The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
#626
RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Hello my modelers friends, just to inform you, as you know I have few sets for Ziroli Hellcat, but it can be scale down for this size.
Mirce Finish Set originally have 2 mm rivets, but it can be made to be 1,6 mm. Hope that is not to big for this model. Smaller rivets from that size is problem to be made on vinyl cutter machine...
Paint masc, and Detail Set for Hellcat is no problem to be made for smaller model...
I made new page on my web site, so maybe you can see how it look on Ziroli size F6F... http://www.nsmodelers.rs/home/detail-set-za-ziroli-f6f
Best regards
Mirce
Mirce Finish Set originally have 2 mm rivets, but it can be made to be 1,6 mm. Hope that is not to big for this model. Smaller rivets from that size is problem to be made on vinyl cutter machine...
Paint masc, and Detail Set for Hellcat is no problem to be made for smaller model...
I made new page on my web site, so maybe you can see how it look on Ziroli size F6F... http://www.nsmodelers.rs/home/detail-set-za-ziroli-f6f
Best regards
Mirce
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Not meaning to hijack the thread but how did you do the panels Ram? The variation in color looks great. If there's a build thread I'd appreciate a pointer to it.
#628
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Thanks for the compliments on the Hellcat. Itwas really an experiment. I used aluminum tape for each panel. Did nt have to do every panel....remember we are all about illusions. The hellcat is paiinte dwith model masters paint...intermediate blue. I would shoot the whole plane in one color and then go back and mask off individual panels and shoot another mixxed shade of intermediate blue, mixxed with white or grey...cant remember which. I never flew the plane, sold it some time ago. I then went back after clear coating it with lustre coat clear and then did the dirty weathering. What is great about that is if you dont like it, it wipes off and you try again. When you get it where you like it...clear it again. Gave it al little depth also. Hopefully this helps some. This is one of my 1st planes I tried all these methods...including some rivit detail so it was a good learning experience.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
ORIGINAL: ihaveahellcat
I was wondering if you have the vinyl surface details and rivets? On your website it says under development and I was wondering if that had changed.
Dan
I was wondering if you have the vinyl surface details and rivets? On your website it says under development and I was wondering if that had changed.
Dan
DISCLAIMER - I have tried to remain faithfull to the scale drawings I used for the model but I make no guarantees in regards to the scale fidelity of these items. As I have noted many times my prototype model was never intended to be anything other than a sport model and thus I have not spent the time to verify the accuracy of said drawings against the full size Hellcat. These details do a wonderful job of breaking up the surface of the model and giving the illusion of a metal structure which is all I demanded of them.
Please send me an email at [email protected] if you would like details on ordering.
Here are the vinyl details on the bottom of my Hellcat wing prior to paint. Notice these go on just prior to the final paint and are not primed. When using chrome it is only necessary to rough up the surface the vinyl with steel wool or fine sandpaper and then paint right over the top.
Here they are after a base coat of color. Some of the vinyl details have as many as four coats of paint on them and they still show up just fine.
The only surface details that were primed over were the tapes used to simulate the fabric covering on the control surfaces. To make these a bit more subtle and so that they appear more like doped fabric they were given a couple of coats of primer with some sanding in between.
I am still working on a rivet package. I have not determined at this point whether it will be economical to offer the rivets as they are extemely time consuming to produce on the laser. I need to run a few test strips and then I will be able to make a determination one way or the other. Stay tuned...
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Wow [X(] Those look awesome. I'm going to use them on a Hangar 9 Hellcat I have been refinishing, but I got to ask do you have a rough price for the surface details.
Dan
Dan
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
ORIGINAL: ihaveahellcat
Wow [X(] Those look awesome. I'm going to use them on a Hangar 9 Hellcat I have been refinishing, but I got to ask do you have a rough price for the surface details.
Dan
Wow [X(] Those look awesome. I'm going to use them on a Hangar 9 Hellcat I have been refinishing, but I got to ask do you have a rough price for the surface details.
Dan
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Hi All! I just ordered my plans & parts from Chad- can't wait to get started building. Much appreciate this forum for building tips, issues and sharing ideas! I'm sure I'll be accessing these pages once I get going.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Progress has been made on the surface detail kits which are now available. The basic kit includes the laser cut vinyl hatches, inspection panels, fasteners, and rib tapes as well as printed plans showing placement. As noted previously the plans are at 1/16 scale, half that of the model, and can be used as a guide for panel line placement as well. I will also include an instruction sheet on applying the vinyl.
Not included in the kit above, but also available, are rivet sheets. These will be sold by the sheet, each of which contains just over 750 rivets. I have not had time to figure out just how many rivets are needed but I'm working on it. Actually, there are a couple of different options depending on the builder's preferences. The full size Hellcat uses both raised and flush rivets and on my prototype I used the vinyl on the fuselage and tail to represent the former, and then burned in the rivets on the flying surfaces to represent the latter. Obviously that requires a lot less vinyl rivets then if you were to rivet the entire airframe with vinyl. Also, I only riveted along the panel lines and did not do the intermediate rows of rivets. Last, but not least, please be aware that the rivets as provided are both larger than scale in diameter and further apart. I did this for two reasons. One, so that less rivets were necessary to get a satisfactory result and, second, to match the diameter of the burned in flush rivets. Sport scale, remember! So, there are many variables that come into play in regards to the rivets which is why they are not included in the surface detail kit. Each builder can decide how they want to proceed and then purchase however many sheets of rivets are necessary.
PS - If you just have to have the scale diameter/spaced rivets I would be happy to discuss it. It's not a problem but will, obviously, be more expensive to produce.
Not included in the kit above, but also available, are rivet sheets. These will be sold by the sheet, each of which contains just over 750 rivets. I have not had time to figure out just how many rivets are needed but I'm working on it. Actually, there are a couple of different options depending on the builder's preferences. The full size Hellcat uses both raised and flush rivets and on my prototype I used the vinyl on the fuselage and tail to represent the former, and then burned in the rivets on the flying surfaces to represent the latter. Obviously that requires a lot less vinyl rivets then if you were to rivet the entire airframe with vinyl. Also, I only riveted along the panel lines and did not do the intermediate rows of rivets. Last, but not least, please be aware that the rivets as provided are both larger than scale in diameter and further apart. I did this for two reasons. One, so that less rivets were necessary to get a satisfactory result and, second, to match the diameter of the burned in flush rivets. Sport scale, remember! So, there are many variables that come into play in regards to the rivets which is why they are not included in the surface detail kit. Each builder can decide how they want to proceed and then purchase however many sheets of rivets are necessary.
PS - If you just have to have the scale diameter/spaced rivets I would be happy to discuss it. It's not a problem but will, obviously, be more expensive to produce.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
ORIGINAL: HellcatFlyboy
Hi All! I just ordered my plans & parts from Chad- can't wait to get started building. Much appreciate this forum for building tips, issues and sharing ideas! I'm sure I'll be accessing these pages once I get going.
Hi All! I just ordered my plans & parts from Chad- can't wait to get started building. Much appreciate this forum for building tips, issues and sharing ideas! I'm sure I'll be accessing these pages once I get going.
Thanks for checking in! I'm looking forward to your build and hope you will share it with the group here.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
I'll definitely be posting and sharing here Chad, once I begin. I'm going to send you an outside email on this- I think I now should get the exhaust outlets now that I think about it. Since you haven't sent all the other vacuum formed parts and cowl yet- maybe you can add the exhaust outlets/waste gate belly pan to the order and i'll send you a cheque to cover that extra cost? I'm pondering the surface detail kit now (but it'll be ordered in the future, not ready to yet) - I see it's $25 plus shipping. Did I miss how much you're going to charge per sheet, for the rivets?
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
ORIGINAL: HellcatFlyboy
Did I miss how much you're going to charge per sheet, for the rivets?
Did I miss how much you're going to charge per sheet, for the rivets?
For those who may be interested I can also produce rivets of any size and spacing for your other scale projects as well. As soon as time permits I will do a quick post on how I apply the rivets with some pictures and explanation of the process.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Tim and Ram,
I'm just an email away! Always glad to discuss anything you guys might need.
[email protected]
I'm just an email away! Always glad to discuss anything you guys might need.
[email protected]
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Chad, ok thanks. i'll be placing my order next week I think.
I know you haven't come up with a total count of how many rivets would be needed assuming all were the raised vinyl ones, but how about a very rough estimate?
I know you haven't come up with a total count of how many rivets would be needed assuming all were the raised vinyl ones, but how about a very rough estimate?
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
ORIGINAL: HellcatFlyboy
I know you haven't come up with a total count of how many rivets would be needed assuming all were the raised vinyl ones, but how about a very rough estimate?
I know you haven't come up with a total count of how many rivets would be needed assuming all were the raised vinyl ones, but how about a very rough estimate?
Fuselage & Vertical Fin - Approximately 2500 total rivets of which about 2000 are vinyl and the rest are burned. On the full size Hellcat basically everything forward of the cockpit is flush riveted while everything aft has raised rivets. This is a generalization of course and if you want to be really accurate some research will be in order.
Horizontal stabs - Approximately 900 total rivets, all of them flush.
Wings - Approximately 4500 total rivets, all of them flush. The reason the wings have so many more rivets than the fuse is because the skins are butt jointed which requires a row of rivets on either side of each panel line. The fuselage is primarily overlapped panels which only requires a single row of rivets along each panel line.
So there you have it! On my prototype I have approximately 2000 or so vinyl rivets with another 5000 or so done using the soldering gun/brass tube method. For those who would like to get a more accurate estimate you can figure out how many linear inches of rivets you need and then figure 5 rivets per inch. For those of you who wish to use the vinyl rivets on the entire airframe I'm sure I can get the price per sheet down a bit on large orders.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Guys I am absolutely swamped right now with an architectural model that has to be done a week from today. If you've contacted me about ordering anything, or if you have ordered something and have not heard from me in regards to payment or shipping, pleast sit tight. I will get to you ASAP but I've got to pay the bills first. Architectural models are usually a good source of revenue but they always seem to come with a rediculous deadline! Thanks for your patience.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
While much of the country is settling in for their building season we here in Phoenix are just starting our flying season. Today was one of those rare days with perfect skies, absolutely zero wind, and temps around 80 degrees. Perfect flying weather and I got in two good flights to start off the season. First flying I had done in about 6 months. My good friend Joe Balabon met us at the field with his "cannon" and one of the results can be seen below. Joe says there are many more coming but just this one makes the whole day worth it. Looks like I may need to adjust the linkage on the tail wheel retract a bit though! I'll post more as I get them from Joe.
#646
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
That is a GREAT shot Chad!! Man your plane looks fantastic.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too. I havent spoken to you in a while , but I had major knee surgery on my left knee a few months back ( meniscus, ACL and tendon repair along with some nice screws in there to hold things together). I went thru 6 weeks of rehab and Im still having problems with pain and I still limp. . So now the Dr wants me to goback and doMORE rehab. Like when I am I going to have time for that??? I hope your new knees are doing better than mine
Take care buddy,
John
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving too. I havent spoken to you in a while , but I had major knee surgery on my left knee a few months back ( meniscus, ACL and tendon repair along with some nice screws in there to hold things together). I went thru 6 weeks of rehab and Im still having problems with pain and I still limp. . So now the Dr wants me to goback and doMORE rehab. Like when I am I going to have time for that??? I hope your new knees are doing better than mine
Take care buddy,
John
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Hi John, good to hear from you. Sorry to hear that your knee surgery is not getting the job done. Maybe you should just have them replace it entirely! That's what they did with both of mine and it has been nothing short of a minor miracle for me. Now the doc says it's time to replace the shoulders! I'm trying to hold off on that for at least another year but we'll see how that goes.
Building season is all year round Ram but only for those lucky enough to have access to an air conditioned space. I pretty much can't do anything in my garage from June through September due to the extreme heat. Luckily both my father and brother have shops with AC so I just "bum" off of them during the hot months! I do have a very small air conditioned space for the laser cutter so at least I can keep designing and cutting during the summer.
Gene, the Hellcat was out on a "maintenance flight" so the pilot was not in any immediate jeopardy. At least not of being shot down anyway! Actually if pictures are any indication the drones were flown by live pilots much more often than they were flown remotely.
Thanks guys for the all the kind comments and stay tuned for more pictures. Also stay tuned for the imminent return to construction on Hellcat number two. I've got the wing back down out of the rafters and I'm determined to get the flaps wrapped up before the end of the year. They have been a real learning experience and I'll be VERY happy to move on to other aspects of the build for sure.
Building season is all year round Ram but only for those lucky enough to have access to an air conditioned space. I pretty much can't do anything in my garage from June through September due to the extreme heat. Luckily both my father and brother have shops with AC so I just "bum" off of them during the hot months! I do have a very small air conditioned space for the laser cutter so at least I can keep designing and cutting during the summer.
Gene, the Hellcat was out on a "maintenance flight" so the pilot was not in any immediate jeopardy. At least not of being shot down anyway! Actually if pictures are any indication the drones were flown by live pilots much more often than they were flown remotely.
Thanks guys for the all the kind comments and stay tuned for more pictures. Also stay tuned for the imminent return to construction on Hellcat number two. I've got the wing back down out of the rafters and I'm determined to get the flaps wrapped up before the end of the year. They have been a real learning experience and I'll be VERY happy to move on to other aspects of the build for sure.
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RE: The RCFW Hellcat Group Build
Beautiful shot of your hellcat, Chad! Before i go on about the photography, what's the colour scheme of the 2nd hellcat, by the way?
I can appreciate Joe's capture of your hellcat in flight- I'm a photographer myself, but i don't normally shoot action photography. I've found on the few attempts ive made at shooting RC flight, that it's difficult to get the plane in crisp sharp focus (the camera's autofocus has to be quick) and get the right shutter speed to have the prop come out blurred and not appear stationary. (By having too fast a shutter speed) Looking forward to joe's other shots to come.
I can appreciate Joe's capture of your hellcat in flight- I'm a photographer myself, but i don't normally shoot action photography. I've found on the few attempts ive made at shooting RC flight, that it's difficult to get the plane in crisp sharp focus (the camera's autofocus has to be quick) and get the right shutter speed to have the prop come out blurred and not appear stationary. (By having too fast a shutter speed) Looking forward to joe's other shots to come.