stefanwest Posted August 27, 2013 Report Posted August 27, 2013 This is going to be big. Reinforcing the wings.
Mark Deliduka Posted August 27, 2013 Report Posted August 27, 2013 Excellent! At least yours didn't have the massive wing root gaps that mine did! I had gaps that were literally a quarter-inch wide. I also had stripped and repainted this model at least nine times before I finally gave up. I'll be watching this with interest to see how it is supposed to look! Keep posting man!
ghodges Posted August 27, 2013 Report Posted August 27, 2013 I'm guessing that those fasteners used in the wing to fuselage join are of your making? Could you elaborate on exactly what you used? Looks very sturdy! GIL
stefanwest Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Posted August 28, 2013 I used Aluminum tubing with plastic sheet stock glued on each end, Everything glued with 5 min epoxy.
stefanwest Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Posted August 28, 2013 Added the weight. It needed a lot. Test fitting the bottom wing/fuselage piece and see how the dihedral will look, No huge gaps.
ewahl Posted August 28, 2013 Report Posted August 28, 2013 Steve, It's interesting that you selected the Airfix boxing of this plastic instead of the more numerous Heller versions (at least 3). I have AWACS planes on my bucket list in four scales, five if you count the box scale Revell kit--1/72, 1/100, 1/144, and 1/200. The big CFM56 engines and refueling probe make the Airfix version unique. I'll enjoy watching this one come together. Regarding hardware for joining the upper wing sections to the fuselage halves, the miniature bolts, nuts, and washers available in packages in the model railroad section of the LHS are inexpensive and provide total control of the alignment, location and squeezing of the plastic when tightening the bolts and nuts. Great solution you offered to this problem. At least you will not have to replace rivet details with this kit, but that problem is replaced by having to fill in the oversize panel lines on the fuselage. Ed
stefanwest Posted August 28, 2013 Author Report Posted August 28, 2013 This is the heller kit in Airfix box. This one happened to be the cheapest one I found in eBay and the only one I found for sale in awhile.
stefanwest Posted September 2, 2013 Author Report Posted September 2, 2013 Working on the seams and the cockpit.
stefanwest Posted September 6, 2013 Author Report Posted September 6, 2013 Well. Did not like how the AWACS radome was working out. Using the Eduard mask kept leaving tape residue. So I removed the paint. Scanned in the leftover mask outline, made a reverse image of it. Imported it into my cutter and made a new mask from Tamiya yellow tape. Now you see the results. Ready for gloss coat and decals.
stefanwest Posted September 7, 2013 Author Report Posted September 7, 2013 Radome is done. Now to the rest of the plane.
stefanwest Posted September 16, 2013 Author Report Posted September 16, 2013 Further progress. Fixed the gaps where wing attaches to fuselage. Repaired my work with CA glue as filler and rescribed the panel lines. Made the landing light lens from the kit flush with the wing.
Mark Deliduka Posted September 16, 2013 Report Posted September 16, 2013 Excellent! At least you didn't have to deal with the 1/4" gaps in the wing roots that I had to deal with when I built this! You did great! Looking forward to seeing more. You're getting me inspired to try and build my Looking Glass aircraft from AMT. I have several larger aircraft to get done first.
stefanwest Posted September 17, 2013 Author Report Posted September 17, 2013 Test fitting my first engine. Looks like I need to go ahead and attach the engines and then fill in the gaps and rescribe them for a seamless look where it attaches to the wing. I already smooth out the seams on the engine itself.
Mark Deliduka Posted September 17, 2013 Report Posted September 17, 2013 Looking good. I remember having to do that also, it isn't too hard. You're coming along very well.
stefanwest Posted September 19, 2013 Author Report Posted September 19, 2013 Progress so far on the surgery on the engine pylon. This is to raise the nacelle off the ground. Still need to fill in some holes and smooth it out further.
Guest PetrolGator Posted September 19, 2013 Report Posted September 19, 2013 I love when kits do annoying stuff like that. Nice job remedying the problem. I always like to follow your buids, Steve. You always come up with innovative ways to fix problems.
stefanwest Posted September 22, 2013 Author Report Posted September 22, 2013 Testing the modification I did to raise the inboard engine on the Airfix AWACS kit so it would not sit on the ground. This is a combination of lowering the landing gear and raising the engine nacelle.
drhornii Posted September 22, 2013 Report Posted September 22, 2013 And people think 1/72 is small...... Looking great!
Mark Deliduka Posted September 23, 2013 Report Posted September 23, 2013 Looks like it worked. Great job! Dave, I build exclusively in 1/72 scale when it comes to aircraft and armor. No, it ain't small..... 1
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