Picked up this Fireball at a model swap meet, paid $1, perhaps I overpaid! :o
No real theme or backstory yet, but will be a WHIF. This is my first vacuform after decades of building, and I have always had a soft spot for the Fireball. Yes I really should just buy an injection kit, but just wanted something to challenge myself.
Wish me luck!
1/72 Ryan Fireball by The Eagles Talon Inc. 1980's kit???
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/923/ZWWYkg.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/924/rW6sSi.jpg)
Eagles Talon stuff is REALLY good, some of the best vacforms I've ever built.
You'll have very few problems with it I'm sure, but I admit that I haven't done the Fireball myself.
Nice ! Always neat to see these rare types be built. Looking forward to watching and good luck !
:cheers:
Never built a vac form kit before and probably never will so im going to enjoy this build ;D
Good luck! Curious what will become of it, hardware and whif-wise! :thumbsup:
Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on September 04, 2022, 11:38:31 PMNever built a vac form kit before and probably never will so im going to enjoy this build ;D
If you like and know the subject it can be a fun thing to do. I really enjoyed the P.1121 I did years ago, so much so that I have another three in the stash! ;D
Gondor
I think the biggest problem for me now trying to build a vac form kit is my left hand..i am having issues with holding things with it..sometimes its to much grip and other times not enough and just trying to hold something which needs only a little pressure the hand gives it to much.
I think i would end up crushing the model :unsure:
:lol:
Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on September 05, 2022, 03:09:08 AMI think the biggest problem for me now trying to build a vac form kit is my left hand..i am having issues with holding things with it..sometimes its to much grip and other times not enough and just trying to hold something which needs only a little pressure the hand gives it to much.
I think i would end up crushing the model :unsure:
:lol:
That must be very annoying. Are you right or left handed?
Is this a result of injuries from the explosion?
Fireball is an interesting aircraft. I built the MPM kit in Royal Australian FAA markings many moons ago
Agree Chris, really interesting aircraft, and apparently very maneuverable.
Whelp, here it goes. No backing out now!
Bearcat for scale
Here are the entire assembly instructions- at least I won't forget what step I am on!
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/924/yK9weM.jpg)
outlining the pieces for cutting
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/923/2NNrHA.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/923/Tm2E4q.jpg)
big cuts with hearty kitchen scissors
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/922/l73Hix.jpg)
closer cuts with sprue cutters and sharp blade. scoring along seam.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/922/TgGKDa.jpg)
major sections cut out of the sheet
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q90/924/IAXwD8.jpg)
I was right Dave..i am enjoying this build and the Fireball is a very intresting plane..very cool build :thumbsup:
Fred mate thankfully im right handed and the explosion didnt help...i originally broke it at the wrist falling off a bloody skate board ..both bones ..the hospital mucked up the cast so my thumb didnt work properly and then the boom..that messed it up more which dont help trying to hold things i can tell ya .
Strange thing is some days its sweet and kinda normal and others i want to cut the bugger off ...im happy i havent :lol:
Yeah, don't that DUKWy. At least not until you can get a new one fitted.
:lol: :lol: ..oh im gonna do my best to make sure i never need a new one ;D
Re-commenced work on the Fireball. Guess I need a backstory update to explain the delay ;) : by late 1944 the war on both fronts was proceeding fairly well, and many aircraft contracts, were scaled back or cancelled. Ryan was given a brief delay on the Fireball, but with the Kamikaze threat growing, the Fireball was brought up to a priority 1 project and work at San Diego was again sped up.
Again this is my first vacuform kit- so a real experiment for me.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/QvBAeb.jpg)
Scratching up a cockpit floor
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/u9LRBf.jpg)
The vacuform fuselage is very light, but the main landing gear is very far forward. Needs some nose weight.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/nMpr2R.jpg)
The kit prop and engine is quite basic. Think I will liberate the engine and cowling from my paint mule S-2F. Poor Stoof.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/rh3Abv.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/TqXtGF.jpg)
I suppose you spent the time from last september sandng away the thickness of the plastic sheet from the parts. It's the most annoying part of vacuform builds IMO :rolleyes: .
A Stoof paint-b!#ch! How rude! :o
S-2's are far too pretty an aircraft for such an ignominious fate! :angry:
Quote from: loupgarou on June 24, 2023, 08:44:15 AMI suppose you spent the time from last september sandng away the thickness of the plastic sheet from the parts. It's the most annoying part of vacuform builds IMO :rolleyes: .
This man has spoken great truth! Whew, dust everywhere.
Quote from: Old Wombat on June 24, 2023, 09:02:20 AMA Stoof paint-b!#ch! How rude! :o
S-2's are far too pretty an aircraft for such an ignominious fate! :angry:
Ha! This Stoof was picked up at model swap meet in a ziplock bag, missing decals, cockpit glass and a few other bits, so it was never destined for greatness. But she lives to support others!
Need to cut out the landing gear panels.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/UEdnh3.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/V9WXEm.jpg)
Lower wing mated
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/0Tj7wc.jpg)
upper wings mated. Using Krazy glue- works very well.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/VtQdwn.jpg)
Wow that looks a lot like a Zero at this stage!
Vacuform is quite a job. Looking good!
Never built a Vacform kit and with luck..never will ;D
I'll leave that to you other blokes so I can sit back and enjoy other ppls builds 😉
Like this one :thumbsup:
Quote from: sandiego89 on June 24, 2023, 09:53:01 AMQuote from: loupgarou on June 24, 2023, 08:44:15 AMI suppose you spent the time from last september sandng away the thickness of the plastic sheet from the parts. It's the most annoying part of vacuform builds IMO :rolleyes: .
This man has spoken great truth! Whew, dust everywhere.
:o I used to use a sheet of abrasive paper contact-glued to a glass plate, and worked under running water (just a drip, actually)
Quote from: sandiego89 on June 24, 2023, 09:57:11 AMQuote from: Old Wombat on June 24, 2023, 09:02:20 AMA Stoof paint-b!#ch! How rude! :o
S-2's are far too pretty an aircraft for such an ignominious fate! :angry:
Ha! This Stoof was picked up at model swap meet in a ziplock bag, missing decals, cockpit glass and a few other bits, so it was never destined for greatness. But she lives to support others!
As a former S-2E/G maintainer, it still doesn't sit right with me but I'll let it pass. :rolleyes: ;)
Quote from: loupgarou on June 24, 2023, 12:13:08 PM:o I used to use a sheet of abrasive paper contact-glued to a glass plate, and worked under running water (just a drip, actually)
Yes, my method is pretty much the same.
I have a LARGE oval mirror with 3-4 sheets of 400 grit wet & dry Evo-Stuck to the back of it, and then I squeeze a small damp sponge over it during a sanding session. Having a large flat area gives you a better chance of NOT sanding away a vital part of the model as you go on.
(Don't ask me how I know this..... :( )
Quote from: loupgarou on June 24, 2023, 12:13:08 PM:o I used to use a sheet of abrasive paper contact-glued to a glass plate, and worked under running water (just a drip, actually)
Basically the way I used to do it. I still have a vacform Vickers Windsor in the stash. Can't see me ever getting around to it, but one never knows.
I've always liked the Fiireball. Built the Pegasus kit years ago.
I know there are much easier routes to a Fireball, but wanted the thought that comes with trying something new:
There is a funny saying based on the famous speech by US President Kennedy:
"We do these things not because they are easy, but because we thought the would be easy...."
Quote from: PR19_Kit on June 25, 2023, 02:31:59 AM(Don't ask me how I know this..... :( )
was my biggest fear, think I left it too thick in a few places.
Quote from: kerick on June 24, 2023, 11:51:00 AMWow that looks a lot like a Zero at this stage!
I had the same thought, very Zero like from some angles.
Quote from: NARSES2 on June 25, 2023, 05:43:34 AMBasically the way I used to do it. I still have a vacform Vickers Windsor in the stash. Can't see me ever getting around to it, but one never knows.
Funny that, I have one of those in The Loft too, loooooong narrow box for a loooooong narrow aeroplane.
Yikes, time to cut the canopy off to be replaced by the vacuform (thin) canopy.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/ReJLyj.jpg)
Rear armor plate scratched up. The Fireball had an interesting, large canopy.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/uZh5L6.jpg)
Scratched up seat, instrument panel, side consoles.... .10 and .30 sheet styrene.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/Ritz8p.jpg)
Coming along nicely :thumbsup:
Quote from: NARSES2 on June 26, 2023, 05:49:35 AMComing along nicely :thumbsup:
Yes indeed. But building the cockpit interior after having glued the fuselage halves looks to me as a masochism exercise like building a ship in a bottle...
You are a stronger soul than me.
Quote from: loupgarou on June 26, 2023, 10:33:19 AMQuote from: NARSES2 on June 26, 2023, 05:49:35 AMComing along nicely :thumbsup:
Yes indeed. But building the cockpit interior after having glued the fuselage halves looks to me as a masochism exercise like building a ship in a bottle...
You are a stronger soul than me.
the whole effort is a bit of self-punishment! I would have preferred to build the cockpit first, but was having a hard time figuring where the cuts for the canopy would be and where things would sit after I cut it off. The canopy seemed to be quite important to the overall rigidity of the fuselage while mating the halves, so I didn't want to cut it off before mating the halves.
Did I mention no landing gear gear either? :banghead:
It has a fairly large canopy so you might be able to make a simple cockpit up and "drop" it in. Use a couple of pieces of sprue glued to the bottom of it to gauge the height and then fix them to the inside of the fuselage ?
The Fireball lives! scratched up landing gear from brass tube.
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/924/kgMDKi.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/Drz7An.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/LEEGjb.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/800x600q70/923/sK5Clf.jpg)
Great stuff Dave 😀
Love that blue ..it's a nice dark deep blue..one of my favorite colours 😍 👌
With the devastating kamikaze attacks of mid and late 1944, the deployment of the Ryan FR1 Fireball was expedited. The Fireball was deemed to be a good candidate to intercept incomings raids, as it could loiter economically on the forward engine, or climb rapidly by engaging the rear jet engine. VF-21 fresh off combat operations with the Hellcat was re-equipped with the Fireball and undertook a conversion course at NAAS Brown Field before deploying to the Pacific about the USS FANSHAW BAY CVE-70. The FANSHAW BAY and her airwing of Fireballs and a small detachment of the newly radar equipped Avengers for night intercept, were purely dedicated to fleet air defense and played a significant role in fleet defense for the assault on Okinawa in March 1945.
The Kit: 1/72 The Eagles Talon FR1 Fireball, vacuform.
by Sandiego89
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/6879/ZqEy8k.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/4402/fzWuS9.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/3747/HiTM67.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/453/qloD4F.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img922/479/nUlOhP.jpg)
(https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/7214/Z5tKSU.jpg)
Great looking build :mellow: :mellow: :mellow: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Look very good.
Hats off for creating such a good model from the vacform kit.
TomZ
Very nice, Vacdorm kits still make me want ti hide behind the couch. :thumbsup:
Quote from: TomZ on February 17, 2024, 09:22:39 AMLook very good.
Hats off for creating such a good model from the vacform kit.
TomZ
My thoughts exactly Tom :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
A great result from a vacform - well done! :thumbsup:
Nice build of a really neat subject ! Cheers
:thumbsup:
Good job Dave.
:thumbsup:
Quote from: TomZ on February 17, 2024, 09:22:39 AMHats off for creating such a good model from the vacform kit.
Same here. :thumbsup:
Looks the goods. :thumbsup: