So I recently picked up the Revell 1/48 Stearman PT-17. At first glance, it looks like a realy nice kit; but we'll see how it goes once I start assembly. Does anyone have any tips on detailing the Continental R-670 engine? It's just sitting right there out in the open so I want to detail it.

Also, what the heck is "Interior Green"?

Jim

US interior green is FS 34151:

It's that characteristic green which is very difficult to describe.

Here's the pointy end of a Stearman. The kit engine replicates this fairly well. All you'd need is the spark plug wires and the oil lines running between the cylinder heads.

I'm looking forward to see what you do with her James. I have one sitting in the stash, she looks like a real gem in the box.

Jessica, thanks for the help. I'll have to pick some of that MM Interior Green up at my LHS. Now, if I understand this aircraft, it is a fabric skinned fuselage, so would the interior of the fuselage be Interior Green or the same color as the exterior? The instructions have the interior framework Interior Green.

I might be able to figure out something for the engine. Doesn't look too difficult. Yea, I say that now!

Paul, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll probably start assembly once I finish up my 1974 Kenworth W900L:
http://automodeler.kitmaker.net/forums/179374&page=1

But before the IVECO ladder truck (long way to go):
http://automodeler.kitmaker.net/forums/217825&page=1

Jim

The metal framework would be interior green, but the inside of the fabric would not. Photos of restored aircraft show that the inside of the fabric is an off-white or light grey


I'm pretty certain that the seat cushions (if present) would not have been red in the original aircraft.

That's a great shot. Thanks, Jessica.

Jim

JimB
Depending on where you live. Rhinebeck aerodrome has a Stearman. (at least the last time I was there) If you have an airport near you Call up the flight service or Fixed Base Operator (FBO) and ask if there is a Stearman in the area.

New England Air Museum has a Stearman. And if you ask they will let you take pictures up close and personal. Windsor Locks, CT. March 15 2015 they have an Open Cockpit Day
Enjoy
Captn Tommy

Thanks, Tommy. I'm in Syracuse, NY, so those are kind of far from me. Good information if I'm ever in those areas. I've heard of Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, but I've never been there.

Jim

The Glen Curtiss Museum is at the South end of one of the Finger Lakes. Nice Museum. May not have Stearman ...But.....

It's in Hammondsport, NY, on Keuka Lake. It's about 90 miles from Syracuse. That's definitely closer.

Jim

James,
Just saw this thread. I've just finished up building my second Stearman. I wish I had taken pictures of it now.
This is a really, really excellent kit. The fuselage halves go together seamlessly. The interior ribbing is interior green, which I see Jessie has already told you about. The fabric on the inside was doped, but not painted, so this could be either white or off white. I went with white, didn't even paint it at all

The small instrument box in the rear cockpit is painted flat black on the side and aluminum on the top. Decal # 3 & 4 go on it. The instructions do have the number there, but the don't tell you they are decals.
The only other thing to watch out for is the rigging instructions. They could use a little more clarification. Use them, but also the box top art work give you a better idea on how the rigging goes.

Lastly, if you look REAL close to the tail and the landing gear struts you will see very small diamond shapes. Drill there for the rigging. And take it from me, before you do anything with our Stearman, drill out those holes
Ask me how I found that out

I used floral wire on the first one I did and the plane came out great...but the rigging killed it. The second one I used EZ Line and it looks very good...if I do say so myself

Later

Thanks for the tips, Bruce. I appreciate it. What's EZ Line? I've never heard of it.

Jim

It's GOT to be better than the Lindberg kit. Talk about a dog!

Judge for yourself. Most people agree that it's pretty much the best available.

I don't really know if this belongs here in "Early Aviation" or "WWII", but I finally managed to get some work done on my 1/48 Stearman PT-17! I finished the cockpit, and am now working on the engine & fuselage. Things are progressing well (despite help from the cats ), and I've only managed to break the tail-wheel off once . Quite an achievement for me.

Here are some pics of the cockpit assembly:







I still have no idea how I'm going to rig the wings, or what I'm going to use. Maybe I'll head to the LHS today to see if they have some of that EZ-Line.

Jim

Got some more work done on the Stearman today. I have been stressing over what to use for rigging, and I think I've found a solution: 0.005" steel surgical suture. I did a couple of tests, and it really looks good. Spent some of today drilling holes in the tail, horizontal stabilizer, & fuselage for the rigging connection points. That might have been a complete waste of time as those tiny holes will probably get filled with paint. We'll just have to wait & see.



Also got the fuselage assembled. There is some seam work to do on the front cowling, but it shouldn't be all that difficult. Here is the fuselage as it stands right now:







Here's an overhead view:





I did place the wings & engine on so I could get a better idea of how big the finished model will be. Hey! It's starting to look like an airplane! (And I still haven't broken the tail wheel off again. )





Jim

Making some headway on the Stearman. Still really have no idea how I'm going to rig the aircraft. I have some ideas, but more trepidation that solutions. I guess I'm just going to have to bite the bullet & rig it.

Here is where it stands right now:


WIP on the prop. I tried to used the Revell supplied decals, and that was a disaster. I'm going to go with paint & hope for the best. I'm hoping that the Hamilton Standard logos are salvageable so I can put them on the prop.


Looking more & more like an airplane!


Jim

Hi Jim, sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. Your Steerman is coming along great

EZ Line is a polymer strand thread that can stretch up to 6 times it length. Its available from Berkshire Junction only. I don't believe he sells to LHS's That said, here is his website.

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/

Have fun and keep us posted
Later

Thanks for the info, Bruce. I appreciate it. It's not so much what I'm going to use, it's where the rigging goes. The instructions are vague at best, and there are no mounting points on the aircraft.

Jim

The kit has little dimples moulded where the rigging is supposed to attach. You could try my wire loops method, or you could try drilling right through the parts, supergluing the rigging lines and then cleaning up the opposite surfaces.
I did my Walrus with the wire loops

And my Albatros with the "drill right through" method.

The kit has little diamonds on the tail & horizontal stabilizer where the rigging goes. Other than that, it's sort of up in the air.

For the tail section I an using the drill through method. Well, not all the way through.

Those are really nice airplanes, Jessica. What scale are they? I really like the Albatros.

Jim

They're the "1/48" SMER Walrus and the 1/48 Eduard Albatros D.III

Take a look for the embossed circles on the bottom of the upper wing and the top of the lower wing near the strut mounts. Those are where the flying and landing wires mount to. The upper end of the landing wires attach right beside the cabane strut mounts. The lower ends of the flying wires mount on the lower fuselage, one pair to the top of the main landing gear strut and the other pair just above the leading edge of the wing. Page 13 of the instructions (yes, I know, who reads instructions?) shows the mounting points pretty plainly. They're also clearly shown on the box art.

I'm building the SMER CR32 now, I'm quite impressed with how the Walrus turned out. The CR32 is a real flash monster.

I had to use my big industrial strength file on it. Here's the build thread which took place elseforum.

So, got the decals on the Stearman the other day, and they look pretty good. Managed to break the tail wheel off (again) Now, I have to finish the horizontal stabilizer & the rigging.







Jim