1/48 Classic Airframes Boeing P-12E

[Crimea_River]

Hi Grant. Removing the twist by simply clamping in a jig is not likely to work in my opinion. The plastic either has to be forced into a new shape by over-stressing it or by clamping combined with heat. Both are frought with risk and require a delicate touch.

 

[fubar57]

Nice fixes

 

[Gnomey]

Looks good so far!

 

[Grant Barr]

Removing the twist by simply clamping in a jig is not likely to work in my opinion.

Thanks for the feedback, Andy - you are correct to a point. I did end up leaving the wing in a weighted jig in my garage for a good week. The thing with down here in sunny Oz is that summers are stinking hot. The temperature in my garage has exceeded 40°C on quite a few days, which I suspect has helped to remove some of the twist but not all, certainly enough to make it fit onto the struts. You did mention heat, but probably not in the way it was applied for this fix .

Therefore, I'm calling this one done. Like I mentioned above, the top wing fought me all the way with the twist only partially resolved.

The other main issue with the top wing was one of my own making. I think I should have removed some more length from the centre cabane struts. If you look at the aircraft from the front, the top wing has an obvious downward curvature from the centre to the wingtips. This is clearly not the case on the real thing, but I am not of a mind to correct it now.

I added some rigging via some Prym Knitting-In Elastic (I think this idea came from Andy!) and I've given the kit a final all over coat of clear polyurethane. It's not a perfect representation of a P-12E, with the kit posing a multitude of construction issues, but I am reasonably happy with how it turned out. Like a number of other older kits I have made recently, this one certainly challenged my skill level, and I think I learned a lot in the process.




Having posted the photos I've just noticed that I left off the elevator control rods from the bottom to the top wing just aft of the outboard struts. I'll add those shortly and may or may not take some more shots with them fitted.

Thanks to everyone who popped by with words of encouragement or advice. This one was certainly a challenge, and I am glad to have finished it rather than it ending up either in the bin or on the "shelf of doom".

 

[Wurger]

 

[Vic Balshaw]

This is a lovely build Grant, colourful and stunning. Well done.

 

[SaparotRob]

A delight to look at. A really beautiful bipe.

 

[fubar57]

A great build to follow. Well done Grant

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely work so far!

 

[Crimea_River]

Turned out great Grant and glad the Prym rigging worked for you.

 

[Grant Barr]

Thanks for all the positive feedback gents! As I said, this one was quite the challenge. One thing I didn't explicitly mention was how nice the Model Alliance decals were. I still can't believe they confirmed to the curvatures like they did!

I am planning which kit to start next and am hoping to kick off a new thread in the next couple of weeks.

Cheers.

 

[T Bolt]

Turned out beautiful Grant. I will be referencing this thread if I ever start my F4B-4

 

[Grant Barr]

Turned out beautiful Grant. I will be referencing this thread if I ever start my F4B-4

Thanks Glenn. Not sure if my work is entirely accurate, but hopefully you can avoid some of the pitfalls I found. The biggest issues turned out to be the top wing (warping) and having to cut the strut lengths. Outboard ones are easy, cabane struts - not so much!!!

I think a man of your skills will do a great job on the F4B-4! Looking forward to seeing how you tackle it.