Zenrat's Flying Circus

[scooter]

The following photo was snapped at Dadswell Bridge Field during the recent filming of a TV motoring show (the one presented by an imbecile, a midget and an old man with a toy fetish).

You sure about that ? They all appear to be on 4 wheels and right way up 

And none on fire.

[Rick Lowe]

The following photo was snapped at Dadswell Bridge Field during the recent filming of a TV motoring show (the one presented by an imbecile, a midget and an old man with a toy fetish).

You sure about that ? They all appear to be on 4 wheels and right way up 

And none on fire.

Give them a chance, they've only been there 5 minutes...

[zenrat]

I have, in amongst my small reference library (pride of place belonging to Bill Gunston's Encyclopedia of Combat Aircraft, 1978 edition inscribed "to Fred from Mummy & Daddy") a copy of The Model Makers Handbook (Dorling Kindersley 1981).  One of the techniques it describes which I have always meant to try is the use of foil for natural metal finish on aircraft.
The book recommends cutting the foil along panel lines but i've always found when folding cars that if burnished down properly the seams are pretty much invisible.
Small Model Plane WIP 31-12-17 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I must say it turned out pretty good.  It used a heck of a lot of foil (about half a sheet for that tiny aircraft) and took ages to do but it's nice and shiny and looks even better since decaling.
The black parts are the fabric covered control surfaces which I will paint silver.

[PR19_Kit]

More strength to your arm Fred, that's a difficult technique to master but that looks a superb job.

I once did a Bonanza Airlines F-27 using a lot of Bare Metal Foil, and it'll be my one and only attempt...............

[Rick Lowe]

Looking lovely.
Did you use bare-metal foil, (or some other self-adhesive stuff), or kitchen foil glued down? And if it was std cooking foil, what did you use to glue it down?

[TheChronicOne]

That's awesome. I've often wondered about the whole foil stuff. Seems to me like something that would be rather tedious and frustrating but the outcome..... . ..

[NARSES2]

Well done mate  I have tried using Bare Metal Foil in the past, but the results (if you can call them that) were 

[DogfighterZen]

Happy new year! 
And very nice work indeed, Fred. I also have wondered how one uses that foil but never really had enough interest to look it up...

[zenrat]

It is genuine Bare Metal Foil.  The Matt Aluminium finish.  I bought a couple of sheets by mistake once when I thought I was ordering the chrome version and it's been sitting in my fridge* mostly unloved and unused ever since.
Under natural light or Halogen globes it looks fine but under the flouros at my bench (I foiled it in the lounge room) the seams stand out and so if I do another one i'll follow the instructions and line them up with panel lines.

Today I removed nearly all of the fiddly bits of Yakkety Yak off the sprues and cleaned them up.  I painted some tape for the nose canopy frames and painted the cockpit canopy.  And I rebuilt the nose gear from two flimsy plastic parts into one solid plastic/paper clip composite part.


*Yes I do.  It prevents the chrome foil cracking (although since the new improved version it doesn't really need it).

[zenrat]

Yakkety Yak has glazing.
Yak 28 WIP 04-01-18 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
And since this pic, main and nose gear as well.
Undercarriage arrangement on this is nose and main twin wheel bogies on the centreline and wingtip outriggers.  I can see the outriggers getting snapped off very very easilly.

[Rick Lowe]

Looking sharp there, Fred. 

[zenrat]

Thanks Rick.  Being an A Model kit slow and steady seems to be the only way to go - take your time, fixing up the flaws as you go.
I still have 3 rather misshapen spikes to fit onto the nose and wingtips (more delicate parts to snap.  I'm pondering whether to fire up the lathe and turn them but I suppose I should try to clean them up first.  What's the betting I get two sorted and then bugger the third one?

[Rick Lowe]

  What's the betting I get two sorted and then bugger the third one?

Ah, ever the optimist. 

I understand that, though - Murphy seems to be a constant, unwanted lodger...

[NARSES2]

That looks glorious mate 

Being an A Model kit slow and steady seems to be the only way to go - take your time, fixing up the flaws as you go.

Same can be said of a few older limited run kits by many a manufacturer. I normally work on a modern tooling by one of the "big boys" at the same time. Small steps and they can be nice builds, bigger steps and they can get frustrating I find.

[zenrat]

Hmm, page 100.

I am about to upgrade my operating system.  Should you never hear from me again, it's been emotional...