ThomasProbert

Two updates in the space of a week? Wow - I'm back in the groove I've been focusing on the inboard engine nacelles in the last few sessions at the bench - as well as the plans I have there's also plenty of information on the 'net, too. Check out this beautifully detailed image of the St Mawgan MR2 gate-guardian being disassembled ready for a brighter future (picture courtesy of the RAF news website) Notice how the firewalls are not circular as I had always presumed - this would have to be carefully replicated on my build - here they are in situ: Although the Shackleton shared many common parts with the Lancaster inboard nacelles (more on that shortly) the Shackleton nacelle was much longer and had a streamlined fairing which protruded from the trailing edge of the wing. This was carefully copied from the plans and glued to the wing: I was able to use the wheel-bay area of the ID Models Lancaster kit, and once the forward and rear bulkheads were made and added from plastic card, this gave a good starting point to start creating the rear section of the nacelle from plastic card formers: Both sets were made alongside each other and added simultaneously to ensure they are identical: The forward-most section immediately behind the firewall and and the rear sections will now be skinned with the planking method I've used before: ...so when that's done I'll update you again. Tom

Cees, Regarding the cockpit glazing - I have a spare ID Models Lancaster cockpit if it's of any use. It's the new type of plastic that Tigger uses so won't yellow like the old stuff. If you want it, it's yours. Tom

Good to see you back on this. I find doing a small job such as you've done with the light aperture can inspire bigger things.

Many thanks, Cees. It's another very distinctive part of the aircraft, and if wrong would spoil the whole look of the model. I'm confident it'll pass as it is...

Afternoon all - time for a long over-due update on the Shackleton project... I've recently been focusing on the nose section where the observer/gunner sat: On the AEW2s the 20mm cannon were removed but the seat remained. This was on a stilt-like structure which was raised above the bombaimer's window below, which when in it's MR2 guise gave him access to the bomb sight fitted below. I scratch-built this from plastic card and Milliput, and pictures showed some nice leather upholstery so stitching was replicated with a rivet wheel while the Milliput was still wet: With the interior of the nose being black, and very little being visible with the seat in situ, I haven't bothered to detail this area and it would be a waste of time. Here's a test fitting of the seat which sat below the transparency: Next I made a roof section for the flattish area on the top of the nose from 1mm plastic card, and added the more curved sides from plastic card 'planks': This was then blended in with automotive filler: After this was all sanded smooth I began working on the upper fairing: More 'planking': An initial sand to remove any rough edges: More automotive filler: Halford's filler-primer applied and a good rub down with some fine grade sandpaper: And finally I had a passable resemblance to the real thing: Slowly but surely, what started out as a 'let's give this a go and see how we get on project' is starting to come together: The gun turret itself still needs to made, but that can wait for another day. Until next time... Tom

I know where you're coming from. I've been the same with the Shackleton. Sometimes a good break and a return with fresh eyes is all that's needed.

I haven't had any time at the bench to work on this project, but thought I'd share some 3D printing that's been helping with this build... I'm indebted to Kev67 for his help here - he's done some beautiful prints of the main wheels: And the engine nacelles, exhausts and spinners: And after a gentle sand and priming: In sort, this'll save a whole lot of complex scratch-building Tom

Hi Cees, Any updates for us? I'm impatient to see this fantastic project finished! Hope you're well. Tom

Evening all, I've just finished building this as a mojo-mender as with a few long term projects on the go, I'd become bogged down and in need of something that went together without problems - this 1/32nd scale twin-stick MiG-29UB proved to be just the medicine. I picked this up at Telford for £25 which proved to be very good value for money. It's quite simple kit but in truth that's why I chose it - the cockpit lacks detail and the undercarriage bays are very basic, but the overall fit and construction is excellent and I encountered no construction issues at all. I used the decals from the box, which represent a MiG-29UB of 120 IAP based at Domna, Siberia, in the summer of 2003. Revell's colour guidance could only be interpreted by someone with a masters degree in colour mixing, so instead I just used pictures on the net for guidance, using mainly US equivalents from Xtracolour to get a close-enough match to the real thing. Other than that, it's as it comes in the box. Mikoyan MiG-29UB, Domna Air Base, Siberia, 2003. Jet pipe detail isn't too bad at all: Cockpit detail is pretty basic but some Airscale placards and dial decals and a belt set from Eduard means it's passable when peering through the canopy: The overall quality of the surface detail is excellent in my opinion: Wheel bays are basic but when sitting on its undercarriage very little is visible anyway: If you're thinking about a good value, large scale modern-era jet fighter, then I'd recommend this kit wholeheartedly... Tom

Fair enough - and being black it won't reflect a lot of light anyway. When I did my Lanc I put a fair bit of detail in the bays but you didn't really see much at all. It'll be a different story with my Shack though as it's all white... I'm afraid I don't have any pictures of the Lancaster anymore as my old computer's hard drive went pop, along with over 1,300 photos of models - the Lancaster included. So far I haven't been able to get any off - I'm desperate to retrieve the Halifax in progress pics too as I've been asked to compile an article for a magazine; it's all rather frustrating. When it came to building the bay structure on my Lancaster I added the cross section structure first, and then the longerons down the length of the bay over the top of the cross sections. Not strictly 'accurate' in terms of the real aircraft, but once it's all painted up with some wiring here and there and with some bombs slung underneath you don't see a huge amount anyway. Speaking of bombs - will this be carrying a full load?

Will you be adding any structural detail to the gear bays too, Cees?

Cheers for the compliments, chaps. Today I have completed the cockpit roof area - it's had a spray of filler-primer which has hidden the multitude of sins below: And with some fine tweaking of the cockpit bulkhead... The section fits a treat... ...if you ignore the big gaps that is. But they'll disappear when it's fitted properly, he says hopefully. I'm pleased to have got this part out of the way - it was worrying me as getting the cockpit right is critical in getting the character of the real aircraft. I'm confident that when I've added the observer's glazing atop the nose section it'll look acceptable. The real fun will be the glazing itself, but 'Tigger' Wilkes has come to the rescue and supplied me with three of his canopies for his 1/32nd Lancaster which I can cut up to drop the glass areas in later in the build. Until next time, Tom

I doubt it'll be anywhere near finished, Cees, but I'll certainly bring it along as a work in progress... A little more progress on the cockpit today guys and gals... I've added the scale 2ft widening strip down the centre of the cockpit roof from plastic card, and also scratch-built the forward frames for the glazing from Evergreen strip: Now all that's needed is to refill a small blemish or two and prime it up to see how it looks. Until next time, Tom

The forward part of the nacelles forward of the firewall, the intakes and exhausts have all been 3D printed - modelling buddy has a high resolution 3D printer. The rear of the nacelles will be made using the bulkhead and planking method. I'll post pictures of the 3D parts in a future update. Tom

It's getting there, Cees. The outer wings shouldn't be too tricky - I think I'll likely use a similar method that you did with your Manchester and use the Lancaster outer wing as a base - it's then just a case of extending the tips. The plan is to insert some sills for the glass to sit on - I've three canopies from the ID Models Lancaster sitting here ready to go for when the time comes. He says hopefully...

Evening all, It's been slow going on this project of late due to work commitments, but more importantly having a young baby is seriously eating into my modelling time... wouldn't change that for the world, though. Anyway, if you recall from a previous update, I've got a test shot of the HK Lancaster cockpit, printed in solid plastic: Which I aim to get looking like this: So the first step was to remove the rear section of the Lancaster canopy, leaving me with a forward section which is identical in profile to the Shackleton cockpit, the only difference being the Shackleton's fuselage and this cockpit is wider than the Lancaster, so I carefully split the Lanc cockpit down the middle. The windows themselves then need to be drilled out, which was done by drilling numerous pilot holes: The excess, unwanted plastic was then cut away using the tips of some sprue cutters: And after the ragged edges had been carefully files away, I was left with two forward sections of Shackleton cockpit framing. The upper escape hatches were the only modification to the Lancaster framing made at this stage: The frames were then carefully glued to the rear upper fuselage removed from earlier in the build. Here you can see the additional width of the Shackleton fuselage in relation to the Lancaster and Lincoln: A couple of test fits shows that things are progressing as planned: It's all a bit rough at the moment and I'll need to do some fine tweaks, but you get the idea. I will now need to finish off the missing framing, fill the gap down the middle and get it all smoothed in to the upper fuselage section. It won't be attached properly until I've done the interior of course. Until next time, Tom

Looking the part, Cees. Have fun doing that bomb bay. I did something similar on both my ID Models Lancaster and Halifax - it took an age but was worth the effort.

Not sure if this has been mentioned before, Cess, but are you having the bomb bay open? If so, will you be scratch building the structure?

Love the effect of the tape there, Cees. Can't be too long until the big reveal of the engines..? Looking forward to seeing those!

Me too - it has come as quite a surprise. The whole airframe makes the Lancaster look a bit scrawny in comparison. The canopy area has been giving me headaches since I started this project, but a little delivery today may have the solution... Knowing someone 'in the know' at HK Models (thanks, Cees!) I've managed to source an early test-shot of the soon-to-be released Lancaster cockpit. This one is solid plastic but will be perfect for my needs. In this picture below you can see the forward quarter and side windows of the Lancaster cockpit: Which are identical to those on the Shackleton: So the plan is to use sections of this: ...to make up the cockpit area. My plan is to drill out and open up the windows themselves, leaving the frames which will be glazed at a later date. The forward quarter and side sections will be used, with the centre-section of the wider Shackleton cockpit having frames made from plastic strip. This will then be blended with filler into the area immediately behind the cockpit and hopefully, it should do the trick. That's the plan, anyway... I'll keep you posted. Tom

I've been working on the fins of late, so time for an update. My original plan was to use the Lancaster fins as a starting point, but I didn't realise how much larger the Shackleton's fins are, not to mention the substantial shape differences: The solution was to cut a plastic card template, and then copy it eight times to give me four laminated pieces per fin, which provided the correct thickness. These were then glued with polystyrene cement, clamped together and allowed to dry for 48 hours: I then started to sand the leading edges to get the aerofoil shape: Checking the plans regularly as I went: With the shape correct, I then primed each fin and added the surface details, including those famous rivets: I then inserted small metal pins into the inner surfaces of the fins, and drilled holes in the ends of the stabilisers to attach them firmly: I think they look passable in situ: Until next time, Tom

What's plan A then? No parcel yet - we've also a bank holiday this weekend so if it doesn't arrive today it may not be until later next week!

Lookin' good, Cees. How are you going to do the rear and mid-upper turret glazing? Make a master and crash-mould? Vacform your own?

From an initial glance, the fins themselves may well be able to be based on the Lancaster parts. As with the stabs, chord is greater - particularly with the rudders. These may be, as you suggest, laminated plastic card.