1/72 CAC Woomera twin bomber

KiwiZac · December 16, 2014, 02:35:35 PM

Tips? I have three:
1) Ppreparation of the parts is key. The biggest and scariest part for many is cutting out and sanding the pieces. Once you get past that it's essentially a short-run injected kit! Albeit thinner...

2) Have a well-stocked spares box. Older vacs are so spartan when it comes to the little bits so having things like armament, cockpit parts, landing gear, props etc is important.

3) Know your subject. With the Woomera there's less than two dozen photos out there, but every piece of reference material helps. Interiors especially are tricky and in vacs normally there's not much provided.

PR19_Kit · December 16, 2014, 02:54:26 PM

I always find the sanding to be the crucial part.

Ensuring the mating faces are flat is essential and I've got an old oval mirror about 2 ft x 1 ft with 320 grit wet-and-dry paper stuck down to it, face up of course.

It's important not to press on the vacform parts too hard as you may sand off too much material under the place where you're holding it. Aeroclub used to sell a handy device called a 'T-Al' that was three lengths of aluminium T-section of different thickness and some double sided tape with which you could attach the parts to be sanded and which kept the parts pretty flat. I'm not sure if it's still available but you may be able to knock one up from scrap bits and pieces instead. I'll try and dig mine out and post a pic.

KiwiZac · December 20, 2014, 05:56:35 PM

Not much to report on the Woomera. The fuselage hasn't needed as much putty/sand/repeat as I expected, although I will need to fill in around the triangular transparencies.

Next job will be attaching the centre section wings, and opening holes in the nacelles. Not looking forward to it but best to get it done :-)

I also butchered a set of landing gear for the mains, not sure of their origin, and I'll use two sets of Academy Bf109 wheels as they seem pretty spot-on. I'll hide the spoked hubs on the side facing the leg.

PR19_Kit · December 20, 2014, 08:23:51 PM

That's looking pretty good.

What's the other model in build in the background though? A Fletcher FU-24 as featured in your avatar?

Captain Canada · December 21, 2014, 08:44:39 AM

She's coming along Zac ! Great job so far.

KiwiZac · December 21, 2014, 12:34:21 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 20, 2014, 08:23:51 PM
That's looking pretty good.

What's the other model in build in the background though? A Fletcher FU-24 as featured in your avatar?

Even better - its successor, the PT6-engined PAC Cresco. It's needed a bit more work than the Fletcher, one of which is just about finished.

Thanks CC :-) I admit I've run out of steam a bit because of the nacelles and mismatching centre section, but I'll power on through. As I saw I said some years back in another Whif thread: MODELLING IS FUN

NARSES2 · December 22, 2014, 07:03:22 AM

Quote from: KiwiZac on December 21, 2014, 12:34:21 PM
Thanks CC :-) I admit I've run out of steam a bit because of the nacelles and mismatching centre section, but I'll power on through. As I saw I said some years back in another Whif thread: MODELLING IS FUN

Exactly which is why I get to a point and go "enough is enough". I admire those who can go further with finessing projects but I know my own limits and I do it for fun. One of the best things about this hobby is that it tends to be personal, especially when judging how far to go with projects. As long as you are happy with the work that should be enough.

I must admit Zac I'm enjoying this build and it may well tempt me to attempt my first vac form

KiwiZac · December 22, 2014, 11:38:26 AM

This is my second (my first is here http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,10803.0.html) and like I said, the hard part is getting the parts cut and sanded. They sure are intimidating but are worth it - plus generally cheap!

KiwiZac · January 27, 2015, 01:35:33 PM

Just to prove I made progress over the weekend, having been pushed into putting her back on the bench at another forum....

Captain Canada · January 27, 2015, 01:56:11 PM

Yup...that's progress ! Sure looks like a lot of work tho. Keep at 'er Zac !

KiwiZac · January 29, 2015, 05:54:22 PM

Thanks CC! A lot of work? It surely is - the fact it sat for a month because I was too scared to tackle the nacelles shows this. BUT perserverence pays! Looking forward to getting more done on it tomorrow and Sunday.

But how to paint it?.....

Captain Canada · January 29, 2015, 06:09:50 PM

Green with white.

KiwiZac · April 06, 2016, 01:50:02 PM

Bump.

It's been far too long since I worked on this so I'll try and get to it this weekend. I've decided it will be built as one of my hypothetical RNZAF ones. Stay tuned!

king of men · April 06, 2016, 10:05:34 PM

You're a brave fellow. The couple of KPL kits I've seen in person were.... approximate in every sense of the word. As if the plane were outfitted for The Blob Air Force.

KiwiZac · May 22, 2016, 01:52:37 PM

You're quite right - as Matt Gilks' 1/48 version is now out I just want to get this one finished, rather than done as well as I could. It's just too much work for what is now "just another whif" rather than a passion project as it was.

There is a lot of room for improvement with this kit as it is rather basic. The clear parts just aren't clear - they're textured in some way - so I gave them a good rub with soft cloth and then put them in place with Clearfix. Due to fit issues there's a lot of extra Clearfix used to make up the difference.

This weekend it'll be paint, decals (Ventura Publications' RNZAF Ventura markings) and weapons added