**** DONE: 1/48 Sea King Mk 50 – Home Country Modern Aircraft/Spitfire Marks GB

[brucejscott]

Hey Vic. Just getting caught up after a month away and your build is AMAZING. Truly inspiring. Keep it up.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Many thanks for those lovely comments Guys, makes the old heart flutter.

Terry, for the likes of us the buckles are quite easy but fiddly and for the benefit of all I'll run up a pic demo ASAP.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

As mentioned earlier today I promised to do a picture account on making the buckles on the hanging straps for this build. But before I get into it, I should say that the idea has come from a similar buckle that our good friend and mentor, Wojtek posted in one of his threads.

First up I gathered the technical bits required to make a small jig. A fine darning needle, a chunk of balsa wood, sewing pins, a pair of snips and I used 30 gauge wire.

1st step is to bend the wire round a thin darning needle and the anchor this into the balsa.

Looking at the wire with the loop behind the darning needle, place a couple of pins the thickness of the wire slightly in front and to the outer of each side of the needle. Bend the wire outwards 90 degrees.

Taking two more pins, position them to the outer side and slightly in front of the last two pins and bringing the wire forward and round the pins so that both ends of the wire are pointing in opposite directions and forming a loop.

Removing the pins gently from the balsa one at a time you will end up with a buckle shape. At this stage, if it is slightly misshapen it can be corrected with the use of some sturdy tweezers, but be gentle as this gauge wire will bend easily. Personally, I would stat again.

If the shape is to your satisfaction, snip off the surplus wire. In mine you can see the ends of the wire but normally I would trim this back so that the ends are hidden in the strapping.

Make the strap from some form of foil threaded through the loop, bent over and sealed.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

As for my today's effort, it's not only been good to have time in the hanger but it's been a fruitful day.

Today I started to put the cabin contents together and do some internal painting, the first thing being the radar room with drop down curtain and scanner. You will also notice in these the jump seat and internal phone just inside the front cabin door.

 

[Wayne Little]

Damn, that looks good...well done Vic....

 

[N4521U]

Mah-vel-ous!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thank you kind sirs.

 

[A4K]

With all - great work Vic!
Thanks too for the idea with the buckles!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Even and your most welcome.

 

[Crimea_River]

Amazing work Vic! A real museum piece coming together there.

 

[ccheese]

Amazing detail ! I'm lovin' it !!

Charles

 

[meatloaf109]

Great tutorial! And great work!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thank guys. Not sure how today is going to pan out but hope to get something done today.

 

[N4521U]

You're gonna feeeeze you little testes off today if you plan on going out to the shed!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

No shed today mate, stayed inside in the warm and did a bit more to the chopper cabin. Seats fitted, made a life raft stowed just inside the rear door and started on some chute canisters.

 

[Wurger]

Excellent !!!!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Why thank you kind sir.

 

[T Bolt]

Just caught up on the last 4 pages. Vic you are a master!!! Those seats and straps are masterpieces!!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Coming from a model master like yourself Glenn, this is a compliment. Thanks.

 

[ccheese]

Vic.... I am really impressed with the detail you have put into this build. Great work... This is the big difference between scale plastic and balsa/tissue. There is just no room inside a model to do this kind of detail.

Charles