chris meek 1

I’ll admit it - I’m like a kid at Christmas waiting for this to get delivered! 🤣

Thanks Richard - a set of antlers for the G are just what I will be needing! 🙏

Richard do we need to let you know if we want the retracts as well or are they going to be done by Paul separately like with the tempest?

Hi Richard, yes sign me up for one please! 110 with G cowl and spinners 👍

That 109 is lovely!

Not quite ready for maiden flight… but couldn’t resist taking it to the airfield!

Thanks - I’m using radiomaster tx16, I think it can do dsmx so I might try one.. 😉

While I try and figure out what receiver to buy that has built in stabilisation (can’t get any more frsky s8r’s!) I thought I’d connect everything up … I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself - it’s looking awesome! 🤣 still need to do final c of g checks and test how much power the motors make, but other than that it’s just about ready to fly…

Final bits of progress on the Beaufighter! Pilot sourced/painted/installed. After advice from Paul Johnson (thanks Paul!) I got some 3 blade props which should give enough pull on the setup I’m using…. Question for the group though - I fly using radiomaster tx16 on open tx, I was looking for a new stabilised receiver to fit in the beaufighter, it looks like the frsky s8r is out of production (I’ve got one of them in another model and it works well). I was looking at using an archer plus as a replacement but not sure whether they’re compatible? Can anyone let me know please? 🙏 if not I’m hoping I can get a refund for the ones I’ve just bought… 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

I may have added myself to ‘the list’ for one… 🤦‍♂️🤣

Yeah agree - how about a lovely JU290? I’m sure it will sell well with the masses! 🤣🤣🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Chris what kit/plan is it?

Add me to the list as well please Richard….

20/20 for me - although the last one was a cheeky one! 🤣

Unless that is anyone has a WR ju88 in their shed they don’t want! 🤣🤣

Thanks for the positive comments, they really are appreciated and have helped keep me motivated! I’d considered doing similar but wanted to try the warbird replicas approach - after watching some of Ron’s videos on the fw190 I thought I’d give it a go and tbh think for me it’s the way I’ll go in future again - quick and easy and gives an impression of panel lines etc without adding weight (always a worry on this for me given the short nose length!) Ive got the WR tempest on the board next but already thinking of possible projects for the new year…. Possibly a hawker typhoon but I’m a fan of twins/multis so might end up changing my mind several times before then! 🤣

So back at it today. Couldn’t bring myself to do any soldering so did some more weathering! 🤣 Need to sort esc placement in the nacelles - at the moment I’m thinking under the battery trays then the lipos go on top - will need to mount the trays higher up in the nacelle to allow this to give space above the retract units but hopefully once done there’ll still be space in them for a 5s lipo if I decide to go up to one - current plan is to go 4s as I’ve got a stash of them… Couldnt resist another set of photos with it together! The good news is, with lipos and electrics in, when using the ‘finger method’ the c of g is close/on the suggested mark so I’ll hopefully not need much (if any) extra weight in the nose. Once everything is finished I’ll make a Vanessa rig to check it accurately but I’m pleased it seems to be in the right ball park…..

Last one for this week! 🤣 finally got the cockpit canopy plug finished, after a little trial and error I got a canopy I was happy to use - this is it temporarily fitted until I get another pilot figure and detail the cockpit. Again, it’s not perfect but it will do me!

Thanks Richard - from other blogs I’ve seen I think people are put off with the fuselage curvature at the nose, but with some patience (and ammonia!!) it’s not that difficult- the biggest challenge so far has been the plugs for the canopy/cupola!

Thanks - I’ve only got a small airbrush I’ve used in the past on plastic kits - don’t want to shell out on a bigger one so will try that, if it fails I might have to resort to brushing it on!

Weathering started on port side… what do folk use to seal everything down at the end? Heard some form of varnish?

A little more progress - pulled a new observers cupola which came out nicely so happy to use it. Still working on the cockpit canopy plug but hopefully making progress with that as well.. anyway - I cut out the observers area and glued the figure in place with a machine gun - the barrel is removable to stop hanger rash! Then I glued the cupola on (sat for 40 minutes holding it in place while the glue set! 🤦‍♂️🤣) and started on panel lines and rivets as per Richard’s technique on the warbird replicas models.. once done I’ll try some weathering with some chalks to muck it up a bit! Got to say - panel lines and riveting didn’t take that long and the effect they give is quite impressive!

First attempt at the observers cupola. A couple of imperfections but if it wasn’t for the spidering I’d have been happy to use it!

I use a water based finishing resin over the brown paper which I give a light sand before I put the paint on - not sure I have the patience to squeeze a load of bananas! 🤣

Well that’s it for this week - wings painted and decals on! I’ve had a quick go at vac forming the canopies - observers cupola went ok but no joy at all with the pilots canopy! There was some spider webbing from the observers canopy so it wasn’t perfect - I think I need to make a bigger vac former. Ah we’ll all good progress anyway!