ration for that

Frank, how's the snow blower doing

wyoroy wrote:

Frank, how's the snow blower doing

Great, not sure which I have put more fuel into this year- my truck or the blasted snowblower.

Hey guys how's things, I've been on sick leave for the last couple of days so I haven't had much of a desire to be using the computer if you know what I mean.

OK here are some pics of my secret birthday build, can anyone identify the bird from these pics of the front office?  I've actually done more than this but shots of the fuselage would kind of give it away.

You may notice the lack of a control column in the front office, this is because Captain Stupid (me ) managed to lose it to the carpet monster somewhere which means I have to scratch build another before continuing much further.

Apologies that the photos are so damned dark, I've done my best to lighten then without much luck.

Cheers 

Can't see enough in the pics to really tell.  Course it's modern, so I probably couldn't anyway .

Regards,  Rick

Ok I hated those pics so I've just done them again under the pergola at the back of my place under semi natural light.

I hope these ones are better althought the dark greys and blacks seem to just absorb the light.

Cheers 

OK, I'll show my ignorance by guessing it's a Seahawk.

Regards,  Rick

Whatever it is, I like it!!

F-86D?

Great news my friends, my wife accepted a job in Wyoming; we have to be there by the 25 of February.  How many of you guys can come help pack the truck?  We will supply all the food and drink (rum).  Bad news is that my building will be on hold for the next few weeks.

I want to thank you guys for the support you have shown me and my family.  Even though we have not met face to face I do consider you guys my friends.

Congratulations Roy.  Glad all is working out well.  Calls for a drink .

Regards,  Rick

That's great news Roy!  I am very happy for you, I know you missed Wyoming quite a bit.  Aren't you glad now that you never changed your username to Floroy?

You know what this means, better go trade in your flipflops, suntan oil and swimtrunks for a snowblower- you're gonna need it there!

razordws wrote:

I'll make sure Frank doesn't drink all the rum on ya!

Thanks a lot Dave, I thought we had a deal!

Darson- so, what is the mystery build?  Are any of us right?

Thanks guys.

Frank PM inbound.

I've had the Wyvern on the back burner for a while, but finally got around to putting the decals on.  Here she is in Her Majesties markings.

Getting there .

Regards,  Rick

Looking really nice Rick!  That is such a nice looking bird too.  I be looking forward to seeing it progress.

Frank, I thought our deal only involved newbies, not outstanding citizens like Roy?

Roy to answer your question earlier, which I missed, regarding the vac box.  I've only done a few test shots so far but it seems to be working beautifully.  Now I just have to work on the technique to cut them off the sheet without ruining them!

Roy! Great news......and an undercurrent of happiness flowing from your posts! Good for you two! Nothing like coming home.

Rick! Very nice modeling. Knowing nothing about that a/c, I had to look some things up. Always happy to learn something.