Administrators JeroenPeters Posted April 13, 2016 Administrators Share Posted April 13, 2016 Really taking shape now. Supercool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 And thanks Tom for admitting you're a mere mortal, we all feel much better now Cees 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 As explained above, I've corrected the errors I made with the fuselage windows - I am not entirely sure how I managed to get the positioning so out as I'm a firm believer in 'measure thrice, cut once', but clearly something went very wrong when I cut these on the fuselage panels a while back. The fix was fairly simple though - plastic card blanks were added to the incorrectly positioned windows, and then new ones were cut, after more careful measuring. The original windows and now been filled and sanded, ready for some primer to hide my sins: Onwards and upwards, as the old saying goes... Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theseeker Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Simply outstanding! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 I took advantage of some sunshine this afternoon and shot some primer over the amended windows and stabilisers. No problems to report... The repositioned windows have cured the concerns I had with the fuselage - at least to my eyes, anyway: May well have a bash at the fins next. Until next time, Tom 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted April 17, 2016 Share Posted April 17, 2016 Very nice as usual Tom, How are you going to tackle the fins? Carving them from laminated plasticard or can the Lancaster fins be adapted too? Cees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted April 17, 2016 Author Share Posted April 17, 2016 Very nice as usual Tom, How are you going to tackle the fins? Carving them from laminated plasticard or can the Lancaster fins be adapted too? Cees 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted May 1, 2016 Author Share Posted May 1, 2016 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theseeker Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Great work. It is coming together quite nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Nice work on the fins, didn't realize they are so much bigger than the Lanc/Lincoln. Cees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolboxx Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 When I grow up, I want to model like this. Amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted May 3, 2016 Author Share Posted May 3, 2016 Nice work on the fins, didn't realize they are so much bigger than the Lanc/Lincoln. Cees 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted May 4, 2016 Administrators Share Posted May 4, 2016 Ahhhhh so that's where that canopy went 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted June 1, 2016 Author Share Posted June 1, 2016 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 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beychevelle Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Brave man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusMac Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 Interesting picture Tom. Do many estate agents have a side-line in surplus Shackletons? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Tom, That's looks great, You haven't made it yourself easy by drilling out the windows and keeping the frames, but it really gives the Shackleton feel to it. As soon as you have faired in the canopy you really have achieved your goal of building a Shackleton from scratch. The outer wings must be the easy bit. Cees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted June 2, 2016 Administrators Share Posted June 2, 2016 Cool... Really curious to see how you'll tackle the windows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted June 2, 2016 Author Share Posted June 2, 2016 Tom, That's looks great, You haven't made it yourself easy by drilling out the windows and keeping the frames, but it really gives the Shackleton feel to it. As soon as you have faired in the canopy you really have achieved your goal of building a Shackleton from scratch. The outer wings must be the easy bit. Cees 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. Cool... Really curious to see how you'll tackle the windows! 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... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Tom, Are you planning on the engine nacelles aready? Cees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Tom, Are you planning on the engine nacelles aready? Cees 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Looking forward to seeing those Tom. You are really going fast with this one, ready in time for Telford. Cees 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasProbert Posted June 4, 2016 Author Share Posted June 4, 2016 Looking forward to seeing those Tom. You are really going fast with this one, ready in time for Telford. Cees 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 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GusMac Posted June 4, 2016 Share Posted June 4, 2016 Looks great Tom. Once its primed you won't know what was original and what was added. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theseeker Posted June 5, 2016 Share Posted June 5, 2016 A plan well executed, bravo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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