First Flight ** DNF **

[JohnRatzenberger]

I will be doing the CMK 1/72 resin kit of K5054.

I've hovered around this project for some time, even starting a conversion of the 1/48 Tamiya kit. My inspiration was a Nationals winning model by my friend Ben Guenther, who then put me onto some of his resources.





and my notes from various places ...



The CMR kit is a disappointment - they have simply hacked a later Mark by some adroit detail parts, but the panel lines aren't right and one can even see where the cannon blister was (almost) filled.









And some more parts, not even out of their baggie ....



I have to put some time, over next couple days, studying this kit against my references and update my notes according.

More in a couple days, after Wednesday, I just wanted to get my slot reserved ....

[JohnRatzenberger]

The kit got a washing today ...

[PaulBradley]

Ooooooooooooh!

[DazDaMan]

I've always wanted to do a model of the prototype.

Will be interested to see how you get on with this one!

[iggie]

The kit got a washing today ...

Wot no piccies?

[JohnRatzenberger]

The kit got a washing today ...

Wot no piccies?

This IS a family-friendly forum

[JohnRatzenberger]

I have been going back through my notes for the characteristics of K5054 on the day of First Flight, 5 (or 6?) March 1936.
A + means the CMR kit has this, a -- means it does not and I will have to sort that..
-- angled rudder horn balance
+ low-pitch 2-blade prop
+ recessed carb intake
-- large rudder actuator
-- protruding exhaust stacks
-- unique engine cowls
+ no u/c bay doors
-- test pitot
+ bottom mount tailplane trim actuators
+ long angled radiator
+ flat canopy, rounded w/s
+ tail skid
-- one-off, hand-built panel lines

I'll address each as I get to them, so right now here we are at laying down some lines to guide scribing. Some of these lines, half maybe, already exist. I have also put some filler on for things that should not be there.





I will have to be very lightly scribing lines as there are some thin spots, particularly in the fuselage. And yes, some of the guide lines are a bit ragged, that'll get fixed when I start scribing.

[iggie]

Interesting to see it had the camera/radio access square in the fuselage even as a prototype

[JohnRatzenberger]

Yes, shows in the only photo of that side taken o/a first flight - see the photo on the one article I posted, although it could also just be just a discolored sheet of aluminum

[PaulBradley]

Interesting stuff, John. Isn't it funny that, for such a pivotal and important aircraft, it appears that we still don't know exactly what date it first flew, or what colours it did or didn't wear....

[DazDaMan]

I think the date was confirmed as the 5th of March a while back. Can't remember who or when, but I think the evidence was in a logbook.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I think the date was confirmed as the 5th of March a while back. Can't remember who or when, but I think the evidence was in a logbook.

Close, it was apparently a hand-written note on a works cost sheet, but there is still room for discussion (for someone else, I wasn't there).

[JohnRatzenberger]

Interesting stuff, John. Isn't it funny that, for such a pivotal and important aircraft, it appears that we still don't know exactly what date it first flew, or what colours it did or didn't wear....

But it wasn't pivotal/important until well after that .... it could have crashed on takeoff/landing and never been heard of again ....

[JohnRatzenberger]

One-half of the wing underside has been rescribed; I hate rescribing and generally never do it, but it is important in this case.
I'll take it in small doses and should be done both the wing and the fuselage about Wednesday or Thursday.
After that, piece of cake until it comes time for painting.

[JohnRatzenberger]

The wing is scribed and sanded clean; may need some work where gun blisters were.




I'm a half-day or so ahead, so I'll try for a fuselage half each day this weekend.