Alan Gorham_ Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Ok then... Having ordered a plan and canopy from Sarik I decided to start my build thread. My intial intention is to cut all the wood parts myself and make a spinner out of foam, mainly because I like cutting out parts, plus I've got a huge pile of wood that needs using up. However, I'll reserve judgement on that until I've had a butchers at the plan - can always buy a CNC pack later... I like to build models with a local connection and the connection here is that in summer 1942, 1 Squadron brought their Hurricanes to RAF Acklington for an armament camp - probably to use the live firing range on the secluded Northumberland coast at Goswick. I live about 10 miles away from Acklington (now a prison!) and my favourite Hurricane is the Mk.IIc with cannon and bomb carriers, so there we go! Incidentally, 1 Squadron later became pioneers of the "night intruder" technique where they flew to German airfields at night and attacked enemy aircraft that were either landing or taking off, thus being vulnerable. I've got some bits and pieces to help me make the paint stencils: a Mushroom Model Publications three view book to help with panel line placement, a set of stencil decals with placement diagrams from H-Model and a Revell 1/72 Mk.IIc kit, which I have started and will finish in my planned scheme. See pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted March 1, 2018 Share Posted March 1, 2018 Great stuff Alan, will look forward to seeing your Hurricane progress!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 1, 2018 Author Share Posted March 1, 2018 Hiya Phil, thanks for looking in! I must say that my timescale for the maiden is definitely not going to allow a maiden before the "official" event in September, because I've got 4 or 5 PSS projects to get done along the way. My plan is to put the Hurri together in the background in a relaxed, enjoyable way. I'm quite excited to see everyone else's choices too. I really like the SEAC schemed aircraft with the Vokes filter on the nose, but the local connection won out. Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 01/03/2018 21:23:44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 Small bits of progress, I've finished the 1/72 scale Hurri and I still like the scheme, so this is what I hope the PSS model will look like. I'm not going to start cutting wood until the April Orme meeting is done, but in the meantime I've started to make up a set of exhaust stacks from modellab board. I'll use those stacks to make silicon moulds and cast some proper stacks out of polyurethane resin. I have spotted the 3D printed stacks, but I want to use the fishtail types as fitted to the Shuttleworth Sea Hurri. After Phils pics of the BBMF Hurri displaying with one landing light on and Danny Fenton's knowledge revealing that the circuit only allows for one light to be on at any time, I'm also going to make my own RC switch that will operate the lights in scale fashion. IE starting with both lights off, a single flick of a Tx switch will bring one light on, flick the switch off and we go back to both lights off. Flick the switch on again brings the other light on, then flicking the switch off again will extinguish both lights again. And so on... I'm enjoying watching everyone else's progress too... Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 18/03/2018 13:57:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 Note 250lb bombs and 4 x 20mm cannon. She's a well armed bird! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 Last one for now: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Barlow Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Really nice finish for a 1/72 model Alan. I struggle to work at that scale now and my on going plastic kits have to be 1/48 minimum! I'll also be doing landing lights but with a servo, micro switches and a 3 position switch on the tx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kettle 1 Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 Nice scheme your chosen Alan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 Thanks Mark! Am going to start cutting wood this weekend. See you at the Bwlch in a couple of weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 I've got a lot of catching up to do, but hey I've got nothing planned for August! Here's my take on the tailplane. It follows the old "Eric Coates" method of construction widely used on free flight scale models. A central core of 1/16" balsa and 3/32" balsa either side of the core. It may help to save weight, but it will mainly help give detail to the tail surfaces. I'll do the fin and rudder the same way. My plan is to cover them in tissue over mylar. I use tissue a lot, but never used mylar so that will be fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 I've been fitting in bits of the Hurricane in between repainting my old Balsacraft Bristol Blenheim which is nearly finished, just needs a few bits and a clear coat: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Garsden Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 Looking good Alan. I see what you mean with the tailplane now. I wish I had seen this before I started as I might have made both the Fin and Tailplane a lot lighter and differently. Stil mine will be fine in a 55mph wind. Am bringing it to the Orme this weekend. Some wind on Saturday but will there be enough and in the right direction, that is the question? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 Peter I was thinking with your model being finished you could just make replacements for the rudder and elevators if you wanted to save a bit of weight at the tail without undoing too much of what you'd already built. Anyway, Phil's confirmed that Matt's original prototype is around 4lbs now it's painted I'm not really worried about weight. It was just a different technique. I'm missing the Orme this weekend as I'm off to an electric fly-in, so good luck if you maiden yours! Try and keep it in one piece for September! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 I haven't been very good at posting regular progress, but after the PSSA LLeyn meeting I've really been putting in the effort to catch up. I thought I'd post a few progress pics. Firstly just to show how I transferred the parts outlines to wood ready for cutting. I used some old fashioned carbon paper sheet lain on top of the wood with the plan (or better a copy of the plan) taped on top. Then cut round the lines on the plan with a very sharp scalpel. This leaves a nice thin cut line marked on the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Now a few pics of progress over the last month: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 I think I've been quite lucky in finding some very soft and light 1/8" balsa sheet for the fuselage. It's taken up the curves very easily with just a light application of ammonia needed on the bits with compound curves. I've made a bit more progress today with the fuselage closed up. I'm using blue foam instead of balsa around the nose because I've got some and I'm glassing the model anyway so it will made ding-proof by the epoxy glass. I'm also going for a full-depth cockpit so I'll post some pics later of my mock-up framework, seat and instrument panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted August 19, 2018 Share Posted August 19, 2018 Very nice build Alan, some nice alterations to the plan - look forward to seeing the finished product! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 19, 2018 Author Share Posted August 19, 2018 Thanks Phil. It's all go to make sure I hit the deadline! As mentioned in a previous post, I've drawn up a representation of the tubular framework, seat and instrument panel that can be seen in the cockpit. I've arranged my control runs so that they pass down the sides of the cockpit so I won't have a false floor as per the plan. I've made a very quick and dirty mock-up to prove the parts I've drawn all fit and it seems ok. I will use drinking straws to represent the structural tubes and thin plasticard sheet for the instrument panel, seat, rear bulkhead and control stick to keep the weight down. I then need to make a pilot from blue foam. Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 19/08/2018 23:58:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 I've been making up my paint masks. The larger markings such as roundels, squadron codes, aircraft serial number are all fine, the vinyl cutter can do these no problem: see the pictures of my Blenheim above which I made all the paint masks for. The issue is that the Hurricane was absolutely covered with small stencil details and some of these have very small character height. The picture below shows some of the mixed results. I don't think the tiny stuff is usable, but the "wired throughout" legend and the "Lift Here" indication seem OK. On a related note, the paint is here. I'm going to use Cellulose paint as I have run out of my favourite water-based Warbird Colors (again I used it on my Blenheim!): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callsign Tarnish Posted August 20, 2018 Share Posted August 20, 2018 Nice work Alan, where do you get your paint from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 20, 2018 Author Share Posted August 20, 2018 When I've needed paint matched (for example to covering film) I've used Supertune Automotive who have branches across the country. They were really helpful, but couldn't offer BS381C camouflage colours off the shelf. They would have had to mix these to my own sample. Since RAF camo colours were mixed to BS381C it was easier to use a company who can do this and the paint you see came from Jawel paints who have branches across the West Midlands - although I'm not local and had to have the paint sent by carrier. A quick comparison to my plastic Hurricane and other RAF models shows a good match, so I'm happy. I've ordered half a litre of each colour as I have a Spitfire Mk22 and a Tempest mkV to paint next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Just thought I'd show some other little details I'm doing to my Hurricane. Like many others, I'm fitting landing lights, although I've opted for old fashioned filament bulbs rather than LEDs as I find white LED light to be too cold. I've used Chemiwood and plasticard and rod to make a simple representation of the full-size wing structure and a reflector from a Mag lite torch. Warning: blurry photo ahead! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 I'm also fitting working bomb cradles to each wing, but I'm making them removable so that I have the option of flying without them on days when the lift is light and drag is not welcome. I've added hard points into the wing panels to accept captive nuts and the bomb cradles will be bolted on with caphead bolts that are recessed within the cradle. Here's a proof of concept sketch showing the outline of the bomb cradle, the location of the fixing points and the actuating servo. To fit the servo and mechanism in I've had to make the cradle a bit deeper than scale, but it will be worth it to be able to dive bomb any members of the Scale Police who appear on the slope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Gorham_ Posted August 30, 2018 Author Share Posted August 30, 2018 What General Weygand called the Battle of Sanding is over... I expect the Battle of Glassing is about to begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Cooke Posted August 30, 2018 Share Posted August 30, 2018 Brilliant post Al... and good luck with the glassing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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