Wingco57

Typical, four admin posting on this subject, where are the other members with an interest in a Firefly? Cees

Only just now spotted this, sorry for the delay but that is some serious painting. Cees

Fab Fab, great diorama. Cees

Hmmm yes, I agree about that, but it will orobably the only option. Cees

Ok, on to some pics. As I was about fed up with fumbling those elevators and fins I yearned for some nice conversion work. I decided to convert the starboard outer wing into the Manchester's more tapered and lesser span. Measuring from the drawing I marked out the cutting lines and started....well you know,.........hacking and sawing. The pics show the extent of the carnage. But it was succesful. After further cleaning up and glueing together the end needs to be trued and bevelled to the correct dihedral and the outer end cut to lenght. The Lancaster wingtips will then be reattached. I have done it before in 1/48 so it should work....I hope. Cheers Cees

Thanks Gus, That was not the intended thing to do but when Robert Kirby, a noted Manchester author, mentioned that the tailsplane span was the same as the Lanc's I had to undo my previous work. Spent yesterday putting a coat of Mr Surfacer on the fins and elevators and it is a subtle difference. Pics soon as I do not want to show the same pics every time with just a small bit of work done. Cees

Nice, nice, NICE! Is that all you can say? Haaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa (fiendish laugh with head heavily tilted backwards). Cees

Great model, like the flag. Cees

Fisher is working on masters for a 1/32 resin Firefly. Masters probably on show at Telford. Now THAT is what I call good news. Pay attention in the back please! I feel a MLD Firefly coming up. Eric will love this too I think. Cees

That is not intended for internal use. Cees

Thanks Wouter, Very useful information. I will try the Mr Surfacer technique. By coincidence I saw the recent issue of Air Modeller which had a magnificent 1/48 scratchbuilt Stirling by Tsonos Megas. The fabric flying surfaces were also done by this technique and it looked very authentic. Think the rivetteing routine will not be my cup of tea as the majority of the ex-Lancaster parts have been firmly glued together and there is almost no flat surface to work on apart from the horizontal tail. And I failed miserably on those. Cheers Cees

Come on, somebody must know! Cees

Very nice Rick. Good to see you scratchbuilding the tailwheel bay. Personally I can never understand why people want to superdetail that area as nothing can be seen when the model is finished. But it is the thought probably that counts and also up to the builder. Cees

You can always do a Dutch version. Cees

Still working on the elevators, this time the hinges which are a bit difficult as they are all different in height. The elevators were fabric covered and I intend to use strips of Tamiya tape to represent these. Perhaps there are other possibilities too? Also tried to experiment with rivetting on the stabilizers but failed to get a straight line, even when using a plastic ruler. How do you guys do it? Cees

Mish, Good to see a Helicopter for a change. Cees

Looks like a very nice book, Kagero's artwork is always impressive. Thanks Jeroen, Cees

Pic of the frankenvators Cees

PR Blue wasn't called that for nothing mind you. Cees

John, How about a reworked Hampden! Cees

No more scratchbuilding! But you have to have a good knowledge of 3D drawing otherwise the printer will be useless. Depending on the performance of the printer too! Cees

PR Blue would be your safest bet obviously. Azure blue is more intended for undersides in warmer climates. Cees

Hi Padubon, Very nice conversion work. That looks great, by the way....Welcome to LSM! Cees

Thanks F1, but it also sometimes a bit of masochism. Have spent two evenings to restore the elevators. I call them Frankenvators as they have been modified so many times now. If you keep them in front of a light source you can see the sawcuts everywhere. The 3D printed plastic sometimes has a mind of it's own and a glued joint suddenly comes loose. Also undoing the conversion to the earlier 28 foot span of the early Manchester back into the Lancaster 33 foot span has taken a lot of effort, but getting there. Cees

Yep, sanding that fallus like fuselage. Would look interesting seen from behind. Cees