VickersVandal victimises a Velixstowe

[VickersVandal]

After vacillating over a vexatious variety of vehicles with hulls and wings, I settled on the Roden Felixstowe.

Equal parts excited and terrified at the prospect. The number of parts is intense and the paint scheme keeps me awake at night (not wishing to spend money on the custom decal set) but this thing ought to look fantastic when finished!



(Edit: sorry about the gigantic image before - having major issues with ipad and image hosting)

[VickersVandal]

If I can make it look even 1% as amazing as this build, I think I'll be happy.......

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/models/45994-felixstowe-f-2a-early-1-72-roden-build.html

[JamesPerrin]

You're bonkers, but in a good way. With luck I'll find out how to tackle the first 1% of mine

[VickersVandal]

You're bonkers, but in a good way. With luck I'll find out how to tackle the first 1% of mine

Yeah, looking at (a) the number of parts and rigging and (b) the sheer complexity of the build in that thread, even without the AMS, I realised why it had been hiding at the bottom of the stash for so long.....

But, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Coming on the back of the Stranraer kitbash it'll be nice to do an OOB FB, even if it is hideously complicated.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I started this kit long ago, wanted to convert it to the one with an upper wing gun position -- got well started, then boggged down and it sits.

The Windsock for the Felixstowe is invaluable.

I immediately distracted myself by completely rebuilding the beaching trolley. I used the kit trolley as a holder for the model while I worked on it (see last 2 photos).



Then I added complete (& scale) formers, stringers, and flooring. The "beam" between the fuselage halves is to force them apart just a bit more so the top deck would fit cleanly -- you might watch for this problem.



Then I detailed the interior using Part set #72-221.



There is one problem -- the wings when installed droop.



My solution was to run a short strip of plastic down the center of the top-deck right where the wing spars are -- make it just a tiny bit deeper than the top deck and it'll exert some pressure on the spars anbd force the wings level. It's trial and error.



Anyway, I fiddles around with this long enough that Roden released the upper-gun version as a kit and I figured I'd then never persuade anyone I did it all myself. Too bad, it's a good kit and I really got into for a while.

I shall be cheering you on !!

[VickersVandal]

I immediately distracted myself by completely rebuilding the beaching trolley

Now I think we really know who's bonkers around here!.....

It'll be a shame if that never gets finished. It's looking fantastic so far. Thanks for the heads up with those problems! If you recall any other issues, let me know. I'll have my work cut out just getting the basic kit together so it's absolutely no extra detailing for me!

[VickersVandal]

Living in the Antipodes allows me to get the drop on you all

Although so far all I've done is give the parts a bath. I'm planning to do this by the book and just follow the instruction sheet sequence. No mods apart from the fixes that John indicated.

[VickersVandal]

I just pulled it out to start working and discovered that the clear spruce with the cockpit has somehow gone missing

I'm not starting on this without one, so it looks like I'll have to put it away and choose a different FB

Not happy.

[VickersVandal]

I've reconsidered and decided to press ahead despite this setback. It may turn up. Failing that, I'm probably capable of scratchbuilding one.

So, let the fun begin....

[mightymikeD]

Good work! I feel your pain regarding the clear parts. Bloody carpet monster!

[VickersVandal]

Even my part-eating carpet couldn't eat the whole sprue! I suspect a certain 2 year old may be to blame, or it could have slipped down behind a shelf or couch. I'll continue the search.

Engine assembly currently underway.

[TomW]

Great to see you're going to carry on with this one, always fancied a Felixstowe but the masses of rigging have put me off till now, cant wait to see some pictures

Regards

Tom

[JohnRatzenberger]

I think I have a source for the clear sprue, keep building and looking while I work on it ....

If you need it, PM me your mailing address ....

[VickersVandal]

Thanks so much, John. Wouldn't you be needing to use it though?

At any rate, I'll give it another week or so and if it still hasn't turned up I'll send you a message.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks so much, John. Wouldn't you be needing to use it though?

At any rate, I'll give it another week or so and if it still hasn't turned up I'll send you a message.

Don't ruin my reputation, I'm not that generous
I may have a friend with bits from a doomed build ....
Keep looking, in case he has become Scrooge ...