sandbagger Posted July 2, 2023 Posted July 2, 2023 Hi all, You ever get that feeling of 'I probably should't have started this'. As the Bristol Scout build is just waiting for the display case to be delivered, I thought I'd start my next build. The 'KatModel' 1:32nd scale kit of the Phönix C.I, which hopefully will represent Phönix C.I, Serial No.121.57 of Flik 57/Rb, operating from Godega (Italian Front) during June, 1918. Hmmmm - where do I start? When the fuselage halves are held together at the tail, the from of the fuselage spreads to an 8mm gap. Also the forward sides of the fuselage are not vertical, which prevents the two 3D printed nose cowls from fitting correctly. The massive 'engine supports in the the fuselage are next to useless. The 3D printed cockpit decking panel spreads over the fuselage sides by at least 4mm. The engine side panels are too long to fit between the nose cowls and cockpit decking. The right side of the engine has carburetors, which foul the panel that side and stop it from fitting correctly. The 3D printed cockpit assembly did not fit inside the closed up fuselage. The surface detail, such as panels and panel 'fasteners' are way oversize and look like they were made in a shipyard. Other than that, so far OK Suffice to say: I pinned the fuselage halves Filed down the fuselage join seams Filed down the cockpit sides Added a spreader inside the forward fuselage to straight the sides Removed the engine supports Removed the engine carburetors for the right side Filed back the forward edge of the cockpit decking panel Filed the end edges of the two engine side panels Filed down the propeller shaft in the lower nose cowl. The fuselage and nose cowls have been joined with CA adhesive (the cockpit assembly and engine can be inserted). The 3D printed panels and engine are just test fitted for now. As you can doubtless see, most if not all of the fuselage detail will probably have to be removed and replaced with more in-scale detail. Also the joins between panels and the fuselage will need to be blended. I enjoy a challenge, but really Mike 5
sandbagger Posted July 5, 2023 Author Posted July 5, 2023 Hi all, Just a few updates. The 3D printed cockpit decking panel overlaps the sides of the fuselage, which also do not align with the decking panel. Therefore I've had to pin the bottom edges of the decking panel into the top edges of the fuselage to force the two to align. Also, when the cockpit assembly is located into the fuselage, the 3D printed 'block' forming the floor of the observers cockpit does not extend far enough into the rear of the fuselage. In addition, there is no rear cockpit bulkhead supplied in the kit. Therefore, the spaces left will be seen with the cockpit decking panel fitted. I've made a 'false' floor and rear bulkhead from 0.4 mm thick plastic card, which is thin enough to be able to flex when the cockpit assembly is inserted into the fuselage. Mike 5
DocRob Posted July 6, 2023 Posted July 6, 2023 You put yourself into a situation here, Mike. I guess with your professional approach, it will only prolong the building time a bit. Sometimes, these difficult kits give, after a lot of hacking and slaying even more satisfaction, when transformed into a gem. Cheers Rob 2
sandbagger Posted July 6, 2023 Author Posted July 6, 2023 Hi all, The saga continues. Having carried out a bit more research I've found the following regarding the 3D printed cockpit: The aircraft was fitted with a pilots steering wheel with the associated aileron control cables - not a control column The pilot seat was a curved back seat type - not an armchair The observers seat was a fold down seat on the rear bulkhead and facing forward - not an armchair type facing rearwards The pilot and observers cockpit were as one - not separated by a solid bulkhead The instrument panel does not have all of the instruments required The observers cockpit has no detail such as radio gear etc The observers machine gun is the wrong type. So basically the only usable part of the 3D printed cockpit is the rudder bar!! Then there is the over scale landing gear and wheels, not to mention the flimsy wire in the wings, intended as support and to prevent warping. I will conquer this model, but for now it's being shelved, Mike 1 1 1
sandbagger Posted December 28, 2024 Author Posted December 28, 2024 Hi all, The only model I have ever shelved is the 1:32nd scale KatModel Phonix C.1. I bought it back in 2023 when it was first released. I shelved the model as it proved too troublesome, for various quality and detail reasons. However, while I wait for 'Flying Bears' Thulin K to arrive from Sweden, I thought I'd have another go at the Phonix. I've replaced most of the external details and am currently building the cockpit from scratch. The only part used from the 3D printed cockpit assembly is the floor. Everything else was removed and/or replaced. I'll post progress shots soon, Mike 3
sandbagger Posted December 29, 2024 Author Posted December 29, 2024 Hi all, Apart from what I've previously mentioned, here's more that has had to be addressed: No instructions or decals supplied. Resin cast upper wing halves - warped, over scale access panels, no underside details, trailing edges thick, missing detail. Resin cast lower wings - warped, trailing edges thick, no support into the fuselage. 3D printed ailerons - warped, no control horns, no aileron hinge attachment points in upper wing. Rudder - no control horns. Elevator - no fuselage control horn. 3D printed upper wing centre section - Incorrect top panel, no underside detail at all, over scale detail, missing detail 3D printed tail plane - warped, trailing edges thick, no control horns. Cockpit - virtual rebuild from floor, rudder bar, control wheel, no internal detail or equipment. Cockpit decking panel - incorrect shaped pilots cockpit opening, thick sides, observers gun ring, incorrect machine gun, lightening holes missing in fairing sides. Landing gear - axle end too short to attach wheels fully. Engine - propeller shaft too short to mount propeller, engine support required, no radiator to wing pipes supplied. Propeller - rectangular cross section. Engine access panels - fasteners, hatches and panels over scale, incorrect panel right side. Fuselage - hatches over scale, some missing others not located correctly, no external compass housing. Now I need to address the wing struts: Interplane struts, which are 3D printed with no internal support rod, weak, some warped and rectangular cross section (not aerofoil). Side cabane struts, which are 3D printed, thin and very weak. Rear cabane struts missing. Maybe soon I can thick about building this 'kit' ::) Mike 🤔 2
sandbagger Posted Saturday at 02:27 PM Author Posted Saturday at 02:27 PM Hi all, Here's some progress shots of the kit parts after priming. I won't go into details of what needed to be straightened, deleted, added or modified. Suffice to say it's taken a while to get to this stage. Everything done and why will be detailed in my PDF build log on completion, Mike 5
DocRob Posted Sunday at 01:59 PM Posted Sunday at 01:59 PM Wow, seems it will be the most comprehensive of your great pdf-build logs. I hope you pull through this difficult build. Cheers Rob 1
sandbagger Posted Tuesday at 03:13 PM Author Posted Tuesday at 03:13 PM Hi all, I've prepared the fuselage internal parts ready for construction. Wood effects done with ‘Windsor & Newton’ Griffin Alkyd oil paint (Burnt Umber). The kit does not supply any decals or fuselage internal equipment parts. The following are either purchased, scratch made or from my 'spares' collection: Decals from ‘Airscale’ generic WW1 dials (AS32 WW1) and spares. Photo-etch seat belts (spares). Cockpit equipment (spares). ‘GasPatch’ un-jacketed Schwarzlose 07-12 machine gun (17-32112). The engine is very basic as only the top of the cylinders are visible on the finished model. Some of the side detail on the 3D printed engine had to be removed (not visible anyway) to allow the engine side access panels to fit. For ease, the ignition leads are attached to the bottom of the engine cylinders as that area can't be seen with engine side access panels fitted. The engine still needs to be modified to fit the three radiator coolant pipes to the underside of the upper wing (not supplied in the kit). So now moving towards assembling the fuselage at last, Mike 4
sandbagger Posted yesterday at 08:30 PM Author Posted yesterday at 08:30 PM Hi all, The cockpit is now complete. Just about everything has had to be either modified, replaced or scratch made. I still need to weather and clear coat the surfaces. Then it's onto creating the coolant pipes needed before I can fit the engine, Mike 3
HubertB Posted yesterday at 09:01 PM Posted yesterday at 09:01 PM Looking good Mike, even more when one knows where you started from … Hubert 1
belugawhaleman Posted yesterday at 10:07 PM Posted yesterday at 10:07 PM I think few would have proceeded with this kit given the challenges. Nice work on the cockpit and engine !, I especially like your woodgraining. Impressive. 1
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