Barry's Bench

[Barry]

Because I usually have 2-5 projects going at once, Workbench Window doesn't really work for me as a 'Work in Progress' area. The build threads get hopelessly intermixed so, I prefer to put them, individually, in the 'Aviaton Modelling' section. Never the less, sometimes it is nice to be able to share a general 'State of the Bench' observation, so that is what I plan to do here. New posts may be infrequent, but for today, this is what it looks like:


In spite of having these (plus a Beech King Air) not yet finished,




I went out and bought these:



The Sea Star because I like it and it's a first in 1/72 (Vacs not withstanding), the Avro Car because it's a bit bizzare, the X-5 because it fills a hole in my '50s X-plane series, the F-86A because, after 40 some years, nobody else has seen fit to produce an model A Sabre, and the Avia C 2 because it's a neat little airplane and was on offer for only $5 USD. NB : These are not to increase my stash, I'm going to build them all immediately.

[PaulBradley]

How'd I miss the Heron??

[Barry]

I've been holding out Paul.

[Ian]

That Seastar is a pretty machine!

[BlohmWolf]

That avrocar looks like what will probably be a slightly low quality kit. Judging by the look of the box.


But its a flying saucer. That is automatically a want.

[bluesteel]

That avrocar looks like what will probably be a slightly low quality kit. Judging by the look of the box.


But its a flying saucer. That is automatically a want.

Actually the Avrocar kit is quite good quality, I built one in May (see my Workbench thread). The areas to look out for are the interior resin parts that need a lot of thinning down so they will fit when the saucer is closed, and the decals that are very fiddly, especially the central circular red intake decal. But it's a nice kit with few fit issues. I see that Fly have just released a range of follow-up 'What-If' scheme Avrocars too.

[Asoka]

Barry, That's a really interesting bunch of kits, would love to have the X-5 and the Avrocar... (Got a couple of MB Sabres, though! )
The Avia is an Arado 96 variant, is it?

Cheers,

Asoka

[Barry]

Right Asoka. Czech built Ar 96B to be exact.

Julian's right about the Avrocar...It's very nice. The resin cockpits are very good and the only real problem is that the canopies are quite thick. Also, the cockpit opening is very small so that, even if I vac new canopies, little can be seen. I'm thinking I may have to gown up and scrub for surgery.

I agree Ian. I'd made a slight start on a vacuform one, so now with the extra decal options from the kit I may wind up with two Sea Stars.

[bluesteel]

Right Asoka. Czech built Ar 96B to be exact.

Julian's right about the Avrocar...It's very nice. The resin cockpits are very good and the only real problem is that the canopies are quite thick. Also, the cockpit opening is very small so that, even if I vac new canopies, little can be seen. I'm thinking I may have to gown up and scrub for surgery.

I agree Ian. I'd made a slight start on a vacuform one, so now with the extra decal options from the kit I may wind up with two Sea Stars.

You can ditch the canopies if you want. Have a look on Youtube, all the video of Avrocars in action show that they didn't use the canopies when test wobbling and just had a roll bar to protect the pilot in case of flipping, and that's easy enough to make out of bent wire. It got so hot in the Avrocar I think the pilots wanted to certain of a quick exit if needed...

[BlohmWolf]

Well ok then. It is a good kit!

I have to get one of them myself. I bet there is one lurking around the inner depths of E-bay.

[Barry]

working out contour issues on the 614.





My granddaughter likes it, so I'm going to try to finish what I started way back when this kit was a new release.

[Dirkpitt289]

Looking good, Barry

[skypirate]

Busy, busy, Barry!
Great to see all this going on!

David

[Stuart]

Great looking lifeboat!

[Barry]

VFW 614: trying to reduce a ridge along the centerline resulted in very nearly sanding through the plastic. So I removed the tissue thin material






Inserting a patch of 20 thou. to support the join behind the hole. Glued where it touched the edge of the hole and




used this tool to push it up against the roof where where I could flood it with liquid cement.





Ready to insert the 2d patch





Pull tight and secure with liquid cement. Then 'caulk' all 'round the edges with super glue.





First layer of filler applied. Also, cockpit transparency finally satisfactorily (for me anyway) in place. Engines and stabilizers next.






First paint on the Broussard and




upper paint on the F-104. Have to get to the LHS to get some camo grey for the underside.