VV's VVacform KLM Fokker F.III *Finished*

[VickersVandal]

Well, after all the prevaricating, I finally settled on something. I have a Classic Planes 1/72 Fokker F.III airliner that I bought as part of a cheap job lot on ebay. This is definitely the simplest vacform in my stash and therefore the most realistic option for the GB. No struts, no rigging, no canopy!
I'll be doing it in KLM colours in honour of my Dutch ancestry.

Hoping for a relatively straightforward build. Most of the detail parts such as wheels and prop I should be able to scrounge (I can probably get away with using a spare D.VII prop)



If I finish this quickly enough, I may even have time to tackle a Curtiss Condor

[SJPONeill]

Have a crack at the kits wheels and prop...you might be surprised how they turn out...

[Stuart]

that looks like a good kit!

[splash]

That looks like a good starter kit, will it be in the light blue and yellow colours?

Regards Splash

[VickersVandal]

Yes, this is the scheme:
http://www.dutch-aviation.nl/pictures/F ... kening.jpg;

Have a crack at the kits wheels and prop...you might be surprised how they turn out...

I might see how I go with the wheels, but if I have an injected part that fits I'll almost certainly go with that. The prop is just too clunky looking.

[K5083]

Excellent, I would love to build that subject. Will be following your thread closely.

August

[VickersVandal]

Well, it's officially the 4th where I'm from, so I'm making a start.

Traced out the parts to help with sanding:


Then I've cut out ad sanded one fuselage half and opened out a window for the transparency:


It's getting on for 1am so I'm off to sleepy-bo-bo's. More progress tomorrow. The sanding is actually quite therapeutic.

[splash]

We get the last lough as we have one more day to finish our kits

[TomW]

It's getting on for 1am so I'm off to sleepy-bo-bo's. More progress tomorrow. The sanding is actually quite therapeutic.

Good start VV, you aren't the only one who finds sanding a vacform therapeutic

Regards

Tom

[VickersVandal]

We get the last lough as we have one more day to finish our kits

This is true, but I was raring to go so once the clock struck midnight, I was in!


Some more work has the windows cut out, the cowling/cockpit section removed and the correct replacement parts cut and sanded, and floor and bulkheads added.

What I've learnt so far:
- old brittle 0.5mm polystyrene isn't so much fun
- I'll be going through a lot of scalpel blades
- hold large parts lightly by their ends for sanding and don't press on the centre, or else end up with bananas



Now my problem is this: what colour was the cabin and cockpit???? I have no idea and so far haven't turned up any info.

I'm also undecided whether to go for 5 individual chairs in the cabin as per the instruction sheet or two bench sofas in the style of a Heinkel 70 and as seen in one drawn illustration I found which appears to be from the period. I have also found another photo which appears to show individual chairs almost randomly placed as per a lounge room. Too confusing!

[fredk]

Sometimes in these early airliners wicker chairs were used but not even fixed down. The passengers could move them around, a bit anyway.
Good start.

[Stuart]

Gadzooks - That's some progress!

Thanks for the tip about the large parts!

[VickersVandal]

I've grabbed one bench seat from a HE 70 and a couple of single seats from a Dragon Rapide. Enough to give the general impression.

The wing, fin and taiplane are together. All parts cut out and ready to attach and I've taken a motor, prop and spare set of wheels from a Roden D.VII
Now to build that cabin detail and I can close it up. This is going quicker than I had hoped.



I've "borrowed" the glass lasagne baking tray so I can do wet sanding in it. I was sick of getting styrene dust everywhere.

[SJPONeill]

Best you don't get caught with said lasagna glassware in your possession for modelling purposes... I got snapped and it wasn't a happy conversation....

[VickersVandal]

I've been able to get a fair bit done on this one, thanks to the holiday.

I decided on a white interior with a rough wood paneling effect for the lower half of the walls and a dark blue carpet. This is a combination of personal preference (esp the carpet) and clues from pictures of F.IIs and F.IIIs
I also added some tube framework evident in photos.

I can now close the fuselage up after I add some joining tabs. I need to build the cockpit detail and then the whole nose section can be added.

The kit is behaving itself extremely well. The wing went together with minimal fuss and is all sanded ready for painting.