JohnF

Very nice Martin, I can't print like that to save my life!

JohnF

Hey Seth, I had forgotten about that! Ron had these which he got from someone else. Mike C. from RC Scale builder. I don't remember what dia. the tire was we used to get 7/16. The wheels I am using are about 9 1/8" measured cross wise.

JohnF

A little more done. I have finished covering the bottom of the top wing center section. The top will be more difficult working around the window opening.

JohnF

Okay, so I have met the challenge of covering the top of the center section. The part that had me was the taper from the rib to the frame of the opening. I made sure the fabric overlapped at the corners. I started by measuring and cutting each piece of fabric. First the rear then the front then the sides were done. The frame was wrapped with the fabric then CA'd and screwed down. Not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

JohnF

Moving along I decided to do some rib stitching (simulated) and tapes. Center section is done from the center every third rib. Rudder is obvious but fin only had stitching on bottom and trailing edge.

Nieuport nut

My Feedback: (10)

John, I'm amazed at the details you have been able to glean from these old photos. Not to mention your applying them to the model. Well done!

Martin

JohnF

Thanks Martin, I was lucky that Colin Owers shared these great photo's with me. I have 3 CD's of great photo's many of which are used in the Datafile.

Sethhunter

John, superb job! Watching with keen interest!

JohnF

Hi Seth, thanks. Supposed to have my William's Bros. wheels today.

JohnF

Forgot to mention the bracing wires will be reinstalled inside the window opening after it is painted of course. I took them out while I was doing the fabric.

JohnF

Just for the heck of it I stuck one of the new William Bros. 1/3 scale, British, Palmer Aero Cord type wheels on. Very nice indeed! Have to get them painted and detailed up.

JohnF

I started to play around with the William Bro's. wheels. I sprayed the base gray on which is Rust-Oleum auto primer and drys flat. I over sprayed the back of the wheel with a darker gray to get a dirty look. I'll use an air brush to paint the details on the front of the wheel. I scuffed the tire with fine steel wool to make it look used and get rid of the mold seam on the center of the tire.

Sethhunter

Hi John,
Congratulations on getting them! Do the wheels have (molded) stitching around the valve covers? And do the spoke impressions appear in the cover near the hub, and blend-out towards the rim as the cover "lifts" off them?

JohnF

Hi Seth, yes the spoke impressions are there but no stitching around the valve hole. Also no sign of spokes on the rear cover. They do have the hooks that held the fabric to the rim. I think they could be a little less noticeable but that is easily fixed. All in all I am satisfied with the wheels. Would have been nice to have the Palmer Aero Cord on the tires however. We'll see if that ever becomes a reality. At least the tires will stay on these rims.

JohnF

Well, couldn't get much done with Memorial day festivities getting in the way but I did manage to get a few coats of Poly C on the fin and rudder and couldn't resist trying the paint out. Home Depot was able to match my Shuttleworth, Bristol, mono plane paint chip exactly. A very kind gentleman made the chip right from the paint can used for the Bristol. Mike Bealmer was able to get the chip some how and pass it along to me. Big thanks to Mike. Anyway this is PC12. The Bristol mono plane served in the Middle East at the same time as the Vickers.

JohnF

Just a little more progress. Tail numbers on and rudder strips painted on. I used all Rust-Oleum rattle can paint. I think it matches the Shuttleworth Bristol (above photo's) just about perfectly.

JohnF

Finally got the rib stitching and tapes done on the stab. and elevators. Tapes are torn to get the correct frayed edge but it will not be noticeable after the paint goes on. None the less it is the correct way to do the tapes. Took about four hours to do top and bottom. Simulated stitching is from "Scale Rib Stitching".

JohnF

Got some more painting done.

xcz5785

My Feedback: (21)

New to scale building and need advise. Are you using latex? What will you you use as clear coat? I've read min wax poly crylic works over latex.
Thanks
Chris

JohnF

Hello Chris, Yes Poly C will work and that is what I use to seal the SolarTex before putting on the latex. I use Nelson Hobbies flat clear coat, which is also a Polyurethane on the paint. Nelson has a "crosslinker" that makes it fuel proof if you are using glow fuel.

JohnF

Finished painting the stab. and elevators and decided to get some idea of the weight so I hung it on the scale. At this point it is 20lbs. So, I figure total weight will be around 40lbs.

xcz5785

My Feedback: (21)

Thanks! Sorry, last paint questions. Why seal the Solartex first? I have a gas engine. Would Beur satin latex with no clear coat give the desired look?
Thanks Again!
Chris

Sethhunter

Hi John,
Looks great! I've found latex is gas proof except in locations where raw gas may stand on it. My Halbi has a hatch over the filler and vent. Sometimes fuel burps out and wicks between the hatch cover and side of the fuse. The latex doesn't take that for long. In those areas I use warbirds clear x-linked PU with good results, over the latex.

I'm starting a new job in MA, just outside of Boston. Will be moving the family around year end. Not much flying for me this summer. Will be looking for a club around Westford MA!

JohnF

Chris, Putting the Poly C on the Solartex helps to seal and hide seams and to get the right affect on the rib tapes. You will see the difference on the fabric if you try a piece with and without. Some WW 1 birds have a flat finish and some not so much. You have to do what is necessary to achieve your desired finish. The Natural Solartex is recommended for painting and the weave is more noticeable to me without the Poly C. Seth is correct about the fuel proof ability of latex.

JohnF

Hi Seth, well that is some big news! Sorry to see you leaving but wish you all the best. Hope we can get together one last time at the flying field to maiden the Vickers.