Using Tamiya, sprue-goo, and hot glue, I secured a piece of Evergreen tubing to the bottom of the base. This then will be hot glued into the hole that I drilled in the base. That should provide a secure connection while minimizing making a mess of things.

The base was primed and then painted with Alclad Steel.

The decal quality is in keeping with the rest of this kit. And that is--POOR. The decal would not release from the backing paper. I eventually got them separated and the decal applied. However--once when I had the decal laid down--it became apparent that some of the backing paper had gone with the decal. This then produced lumps. Using a paintbrush, I worked the decal loose, removed the paper, and then reapplied. My digging under the decal affected how well the decal laid down. I suspect I removed some of its adhesive. No matter how much setting solution, I was not able to completely remove silvering along the bottom edge of the decal. More time spent may have gotten it down better but-- my patience is running short.

Just about every facet of the kit is met by poor quality. Sorry Moebius, you need to do a better job.

Ouch, I have several Moebius kits in the stash! Looks like you made the best of a bad situation though. 

You have some clever engineering behind that base.

Hope the decal isn't too bad. I know what you mean, by detail time the "can we please finish this's" set it, and patience can indeed run low. Can't see any trouble from the pic, fwiw.

Thanks Cliff. The silvering bugs me but it is what it is. It didn't help that the cable guy came just when I was dealing with the problem. But that is another story.

And yeah. I will think twice before buying another Moebius. I see how they roll and it would be a hit or miss deal. It really bugs me when model makers pump out stuff like this.  It's shameful to do so at the prices being charged. If the kit was five bucks I wouldn't complain too much. At close to 30 bones... I am bending over for a piece of plastic riddled with issues. Please at least try to put some quality in your product. 

Thanks Greg.

Greg

I know what you mean, by detail time the "can we please finish this's" set it, and patience can indeed run low.  

Couldn't have said better. 

Made some major Dragonfly progress today. The airframe is clear coated, windows are demasked, and sub assemblies are glued on. The worst of this build is over and it looks pretty dang cool.

What is left to do? Paint the arm of the stand, wire the power, and then glue the arm to the base. That's it. I might have completion pics by the weekend. Fingers crossed.

And the Dragonfly is done.

The clear engine piece was painted with Tamiya Clear Orange. If you recall I used a flickering LED to light the engine. It adds a nice effect as it flickers.

Below: I like how this turned out that the cabin lights up as well.

I guess this means I have to go back to Icarus.

That looks fantastic Bakster!!! Great job!!! 

As to the Icarus I guess you're entitled to a short apecation... 

Really- just grab the monkey and run...

Hey thanks Gam!

And thanks for the build extension!

You never cease to amaze me.

The Dragonfly is fantastic.

     Overcoming the Moebuis' bad finish, the blown Compressor, and solving the model stand/power/lighting situation was quite a victory and a fun read.  Suspenseful it was!

     Thanks.

            Jim.

                                       ...Icarus awaits...

Nino

 

You never cease to amaze me.

The Dragonfly is fantastic.

     Overcoming the Moebuis' bad finish, the blown Compressor, and solving the model stand/power/lighting situation was quite a victory and a fun read.  Suspenseful it was!

     Thanks.

            Jim.

 

                                       ...Icarus awaits...

 

 

 

Hey Jim! It is great to hear from you! I thought maybe I sent you over the ledge with my lastest twist. I am glad you enjoyed the Bakster drama! It's a bad book that is hard to put down. Lol. And thank you about the build...

Speaking of drama... I started on the Icarus today. I pulled out the on-line custom printed decals and I went at it. Guess what? Problems!!!  The dickens you say. Oh yes indeed. I do say. The ink is flaking off the decal film, and it's doing this before I even cut and soak them! What the heck?

I reached out to the printer and after several helpful emails they will send me another set. He believes the film is defunct, though, he has never seen this happen before. I am thinking... "Of course you haven't. It's the curse of Icarus!" Or maybe, it's the curse of Bakster! 

In the meantime... I experimented applying the defunct decals. I figured I had better see what other problems I may face. I tell ya. The aft section has weird angles. This is gonna be a major bear requiring some fancy cutting and fitting. For the first time in this build I am questioning if I can get through the problem, to my liking. Such a simple thing has become the Mt Everest of this build. I am feet from the finish line and I have a bungee cord tied to my trousers. My legs are running in place, and I am not going anywhere. Lol

Perhaps the curse stems from the name itself, Icarus. Indeed, a name after a mythical character that was doomed! Maybe I should change this project to something more benign. Maybe to something like ... Planet of the Apes Spaceship. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus

Anyhow. I shall keep fighting the good fight!  Too much work in this to quit now!

Stay tuned for more thrills and spills.

Man that turned out fantastic Steve. This was a good show to follow man. 

And that's a fact, your Dragonfly really turned out great.

I really like this one, Steve. A lot.

Great idea to grab a change of pace and break from the Icarus. It was no itsy-bitsy project, but yours never are!

mustang1989

Man that turned out fantastic Steve. This was a good show to follow man. 

 

Greg

I really like this one, Steve. A lot.

Greg

It was no itsy-bitsy project, but yours never are!

BTW I showed George Clapper the 'Godzilla vs. Kong' trailer and now he won't shut up about 'BIG LEEZARD GET A BUTT WHOMPING!!!' 

Gamera

BTW I showed George Clapper the 'Godzilla vs. Kong' trailer and now he won't shut up about 'BIG LEEZARD GET A BUTT WHOMPING!!!' 

Laughing. Yeah... Clapper likes watching a good butt whomping.

YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU JUST STARTED. Clapper fixates. The only way to make him stop is to give him something new to fixate on. 

When I had that moth problem he liked going around smacking em with a rubberband. He got pretty good at it and let me tell you, he'd stay up all night doing it. Hard to sleep with all the snapping going on but it sure filled that fixation void of his.

I am not letting you off the hook so easy, Gam. I need my sleep. So, I am not gonna propagate more moths.

Lol.

PS: Maybe we can get Timmy to divert Clappers attn. Or Greg? Or Nino? 

Yes, he's very excitable!!! 

I bet Timmy, Greg, and Nino have lots of moths for him to pot-shot...

I did get him to calm down some by promising to call him 'Prince Kong' from now on (or at least until he forgets about it). 

Gamera

Yes, he's very excitable!!! 

I bet Timmy, Greg, and Nino have lots of moths for him to pot-shot...

Laughing. I bet they do.  Greg said he freaked out over the movie, The Fly.  That said, I am sure he does not want moths around so ... Clapper is a good sort of Ape to have around. 

I'm sorry .... I dont have any moths here at the moment ......

But snakes ..... ????

How would Clapper do against a rattler ???

( I could use some help around April or so ..... shotgun training included ... I can duck ..... if I have to ...)

Mission accomplished. For the most part, decals are done. The replacement decal sheet worked much better, but they are very delicate, still. They are just strong enough that I could do the job and thank goodness for that. Btw. The first sheet they sent me were not sealed. They claim there is no need to seal them and they never do. They sealed the second sheet for me, and it helped. Still--there is something wrong with their process because the simple act of gently touching them is enough to cause ink to flake off, even after their sealing them. What they sent me is better than what I was able to do on my own, though. For one, the colors are opaquer. Secondly, they are less prone to breakage. Now-- if they can just do something about making their ink more durable.

Anyhow, see below. As I feared, the aft decals are a bear. See the arrow in the image below. I had to precut the decals so that they end along that edge. The decals could not handle the odd angles and curves by doing it as one piece wrapped around. So... I did the top and bottom stripes separately. I still need to cut and affix small pieces to the gaps along those edges.

Aside from the filler decals noted above, I need to seal the model, then weather it. At that point--the model is done. Then, it's onto the dio.

I always have trouble decaling parallel lines.

Nice job !!!

littletimmy

I always have trouble decaling parallel lines.

Nice job !!!

 

littletimmy

But snakes ..... ???? How would Clapper do against a rattler ??? ( I could use some help around April or so ..... shotgun training included ... I can duck ..... if I have to ...)

I think Clapper can handle that. Maybe Gam is willing to part with him. 

Bakster

Greg said he freaked out over the movie, The Fly. That said, I am sure he does not want moths around so ... Clapper is a good sort of Ape to have around. Stick out tongue

I generally don't care for anything with more than 4 legs so yes. That said, Gam is right I do have some moths to offer nonetheless. I'm not sure how to get to them though, as they are fluttering about inside my head. You think you got sleep trouble with that monkey shooting rubberbands all night? Think of the non-stop flap-flap-flap.

The decals, regardless of the trouble involved, really set her off, Steve.

Edit: Not sure where this thought came from, but could you imagine a newcomer stumbling upon on the the goofier pages of this thread on his or her first visit to the FSM Forum? Just think about it.

Greg

You think you got sleep trouble with that monkey shooting rubberbands all night? Think of the non-stop flap-flap-flap.

That's a hoot, Greg! Maybe try hanging a moth trap next to your head. It might lure them out. If that doesn't work--Clapper is studying for brain surgery. He could still be of help to ya.

Greg

The decals, regardless of the trouble involved, really set her off, Steve.

Greg

dit: Not sure where this thought came from, but could you imagine a newcomer stumbling upon on the the goofier pages of this thread on his or her first visit to the FSM Forum? Just think about it.

Oh. Why Dulcote? I will be using mostly powders and I am thinking the dull surface will grab better than a gloss surface. 

Here is a screen capture showing an intense degree of scorching. Other captures seem less so. It is builder discretion. 

Bakster

Here is a screen capture showing an intense degree of scorching. Other captures seem less so. It is builder discretion. 

 

Hmm, perhaps it's only my wish for synchronicity, but I note the waterline in the image is conveniently above the troublesome area noted by arrows, above.

Dr Zaius would be able to quote from the Book on how such things were foretold.