ghodges Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 (edited) Just started the Koster vac, and thought some of you might like to watch the process of building a vac kit. This is a VERY good vacuform kit (as most Koster vacs are), with resin and metal detail parts, as well as decals. The parts are crisply molded and the engineering straight forward All of the parts except 2 are cut off of the backing sheet here. The only parts that have been sanded and assembled are the engine cowlings. The resin engines are just sitting in the cowlings as a test fit. The only other thing I've done is to "shore up" the interior of a few parts where the plastic is very thin due to the depth of the part. I did this by simply pouring in a little superglue to stiffen those areas, but did NOT use accelerator in order to avoid distorting or melting it due to the heat it causes. I could have also backed those areas with epoxy putty (safer) but that takes time..... :smiley24: More pics as she comes together! GIL :smiley16: Edited August 20, 2017 by ghodges 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcorley Posted July 7, 2017 Report Share Posted July 7, 2017 And I was kinda excited for a mo, thinking somebody had announced a "real" kit!! I assume you'll have it finished for Omaha, right Gil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2017 May have it finished in a couple of weeks, but I'm not taking anything to Omaha on the plane. Can't trust TSA! Got some major work done.... The wings and tail planes are assembled... The fuselage has been sanded and test fit together. The canopy has also been cut out and fit to the model. The wing spars are stuck in place to test fit the wings... This shows the major vac parts test fit together. The wings and tail planes look like they'll fit quite well! Next up will be to fit out the interior so the fuselage can be buttoned up. More pics then! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Interior work is done.... And the fuselage is assembled! More pics when the flying surfaces are on! GIL :smiley16: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Wow, I never would have imagined having an interior that detailed in a Vac kit. Stunning work Gil! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 And THAT is the kit interior, with the exception of a few pe parts I put on the boxes on the side panels. Koster vacs can actually be built "OOTB", since he provides everything a regular kit does, which is more than can be said for most vac kits! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClareWentzel Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Wow!! Great work Gil. I too love the interior. Looking forward to following your progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 The wings and tail planes are on now.... Fit over all was very good, with extra filler (superglue/baby powder) being used only on the upper tail plane/fuselage joint. Next up is masking and adding the canopy and then I can shoot the first coat of primer! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eaglecash867 Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 Nice work Gil! The interior looks fantastic! Pretty cool to see a model that actually has a wing spar too. Heh...I notice weird things like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 Great job again Gil! That has more detail in it than alot of some regular manufactured kits. Keep up the 'how-to's for all of us chickens. I've done a few conversions in Vacuform but only 1 complete aircraft back when I didn't know better (Nova KC-135). It came out, 'Eh" but I haven't gone back to trying something like that since. Rock on sir! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 And the canopy is masked and on! Time to prime and start getting the engines and ailerons ready to hang in place! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Bell Posted July 21, 2017 Report Share Posted July 21, 2017 What do you use to fasten the clear parts to the fuselage? Regular glues don't work and I'm always afraid superglue will fog the parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted July 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2017 The fit was actually very good, especially at the rear and under the front, so I was able to use WeldOn#4 as an initial glue to tack it in place. I then used superlgue mixed with baby powder as a glue and filler all at once, applied with a toothpick. One note about that mixture, it will NOT work with FAST setting/"thin"/(expensive) brand superglues. It sets up too fast! I use the CHEAP, 4 tubes for $1 (at Walmart) type of superglue, which has a regular viscosity and needs the normal 15-30 seconds to set.This allows time to mix it into a paste that can be applied and smoothed in. It also seems to not give off the fumes regular superglue does so fogging hasn't been an issue. As another plus, the mixture sands and feathers in easier than regular superglue too. Got a little work done on the engines, making their mounting pegs, checking their fit to the wings, and test fitting the cowlings over them. I also got the props assembled. The blades and hubs were actually cast with "keys" and slots making assembly and alignment of the blades a snap. Bill Koster is quite the kit engineer, even on a low tech production such as this vac kit! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2017 Back in the saddle after a break to go to the Nats.... Hope to have this done in the next week for my model meeting next Saturday! GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navairfan Posted August 9, 2017 Report Share Posted August 9, 2017 Gil - I continue to be deeply impressed by your abilities as a modeler. Your B-47 was simply a masterpiece of design, construction, finish, scratch-building, and ingenuity. No doubt this Nell will be another yet another example of your exemplary skill as a modeler. Well done, Sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2017 Basic camo colors are on.... Next job is to fade all of the colors, and then paint the stripes on the wings, fuselage, and tail fins. GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted August 10, 2017 Report Share Posted August 10, 2017 Gil, What color did you paint the interior? Good to see you in Omaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 10, 2017 Great to see you too David! I used German RLM 02 gray/green on the interior. GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Deliduka Posted August 10, 2017 Report Share Posted August 10, 2017 Way to go! This is moving along quick! Brilliant job on the camo pattern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2017 The camo has been counter shaded... Still have to paint the trim stripes, accent the panel lines, and blend everything.... GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 And the stripes and gloss for the decals are on... GIL :smiley16: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBill50 Posted August 16, 2017 Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 Gil, Great job as always. I'm always impressed by your builds. Nice paint scheme so far also. A question on this plane...Are those full span ailerons or flaps? Can they be used as flaps and/or differencial ailerons? Or is there some sort of spoiler arrangement on the wing? Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted August 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2017 I honestly don't know, and don't really have any references on this plane. Practicality would seem to make them into flaperons, being used as both flaps when landing and as ailerons in flight. Perhaps someone with more knowledge will be along soon with an answer. GIL :smiley16: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 Nice job Gil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roktman Posted August 18, 2017 Report Share Posted August 18, 2017 WOW, absolutely fantastic build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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