**** DONE: 1/48 Ta 154 Moskito - Me/ Fw Group Build.

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks once again gents for your kind words.

Apart from doing some final painting prior to the decals being applied, I also decided to sort out the busted antenna. Following yesterdays contemplation on replacing them all I decided that maybe I should just repair the offending one and hope that I don't bust any more.

Just sticking it back on with CA I knew from experience wasn't going to work. These antenna apart from being in a vulnerable position are extremely weak at the point where this one has busted off so a bit of strengthening was required.

I decided to micro drill out on both sides of the join, after all I've had plenty of practice of late on the Me 262, I will then insert a small piece of the steel wire as seen in the photo.

Here you can see the wire just sticking out of the broken bit of antenna.

Both bits joined by the wire and ready to be pushed home.

The final repair prior to the application of a small drip of CA. Hopefully capillary action will seal the joint down solid, then a quick clean will see the job done.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Now that's an awesome save! What size drill bit did you use???

 

[Vic Balshaw]

How about #80 (0.0135) to #78 (0.0160) David and nice and gentle with it.

 

[Airframes]

Great repair Vic. I've got some extremely small drill bits, and a pin vice, but the chuck won't grip the smaller bits. have to find a better chuck or pin vice methinks !

 

[rochie]

nice job Vic

 

[vikingBerserker]

How about #80 (0.0135) to #78 (0.0160) David and nice and gentle with it.

I'm greatly impressed as to how well you lined both parts up!

 

[Gnomey]

Nice save Vic!

 

[woljags]

nice work Vic

 

[woody]

Well done Vic.

 

[Gerry]

Micro surgery, Vic. You don't sideline in brain surgery, do you?

 

[Crimea_River]

Good work Vic. I have the same probelm as Terry - bits too small for the chuck I have.

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks gent, nothing to show today but have progressed well, decals are on as is the undercart and it sits well on the nose wheel, so that's one concern out of the way. If all goes well, should have some finished pics tomorrow. Fingers crossed........

 

[Wayne Little]

Good repair job there Vic, just don't break one of the others...!

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Wayne and yes I will take care.

Well didn't quite get it all done today, still needs the navigation lights fitting, an Ariel from the tail fin into the fuselage, will do that with stretched sprue tomorrow then give it a final touch up here and there followed by a couple of protective sprays and add the clear canopy parts.

Here are some pics of progress to date and the beady eyed ones among you will note the hair sitting on the starboard prop in pic 2. I think it was a bit of my beard and has been removed.

 

[N4521U]

holey cats man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, that was the other build!

 

[rochie]

brilliant

 

[Wayne Little]

NICE!

 

[Crimea_River]

....the beady eyed ones among you will note the hair sitting on the starboard prop in pic 2. I think it was a bit of my beard and has been removed.

Well, call me beady-eyes but it's on the port side! And you don't have to remove your beard just because of it!

Well done Vic. I may have missed it but how were the radar antennae done? Scratch built? PE? They look excellent!

 

[Airframes]

Very nice work Vic, and yes, that starboard prop is on the port side !

 

[B-17engineer]

Amazing!