Zenrat's Flying Circus

[PR19_Kit]

That C-119 is a BIG aircraft when it's built. 

I have an OOB AC-119G version, finished in USAF Viet Nam scheme obviously, and it's the heaviest model I own, and recall it needed a lot of noseweight. But there's BAGS of space for it of course. My styrene landing gear has stood the test of time however, but it does look spindly.

[zenrat]

Looking at the white metal parts I was wondering if they were up to the job.
The plastic blister had separated from the card, parts had escaped and one of them got badly bent.  It straightened out OK which I suppose is one of the advantages of white metal.

I appreciate its size which is why i'm using it to work up to a Monogram Peacemaker by way of an Academy C97.  Call it a plan if you like.  Stage 1 was the Turbocat.  This is stage 2.

[NARSES2]

That's one of the problems with white metal I find. The better the detail the harder the alloy needs to be and therefore more liable to serious damage when straightening a part if it does get bent.

I've not used SAC parts so can't comment on them, but I did find Aeroclub were a little on the "lets use a softer alloy and accept softer detail" side. Purely personal view and others will differ.

[PR19_Kit]

I've used some SAC sets on my 1/144 airliners and was very pleased with them. They're much stronger than the injections parts, but in 1/144 they're usually pretty thin and weal anyway.

[zenrat]

White metal is what, pewter?  Which is tin & lead?  I guess the higher the lead content the softer it is.

I've not used an SAC set.  First one is going on the Brawler.  Legs are on the back fine but I should have studied the kit instructions as I had to slice off some fuselage to get them in.

[PR19_Kit]

AFAIUI pewter is harder than white metal, but looking them both up on Wiki confuses me more. It seems that pewter doesn't have much lead in it these days, but it can have. Whereas white metal always has some lead in it.........I think....

[kitnut617]

Did anyone use those ink compasses etc that were included ?

Yup!, but not recently. I got given a really nice drafting set by my Grand Dad, who was an architect and wanted me to carry on in the family business. Still got it and use it quite often on templates that need making for the models

[zenrat]

Second Motorcycle I rebuilt was a Triumph TR25SS which had a white metal big end bearing on a titanium con-rod.  There was a massive amount of wear in the big end and the bearing shell was wafer thin.  I cut myself removing it.

[NARSES2]

White metal/Pewter ?

Pewter used to be a very specific alloy when it was used for tankards etc but nowadays the definition and content is a little looser.

White metal ? Take your pick from a whole host of different combinations of the main elements. It really does cover a whole host of different alloys which is why "white metal" parts vary so much in hardness and detail. Look at 5 different wargames companies metal figures and you will find at least 4 different alloy specs used and some are very different from the others.

[zenrat]

I could have looked it up I suppose.  But being bone idle...

I suspect wargaming figure and model parts manufacturers in general are not too fussy about what they chuck in the melting pot to cast their stuff.

[NARSES2]

I suspect wargaming figure and model parts manufacturers in general are not too fussy about what they chuck in the melting pot to cast their stuff.

Some companies will undoubtedly vary the mix dependent on how the price of the various individual metals rise and fall. Although most will simply buy it in as alloy "ingots" (note not what I would call an ingot but they would  )

For some companies the hardness or indeed softness of their parts/figures is all part of the brand and will stick to the same mix regardless of fluctuating prices.

This thread is currently making me feel quite nostalgic about how I spent 35 years of my life 

[Steel Penguin]

a large percentage of wargames companys are now lead free, there was a scare a few years ago that the US were going to ban and wargames figs with lead in as they were "toys".  The resulting metals are harder, and more brittle making them far less fun to work with, convert and glue.
there is at least one of the company's that has a separate line that is still sold as "lead containing"  ( and as normal wile I can remember that I cant remember who)

[NARSES2]

I thought most had gone lead free mate and that was the reason for the increased hardness. Thanks for the confirmation 

[zenrat]

I almost started a new aircraft build today.  I had a Hasegawa P38 out on the bench (bought started - the interior paint has been done and the pilot is missing) but uan urgent need to drop the kids off at the pool forced me back into the house.
That's prolly too much information...

Anyway, having been looking at Allan's Halifax and Brad C's B29 I have the urge to build a bomber now - an old school kit with "working" features, raised detail and masses of massive rivets.  I'll have to grok the stash and see what leaps out at me.

[TheChronicOne]

    Brotha I sympathize the pool business. More so as of late.


Totally get underway on a heavy! I'd love to see your take on a bomber.       I love doing the bigger stuff. My first airplane kits as a kid were bombers. I built 'em then played with 'em.