Greg's Soviet Snake. **FINISHED**

[Gregers]

I'll be attacking the Academy 1/72 Airacobra and putting it in Russian colours.

All the best.

Greg

[Gregers]

I've not forgotten about the build. I've hardly had time to get up in the loft to dig the kit out but I will have a rummage through tomorrow and get it down.

All the best.

Greg

[Gregers]

If I can't locate it in the morning I'll have a trip down to the local aircraft museum and pick up a cobra from there. Probably the Hobbyboss one.

All the best.

Greg

[Gregers]

I gave up looking for the Academy kit and decided to get down to the Museum and pick up the Hobby boss one. I've got it and will start it hopefully tonight.

All the best.

Greg

[Titan]

I heard that the Hobbyboss canopy on the P-39 is a little flat but would like to see what you think Greg.

Regards
Mark

[Old_Tonto]

You might want to watch this Greg:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs-RAdGbmAE

[Gregers]

Cheers for the heads up and for the vid. The cockpit does indeed look shallow to me but it's the noseweight issue that has me thinking. I will have to either stuff as much weight in forward if the main wheels in as many places as I can including the fuel tank etc or do it wheels up in a belly landing mini dio. Or use a small transparent post under the rear fuselage.
We'll see. Undecided what to do as yet.

All the best.

Greg

[Gregers]

Good idea Bruce. I do admit though the pictures of the P38 being recovered are inspiring though.

All the best.

Greg

[lancfan]

Is the fuselage thick enough to thin out from the inside with a power bit? that would lose some weight from the back end and allow the nose weight to do its work.

David.

[Gregers]

Hi Folks.
Motivation isn't the issue. waiting for the very fine fishing weights I have ordered for this beastie to arrive is the problem. I am going to fill the fuselage front and the front of the drop tank with them I have ordered enough to go into the A37 I have ready for the Bug Build too. I have thought about thinning the fuselage rear but I am not sure my grinding bit will fit in the gap. I'm hopefully going to have a bit of time spare tomorrow to get somne pics taken and a bit of work done to mod the front how I want it to enclose the weights is. Pics coming soon. Oh and that canopy really looks shallow.

All the best.

Greg

All the best.

Greg

[ShaunW]

Looking forward to some build pics on this Greg. I've had a bit of practice recently, as you know, cramming fishing weights into mad tail-sitters! You might have to give the weights what for with some pliers to get more in as tiny weights won't have the density and leaving them round might mean you can't cram enough in. Seeing as the Beech has taken most of my remaining stock of fishing weights I think it might be squashed air rifle pellets next time I face a sitter as I've got a couple of old tins. How much weight will this Snake need do you reckon?

[MerlinJones]

Reminder re Liquid Gravity;
http://www.deluxematerials.com/newitems.html;

[ShaunW]

Yes indeed, the high tech solution, looks to be worth a punt where space is tight. I'm still in the dark ages for some things modelling I'm afraid. Plus I'm tightfisted

[Gregers]

Well, It's about time I got my rear in gear and did some work on the P39 so I attacked it today.
The fit of parts so far has been excellent. I parred down as much plastic off the lower rear fuselage part then cut away as much plastic as I could from the front fuselage including the locating pins and tubes these fit into to give enough space for the nose weight. I'll let the pics do the talking.

Plastic getting removed from the rear fuselage.


Coming together very quickly.



Weapons of mass distribution.
The theory being with smaller weights there is less space for air gaps. This is a mix of small fishing weights loaded a few at a time and then thin superglue dripped in.


Nicely balanced Cobra.


I have balanced the P39 level with the undercarriage and it is nose heavy so it should sit ok. More to follow hopefully tomorrow.

All the best.

Greg.

[Old_Tonto]

Great stuff Greg. I have wanted to see what the HB kit is like.