Cessna 172 Floatplane - Real World

zenrat · May 25, 2019, 04:25:45 AM

This was originally an Eidai mould dating from 1972. This version was released by Grip sometime later in the seventies. It was also released by Entex, Hales and Arii (in 1992).
It's fairly basic but goes together OK and could be detailed up if someone wanted to put some effort into it...
...except for the canopy. Mind was moulded with a frosted texture and was slightly short shot on the lower corners.
I would however like to get hold of another as it wasn't an unpleasant build and i'd like to see if it was just my version with bad glass or if they are all like that.

Cessna 172 - 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I polished up the windscreen and the side windows but the rear window was missing so I faired in the hole where it should have been.

Cessna 172 - 9 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The decals didn't work (not surprising as they are at least 40 years old) so I scanned them and printed out a new set.

Cessna 172 - 4 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Cessna 172 - 6 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I suppose technically it IS a whiff due to the lack of rear window and the fact that I glued the float struts on upside down.

strobez · May 25, 2019, 05:02:56 AM

Oh, now that's some nice work. I have the Beechcraft Bonanza kit that is cousins with this one. I've been thinking about about this one too, so it's nice to have some reference.

zenrat · May 25, 2019, 05:21:39 AM

Thanks Greg.
That canopy bugs me though. Also, although you can't see it due to the prop in the last pic, the radiator (or whatever) intake around and below the prop isn't symmetrical (I am assuming it is IRL).

And another thing, I should have weighted the front of the floats. Despite filling the entire nose forward of the cockpit with fishing weights it still sits back on the floats. It is almost there though, it would only need one weight in each float.

But other than that i'm happy with it. The 172 is such a commonly seen aircraft you'd think there would be more of them in scale.
Which in this case is 1/72 BTW.

strobez · May 25, 2019, 09:35:22 AM

I have yet to build a float plane that sits properly on its floats. Better than sitting on its tail, regardless.

I'm also surprised that the Cessna 172 is so hard to find in 1/72 scale (and I really just lucked out in 1/144 - thanks F-Toys!). I notice that there was a recent release of what looks to be a very nice 1/72 scale Cessna 152 in resin. I've got my eye on it for my Tintin build, but my 1/144 CH-54 Tarhe was my "can't justify the price, but I'm sure if you snooze you lose" purchase that needs to sustain me for a while.

Still... it IS a nice Cessna 152....

NARSES2 · May 26, 2019, 06:27:44 AM

That looks good in that scheme mate

Quote from: zenrat on May 25, 2019, 04:25:45 AM

I suppose technically it IS a whiff due to the lack of rear window and the fact that I glued the float struts on upside down.

If done deliberately then it's a Wiff, if not then it's just a cock up

loupgarou · May 26, 2019, 06:36:51 AM

Anyway it's a very pretty plane.

strobez · May 26, 2019, 08:16:42 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on May 26, 2019, 06:27:44 AM
If done deliberately then it's a Wiff, if not then it's just a cock up

I didn't know that... cockupmodellers.com... it just doesn't have the same ring to it...

king of men · May 26, 2019, 09:17:28 PM

Quote from: strobez on May 26, 2019, 08:16:42 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on May 26, 2019, 06:27:44 AM
If done deliberately then it's a Wiff, if not then it's just a cock up

Yikes! Now I'm going to have to recategorize half my whifs!

zenrat · May 27, 2019, 02:58:28 AM

Cock up. I originally glued the struts on so they angled forward from the fuselage. They looked better that way but consulting the interweb showed that was wrong (and I thought putting the floats further back might get it to sit on them properly) so I reversed them but didn't pay attention when doing so.

Glad y'all like it.

Dizzyfugu · May 27, 2019, 04:35:57 AM

Now that's sweet!

NARSES2 · May 27, 2019, 07:41:19 AM

Quote from: king of men on May 26, 2019, 09:17:28 PM
Quote from: strobez on May 26, 2019, 08:16:42 AM
Quote from: NARSES2 on May 26, 2019, 06:27:44 AM
If done deliberately then it's a Wiff, if not then it's just a cock up

Yikes! Now I'm going to have to recategorize half my whifs!

I won't be far behind

I've never been sure what my very first "Wifs" should be categorised as ? This would be back in the 60's when as a kid you just built models. Wiffery didn't exist although it was quite common in Wargamming circles to fight non historical battles. I just wonder at what age building a model differently became a deliberate act ? I think my first deliberate "wiffs" would have been Airfix armour kit for my wargamming.

Am I getting a touch to philosophical ?

Old Wombat · May 27, 2019, 08:19:58 AM

The easy way around this, of course, is not to admit it's a cock-up but, rather, say, loud & proud, "Oh, yes, that's what I intended all along!"

The Rat · June 07, 2019, 08:35:22 AM

Nice work on that! And it's possible that the rear window wasn't missing. I've built that kit, and the rear window is unrecognizable for what it's supposed to be. If there is a foggy blob somewhere in the box that won't even come close to fitting in the intended hole, and looks more like someone spilled a blob of liquid polystyrene, you've found it!

Scotaidh · June 07, 2019, 12:30:42 PM

Or you could cut a piece of Scotchtape to size, stick it on, and claim that the angle is so acute it's not really usable anyway, due to it reflecting the rear dashboard ...

zenrat · June 07, 2019, 05:53:56 PM

Quote from: The Rat on June 07, 2019, 08:35:22 AM
Nice work on that! And it's possible that the rear window wasn't missing. I've built that kit, and the rear window is unrecognizable for what it's supposed to be. If there is a foggy blob somewhere in the box that won't even come close to fitting in the intended hole, and looks more like someone spilled a blob of liquid polystyrene, you've found it!

No blobs. There is a place on the "clear" parts sprue where it looks like it should have been. The whole lot was bagged and there was nothing in the bag.