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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. 👍

Mr James
That rebar around the turret is excellent. What did use

Michał Koziejko
To make the rebar cover I used 0.4mm copper wire. I folded a two-meter wire in half, attached one end to the desk top, and slowly twisted the other end with a drill until the coil resembled rebar. That's it.

gorby
Excellent modelling!

Doubtingmango
Incredible detail!

Neuling
Clean, careful, beautiful. Very subtle shading and weathering!

CaptGPF
Thanks Neuling!

Rando
Amazing build, love the detail. What tape did you use to mask off for the sanding? Looks thick and rubbery.

CaptGPF
LOL! That tape was a freebie from my Tamiya International magazine subscription! It's not as good as the Yellow Tamiya tape for paint masking, but it's thick enough for sanding and scribing.

Neil
Simply stunning work CaptGPF! 👏👏

CaptGPF
Thank you, Neil!

Spanjaard
very nice Phantom!

Michael Kohl
Your neat riveting adds considerably to this nice build.

Guy Rump
Lovely build. 👍

CaptGPF
Thank you for the kind words, Spanjaard, Michael and Guy! I used the Meng F-4 as a reference for where the rivets had to go, as well as the spacing 😀

TH SCALE MODELS (Thomas Haberl)
Damn that looks awesome - great job 👏

Daniel
Well used + well armed, I like it 👍

Nathan Dempsey
That's a beauty. 👍🏼👍🏼

Jennifer Franklin
Very nice! That is a real beauty.

Shar Dipree
Very nice Phnatom. 👍🏼👍🏼

CaptGPF
Thank you for the kind words Thomas / Daniel / Nathan / Jennifer and Shar! I love jets -me specially ones that are armed to the teeth with pew-pews and boom-booms!

John
Beautiful Rhino 👍 Missed this one the first time around, well done!

Dick
Phantoms forever! And you made the best version.. VF-84.
What a beauty, very impressive and realistic weathering!

Rui S
Great work 👍

Olivier Beaumont
nice rendition of an iconic bird - love the paintwork

Nathan Dempsey
Every time this one comes up in the feed I get the urge to crack open a few more Phantoms. Inspiring work CaptGPF.

CaptGPF
Thanks everyone for the kind words Dick / Rui / Olivier & Nathan! Still have a ways to go with weathering - but I'll get there someday! 😀

Mark Sherwood
I concur with all the above. 👍🥸🤟

"Sparky"
Your understanding and paint work is real good.

CaptGPF
Thanks Mark, Sparky! Still a long way to go compared to everyone! 😀

Mr James
Agree with Neuling. Very nicely done 👌

Paul Moore
Very nice Phantom!

CaptGPF
Thank you Mr James, Paul!

Mr James
The paint shading and panel lines are lovely. Great display pics too

CaptGPF
LOL! I will have to redo that base as it isn't quite accurate compared to a real carrier deck. So many kits, so little time. 😀

Nathan Dempsey
Always good to see this one in the feed. I'm going to peer into my unbuilt one's box now…

LC
this sounds like quite a fun and unique idea

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks LC76. Welcome to the build!

Torsten
LOL, follow ^^

Robert Podkoński
Watching for sure!

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Torsten & Robert!
I've started the fuselage assembly and clamps were needed.

Dutch
Nathan, I am following along as well. I have friends in eastern Ukraine, so very interested in this one. Kind regards, Dutch

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome Dutch! This build is turning into a slog. Clamps and super-glue "force-holds" galore. Luckily it is a tiny plane so I'm nearly done already, just completing all the seam sanding.

Nathan Dempsey
Working on the cowl. I had to use 2-part epoxy clay to fill a large gap on the bottom of the cowl that was created by making the cowl fit straight & level.

Nathan Dempsey
Working on masking the camo pattern today.

Dutch
Looking good. Keep up the progress. The splinter pattern will be stupendous when done.

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Dutch! Man I just realized looking at pictures that the wing camo is a mirror image for the other wing. It won't be perfect… 😁

Ben M
Ah, amodel 🙂

Dutch
Ben, I feel you!

Nathan Dempsey
Welcome to the show Ben! I've applied the first color today. Now off to cut masks for the next color. I've been spoiled by those pre-cut masks…

Dutch
Nathan, quick question. Why not just spray the first color overall, then mask only the subsequent colors? Saves at least one step, I should think. Carry on. I am enjoying the show.

Nathan Dempsey
In this case I just got a little too happy masking. I even decided against my usual preshade since this plane's paint looks really new in all the pictures.

Dutch
Yeah, I can understand the excitement factor!

Dutch
Nathan, are you going to put kill markings on it?
google.com/url?sa=t&..e2eYFcXbT_ewibuKmesM

Nathan Dempsey
Well my printer is dead, but my dad has a similar one so I'm going to try… Wish me luck.

Nathan Dempsey
The second color has been applied. Slow going here as my workbench time has been lacking.

Dutch
Okay! Coming along nicely!

Nathan Dempsey
Thanks Dutch! Today I masked off the areas for the gloss black. The tan colored areas are quite small, but they're everywhere. Tamiya tape stock is going up!!

Bruce Huxtable
Welcome, Marc. I'm not going to rush this one....

Bruce Huxtable
Welcome, Sergio. This one will be OOB, but I'll review some walk around galleries, to see if there are any extras I should add. I think the camouflage scheme will be challenging...

Guy Rump
Interesting build Bruce, following. 👍

Bruce Huxtable
Welcome, Guy. Slow progress, but holidays are over, so progress Wil re-commence!

Robert Podkoński
I will follow this build for sure. I have been tempted so many times to purchase this kit... 😉

Bruce Huxtable
Welcome, Robert. I snapped this one as a bargain I couldn't leave on the shelf. It could have been split into many more parts, so a straight forward build, so far 😉

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks for your 'likes', everyone. Lots still to do, plus the camo scheme.....