graham Gilliver Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thanks to your additional materials list on page 1 of this forum, I have also been out buying up in anticipation of the plan/kit arriving. still no delivery date yet but I have my fingers crossed. may cheat a little on the length of the nose addition keeping to 3.5" instead of 3.8 for example it looks better on my drawing, I think some of the addition to the original must have been lost in the fuel tank? am trying to find the overall length increase,as the 38inches stated in wiki, doesn't look quite right to me. hopefully when I find my RNZAF painting guide drawings they will have a scale. cheers .G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Is it 38" longer than the A-4E/F or 38" longer than the A-4C?? See the reference diagram on the 'scale references' thread put up tonight by John Rood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Gilliver Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 My mistake, it is no wonder I was struggling with the look, the T'bird is only 28" longer than the A4K and the E I'm guessing. will try that and see if it looks any better I couldn't find the thread from John Rood tho' where is that? Cheers. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 go to the root thread listing for the 2016 PSSA Mass Build and you will see all the Skyhawk threads, currently 3, when the mass build gets underway, soon to be many more! **LINK** The picture Im referring to is at the bottom of page 3 of the 'Scale References' thread. Edited By Phil Cooke on 17/02/2016 07:09:12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 Just a note on the Ammonia system chaps. I had the same issues when building my Ton Van Musteren P51D Mustang Electric plane. You don't have to use Ammonia to soak into the wood. It stinks. Malt Vinegar and hot water works just as well but it has to be hot water. Either acid or alkaline has the same effect of breaking down the fibres in the Balsa wood. Found this somewhere on the net - yes here it is **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Armstrong 2 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Magasine with part 2 of the Skyhawk build picked up from local WH Smiths. Strange picture of 'co-designer Matt Jones launching the prototype'. Seems to have had a face transplant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 trying...not...to...comment..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Armstrong 2 Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Posted by Peter Garsden on 17/02/2016 18:06:33: Just a note on the Ammonia system chaps. I had the same issues when building my Ton Van Musteren P51D Mustang Electric plane. You don't have to use Ammonia to soak into the wood. It stinks. Malt Vinegar and hot water works just as well but it has to be hot water. Either acid or alkaline has the same effect of breaking down the fibres in the Balsa wood. Found this somewhere on the net - yes here it is **LINK** Thanks for this Peter. Wasn't looking forward to that bit. What ratio of vinegar to water do you use? The link doesn't say for vinegar. What is Windex? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Windex is window cleaner! I think its because of the alcohol content. Also interested in the vinegar info for sheeting on my Sea Hawk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Rees Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Windex is pretty hard to get in the UK. Also Windolene's current formula doesn't have Ammonia in it and the key ingredient is 5% ammonia, so the cheapo supermarket own brand window cleaner is usually a better bet. The scale modellers love their Windex from using it as a thinner for acrylic paint to simple paint stripper! If the usual discount outlets don't have anything suitable try the smaller discounts shops on the high street. They frequently have older stock with the 'better' chemical mixes Edited By Nick Rees on 18/02/2016 15:10:07 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Gilliver Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Hi Guys, Re:- the ammonia thing, FWIW,I have tried a lot of chemicals and for all that ammonia smells a bit, it is very consistent in the results.I use a baking tray with some ammonia ( not too critical how much, 25% to 50%) and warm water I put this outside where in Australia the temp is maintained at over 30C and soak the required balsa or ply overnight. This is then wrapped around a carved plug, very like a canopy mold. extended in each direction as required, using a medical elastic bandage. with thin layers of balsa or ply, it is surprising how complex a compound shape you can achieve. vinegar and windolene certainly work, but I have found the grade of balsa can make a difference, particularly to how much springback you end up with. in any event leave the stuff wrapped in the bandage until fully dry, release and glue ( I usually use white glue/PVA or epoxy as required) your plug can have detail on it for example I usually glue wire along what will be the trim line but other features are possible. the bandage won't pull detail as sharp as vacuum on acetate.G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshiro Saruwatari Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 My plan arrived. Am studying them and having fun doing so. Will start cutting wood after my current project is completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Glad the plan has arrived safe in Japan Toshiro - did you buy a canopy too?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Jones Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Graham, an overnight soak shouldn't be required. I brush both sides liberally, wait 10 mins and then good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I just used 50/50 vinegar and hot water and brushed it onto the outside of the curved sheet. I glued the inside and strapped it up with rubber bands and tape and pins seemed to work. The vinegar softened the balsa and helped the curve. You can soak and strap without gluing to preform the shape. It just takes longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Meade Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Gilliver Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Graham, an overnight soak shouldn't be required. I brush both sides liberally, wait 10 mins and then good to go. That's true, sorry I wasn't clear, for the gentle bending required on the sky hawk that will be enuf . I was going thru a method for more compound shapes. e.g:- duplicating a complete fuse side per those supplied in old style kits, even then overnight may be overkill but I don't have to be there while the smell is going on and a good level of plasticity is guaranteed. still no plan/ kit here yet. looks like I will be starting a bit after some of you. Cheers G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John H. Rood Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 NOT SPECIFICALLY RECOMMENDED DURING THIS MASS BUILD: Without permission, a 21 year old enlisted kid "borrows" a USMC Scooter for a joy hop! http://forums.jetcareers.com/threads/the-little-known-saga-of-usmc-lcpl-and-record-holding-glider-pilot-howard-foote.210371/ This really happened!!! MCAS El Toro, Southern California. Edited By John_Rood on 19/02/2016 21:42:15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toshiro Saruwatari Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Phil, No, I didnt order a canopy. One reason for that was, Provost canopy arrived damaged. A reason why mine was not completed. Sending it back to Traplet for replacement was, cost wise, unacceptable. I will have to carve the canopy out from balsa anyway, so might as well pull my own. Edited By Toshiro Saruwatari on 20/02/2016 03:56:30 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Have copied and pasted your introduction Phil and put it up on the LMMGA website, which may attract further interest - hope you don't mind plagiarism? **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John H. Rood Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Skyhawk True Believers, I am well and truly happy to report that, um... today the PSSA UK A-4 Skyhawk Mass Build officially made its presence felt out here in the Colonies! A ring on my doorbell, and the postman had THIS for me! Kudos to Phil Cooke and Matt Jones, and thanks be to Traplet for some truly fast service. It's a beautiful design and a beautifully-rendered box of balsa -- and a very pretty canopy! Cheers to you all, good luck on your builds. John in Boston, Massachusetts, USA! Edited By John_Rood on 20/02/2016 21:38:55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Glad you are happy with the plan and the parts John, enjoy your build too, we will be watching! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John H. Rood Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Great, too, that comments from participants re: any issues with plans and wood get implemented quickly. What I received today reflects all that imput. Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 That's impressive from Traplet. It was only Sunday last week I mentioned it. Im amazed they were able to include it in your kit!! 10/10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Baird Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Has anyone else lost F9? Not present in my woodpack. It appears on the plan, but I can't see it in any of the woodpack photos. No one else seems to have mentioned it. Was it the centre of F7? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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