jRatz's FROG Swordfish

[JohnRatzenberger]

Anyway, I'm doing, or better re-doing, the FROG Swordfish on floats, with an inter-war "sliver wings" scheme. I say re-doing because I'd like to do a better job than I did with my entry into the 101 Gems display where I had some alignment issues with the floats. I mostly cured those isues with a cutting torch, pry bar, and some CA but I'd like to get it right first time, this time. I also want to do a better paint job, not just a hosed-down alumin, but proper Aluminum Dope and Cerrux Grey and such where it should be.

Last time I did the kit scheme. This time I'm going to use a scheme from the Model Alliance sheet shown below. I actually don't know if this aircraft ever flew with floats but all Swordfish could so the possibility exists -- and it's my model and I'll do what I wish ....




Here's the sprue shot ... Paul Bradley has the same sprues in more detail, so I'll not repeat that.




Paul mentioned the excessive ribbing and it's true. Any rigger who did this would be summarily court martialed. The problem is that there is some rather nice fine (but raised) detail that I'd like to not totally eradicate, so I'll have to be careful taking the ribs down.




So far, clipping all the flying surfaces from the sprues and gluing the float halves together is as far as I've gotten.

I am soooo tempted to fold the wings ....

[JohnRatzenberger]

I am soooo tempted to fold the wings ....

Make it so

Were it that easy

Actually, it would be except for time crunch mentioned in lead-off post. The wing panels and center sections are separate on the proper folding line. There are no instructions on how to do the fold, not are there any jigs or tabs that would aid in the process, so one would have to figure it out and scratch build something to hold the wings properly. The only "glitch" is that they have molded the "clamps" in the folded position under the tailplanes, so they would have to be removed & scratch built -- not a real problem.

Like I say, if it weren't for time it would be a piece o' cake ... more or less, I forgot about then opening up the wing slats ... And I'd hate to hide the markings behind folded wings ... I have a NOVO kit left, maybe I'll fold those wings one of these days ....

[JohnRatzenberger]

No pix, but I did get the ribs sanded down on both wings' outer panels -- a total of 8 parts. Maybe tomorrow I'll get the center sections and tail pieces.

[JohnRatzenberger]

No pix, sanded the rest and sprayed on a black as primer & base for the aluminum. Next will be to clean them up a bit.

[dknights]

Photos man, photos!!

[JohnRatzenberger]

No progress today, letting black undercoat dry, may not get back to it until Sunday due to other things -- daughter & granddaughter leave tomorrow so the day is their's and we won't get back from airport until late, then Saturday is work at the museum and I've got a Doctoral candidate coming in to do some research ...

[JohnRatzenberger]

Main parts sanded down and primed. Along the way I cut off the kit water rudders and made new, thinner ones.



I'll make a shot at cleaning all this up tomorrow and starting some assembly.

[dknights]

Can't wait to see what you do with this one.

[JohnRatzenberger]

All of the wing halves are now whole ... seam cleaning tomorrow and maybe start on the fuselage, which will be minimally detailed, if at all. I am still not able to break loose from local commitments and time is running out due to impending travel.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Is there any possibility that you'll do it, John?

Nope, the model is in NC, I'm in KS ....

[Dirkpitt289]

Nope, the model is in NC, I'm in KS ....

Correct me if i'm wrong but that kind of distance makes completing the kit a bit difficult don't ya think?