Nichimo 1/20 Cessna 172 N9812J "Juliet"

[Hawkwrench]

For 2023, I've decided to temporarily shelf all my helo builds so that I can concentrate on building this model for a friend's dad using the OOP Nichimo 1/20 Cessna 172 model.

 

I reached out to Josh Flowers (Aviation101) on YT about building his father's airplane from years ago as a surprise gift. 

Josh is all for it and we are supposed to surprise his dad with the model the week of the 2023 Nats in San Marcos, Texas.

His dad's 172 was N9812J. He called it "Juliet".

It carried this exact paint scheme except the wheel pants were all white.

The model requires alot of scratchbuilding especially on the inside to accurately show a 1980 model 172 instead of the early 70's 172.

The first hurdle was the rear passenger seat. The Nichimo model's seat looks nothing like the later version on the seat, so many nights were spent scratchbuilding the new seat. It still needs painted and seat belts, but I wanted to show off the seat.

I took the children's seat and sanded down the upholstery ends to replicate what the rear passenger seat looks like in 1980 Cessna 172.

I then scratchbuild the seat frame and seat legs from Evergreen styrene rod.

Here's a not very good pic of the real seat.

Comments and critiques welcome!

 

Tim

[PanzerWomble]

Really precise work there ! Nice to see some older techniques than reaching for the CAD and printer. 

[HubertB]

I hope your mojo will take you through this build. This kit is the only one that prompted my getting out of my sacro-sanct 1/32 scale

Looking forward to see more 

Hubert

[Hawkwrench]

1 hour ago, HubertB said:

I hope your mojo will take you through this build. This kit is the only one that prompted my getting out of my sacro-sanct 1/32 scale

Looking forward to see more 

Hubert

Thanks Hubert, my mojo has to stay kicked in seeing I'm hand delivering it in Aug! Lol

 

Tim

[Hawkwrench]

2 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

Really precise work there ! Nice to see some older techniques than reaching for the CAD and printer. 

Thanks.

I know nothing about 3d printing but have a buddy who is a wizard at that stuff. I just prefer to scratchbuild whenever possible. 

 

Tim

[GazzaS]

Welcome to the forum!  Looking forward to watching this build progress.

[Peterpools]

Tim, welcome to the forum.

WOW, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Will be following all the way, as I've logged more hours in Skyhawks then any other aircraft. Even took my commercial check ride in one. Back when I was flying 172's they were all four cylinder engines, not like the smooth sixes of today. For me, your build is going to be a trip down memory lane. 

Very nice work on the rear seat - looking mighty good.

 

 

[KevinM]

Cool!and I like Nichimo kits for being of the older type were ahead in their day.I just completed a Ki-9 in 1/48 and it was fun.

[Hawkwrench]

On 1/25/2023 at 4:06 PM, Peterpools said:

Tim, welcome to the forum.

WOW, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Will be following all the way, as I've logged more hours in Skyhawks then any other aircraft. Even took my commercial check ride in one. Back when I was flying 172's they were all four cylinder engines, not like the smooth sixes of today. For me, your build is going to be a trip down memory lane. 

Very nice work on the rear seat - looking mighty good.

 

 

Thanks Peterpool!!!

You oughta try and snag one of Ebay sometime.

 

Tim

[Clunkmeister]

Cool!  The ubiquitous 172!  Yeah, you pretty much have to no exactly what year airplane you want to model, a d stick to it, because Cessna built about 2 gazillion of them and changed them year by year, just like automobiles..

[Peterpools]

Hi Ernie

You're so right as I'm pretty sure the number of Skyhawks that have rolled off the Wichita assembly line has passed 43,000. I've always loved flying 172's, sweet and easy and no bad habits. As a renter back in those days, every time you climbed into the lefthand seat, you needed to familiarize yourself where Cessna moved things as they did change from model year to model year and that did include changes to the interior upholstery. Back then, the material of choice was 'pleather' or a fabric, as the 172 I flew hadn't made it to the ranks of leather yet - that was the realm of Beechcraft. 😉

[Bomber_County]

At 1/20 this is going to be fairly large. Looking forward to the build…

[MARU 5137]

Tim,

 Hello and nice to see you building a super  duper 

Fantastic  Cesena Skyhawk.

 

You have started very neatly and looking very good.

I am looking forward  to seeing more.

[Hawkwrench]

Well, it turned in to more than a few days, but I finally started on the pilot seats.

First up was the left seat. I added the forward/aft handle from .030 rod bent to shape and the 2 ends of rods are for the crank handles for height adjustments. 

I also added a back pouch made from 2 part aves putty.

More later tomorrow after church.

Tim

 

 

 

 

[Jeff]

🍺

[Peterpools]

Very nice work on the seat. Keeps bringing back memories.

 

[shark64]

Wait a second here Tim, I recall you were doing a Blackhawk....did u finish it?

In any case a good start on the Cessna.

[Hawkwrench]

On 3/6/2023 at 10:38 PM, shark64 said:

Wait a second here Tim, I recall you were doing a Blackhawk....did u finish it?

In any case a good start on the Cessna.

No, this model has to be finished by the nationals as I am delivering it to a youtube pilot's father who lives in San Marcos.

Once it's done, I'll finish up the blackhawk. 

I'd love to you work your magic with this model Shark!!!

 

Tim

 

 

[belugawhaleman]

When I was a kid living in Oak Brook, Illinois they used to have air shows at a local

airstrip. One time a pilot who owned one of these aircraft took my sister and myself,  up

for a ride. These days such an event would be unthinkable..... We had no parental

consent....we were alone. He took us up for a short trip.....he even flew us over our

own house, brought us back down in just...probably, no more than 10 minutes.

Very cool. It's still the only time I was ever in a light aircraft. But I remember the type.

Your build reminds me of the time. 1974 I think it was. I also remember seeing this kit, and taking a peek inside the box at my favorite hobby shop-now sadly, long gone.

Thanks;

I'll be viewing with intrest.

Paul

[Hawkwrench]

Thanks Paul. I remember one Saturday, my dad and I rented a 172 and took off from Ft. Knox and just puttered around the surrounding base for awhile. It's a memory I cherish so much!

While I wait for the Vallejo putty to dry on my seats, I decided to tackle the oval that houses the dual landing lights under the nose. 

After a few hours of shaping and sanding with files and sanding sticks, I have the rough opening finished. 

In hindsight, I wish I would have made it a little smaller, but it's done now so it is what it is.

Hopefully as I fill it in with details, it will look a little closer to real.

 

Tim

[Hawkwrench]

On 1/25/2023 at 4:06 PM, Peterpools said:

Tim, welcome to the forum.

WOW, a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Will be following all the way, as I've logged more hours in Skyhawks then any other aircraft. Even took my commercial check ride in one. Back when I was flying 172's they were all four cylinder engines, not like the smooth sixes of today. For me, your build is going to be a trip down memory lane. 

Very nice work on the rear seat - looking mighty good.

 

 

Glad I could take you down memory lane, it's good to go back once in awhile and think about the good memories!!!

 

Tim

[Peterpools]

Tim

Following and enjoying your progress and of course each update is a trip down memory lane for me as well. 

 

[HubertB]

12 hours ago, Hawkwrench said:

Thanks Paul. I remember one Saturday, my dad and I rented a 172 and took off from Ft. Knox and just puttered around the surrounding base for awhile. It's a memory I cherish so much!

While I wait for the Vallejo putty to dry on my seats, I decided to tackle the oval that houses the dual landing lights under the nose. 

After a few hours of shaping and sanding with files and sanding sticks, I have the rough opening finished. 

In hindsight, I wish I would have made it a little smaller, but it's done now so it is what it is.

Hopefully as I fill it in with details, it will look a little closer to real.

 

Tim

Well, your opening is good for the outside perimeter. Now to reproduce the embossed center part with its outside rivets and lights in the middle …

Taking notes for my own build 

Hubert

[Peterpools]

Hubert

I'll be on board for your 172 all the way. Other then my Piper Colt and a J3, the Skyhawk is my favorite GA aircraft and I have more hours in them then any other airplane.

 

[Hawkwrench]

After looking at the nose a little longer, my AMS kicked in and I had to make it better.

First, I took a scrap piece of .010 sheet styrene and glued it to the back to make the mounting wall for the landing lights.

Secondly, I then took a strip of .030 styrene and heated it up using my floor heater and began to roll it back and forth using a paintbrush handle till I got the rough shape and then snipped it and glued it into the opening to look like the bezel.

Finally, I took Vallejo putty and filled in the gaps and sanded. (Looks like a small gap needs more).

I temporarily placed 2 resi-cast 4mm light lenses inside to see how much it better it looks.

I think it looks ALOT better. All I need to do now is glue on some resin rivets and I'll call it finished. 

 

Chow until next update this weekend.

Comments and critiques welcome!

Tim