How to Build a Fuselage Insert Plug?

[GeorgeC]

Inspired by this site, I have only just got back into aircraft modelling after a 25-year break, so my basic kit bashing skills are not to hot.  (My 28mm figure painting is quite good now, however!)  

Well I have selected the victim for a bit of fuselage stretching, a Sea Harrier that is going to get the P1050 treatment, but having identified the panel lines where a suitable plug can be inserted, I have no idea how to go about it.  :dum:

I have searched through the archives and some potentially useful 'work bench' pics have been lost through time.  Can any of you unnaturally talented chaps point me to some picture or links which will send me off in the right direction?

Regards

GeorgeC

[John Howling Mouse]

I sent somebody here the article on FSM for the C-130 Stretch.
If you PM me your home e-mail address, I can forward that article to you.

JHM    

[NARSES2]

How big is the plug - length wise ?

Chris

[AeroplaneDriver]

How big is the plug - length wise ?

Chris

Chris-Stick to the topic please.  that kind of question has no business on this site.    


George, sorry I cant offer any help, but glad t osee you've been inspired to jump back in.  this site did the same thing for me a few years ago.  I've got a "stretch" project in mind too and would be interested in any tips too.

[retro_seventies]

i'm all ears about plugs too...

[philp]

Easiest way I know to stretch a kit is use 2 of them.  You can cut one forward (or rear) section long and then cut the other kit behind the cockpit.  Use some sprue to strengthen the joints and your done.  Seen the same technique done with wings.

I will let some of the experts give their ideas for when you don't have 2 kits or when your stretch is at a tapered part of the fuselage.

[lancer]

How big is the plug - length wise ?

Chris

Chris-Stick to the topic please.  that kind of question has no business on this site.    

You dirty minded bugger...          

[NARSES2]

What I say ?  B)

Seriously what I meant to say was : I've only ever fitted smallish fusalage extensions and to do that I've cut the origional fusalage in half and simply added a laminated plastic card "plug", (in the old days it would have been balsa) and then sanded that to shape. If you need to extend the fusalage by more then 1/2 inch say then you might have to build in some support. The one time I did this I used some plastruct section material to pass through the plug and glued this onto the lower section of the origional fusalage halves. Sounds far more complicated then it is  

Chris - awaiting the next set of wise guy comments    

[TsrJoe]

from my experiences, theres a number of possible ways to do this...

...an easy option is splicing a similar section from a second kit?
...or cutting where you want to extend, then elongate the section using sprue or plastic rod/card etc. to length, then filling with a suitable 2 part filler eg, car body filler or milliput to achieve the desired contours?
... a further option is adding a plug of balsa/obechi or limewood between the cut halves and whittling/shaping the insert to suit finally sealing with sand sealer or a thin layer of modelfiller
...yet another method is planking with plasticard strips, after sanding to contours, and sealing with liquid solvent, a finishing coating of model filler should smooth out any glitches

for smaller areas id go with the milliput route, shaped whilst curing to almost the correct contours, any glitches/underfill can be added to easily with model filler

larger extensions id go with the wooden inserts, being easy to shape, remembering to sand seal before final filling/priming

any other assistance dont hesitate to ask, cheers, joe    

[GeorgeC]

Gentlemen, thanks for the suggestions - like everything in life, its the 'first time' thats the challenge.  Oh and I took so long to make the 'plug' bit as umabiguous as I could

Regards

GeorgeC

[John Howling Mouse]

George, did that FSM article on the Herc elongation help?

[GeorgeC]

George, did that FSM article on the Herc elongation help?

Ooops, not paying attention.  Yep, very interesting.  Shame none of the options for this are cheap or easy though!!!  Cutting down is obviously the way ahead!

[Nigel Bunker]

A cheap way of doing a stretch is like this:



1. Find a suiltable panel line to do the stretch about

2. Cut the fuselage

3. Glue styrene strips 2-3mm wide around the inside of the joint ensuring they are well glued down. The strips should be 40- 50mm wider than the insert you want to add as these will provide the support for the plug.

4. Wrap a piece of styrene the width of the plug arond the strips, ensuring that it is hard up against the existing fuselage. Do this several times if necessary to ensure that the plug is about the same thickness as the fuselage plastic.

5. Slide the extended fuselage unto the other half of the fuselage and glue into place.

6. When dry, sand and fill, then sand and fill, then sand and ................

I have used this method several times, the last being to make a Hercules C3.