Re-engined Fairey IIIF - 1/72 Vacform

[PR19_Kit]

I only ever built one biplane in my life, EXACTLY for that reason. Those wires would drive me crazy! 

The word you were looking for Kit was CRAZIER! 

Yeah, OK Jim. 

You've known me too long. 

[Old Wombat]

No, it's only CRAZIER if Kit extends the wings, thereby increasing the rigging!



PS: I keep having to remind myself this is a vacuform kit! Brilliant!

[zenrat]

I only ever built one biplane in my life, EXACTLY for that reason. Those wires would drive me crazy! 

Yep, I've given up on my Stranraer for now, I foolishly thought it would be easier than my Gladiator & Siskin because it is bigger......

No no no.  Many more wires to attach.  I'm constantly tempted by a 1/72 Stranraer but stop myself with thoughts of all those lines to rig.

[Doug K]

I only ever built one biplane in my life, EXACTLY for that reason. Those wires would drive me crazy! 

Yep, I've given up on my Stranraer for now, I foolishly thought it would be easier than my Gladiator & Siskin because it is bigger......

No no no.  Many more wires to attach.  I'm constantly tempted by a 1/72 Stranraer but stop myself with thoughts of all those lines to rig.

Very wise

[JayBee]

Many years ago I heard this old tale from an RAF Rigger.

Get a Canary and put it between the wings. If it can fly out, there  is a wire missing!

[PR19_Kit]

Many years ago I heard this old tale from an RAF Rigger.

Get a Canary and put it between the wings. If it can fly out, there  is a wire missing!

Hehehe my Dad said the same thing about Audaxes, and after building this I could see JUST what he meant!

[kitnut617]

Many years ago I had started a biplane and wanted to build it with the rigging. But as you folk have found, how do you do it without having bits of wire to clean up ---- well, I thought that I might leave the two wings not having the top and bottom halves glued together, then I was going to build a jig so the wing side that attaches to the struts would be held firmly, run the wires through those wing bits and then glue the wire loose ends to the inside the wing. I would then glue the other wing parts to the assembled wing parts.

Of course I never finished it --- and it's somewhere in the stash --- I think, I haven't seen it in years -----

[buzzbomb]

I have used a few methods to rig, this is the first time trying this method.
Normal method is to drill holes at the top of each strut, then thread a single piece of thread through. Not a 100% accurate, but it generally looks ok.

This method, Ok.. so far.. pretty average, couple of wires did not play at 100%
I used some 110 denier Lycra Rigging Thread, which is nice and stretchy.

Agricultural jig to hold the aircraft, upside down to help with feeding through the wires.


Wires were fed through and glued one at a time, working from back to front. Hold onto the excess, give a small bit of tension, put on a teeny tiny dob of Superglue, wait, wait, wait (repeat until your inner demons say release), then release slowly. So as to not ping it back. The idea being the glue is pull down into the hole.


Give it 30 mins or so, then with a new scalpel blade and I did use a scalpel, grab a wire, pull slightly and wick off with the blade. The object being for the excess thread to hopefully move back into the hole. Again, mostly appeared to work ok


Fill the holes with a water based filler, like Vallejo or similar


Next steps will be to see if that worked as expected then repaint.
More to follow

[buzzbomb]

Probably call this as done.

Not strong on backstories but here we go.
The fledgling Irish Air Corps wanted a GP/Coastal Surveillance Aircraft. Looking to Britain the Fairey IIIF fitted the requirements, although they wanted a more powerful engine. So fitting a cowled Bristol Mercury Engine, replacing the normal Napier Lion. This fitted more with the other aircraft that had radial engines coming online. Renamed the Fairey Finbar, this aircraft gave stirling service to Ireland, being finally retired in 1944 after spares became very scarce.

Added wheels and exhaust system and fitted the seats. There is a more rigging but the rigging mojo has moved on

[PR19_Kit]

That would be a great model if it was built from a mass production injected kit, but as it's from a Contrail vacform, AND Whiffed as well, it's MIRACULOUS! 

[zenrat]

Marvellous.

[Old Wombat]

Excellent job, BT!

[NARSES2]

That really has come out well 

[stevehed]

Splendid job. Really looks the part.

[Scotaidh]

That's excellent!  The cowling really gives it a pugnacious look - it makes the model, IMHO.