Messages

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: November 03, 2013, 21:22:36 PM »

Weathering just about complete on all the flying surfaces now, Ive used various shades of brown, orange and grey to try and recreate the effect of a few hundred hours of low level flying in Peru.

Maybe just a few more oil stains on the underside and she's done ready for the clearcote.  The trick is knowing when to stop! Sometimes less is more, as they say...

It's also never easy doing the weathering indoors under artificial lighting, it looks very different once under sunlight!  Anyway, its only a bit of fun in an attempt to take the shine off the model.

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Events / PSSA Great Orme Oct 2013

« on: October 27, 2013, 22:13:39 PM »

The event write up and photo editing is now completed and uploaded to the PSSA site HERE;

http://www.pssaonline.co.uk/events-review/Great%20Orme%20PSSA%20Event%20October%202013.htm

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 22, 2013, 23:48:09 PM »

So since the maiden flight I've been working on finishing the Macchi with details like stencilling, key panel lines and a little weathering before it is all sealed with a clear lacquer.

This really helps break up the large areas of painted surface, and brings the model to life... its only 'stand-off' scale of course, the lines simply applied with a range of permanent marker pens.












Next stage is a little weathering, not too much but just enough to take the shine off the model in certain places that would naturally get mucky on the full size.  I'm still experimenting with weathering, so bare with me, I've just treated myself to a set of artists pastels, which I'm hoping will do the job!

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Events / PSSA Great Orme Oct 2013

« on: October 15, 2013, 23:40:26 PM »

Great write up John - Im glad that you and Roisin enjoyed your weekends flying with us on the Orme, it was great that you travelled over with the big B-52 and all the other squadron of PSS models!!

Some more pictures from the weekend here :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98511435@N05/sets/72157636599337904/

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 15, 2013, 10:07:52 AM »

Thanks Fred,
Yeah well chuffed with the maiden, and the second flight on the Sunday - it shows a real turn of speed with the RG14 section and was dead smooth in flight from the off - very little buffeting - very jet like - helped no doubt by the AUW at nearly 7lb - but she was stooging around quite nicely in 12-15mph winds so no bother!  Should be pretty awesome when you can really get the trims forward on a high wind day!

Write up is under prep - first job was to edit the photos, which will be available soon, then the write up to follow.  Will post link here (well, in the general PSS section) when it is done.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 13, 2013, 23:06:37 PM »

Took the Macchi to the PSSA event on the Orme this weekend and she flew both days in good conditions - I'm glad to report she flew really well!!







The RG-14 wing section really gave this model a turn of speed yet even at 7lbs AUW it could still stooge around when the lift died off a little for PSS.  Spoileron mix proved very useful to slow the model up on finals.  A bit of refinement needed on the Tx set up with rates and expo will see this model fully fit.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 10, 2013, 18:18:07 PM »

Last post from me before we head off on the Orme trip, she's all balanced and weighs in at 6lb 12oz ready to go, a little overweight (I think nearly 2lb of this is paint!) but this will give it a loading well suited for the big hills she's been built for.

Anyway, job done bar some matt black paint on the intakes, some silver on the exhaust and a few key panel lines, which I'll add this evening.





I've set the CoG at 5" as per the instructions, let's see how she goes!!

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 10, 2013, 01:14:47 AM »

Hey John, yeah the 3M tape idea was new to me too, works well - clever stuff...gives a nice soft edge if applied properly.

With the paint just dry I couldn't resist a few hours of decals and detailing tonight...

This is how she looked with all the masking off.




Ive applied all the vinyl cut decals and a few of the water slides... John the water slides are super, a great addition to the kits.





So this is how it looks at the end of play tonight... just a few bits of detail painting needed now, a few panel lines, and a clear lacquer over the water slides and she's s ready for the slope.  Ill add the fus strakes and some more detail after the maiden.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 09, 2013, 18:46:36 PM »

Had a bit of bother with the dark blue camo and I've had to rework it to the correct pattern as my initial attempts (straight from rattle cans by hand) led to massive overspray on the pale blue.



I treated myself to some self adhesive foam tape, 3M Soft Edge feathering tape, not cheap, but easy to use and Im glad to say its given me the camo finish I was after.



A lot of masking later and we are finally ready to paint.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 08, 2013, 18:43:47 PM »

Thanks Fred, are you travelling to the Orme this weekend with John??  Look forward to meeting you there if you are!

The consoles are a cheat really, Ive just stuck on a printed photo but they work well at this scale giving a 3D feel on a 2D surface - image attached in case anyone else finds it useful for future builds, or if John wants to add it to his kits - I just print them off onto gloss photo paper and trim them to size.



The seats are made from balsa and plasticard.  The canopy handles are bent from plastic covered paper clips.  Its only stand off scale but gives a decent feel for the full size.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 08, 2013, 00:28:48 AM »

Thanks John, the model has gone together very well, Im pleased with the overall finish, just got to finish the paint job now - tonight Ive glued the canopy on firm, it takes a while to set, so its all taped and clamped... now we wait...

Will soon be adding the decals and bringing the model to life!!

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: October 06, 2013, 11:41:24 AM »

So with just a week to go until the final 2013 PSSA Event on the Orme its been all hands on deck regarding the Macchi completion, a lot of late nights after a full days work in the office has got the airframe to this stage - complete ready for paint this weekend during daylight.





Ive added a bit of detail to the office - I had intended to fit the canopy before spraying but my chosen canopy adhesive takes 24 hrs to set hard and I ran out of time... it was essential I sprayed the model this weekend in good light - so all this stuff needs careful masking now and Ill add the canopy and paint that by hand later in the week...



Ive spent some time clearing the garage of all other models and converted it into a little home spray booth with some polythene sheets... and then the fun begins!!!



This is the base coat for the Peruvian AF scheme, a darker blue will be added later today - Im just having a break from the fumes as I upload this post now... :-)

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: September 21, 2013, 07:53:46 AM »

I'm finishing the model in the new 'low vis' colourscheme of the Peruvian Air Force, don't think that's been seen before on the slope so nice to have something a bit different!


(Photo courtesy of Airliners.net - Sergio De La Puente)

John Pearson has been a massive help here and has been good enough to supply me with all the decals beautifully tailored for this scheme, a combo of waterslide and cut vinyl - according to John these will now be made available for future kit sales if you too fancy this scheme!

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: September 20, 2013, 23:24:51 PM »

I've fitted a 1/2 depth cockpit bathtub, enabling a little more scale detail to be added soon...


This shows the underside of the cockpit floor, the forward wing mount former and the servo mounts for the elevator - fus is of excellent quality!


Pilot ready to go - just needs an office detailing now!!


I've strengthened the wing bolt mount using 1/2" hardwood rails which extend along the inner fus walls fore and aft of the mount plate.

Ill add more pics as I make more progress over the next couple of weeks.

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PSS / Aermacchi PSS project

« on: September 20, 2013, 23:21:02 PM »

Just a few pics from my Island Models Aermacchi MB-339 build, which I'm hoping to have finished in time for the October PSSA Event on the Great Orme, Llandudno!

All the major construction work is complete, I've made a few minor mods to improve robustness and scale profile but basically it's a stock build from what is an excellent kit.


The veneered foam wing is effectively complete, here covered in antique Solartex ready for paint...


Wing root detail showing servo bays and vac formed air intake mouldings in place.


Underside of wing showing the large ply load spreader I've added for the wing bolt...


Wing tip pods are all complete, ready for paint - retained with little magnets on the tips and on a former inside the pods...


I've cut the moulded fin back a little on chord and added a (fixed) balsa rudder with a revised profile to obtain a more scale profile...


At the back I've added a scale jet pipe...