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Playing in the Sandbox Group Build Sept 1, 2024 - Jn 1, 2025

Zoukei-Mura Ki-45


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I like building radial engines. I don't particularly care for painting crankcases, cylinder shrouds and picking out the little details. I got a lot of work done in the past couple of days.

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My first conundrum...

There are two engine sprues; both are the same. All mating parts are keyed, and I've taken pains to ensure that all went together as designed.

A quick test fit of the gear reduction housing/radiator assembly, and I get this:

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The opening of the radiator on the left aligns with the rear cylinder; the opening on the right aligns with the front cylinder. I've got to do some investigating...

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5 hours ago, DocRob said:

Seems to be the crankcase, which is off, I guess it's separate from the cylinders. Are you sure, the sprues are identical?

Cheers Rob

Cylinders and crankcase are molded together, Rob. I'm sure it was my error, but I got it straightened out!

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Instrument panel installed. With the PE attached, the base of the IP was too thick to fit into the slot provided in the cockpit floor. I has to sand material off the back side of the base of the IP (sorry, no picture).

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Z-M's instructions would have you cement the upper wing fillet to the wing prior to attaching the upper wing. I found that the fillet could slide along the wing join. I taped the upper wing in place, and test fitted the fillet. It snaps into place. I'll attach the fillet AFTER I cement the upper wing on.

DSCN3152-1.jpg

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17 minutes ago, Bill_S said:

Instrument panel installed. With the PE attached, the base of the IP was too thick to fit into the slot provided in the cockpit floor. I has to sand material off the back side of the base of the IP (sorry, no picture).

DSCN3151-1.jpg

Z-M's instructions would have you cement the upper wing fillet to the wing prior to attaching the upper wing. I found that the fillet could slide along the wing join. I taped the upper wing in place, and test fitted the fillet. It snaps into place. I'll attach the fillet AFTER I cement the upper wing on.

DSCN3152-1.jpg

Looking awesome, Bill!    I built the radials for mine a couple years back, and stopped….

I’m not surprised about having to sand the back of the panel, it seems on every kit, adding PE or 3D fronts really screws it all up.  But hey, that’s the challenge, right?

Im glad PE’s around for these, as Quinta’s getting real hit and miss these days.  Damned war!  🤬

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Bill 

Looking mighty good. Nice way of sorting out the wing fillet and no question, you found the best approach. Surely wish in the AM & PEIP instructions, they would comment of the need to sand or file for a better fit - just saves time and a bit of frustration down the road.

 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

A little progress. I had to finish the Kingfisher, and I'm packing to leave on an Alaskan cruise next week.

Got the upper wing fillets all situated. They fit like a glove!

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I had some small gaps at the belly. I put some shims from sheet styrene to fill the gaps. I'm not quite sure why that happened, but I'm convinced it was my fault. Installed the main LG, too.

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The upper fuselage has to slide into its mating part. I have it cemented at the front; I've yet to do it all the way along its length. The fit is outstanding.

DSCN3169-1.jpg

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Great progress, Bill.

While looking at your instrument panel close up, and assuming that the red and black instruments are the artificial horizons, his gyros have both tumbled, so he's gonna need to stay VFR while out doing his nefarious deeds. If a Wildcat chases him into a cloud, may be he'll come out the bottim of that cloud in a screaming death spiral, missing the outboard wing panels. Another Wildcat victory without wasting a round.  Of course, the HSI's are probably vacuum operated, not electric, so no such luck.

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On 7/1/2023 at 2:41 PM, Clunkmeister said:

Great progress, Bill.

While looking at your instrument panel close up, and assuming that the red and black instruments are the artificial horizons, his gyros have both tumbled, so he's gonna need to stay VFR while out doing his nefarious deeds. If a Wildcat chases him into a cloud, may be he'll come out the bottim of that cloud in a screaming death spiral, missing the outboard wing panels. Another Wildcat victory without wasting a round.  Of course, the HSI's are probably vacuum operated, not electric, so no such luck.

Nope.

the artificial horizon is the biggest guage in the center with the cage/adjust knob at 5 O’clock. The red/black gauges are identical; and likely engine instruments seeing as they are placed right/left next to each other.

Looking great Bill!

P

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12 hours ago, Pete Fleischmann said:

Nope.

the artificial horizon is the biggest guage in the center with the cage/adjust knob at 5 O’clock. The red/black gauges are identical; and likely engine instruments seeing as they are placed right/left next to each other.

Looking great Bill!

P

I had seen that as well, but I missed the big one in the middle. Duhhhh. 
Japanese instrumentation is a mystery to me, although some stuff is pretty much the same anywhere.

We can straight up say this looks like a GREAT kit 

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