Hi Rowan

I am glad you are a few steps ahead of me :-) :-) :-) Many thanks!!!!!

Today I put in 2 short bits of a hypodermic needle to replace the sanded cowling MG. Also I took some care of the engine replica (just some black and Alu).

Furthermore I followed your advice and shortend the cockpit floor and drilled the lighting holes (photos tomorrow, as it is too dark now)

Keep the updates coming so I can avoid mistakes ;-)

best wishes

Steffen

Hi Steffen

Touché! I just asked your advice on tackling the cowling in your thread - because you're ahead of me there! :-)

I've just juggled the cockpit into position - it's quite a tight fit (maybe the instrument panel would be better fitted last - it could be worth a look when you get to that point) - and cemented the fuselage and wings together to set overnight.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Hmm, this might be the first mistake I made ... I glued the cockpit floor to the wing (the only place with an alignment help). Test fit show it will go in ok, but of course I have not test fit the instrument panel so there might be a future problem. I just had no idea how to glue it to that point later ...

you see I seldom consult the instructions ... of course I'll complain later that the instructions were not clear enough :-) :-) :-) :-)

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

Yes - I looked at that indendation... and decided to ignore it! :-) I found the armour plate fitted perfectly into the headreast and the "spar" was a nice tight fit across the fuelage without any glue, so I wedged it in place and then flowed cement around it.




LOL! I must admit I read them - and then usually decide on my own construction sequence anyway (which occasionally backfires on me badly! )!

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Back home from work early and raring to go!

I came up with the solution for what I'll do about the cowling. Because this is supposed to be basically an OOB build, I'll keep the Type 10 cowl as supplied and try to modify the late style cowl to improve the profile. That way I can be sure of finishing the kit and also have the modified cowl for comparison shots.

I quickly made a rather rough T-shaped air-intake out of brass sheet. I'll do this again more carefully, or try making the intake out of plastic - this was really just to prove to myself that I had a method ready before going ahead. I also filled the existing intakes with "supafilla" (talc+CA) and drilled out the gun-ports so they don't get lost when I start sanding:



I've mounted the cowling on a drill - so time to stop typing and get sanding!



All the best

Rowan

Hi again

So far, so good... the cowling's definitely got a rounder profile (although, as Steffen pointed out in his excellent build-thread, the difference is easier to see and feel than to photograph):



Now to try to add a new air-intake and guns...

All the best

Rowan

THANK YOU, Rowan!!!

You are a great inspiration! ... "Konkurrenz belebt das Geschäft", I guess

After seeing your results I re-did my cowling (again) with a motortool and now I am happy with it. At least I know this is as far as I can get.

I omit a photo as we both came to the same result: "it resists being photographed" :-) :-) :-)

go back to work, I am almost as far as you

cheers and

Steffen
BTW today I started a Skybow Tiger I for the "Tank ace" campaign and I came very far, what a nice little model!!!

Hi Steffen

We make a good double act - each inspiring the other on this build!

I've tackled the bit that worried me most in modifying the cowling - replacing the air intake. I scrapped the folded-brass idea and went with a piece of plastic rod carved into a T-shape and sanded to match the contour of the cowling.

Once it was in place, I drilled some small holes and opened them up with an extra-fine needle file:



Here's the intermediate result:



I may thin the lips of the intake down a little more, but I'm basically happy with it and can get on with adding the guns.

With the cowling mods done - and the basic airframe assembled, I think the most difficult parts of the construction should be out of the way. Now that's tempted fate!

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan

mine is not looking as good, but as my cowling will be black, I can live with it. Just a little clean up with a tooth brush required.



keep it comming

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

That's looking a neat bit of repair work! I think my intake is a tad too large - it's attached with CA, so I could de-bond it - but I'll probably live with it in the interests of moving on.

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan!

You are doing a nice job on the I-16. This kit seems to have success amongst Armorama members! :-)

I have a question about the picture above: how do you shoot pictures while you are working with two hands on a model? Do you have a third hand? Does your girlfriend shoot the picture? Do you use a camera tripod? Do you hold the camera with your chin and use your tongue to press the button?
Just curious!

Jean-Luc

Or none of the above...

Hi Jean-Luc

When the robbery at Madame Tussaud's hits tomorrow's newspapers my secret will be out!

All the best

Rowan

Hi Jean-Luc

I like this picture because it shows how small the intake really is. While the large pictures are good to see details, they also overexpose some "mistakes", as e.g. that I forgot to clean the intake of some sanding residue...

I think Rowan bought himself a ghost writer ... how else could he manage to build so much first class models in such a short time --> hence 4 hands to work and photograph

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

Actually, I think it just proves how stupid I was to turn down the opportunity to build a Wyvern with Jean-Luc for the Suez Campaign! Maybe I've found the answer to my modelling-block - working alongside a modeller of your calibre has provided the fun and inspiration needed to get me building again. I was infamous on Armorama for once saying the UK crowd needed a rocket up the whatsit - well it looks like I'm now on the receiving end and it's done me the world of good! :-)

All the best

Rowan

Wow another great I-16 build-up. I am just coming across yours and Steffen's. Maybe we should have a campaign or group build where people build the exact same kit. It is really neat to see your individual takes on things.

Great stuff.
Leon

Hi again

A last look at my little Ishak before painting:





The undercarriage is only fitted temporarily for the photos and I've left the cowling loose so I can add the exhausts and engine after I've done the basic camouflage.

Airframe construction went smoothly, with no filler needed at all on the fuselage and just a touch of "supafilla" (talk + CA) at the wing roots, where I spent a few minutes getting everything smooth before re-scribing the joint.

All the best

Rowan

Hi Rowan

I hope you will not regret you did not build in the stacks before painting ... they are not easy to fit even when the fuselage and wing are 3 parts and not one....

I wish you: "Go(o)d speed!" :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

cheers

Steffen

Hi Steffen

Thanks for the heads-up. I've done a quick check to make sure I haven't messed up and you'll be glad to know the exhausts slot in fine through the open front.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

I couldn't resist trying the same basic "primer" technique as on my Yak 1. This is stage 1 - after a combination base coat/pre-shade of gloss black, I've sprayed Alclad II Dark Aluminium on the metal panels.



I've since masked them off and the next stage will be to paint the fuselage and wing-roots with WEM's grey wood primer. The wings? Well I'm going to treat the fabric differently this time. Pics of unpainted Spanish-built I-16s and a modern restoration show what appear to be clear-doped fabric areas, so I'll give the red-oxide a miss and go for a linen colour. Once again this is Eeducated guesswork" - so treat it with caution.

And lastly - a big thank you to Dave (Grumpy) for the latest addition to my workshop! The lazy susan is getting its first outing this weekend and is proving very useful already.Thanks Dave!

All the best

Rowan

Use it in good health....
Looks good so far.

Very neat Rowan another stunner in the making
I know the rocket that you talk about, I think I rquire one, do they sell 'em at Screw fix? :-)
Mal

Cheers Dave and Mal

Here's the result of the "primer" stage:



I haven't worried about getting a particularly even finish (especially on the fabric areas) because all that'll be seen of these colours on the finished kit is where there's paint-chipping.

Time for lunch and then to start on the latex stippling before applying the camouflage...

All the best

Rowan

P.S. - Mal, I got a few funny looks wandering 'round trailing smoke - but I'm certainly enjoying building again! :-)

Hi Rowan

now you are really ahead of me ... although mine wont get that treatment, just a layer of black primer ... trying to do some "reverse preshading"

Sadly now WEM parcel yet .... hopefully tomorrow OTOH giving me the chance doing some website update ...

cheers

Steffen

Hi Rowan!

Looks very good so far and this one will be another great model for sure... but now you can give the sponge pieces to your girlfriend so she can finish to wash the dishes! I hear her screaming "were the hell did you put the new sponges I just bought Rowan!" :-)

Jean-Luc

Hi Jean-Luc

you jingoistic (++) ... of course Rowan will do the dishes himself :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) (LMAO) ... sorry I could not resist

cheers

Steffen