Jump to content
Supplies of the Ship Modeler's Handbook are running out. Get your copy NOW before they are gone! Click on photo to order. ×

CDW

NRG Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    7,724

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by CDW

  1. CDW
    Next steps with the chain construction involve cutting the links from the photo etch fret. Since the fret is stainless steel rather than brass, it's harder to cut. I typically use a scalpel blade for this but I found it takes too much pressure to cut through, therefore bending (slightly) the links out of shape. As the fit between the links and the pins is so precise and small, Tamiya recommends "pinching" each "c" clip together to tighten-retighten the fit to pin after cutting. I found this to be beyond my capability with the tools I have, much too small for any forceps I own. Next I am going to try cutting the links from the fret using a micro abrasion wheel on my dremel. Hopefully this will prevent the distortion of the c clips and negate the need to pinch them. If that doesn't work, I'm going to need to find a much smaller set of forceps to maybe even tweezers. I could see this task ruining a set of precision tweezers in the process as the tips of tweezers are not generally used as a pinching type of tool.
  2. CDW
    You are right, those stock seats look great. I wonder what other aircraft might have used the same seats? I’ve saved my stock ones since I used aftermarket seats in my model. In retrospect, coulda’ shoulda’ saved the money and went stock.
  3. CDW
    Cockpit looks awesome Andrew. About those tanks, is the fit issue where they join the wings or just with the tank halves themselves? Using aftermarket seats in my cockpit, I had a small amount of difficulty getting the front seat mounted to the floor with the rear instrument panel attached to it, but you probably will have no issues using the stock seats (which look very good by the way).
  4. CDW
    After seeing the way Tamiya engineers designed the tools to assemble this small delicate chain, you and I both will agree they are genius. A photo etch plate of links are placed over the roller pins exposed in the preceding steps. Additional smaller sections of chain links are provided, shaped like “c” clips to snap in place over the links and pins that lock it all together. Two plastic tools are provided to hold these small sections in place while they are pulled down, locking them into position. Very ingenious and well engineered.
  5. CDW
    Next up the pins are placed inside each roller. You will note the pins have a specific shape on each end and can only slide into the rollers in one direction. A head on the end of each pin holds each link in place. After all pins are in place, a plastic molded cap is put in place that hold the pins in position. The jig is then flipped over so the bottom cap of the jig can be removed, exposing the opposite side of the roller pins.
  6. CDW
    I noticed the chain kit comes with two different sizes of rear sprockets. I'm guessing maybe there were different size sprockets used on the real bike depending on the particular race event/track.
  7. CDW
    Break out the optivisor, it’s time to build the chain! The chain kit provides a plastic assembly jig. and a whole bunch of 1mm rollers the rollers are placed in each of the holes of the assembly jig then two sets of photo etched links are laid down more to come….
  8. CDW
    My thought was to improvise a ferule that would look like a spark plug boot where they attach to each plug and coil. And yes, micro drill will be perfect for the attachment of clutch, brake and throttle cables. My ignition wires are painted .5mm lead wire. They are hard to see but are attached to the number 1 and 6 cylinders now which are energized by the forward coil.
  9. CDW
    Agree 100% What makes the tubing useful is to snip off all but about 2mm at each connection point and use that short section as a connection (like a ferrule) for lead wire or other more scale diameter wire. I have a large selection of lead wire in .1mm graduated diameters to use for detailing. That's my intent here. As you said, old telephone wire often has a more scale appearance as well.
  10. CDW
    How did the pilot see anything looking forward while inside the cockpit? Must have been quite a task on landing and takeoff and flying around the pylons for that matter though I guess when rolled to one side the pilot would gain some forward vision that way.
  11. CDW
    Tamiya recommends mixing 4 parts Titanium Gold with 1 part Flat Red Brown to achieve the engine color see in the reference photos., Carbs, various engine covers and plates. Looks like a good match to me.
  12. CDW
    Great start. I love those slipper tanks seen on the version you’re doing. A distinct feature of the Buc.
  13. CDW
    It's going to be interesting and tedious building the chain, link by link. Those pins are even smaller than the wheel parts. I hope the count is right.
  14. CDW
    With the front wheel finished, will next move on to other challenges. By the way, as it turns out there was no extra nipple. Tamiya supplied the exact number needed with no spares whatsoever. So if you take on this build for yourself, be forewarned. If you lose one it’s going to be a problem.
  15. CDW
    The custom wire wheel detail set is sold separately by Tamiya at a cost I cannot recall. At the present time, everywhere I've checked are out of stock for this set. Now that I've arrived at the end of my wheel set construction, it was fortunate that I did not lose any of the small pieces such as the nipple parts pictured here. Each wheel has 36 spokes and each spoke requires a nipple, a total of 72 of these almost microscopic pieces needed to complete the assembly. After I got all the way to the end, I found that Tamiya included 1 extra nipple part either by accident or as an extra in case of loss. Loss is highly likely as a part can go flying off the tips of your tweezers like you were playing tiddly winks. If you had carpet flooring, forget about it. You'll never find it. My beef is that even though we pay a premium price for sets like this, they can't even supply an extra half dozen or so in case of loss. It's almost shameful IMO.
  16. CDW
    I noticed that they make aftermarket engines, metal landing gear and wheel well doors for the model. Seems I recall having to add weight to the nose that caused my landing gear to be fragile. Also there was something weird about the engines. Probably needs better decals and interior help, too. Still it’s the only game in town for this model in 1:48. surprised a mainstream company hasn’t done a new one.
  17. CDW
    2nd time’s a charm Mea Culpa The alignment jig has a specific mark (highlighted with black marker). The rim has a hole for the valve stem that must align with the jig mark. Same is true for the hub. Somehow my rim moved off the mark which resulted in failure at the end. Lacing the front wheel should go smoothly I hope.
  18. CDW
    I spent several hours today assembling the spokes and nipples to the rim only to realize I misaligned the spokes to the rim some way, some how. I have no other choice now but to soak the parts I assembled in acetone to help release the ca glue I used to bond it all together. After cleaning up all the parts, need to start all over again. I think I know where I went wrong and will spend more care to be sure I start in the correct hole. It looked correct for the first half of the build but all turned to cow flop the second half.
  19. CDW
    Glad to have you here, Ras. I've been enjoying your build very much.
  20. CDW
    Ahh yes, that's obvious now that you've pointed it out. In the early 1960's my dad and older brothers bought a Dart Kart racing go kart with twin Westbend engines. Much of the kart including the wheels, exhaust pipes, fuel tank, etc., were made of magnesium that had that familiar metallic gray color displayed on the Honda engine covers and carbs. Thanks again!
  21. CDW
    I noticed that in the video, the engine covers and carbs were gun metal colored but in these photos, a shade of gold.
  22. CDW
    When you were a kid, did you learn to make spoke guns using old bicycle spokes and nipples? You could really shoot them, albeit the projectiles were very small.
  23. CDW
    Thanks so much for posting this. It will be a tremendous reference for building this model. I already see some things I need to correct on my build/painting of it and am glad to see it now rather than later.
  24. CDW
    Judging from the size of that replica, the pilot would need to be the size of a racing horse jockey to fit inside the cockpit. Large men need not apply for that job! In my career before retirement, we had a twin turbo prop Beech Commander aircraft. On one of our first flights in it our pilot invited me to sit beside her in the copilots seat. No can do, could not fit. A lot of aircraft seem to be designed for smaller frame pilots.
  25. CDW
    It all comes back to my recollection now as to why I stopped construction of this little project: it’s all about lacing the wire wheel spokes. In the top of the photo is a tiny paint tin filled with little machined nipples. These must be slid into holes in the rims to capture each spoke. It takes the patience of Job to get this done. I think I have found my mojo this time.

About us

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

SSL Secured

Your security is important for us so this Website is SSL-Secured

NRG Mailing Address

Nautical Research Guild
237 South Lincoln Street
Westmont IL, 60559-1917

Model Ship World ® and the MSW logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,929,264 & No. 6,929,274, registered Dec. 20, 2022)

Helpful Links

About the NRG

If you enjoy building ship models that are historically accurate as well as beautiful, then The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is just right for you.

The Guild is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to “Advance Ship Modeling Through Research”. We provide support to our members in their efforts to raise the quality of their model ships.

The Nautical Research Guild has published our world-renowned quarterly magazine, The Nautical Research Journal, since 1955. The pages of the Journal are full of articles by accomplished ship modelers who show you how they create those exquisite details on their models, and by maritime historians who show you the correct details to build. The Journal is available in both print and digital editions. Go to the NRG web site (www.thenrg.org) to download a complimentary digital copy of the Journal. The NRG also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the Journal and the former Ships in Scale and Model Ship Builder magazines.

Our Emblem ®

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

Nautical Research Guild ® and the NRG logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,999,236 & No. 6,999,237, registered March 14, 2023)

×
×
  • Create New...