Newsfeed

Roland Sachsenhofer
These four pictures begin a project that should result in one of the largest models I have ever attempted. Not the biggest - the 1:32 Liberator holds my record here - but close!
However, the impressively large box contains surprisingly little and, also surprisingly, large components such as the fuselage, wings and tailplane are already assembled. Incidentally, these are made of fibreglass and require their own treatment.
These parts are also stable and clean. A bit of filling was required, as the traces of glue and filler on the seams are very rough and show air pockets. This will now be sanded, the cockpit sawn out and the windows drilled - well, modelling a little differently than usual! 🙂

Gergő Takács
This looks like a cool project! Following.

Treehugger
The panel lines look ok I guess. I mean, I would be happy with those panel lines.

Mr D
Like it , nice project.
I'm working on the Beriev Be-6 Armoured Flying boat,
Revisiting a kit after 33yrs.
All the best with yours...😃👍👍

Robert Podkoński
A true behemoth it is. I will surely follow this build with utmost interest!

gorby
Looking forward to seeing this take shape. 🙂
I believe the last Mars had it's final flight two weeks ago.
Youtube Video
Youtube Video

Nathan Dempsey
Oh my another giant. Following 👀

Robert Podkoński
BTW. Do we see the finished Fairchild in the background, Roland?

Roland Sachsenhofer
I am very happy about all your interest! In fact, I also started this project because of its topicality; the pictures of the last flight of Hawai Mars are always a heart-warming pleasure; this one in particular, thanks Gorby for posting it!

Today I drilled the openings for the windows in the fuselage; I determined the diameter of the holes from kit glass parts. They seem a bit big to me, but we'll see. As I'm not going to use the clear parts from the kit, but want to make them with Klearfix, I could reduce the diameter quite a bit.
The next steps will be to finish sanding the fuselage seams - now only the top side has to be done - and then to glue the wings and stabilisers to the fuselage. To do this, I'm cutting solid steel rods to length, which I'll glue in place with a two-component adhesive.
The Mars should be ready by mid-October: I want to take it to the Euromodel in Ried, Upper Austria.

And yes, In fact, the more or less finished Fairchild F.91 had to serve as a scale model in the background! 🙂

Thomas Mayer
Du bist echt eine Bau-Maschine, Roland! Und immer kommt etwas sehr schönes raus! 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Danke für die Einschätzung, Thomas! 🙂

gorby
I'm interested in this project so I'll tag along. 🙂

gorby
What was the problem with the PVC foam?

René "Lord Bilbo" Bartholemy
Taking a seat.

Ben M
👀

littleblackbear
The foamed PVC was a nice medium that I'm sure I'll find a project for, but for now I just found scribing and cutting just a bit too fiddly to get right. That's more of a skill problem than a problem with the material. But I have a hot wire cutter that makes very quick work of foam, and the brick carving process is far more enjoyable for me on XPS.

gorby
👍

Jan Peters
Cool subject, as a resident of Arnhem this is special to me 🙂Although you show some great craftsmanship, this sort of houses aren't typical for Arnhem. These houses are more appropriate for Amsterdam. If you look at pictures of Arnhem and Oosterbeek from 1944 you will see more houses build in in the 1800s, and stately houses.
Just to let you know, in case you want your diorama to be historically correct.
I don't want to rain on your parade!

littleblackbear
Thanks Jan. I need to update the project it's attached to. I'd already decided that it wouldn't be going into the Market Garden diorama given the regional architecture inaccuracies you pointed out.

I modeled this after houses on the canal streets in Harlingen after spending some time there (and elsewhere around Fryslan).

littleblackbear
Updated!

littleblackbear
Jan, what would be some examples of typical Arnhem architecture?

littleblackbear
By the way, I cycled the fietselfstedentocht this last year. You have a beautiful country.

Jan Peters
Friesland is very nice indeed, I've spent some holiday time there as well 🙂
Some typical architecture may be found here:
martijnreinders.com/..j-het-museum-arnhem/
It is in Dutch, but Google Translate may sort that out.
These kind of buildings are typical for many areas where fighting took place.
Also note the fences, these are also very common (many are still there, even today) I will try and find some more websites with pictures of the area, and share them here.

Jan Peters
Here's some more information.
liberationroute.com/../3/the-war-in-arnhem
This site is in English too.
The hospital is where I was born by the way, many moons ago 🙂 It has now been converted into apartments.

Jan Peters
And some more:
battle-of-arnhem.com..ty-center-of-arnhem/

Jan Peters
And a cool video:
Youtube Video

littleblackbear
Massively helpful, thank you Jan! And very cool. You live in a beautiful place.

I'll end up scratch building a different structure for Market Garden that's a bit more regionally appropriate, architecture-wise.

For this project, I couldn't get over how much I liked the architecture of the canal houses, and ended up starting there instead of a proper Market Garden-esque house or building.

littleblackbear
I've done quite a bit of research on the Frisian resistance as I have a relative that was arrested and executed for being part of it.

I'll end up making this house as part of a liberation of Harlingen vignette, I believe. That Liberation Route site has been a good resource on that research, and I'll be putting together something around the Canadians and Dutch Resistance taking back the area. It'd have been the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars that had first contact with the occupying forces, at the time, so I'll likely include a Humber or Staghound or Universal Carrier.

Jan Peters
You're welcome.
Cool subject switch, especially if it has some family history included.
I'll be following this 👀

Roland Sachsenhofer
In view of the start of this build, I was tempted by the following motto: "From ugly duckling to swan": the kit offers a number of interesting challenges, but gives an idea of the potential both as a model and as a representation of a true aircraft beauty! I will try my best to make the swan appear....
A first challenge: roughly moulded parts, poor fit and a wing that wants too much in a positive V-position.... A second challenge will follow in the form of a Vacu canopy that has turned yellow with age; this will give me the opportunity to try out the doing in Vac-canopy myself. More of that next time...

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat here, too 🙂

Roland Sachsenhofer
It's a pleasure!

Transall NG
Nice aircraft !
One was used in the last phase of the New Guinea gold rush in the 30's...
Good luck !
@+

Cuajete
Great, Roland!
I would like to see the steps you follow when making the Vac-canopy.

J35J
Very intresting project! Taking a seat.

Alex K
In...

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you for your interest, I appreciate it!
Cuajete, I'd be happy to show you a few photos of the progress of the construction and application of the self-moulded Vac canopy. It seems to have produced a reasonable result so far....

Erik Leijdens
An unusual subject Roland! No doubt you will end up with a fantastic result

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you for your trust and encouragement, Erik!

Cuajete
Many thanks, Roland!
Great job with the putty party and vacuum canopy 👍

What thermoformer did you use?

Thomas Kolb
This look like an intriguing project, but she's definitely a putty queen! I am super impressed with the vac-forming!

Łukasz Gliński
Can't miss that swan

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you very much for the answers, mates! I'll show you a few new pictures from today: the surfaces have been reworked with 2000 grit sandpaper (even if it may not look like it, dusty as the "duckling" still is) to prepare it for a first coat of paint. This will certainly show the need for correction! 🙂

Nicolas
I'll grap a seat. Nice work so far.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Feel very welcome, Nicolas! 🙂

Roland Sachsenhofer
New pictures of the current state of construction: the 'Baby Clipper' still looks very dark, but in the next step it will get an 'Azur' blue underside, which will be completed by 'Middle Stone' and 'Dark Earth' on the upper sides. Since prototype photos already show this machine with heavy signs of use and weathering, I will endeavour to achieve a similar look here.

Finn
Looking good indeed

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you Finn!

Cuajete
Nice preshading, Roland 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you mate!

Roland Sachsenhofer
The 'Baby Clipper' has lost some of its elegance with all the rods and struts, but has gained in authenticity. A certain amount of effort is required to reconstruct the entire antenna equipment - not exactly a small amount - but also the structurally necessary struts: the kit manufacturer Azur does not provide any information here, let alone that it would put material for this in the box. The entire superstructure at the top of the engine nacelle is the result of own research. Everything was made from wire, cable insulation (exhaust pipes) and MG muzzles joined together (pitot tubes). The floats under the wings are braced with super-fine steel wire, which, by the way, is a very versatile material. The instructions also make no reference to the tailplane struts, which were also made by the builder.
However, most of the work has gone into the undercarriage! This was, to summarise, so heavily modified that it can actually be described as newly constructed from etched parts and wire from the leftover box.

So, I've already written a lot, but there's one more point: I'm particularly curious to see how my first self-built Vacu canopy performs on this project. I'm a bit anxious, but also very excited to see what the unmasking that will soon follow will show!

Marko
interesting to see how you build such a great model from a challenging kit.👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Glad to hear it, thank you!

Cuajete
I agree with Marko.
A challenge with great resolution. Great job so far, Roland. And very nice painting job 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you for these motivating words, quite appreciated!! On now to the final act of this project...

Thomas Kolb
I agree with all comments above. I must say, I like way you attached the wires and struts - usually there is a bit of a lump of superglue where they attach to the fuselage, but you managed to make the connection points very neat.

Mike Montgomery
Cool plane. I had not even heard of this one before.

Mr D
Coming along really well 👌
Like the seats and engine 👍👍 nice project

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thanks mates for all the motivating responses! Thomas, I try to solve the problem of gluing in wires by always drilling holes at both ends, into which I then 'clamp' the wire that has been cut off a little too long. Before gluing, I let some glue into the opening via a wire tip and then insert the wire within the time that the glue remains liquid. This usually works more or less well, I'm glad you like it.

Roland Sachsenhofer
From ugly duckling to..... well, the Fairchild F.91 is now finished! I am pleased to be able to present it to you - also because it was not an easy build in some parts. One of the new features is the use of a deep-drawn cockpit canopy for the first time, as you can see in this build report. Incidentally, the windows on the fuselage are not from the kit, but clear film cut as accurately as possible - at least it looks better.
Thank you for your interest and your comments, mates!

Robert Podkoński
Great job, Roland. Chapeau bas!

Nicolas
Congrats. Great modell. 👍

Transall NG
Nicely built !
@+

Mr D
Very nice 💯% well done 👍👍.
Really like it, Do you have a vacform?? Or did you make something up ?
Nice kit/subject 👌

Łukasz Gliński
True swan - outstanding job, out of those soap-ish parts 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you for your comments, which make me happy and motivate me! Mr D, I've actually had a small thermoforming machine for a few weeks now, which after a bit of testing has been used here for the first time in 'live action'. It's interesting to note that there seems to be some interesting equipment and techniques for modellers in the dental field.

Mr D
Thanks, l think I've seen the one you mean, be handy item.
I broke the canopy on my little 1:144 mig-23 polishing it !!
I had to make one best l could with toaster n paintbrush end.🙄🤣
Not perfect....but at least l could finish the model." Disclaimer .. not recommending this technique" 🤣
Thanks for advice.👍

David Taylor
Nice.

Marko
Became a great model.👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Mates, thank you very much for the comments! Mr D, you were successful and didn't give in - congratulations!

Cuajete
Very nice job and fantastic result, Roland. The pics are great. I like it so much. Congrats!
Unfortunately I have several kits with the transparent parts in vacu yellowed by time. What dental equipment did you use as a thermoforming machine? Thanks!

Ronan
Very nice, as always 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you for the positive feedback! Really appreciated! Cuajete, I'll send you a link to the machine I'm using
cncest.com/at/produc..j1T5cXBoCL0cQAvD_BwE

Ben M
Rawr

Bobby Thumbs
hey mate - how u been? hope all is good at your end. I'm having fun with the remix edition of this dio - i'm feeling this more than the original. The $10 dirt made a guest appearance

Spanjaard
interesting, I am in

J35J
Me 2!👍🏻

Ben M
👀

Jennifer Franklin
following

Peter Wu
Thanks for sharing the pic

Mr D
Nicely done, very unusual scheme, the engine details are nice, looks like a great little kit for the money...lve just started a flying boat, the Beriev be-6
Built it as a boy n re-visiting for nostalgia.
Well done..👍👍

Oleg Smilyk
Outstanding work. Love it!👍👍👍

David Taylor
Oh my.

Alexander Perov
I wanted to pass by, but you're just a miracle, it's not my thing, but hats off, it's genius.

Łukasz Gliński
Magnificent, like an airborne sailing ship 👍

Ben M
What a beautiful build and paint scheme!

Ethan Flory
Incredible job!!

J35J
Excellent work!

Pietro De Angelis
Beautiful!

Ctirad B
Many thanks for all comments! 🙂

Zbynek Honzik
Beautiful monster!!! 👏👏👏

Friedrich
Just stunning!

Ben M
🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀

Thomas Kolb
OMG, all that wiring, however did you make it without losing track? But a very beautiful model it turned out to be, I am super impressed!

Neuling
Just wow! 👍👍👍

Ctirad B
The wiring was really quite challenging. I used the instructions for the model from Wingnut wings in 1:32 scale as a good wiring diagram. It took me about about a month to stretch all the wires.There were moments when I did not believe that I would finish it. 😉

Ben M
Okay. I thought this was 1:32 when I saw it. Now that I realize it's 1:72 I'm even more amazed.

Guy Rump
Superb modelling. 👍

Finn
An absolute gem, awesome!

Landlubber Mike
Just came across this - amazing work! Did you use the AIMS decals for the white swirls?

Mr James
Amazing amount of detail for 1.72. Beautiful build

Ctirad B
To Mike: I couldn't find decals from AIMS here, so I decided to make an airbrush mask. I used the decal image as a base and redrew the whole thing in Corel. Then I cut them out of paper and tested how they fit on the fuselage. After many adjustments, I had the mask cut out on the plotter. It took a lot of time, but I think the result is not bad. (this mask is now available from MH models)

Villiers de Vos
Beautiful work.

Landlubber Mike
Wow, that's even more impressive then! I did see the MH Models masks. I have the AIMS decals, but I like the idea of masking the plane instead - plus, I read somewhere that some of the decals aren't the correct shape so hopefully MH got it right.

Ctirad B
The mask from MH models should be the same one I created and used on my model. I gave them my data for cutting.

Robert Podkoński
Beautiful indeed!

Bruce Huxtable
Wow! Stunning! Superb work, so many details to enjoy....even the transport cradle.

Peter Wu
Great master piece.