F7F-3N

[thug626]

This build has been going on for approximately a year now. I build one kit/project at a time because if I have multiple kits going one at any given time, I know nothing will get done. ;D
This is Italeri's version of the Tigercat. The kit itself would certainly be acceptable for a novice modeler and it's a very nice kit if someone were wishing to expand their scratch building skills. I chose the latter. For that choice, I finally got the fuselage put together last week.

An rather nice reference book. I just may build naval based aircraft just for the books. ;D

The Quickboost engines are quite the little gems.

Eduard's PE set only covers the -3 variant. If you want extra detail for the -3N be prepared to build your own detail.

The RO panel as it comes out of the box. Granted there are inaccuracies but, with a bit of work it can be improved.

After a "bit" of remodeling.

The RO's office. Awaiting a primer coat.
.

Cheers
Dave

[dupes]

A "bit" of remodeling? I guess!

[thug626]

More pics.......
The front office as it is OOB.


Here's the replacement IP posed next to the stock IP. Again, not bad OOB but, it can be improved upon.

Not even close to how it should look. The only thing I used off of this was the grip.

After scratching the detail and, a lot of scouring reference pics.

The left side of the front office. Nothing left of the molded detail.

The stock pilots seat is now residing as a wheel chock.....in 1/48 scale. The seat is from the PE set. All of the framework is styrene stock. This is where some artistic license was applied. I could not find, for the life of me, any reference pics on this.

Here we have the right side of the front office.

Release handles constructed from brass rod soldered.

Cheers
Dave

[thug626]

Good morning Dupes,
A "bit"......I knew going into this that there was going to be a fair amount of scratch building. The further I get into this build the more I realize that I'll be replacing and/rebuilding. Just wait until we get to the nacelle details and the access panels. I've told my wife to make the tranquilizer gun full auto and belt fed.
Cheers
Dave

[thug626]

Now this area is where I've spent a fair amount of time. The nose gear and associated mechanisms. The hydraulic detail is molded on the wrong side. . Most of the detail was shaved off.

The nose gear make a nice base for detailing.

Beginnings of the nose gear detailing.....

The oleo scissor replacement was redone from brass wire and sheet stock. This was not to last.........more on that later......

You can see the detail has been shaved here and, there is a front bulkhead installed. Toward the read is a chunk of styrene to form the mounting point for the rear bulkhead for the wheel well.

After a bit of trial and error with styrene, brass rod and, hypodermic tubing, we have hydraulics. I chose the rod and tubing because the rod would be free moving, just like the real thing. This would facilitate ease of final assembly down the road.....and it did.

A mock up of the hydraulics....

I stumbled across the resin replacement for the nose, while looking into profiles of the nose. It was about $16 and worth every penny. I was not relishing the thought of trying to correct the gross inaccuracy of the stock nose.

Here is the replacement on the left and, stock on the right.
You decide.


I've pretty much installed a kedge anchor in the nose to keep it from becoming a tail sitter when all is said and done.


Cheers
Dave

[thug626]

I wanted the Cat to have some dynamic elements when it's done. Not everything in a neutral setting. So, I cut the rudder and trim tab loose. These will be slightly offset.

The indispensable tools that made it possible with very little fuss.

The bottom edge of the rudder.
The lower portion of the vertical stabilizer blanked off as this will be visible when done.

It was very nice to finally get some color laid down. Here is the RO panel before applying all of the Airscale Instrument Decals.

The IP is finally in place. There is a green area on the upper tight portion that has yet to get the instrument cluster installed.

While dry fitting the front office into the fuselage halves, the IP popped off. Here it's clamped while the PVA glue sets.

The RO office assembled and awaiting the fuselage assembly. The white styrene you see is to shim out a couple of gaps present on either side that presented themselves at this time.

Now it's finally looking like an aircraft.


A mock up of the nose and gear......

Remember the comment about the oleo scissor?
During the mock up, a wayward arm with a bulky sweat shirt sleeve sent the nose gear flying. During the search for the wayward part it was discovered that the nose gear was now in at least two parts.

When the main portion of the gear was located after a 30 minute search, it was realized that the oleo scissor was destroyed. Back to the drawing board. This time I used styrene. The styrene rod that forms the pivot point for the scissor will be trimmed up. I wanted the glue to fully set before even attempting it.

The gear repaired. The shaft that was snapped off, now has a section of brass wire internally reinforcing it. Everything was able to be glued back together as it was before.

Here is where the nose gear will reside until I am absolutely ready to install it.

The rear bulkhead installed. Without it there was going to be a gapping maw.

The nose wheel mechanisms are done and awaiting color.


This is where everything sets at this time. The wheel well just needs some color and weathering before I button up the nose.

Cheers
Dave

[thug626]

I found some pics of the RO office while rebuilding it.


All done and awaiting color.

Here is sets with its associated parts. The side panels were reworked as well.

The panel on the right has a scratch built map case and relief tube.


Cheers
Dave

[Mence]

Not seen one of these. Modelled before. Lovely extra detail being added, all looks great from here.

[thug626]

Hello Mence,
Thank you for looking in and the compliment. At some point I think I'd like to build a -3 version
Dave

[modelfreak72]

Dear god man! What outstanding work!! ;D ;D

Pete

[thug626]

Hello Pete,
Thank you for the high praise. ;D I had hoped to get some color in the wheel well but, the fog and freezing temps mean the garage is pretty much like a well digger's.......well you get the idea.
Dave

[thug626]

Hello DickyF, Thank you for the compliment. I flip back and forth between armor and AC. The AC are not as forgiving with fit errors. Kinda difficult to cover that with some mud.
I had high hopes of getting some color laid down today but with the weather being what it is, the garage is 46˚F and dropping. Time to condense the two older kids rooms since they're in college and only come home on occasion. It's time to start planning for and indoor hobby bench. .
Dave

[danb.]

Wow Dave some really good scratch work there buddy i have just ventured into the wingy scene and work like yours keeps me going keep it up mate

Dan B

[thug626]

Hello Dan,
Thank you and you're welcome. What do you usually build?

With the right gear on you can paint in most any weather.

What is thy bidding my master?

The paint is Floquil Weyerhauser Green. I found it in the RR section of the LHS.


Dave

[fightnjoe]

dave very impressive scratch work. excellent detail. looking forward to how this turns out.



joe

[thug626]

Thank you for the compliment Joe. Stay tuned but please don't hold your breath for it to be done anytime soon. I've always wanted to do an uber detail build with a lot of scratch building. I figured this would be a good warm up for the B-17 I want to do to honor my Great Uncle Bill and my wife's dad Jack. That'll be a build where I will have to set it aside from time to time.
Dave

[fightnjoe]

dave that is awesome. i am kind of working that way myself. been following along on warbird information exchange with a restoration in england. contacted one of the posters and now have around 500 pics for ref for almost everything from nose to tail and wing tip to wing tip. the guy took pics of the dismantle as well as the restoration.



joe

[deafpanzer]

Beautiful work there!!! I have missed some of your recent updates so I am damn glad you can post your work here too. It sure will be a masterpiece when it is completed.

[bullardino]

Dave, this is a masterpiece

And at the same time the reason I left wingies for tanks. You forgot to show them how little are those soldered handles in the cockpit I really don't know how you guys get to see them, and once you've seen them ho do you handle them...

Stunning job, that will be a winner for sure.

[thug626]

Joe, thank you very much. Oh man, I am envious of you. That is a great source of info. Myself, I love the nuts and bolts of things like that. I just found out recently, that there is an airworthy Tigercat up in Washington. Would I love to crawl through that with several data cards for my camera.
Andy, thank you for looking in on the build. It's great to have you along.
Bullardino, Wow Thank you for the high praise. I'm kind of goofy about detail like that. As too the handling of the parts.....very carefully! And tossing parts scraps to the carpet monsters to, hopefully, satiate their appetites.

I just got a call from work. Looks like I'm on call tonight. Hmmmm, lets see what I can get done.

Dave

[M1Carbine]

Dave - the photo..............LMAO...............holy cow!............LOL

Darth Thug

Bob

[deafpanzer]

Jan 20, 2013 17:52:21 GMT -5 thug626 said:

You think I have just slight chance to be nominated for Oscar award... I think I did better than Luke Skywalker?

[thug626]

OMG Andy!!!! ;D I needed that laugh!
They like you....they really, really like you! (clutching an Oscar)
No progress tonight.....just got called in. I think for the extra $$ tonight, I will get a nice kit for myself...
Dave

[thug626]

I am so sorry Bob, I missed your post.
Darth Thug ;D. One of my co-workers saw that and, is having a lot of fun with it.....Darth Thug will be your nurse tonight. I'd highly recommend that you STAY in your bed.

Dave

[venom1]

Great work Dave,

I admire anyone who can weave magic with the ol' white stuff, and your craftsmanship is no exception! Nice work on the scratchbuilding and stuff!

Cheers,

Sam

[thug626]

Thank you for the compliment Sam. The majority of time spent scratch building is actually used up scouring for reference pics. There's been some artistic license here and there.
My goal this weekend is to get the nose on. We shall see.
Dave

[bbd468]

Jan 21, 2013 22:14:02 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Jan 20, 2013 17:52:21 GMT -5 thug626 said:

You think I have just slight chance to be nominated for Oscar award... I think I did better than Luke Skywalker?

He may not be your father...though he may be but i know his my sisters, cousins, brothers, uncle new your aunts nephew who said you were adopted by Lord Vader....a very complicated issue for sure....your in denial Andy!!! LOL

Dave thats some sweet scratch work right there man! All is comin' together nicely bro!

Gary

[thug626]

Oh holy crap Gary! That damn near made me snork my post shift beer all over the monitor. I hate to waste good beer but, that was pretty funny. A much needed laugh after a heinous shift.
Thank you very much for the compliment. Though this one is pretty far from done, I treated myself to a parts order as I've put in a lot of extra shifts of late.: Model Master pitot tube for a MIG 21MF (lurking in the stash), a few British roundel decal sheets from Aeromaster and........ a couple of goodies for a Tamiya F4F-F Wildcat I have in the stash. For that I purchased an Aries cockpit set and a Wolfpack wing fold set. I am looking forward to those builds but, not before I bring this one across the finish line in its good time. Not rushed.
The more I think about it, the more I am inclined to do this one up in a blue color scheme.
Cheers
Dave

[deafpanzer]

Please post an update or I, Luke Skywalker, will destroy your Death Star! LOL No worries... looking forward to your next update!

[thug626]

Why hello Andy.  There will be an up date in the next day or two.  I've been hankering to get back out to the bench but this work stretch is wiping me out.  No breaks and very few lunches were had by anyone last night.  One more to go. Hey, at least I'm employed and have insurance to cover all the Dr appointments for the boy.  
Ya know, if it's not too much trouble, could you place that Death Star in orbit over my work and let the powers that be know that the workers could use a lot of help.  It's that or go the way or Alderaan. 
Cheers
Dave