- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

farmroad38

Progress of Rich's build can be followed here.
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

Richard M · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 10:44 am Post subject:

I'll be making a matching pair of Rapides as G-AGTM "Valkyrie", which was used by the Parachute Regiment Parachute display team in the 60's. Should be a challenging build to get the paint scheme correct.

Obligatory sprue shots;

Valkyrie 1
Valkyrie 2

My intention is to use Hu15 Midnight Blue, Hu73 Wine, and Hu130 White for the main colours, the codes and Rothman's logo will be home printed.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

farmroad38 · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

Building two is just showing off...

The plastic on yours looks much lighter than mine Rich - wonder if that's just the photo?
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

Richard M · Posted: Tue 15 Jan 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

The plastic is the silver type, the picture washes it out and makes it look light grey. I'm hoping two isn't going to be much more difficult than one - famous last words.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Sat 19 Jan 2008 09:07 am Post subject:

Well I'm a very unhappy bunny right now. The left fuselage half of the kit I opened was slightly warped, I thought I could work round it, having checked and dry fitted that's looking unlikely. Opened up the second box thinking I could use that, and it's horrendous! 1000 times worse than the first one.

So I have one good right fuselage half to keep me going! I think Airfix replacement parts service is going to be getting a email from me first thing tomorrow!

The moral of this tale - never assume a shrink wrapped kit is going to contain usable parts!
Best
Rich

(Edit moved original post and replies to chat thread as it's gone more general than just about my build. Rich)
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Sat 19 Jan 2008 09:07 am Post subject:

Well I've got another couple of Rapides coming out from Vince at MFS, so hopefully that will solve the problem while I wait for the replacements from Airfix.

Have actually made a start. Did the cabin, on this version all the interior seating was removed as well as the door. I put a strip of plastic card down to avoid filling all the seat placement holes.

Made up the engine/landing gear pods.

Filed off the ejector marks in my one good fuselage half.

I've dipped the clear parts in Klear. I must say I'm not a fan of this silver plastic, particularily when working on seams.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Tue 22 Jan 2008 09:04 am Post subject:

Well my two new Rapides turned up in the post this morning - excellent service from Vince at MFS. Excellent news as they are very good -three halves are straight with one showing very slight curving

I can get on with the builds now!
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 22 Jan 2008 10:03 am Post subject:

Good is clearly rather relative where Heller moulds are concerned!

All the best

Richard M · Posted: Sat 26 Jan 2008 12:40 pm Post subject:

Cut the doors from both of the fuselages and assembled the other interior with plasticard floor. Painted everything with Hu64 light grey.

Next step is to paint the cockpit and epoxy the windows in place.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Fri 01 Feb 2008 14:50 pm Post subject:

Got all the windows cut up and epoxied into place. Finished assembling and painting the interior. I then very carefully and thoroughly glued the interiors into the right fuselage halves as these are straight and unwarped - I thought it would make getting the warped left halves to glue into place easier.

However, when putting the two halves together it became apparent that the level of the floor is above the lower sill of the door. Oh how I laughed! After much cursing I seperated the interiors from the right halves and somehow managed to get them into the left halves at the right level.

Looking on the bright side, the left halves are now a lot less warped!
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Fri 01 Feb 2008 15:18 pm Post subject:

They really are something of a 'labour of love' these Rapides aren't they?

All the best

Red-Devil1991 · Posted: Sat 02 Feb 2008 11:12 am Post subject: G-AGTM

Your Doing a top notch job there Rich, I hope that they are not causing you too much drama. What a nuisance with those moulds you have the patience of a saint

http://www.red-devils-fft.com
_________________
http://www.red-devils-fft.com

http://www.the-oxford-blue.com

http://www.cheaper-than-fuel.co.uk

http://cheap-fuel.blogspot.com

Richard M · Posted: Sun 10 Feb 2008 09:12 am Post subject:

Got the twins put together, a bit of a challenge, possibly because the floor was slightly lower than Heller intended? Got there in the end.

Carefully taped of the seams and filled with humbrol filler.

They cleaned up very quickly with a minimum of fuss - true test will be what they look like with primer on.

Put the lower wing, tailplanes and nacelles on one, only a small bit of plastic card was needed in one place otherwise fit was very good.

Dry fitting the upper wing - the fit looks excellent.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Sat 16 Feb 2008 17:06 pm Post subject:

Both twins are are in the process of being filled and sanded down.
After on the left, filler on the right.

They'll need a good scrubbing after to try to get rid of all the dust, I'll mask off all the windows before adding the upper wings as it will be easiest.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Ratch · Posted: Sun 17 Feb 2008 11:02 am Post subject:

Looking good Rich

_________________
and was Jerusalem, builded here
The new No. 2
Airfix Club 500287
IPMS 10983

farmroad38 · Posted: Sat 08 Mar 2008 12:49 pm Post subject:

Only a week to go Rich - how are the twins getting on?
_________________
Cheers,

Adrian

Richard M · Posted: Tue 11 Mar 2008 09:49 am Post subject:

I've epoxied the windscreens in place, bit of a fit issue at the front same as everyone else. I've masked them off and applied some filler. Should see some progress on them this week, I've only got them and the lifeboat on the bench at the moment.
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Thu 13 Mar 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

I sanded down the windscreens so they fit nicely, I removed their framing at the same time to make polishing them easier.

They polished back nicely even without using micromesh, I've washed them off and they are ready for the windows to be masked prior to the top wing being fitted.

Sticking the wing together, I held the upper surface in place and added the lower wing sections one at a time, pushing them into the fuselage while still sticky to eliminate the gap. I'll need to add a tab to the centre of the fuselage to make sure the top of the wing is level with the cabin. I've also lost a tailwheel somewhere, good job I have some white metal replacements from aeroclub!
Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Richard M · Posted: Sat 15 Mar 2008 14:31 pm Post subject:

A few pictures to update, the windows and doors being masked.

The upper wings glued in place, the tabs prevented too much of a step between the fuselage and wing.

The main wing struts were glued into place to provide bracing and support for the wings while the filler was applied.
(couldn't find an elastic band so I had to improvise with the help of my daughter!)

The wings on my two work out pretty straight straight and level once the struts are in place. There's not too much of a gap on the upper wings, hence I've masked it off with some tape first.

Best
Rich
_________________
Best
Rich
---------------------------

"I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate. All those moments will be lost in time... like tears in rain... Time to die."

Visit my PORTFOLIO

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 15 Mar 2008 20:36 pm Post subject:

How is the fit on the underside of the upper wing? It certainly looks like your plastic card insert has helped a great deal with the step at the forward edge. This might be a useful hint for future ~~victims~~ builders of this kit!

When I sanded the upperside of the upper wingroot smooth I lost the location points for the innermost pair of struts, the ones that angle up from the engine nacelles.....As you probably still have your location points, could you tell me where they were? I will be adding the final struts to my model after the camo is completed, so no massive hurry!

TIA & All the best