Silverbird
Cockpit completed. Forward landing gear bay top must be filed.
Note the reinforcement for the instrument panel top shroud. I have added safety belts made from strips of masking tape.
Steering wheels are very flimsy. Instrument panels and side panels are represented in 3D decal form. Adhesive reacts instantaneously yet I suggest applying some decal glue or white glue, since these do not stay in place by themselves. Also side console decals are about 0,5 mm too long.
Note the sinkmark in the extreme nose.
Reinforcing tabs.
Side walls need to be thinned.
Polistyrene is flexible, so needs to be reinforced.
There are no locating tabs, so I glued pieces of square rod insides.
Constant fitting is necessary
Some force still will be needed (take a look at the starboard side).
Leading and trailing edges are appropriately sharp...
yet the inserts must be dilligently sanded.
Main undercarriage bays consist of four panels, level of detail (though totally speculative...) is satisfactory. Some flash must be removed beforehand.
Reinforced with pieces of L-shaped polistyrene beam. The model seems quite heavy, and the main undercarriage legs will be installed to the "ceiling" of these boxes.
I tried to make these surfaces flat, but some putty will be necessary here...
The nose section glued together, the resulting joint line needs to be puttied too - the polistyrene is quite soft, so the edges of the parts are soft too.
More locating tabs added. Vinyl masks applied. These are put on either flat surface or not very compound curvature, so should work well. Some attention is needed to keep them symmetrically. First layer of putty added too...
As much as 30 grams of weight seems necessary to avoid tailsitting. I suppose the front gear leg will need strenghtening..
The fuselage closed. You have guessed - some putty is necessary to keep the lines smooth...
Trying to sand the cockpit flush with the main body. In a hindsight it would be better to apply the cockpit masks after sanding. Much attention is necessary even if these are secured with a tape.
Bottom is not much better. Fortunately, it is supposed to be perfectly flat, with no complicated curvatures...
Yet there are some moulding "surprises" on the top of the main body
Same with respect to the leading edges of the wings. Many panel lines will need o be restored.
Location of the wings is a bit troublesome...
since these have a pronounced dihedral and are supposed to be joined by side surface and these locating tabs. Surely the joint needs to be reinforced, but there is not much space due to main wheel wells. I wonder where there would be main spars in the real thing...
Panel lines restored. I hope these pieces of wire will add enough strenght here.
Some filler will be necessary again
Keeping the symmetry of the dihedral of the wings.
Some progress here: installed the empennage reinforcing it with pieces of soft wire. In the kit these are designed to be butt-joined...
Underside sanded and rescribed - taking into account that it consists of flat surfaces the amount of putty is surprising (or have I done something wrong?...)
Due to my too enthusiastic sanding I had to reconstruct the fragment of one of the leading edges next to the fuselage - soft and flexible polistyrene made it quite a challenge...
Looks like the silverbird is ready for priming (metallic patches are the traces of my trials with AK "True metal" paints...
Priming and "preshading" done. This is my favourite method - gives subtle differences and lets to avoid masking metallizers...
Normally I would use light gray or white, but this time I used Tamiya silver leaf, since I want to mask off the control surfaces.
AK Extreme Metal steel applied, control surfaces and cockpit windows unmasked...
protective gloss varnish coat given...
the areas that are to remain black still masked - ready for decals
Quite a simplified decalling scheme and decals strip. Some are printed sparingly, what I find very useful.
Ready for decalling
Top surfaces and port side of the plane decalled
Decalling completed...
and the areas that are to remain black unmasked.
Perhaps it would be easier to go for the "in-flight" mode. I don't really understand the idea of undercarriage legs' parts breakdown here...
Panel lines highlighted with graphite pencil. Some dusted graphite rubbed to represent the surface exposed to high temperatures...
Rocket engines nozzles painted and installed
Since it was beyond my limits (and patience) to remove from the sprue and clean the polistyrene scissor links' parts as offered in the kit (did I mention that the polistyrene is soft?...) I just purchased the PE fret dedicated to Roden's Boeing 720 kit and installed the photo-etched links... and the rest of the fret will simply serve me (one day in the distant future) to spice up Roden's B-36 Peacemaker kit 😉
Some unexpected work on undercarriage parts - apart for PE scissor links I decided to add brake PE discs and lines (that I made from black coloured lead wire). Also I manufactured new doors' actuators from pieces of wire and adequately thick hypodermic needle (in the centre of photo). Insides of the doors there is perhaps too much dirt...
I decided NOT to add strenght to the undercarriage legs by drilling through them and inserting pieces of wire, because... I am too lazy 😉
At last on her own legs...
...wobbly a bit, but I presume these are strong enough.
Work on the underside completed.
I suppose after several landings on cement stripe there would be much dirt 😉
I call her finished (finally...)
Now I have to wait for better weather to take some better photos (here in Poland it may be like few months' waiting...)
Комментарии
70 7 June 2021, 06:50
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Looks like some modification is needed to build this one, Robert. 👍
Following with interest 👀
Looks like some modification is needed to build this one, Robert. 👍
Following with interest 👀
7 June 2021, 10:34
Robert Podkoński
Welcome, Mates. Frankly speaking, the kit itself is deceitful - looks good in the box, but when it comes to assembling one is surprised that, for example, the whole cockpit unit including front landing gear is supposed to be glued to the main body edges-to-edges...and surely, some substantial weight will be necessary here in order to avoid tail sitting. On a positive side the fit of the parts seems acceptable.
Welcome, Mates. Frankly speaking, the kit itself is deceitful - looks good in the box, but when it comes to assembling one is surprised that, for example, the whole cockpit unit including front landing gear is supposed to be glued to the main body edges-to-edges...and surely, some substantial weight will be necessary here in order to avoid tail sitting. On a positive side the fit of the parts seems acceptable.
7 June 2021, 11:58
Mark K
Watching keenly - your techniques and your photos will be of great help once I get up the courage to tackle this thing!
Watching keenly - your techniques and your photos will be of great help once I get up the courage to tackle this thing!
10 June 2021, 05:30
Juergen Klinglhuber
lately I got aware of this one too - but I'm in. Another cool topic
lately I got aware of this one too - but I'm in. Another cool topic
12 August 2021, 20:43
Bob Esplin
Just picked this up: thanks for the tips! I'll do this 'flying' so the landing gear/weights won't be a problem.
Just picked this up: thanks for the tips! I'll do this 'flying' so the landing gear/weights won't be a problem.
18 August 2021, 00:40
Robert Podkoński
You are welcome, Bob 🙂 I considered the "in flight" version too at first. Nevertheless, reinforcing the bottom flat is absolutely necessary - the polistyrene is soft and flexible... and does not react well to the Tamiya thin glue, btw.
You are welcome, Bob 🙂 I considered the "in flight" version too at first. Nevertheless, reinforcing the bottom flat is absolutely necessary - the polistyrene is soft and flexible... and does not react well to the Tamiya thin glue, btw.
18 August 2021, 05:53
Bruce Huxtable
Another master-class in dogged determination, and problem solving! The kit seems to made mostly of putty! Learning lots from your techniques ? and looking forward to seeing the finished bird.
Another master-class in dogged determination, and problem solving! The kit seems to made mostly of putty! Learning lots from your techniques ? and looking forward to seeing the finished bird.
18 August 2021, 06:47
Bob Esplin
Great to know, Robert, and I'll be sure to reinforce that long expanse of plastic when I build it.
Great to know, Robert, and I'll be sure to reinforce that long expanse of plastic when I build it.
18 August 2021, 12:05
Mark K
Clearly you have overcome this kit's deficiencies (as might be expected, given your many talents). What is your opinion of the AK True Metal paint?
Clearly you have overcome this kit's deficiencies (as might be expected, given your many talents). What is your opinion of the AK True Metal paint?
19 August 2021, 05:07
Robert Podkoński
Thank you very much, Mark, you are too kind to me. With respect to AK Extreme Metal paints, I cannot praise them enough - easy to use with fantastic effect. The only thing is that the coat of paint, when dry, is very delicate, so some transparent overcoat is necessary.
Thank you very much, Mark, you are too kind to me. With respect to AK Extreme Metal paints, I cannot praise them enough - easy to use with fantastic effect. The only thing is that the coat of paint, when dry, is very delicate, so some transparent overcoat is necessary.
19 August 2021, 14:41
Guy Rump
Great progress Robert and thanks for the modelling tips you use, all very useful. 👍
Great progress Robert and thanks for the modelling tips you use, all very useful. 👍
29 August 2021, 19:43
Robert Podkoński
Thanks, Mates, for encouragement - I have taken few free days abroad, but now I am back. New photos soon 😉
@ Guy Rump - that's one of the general ideas of the Scalemates, I presume 😉
Thanks, Mates, for encouragement - I have taken few free days abroad, but now I am back. New photos soon 😉
@ Guy Rump - that's one of the general ideas of the Scalemates, I presume 😉
6 September 2021, 07:34
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Oh 😮 your pre-shading really paid off. This looks great, Robert! 👍
Oh 😮 your pre-shading really paid off. This looks great, Robert! 👍
22 September 2021, 15:40
Robert Podkoński
Thanks, WhiteGlint, you are too kind to me 😉 I like this method since the effect is not so obvious and the look depends on the light and angle you are looking at the surface (and there are no worries about lifting the metallic paint with masks...)
Thanks, WhiteGlint, you are too kind to me 😉 I like this method since the effect is not so obvious and the look depends on the light and angle you are looking at the surface (and there are no worries about lifting the metallic paint with masks...)
22 September 2021, 15:44
Bruce Huxtable
The subtle variations are clean and very neat. I'm liking how this is coming together. She is going to look great 👍
The subtle variations are clean and very neat. I'm liking how this is coming together. She is going to look great 👍
22 September 2021, 17:43
Robert Podkoński
Thanks Bruce and Mark, for your kind words. I must say that new concepts for weathering are appearing in my mind in the meantime - I hope these will work... 😉
Thanks Bruce and Mark, for your kind words. I must say that new concepts for weathering are appearing in my mind in the meantime - I hope these will work... 😉
22 September 2021, 19:34
Robert Podkoński
Thank you all, for your kind words. @ S M - there is still the undercarriage to be assembled and installed, and I have some ideas for weathering this birdie...
Thank you all, for your kind words. @ S M - there is still the undercarriage to be assembled and installed, and I have some ideas for weathering this birdie...
24 September 2021, 17:47
Robert Podkoński
...and it still lacks its rocket engines' "buckets", of course...
...and it still lacks its rocket engines' "buckets", of course...
24 September 2021, 17:51
Bruce Huxtable
Superb quality of finish, Robert, and the subtle panel variations really make it even better! She is a sleek thing of beauty now, for sure 👍🙂
Superb quality of finish, Robert, and the subtle panel variations really make it even better! She is a sleek thing of beauty now, for sure 👍🙂
2 October 2021, 07:04
Robert Podkoński
Thank you all, Mates, for your kind words... I feel a little abashed now, to be sincere...;)
Thank you all, Mates, for your kind words... I feel a little abashed now, to be sincere...;)
2 October 2021, 17:53
Robert Podkoński
Thanks, Bruce and Cuajete. I have already started cleaning parts of the undercarriage and experimenting with weathering... Stay tuned!
Thanks, Bruce and Cuajete. I have already started cleaning parts of the undercarriage and experimenting with weathering... Stay tuned!
3 October 2021, 03:52
Hanno Kleinecke
Very good metal finish on this elegant bird, all the effort you invested really pays off 👍
What is the story behind this plane I've never seen before, has it been a future- future -„Projekt" by one of the known german manufacturers, or pure fiction ?
Very good metal finish on this elegant bird, all the effort you invested really pays off 👍
What is the story behind this plane I've never seen before, has it been a future- future -„Projekt" by one of the known german manufacturers, or pure fiction ?
6 October 2021, 17:36
Mark
Has a really good stance standing on it's gear Robert. 👍
Hanno, I had to do a bit of searching when I first found Robert's thread. These are a good read:
luft46.com/misc/sanger.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_S%C3%A4nger
Has a really good stance standing on it's gear Robert. 👍
Hanno, I had to do a bit of searching when I first found Robert's thread. These are a good read:
luft46.com/misc/sanger.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_S%C3%A4nger
20 October 2021, 20:13
Łukasz Gliński
On pics #51 & #52 it looks like the new generation of the B-1 😮 That actually could be an inspiration for whif builders, a captured US Silverbird 😄
On pics #51 & #52 it looks like the new generation of the B-1 😮 That actually could be an inspiration for whif builders, a captured US Silverbird 😄
20 October 2021, 20:30
Bruce Huxtable
Very unusual indeed, Robert, and looking very purposeful and dramatic. 👍🙂
Very unusual indeed, Robert, and looking very purposeful and dramatic. 👍🙂
20 October 2021, 20:30
Robert Podkoński
Oh my...I have not expected such a reaction...I feel abashed a bit... Thank you all. Only few bits to install and a final weathering left.
Oh my...I have not expected such a reaction...I feel abashed a bit... Thank you all. Only few bits to install and a final weathering left.
20 October 2021, 20:48
Ben M
I enjoy photo 48's caption. If you think about it, the B-36 and this had very similar roles. The bird looks great!
I enjoy photo 48's caption. If you think about it, the B-36 and this had very similar roles. The bird looks great!
20 October 2021, 21:01
Mark K
Very impressive model, Robert. And Łukasz, you have me thinking about a Silverbird with red stars, as it seems that Stalin wanted to get Sänger in his clutches.
Very impressive model, Robert. And Łukasz, you have me thinking about a Silverbird with red stars, as it seems that Stalin wanted to get Sänger in his clutches.
21 October 2021, 00:39
Robert Podkoński
Thank you, Mates, very appreciated. @Mark K: You've got the fantastic idea - she could be painted as "Zhar-ptica" ("The Firebird"), something like here:
Kalinin K12 (SPIN model 7201, 1:72) 😉
Thank you, Mates, very appreciated. @Mark K: You've got the fantastic idea - she could be painted as "Zhar-ptica" ("The Firebird"), something like here:
Kalinin K12 (SPIN model 7201, 1:72) 😉
21 October 2021, 05:04
Neil
Hi Robert, agree with others, the end result looks awesome and nice to see something different 👍
Hi Robert, agree with others, the end result looks awesome and nice to see something different 👍
21 October 2021, 11:22
Robert Podkoński
Thank you very much Cuajete, Bruce and Neil. You are too kind 🙂
Thank you very much Cuajete, Bruce and Neil. You are too kind 🙂
21 October 2021, 11:47
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Wow, really beautiful bird, Robert. 👍
You did a great job with this interesting kit. I really like photo 55.
Cheers, mate! 🙂
Wow, really beautiful bird, Robert. 👍
You did a great job with this interesting kit. I really like photo 55.
Cheers, mate! 🙂
21 October 2021, 14:37
Hanno Kleinecke
A truely outstanding result on this unique subject Robert, I really like the way the nmf looks 👍
A truely outstanding result on this unique subject Robert, I really like the way the nmf looks 👍
21 October 2021, 20:00
Robert Podkoński
Thank you, Maciej 🙂 Thank you, Hanno 🙂 (AK Extreme metal paints did the effect, I only have applied them 😉 )
Thank you, Maciej 🙂 Thank you, Hanno 🙂 (AK Extreme metal paints did the effect, I only have applied them 😉 )
21 October 2021, 20:49
Bernhard Pethe
Absolutely exotic model and neatly built. The metal surface looks very authentic. 👍
Absolutely exotic model and neatly built. The metal surface looks very authentic. 👍
22 October 2021, 09:15
Brian N
Just got mine - sat at the airport in Kiev for over two months. Thanks for all the tips - yours is something to strive for! Kudos!
Just got mine - sat at the airport in Kiev for over two months. Thanks for all the tips - yours is something to strive for! Kudos!
30 January 2022, 18:12
Robert Podkoński
Thank you very much, Guy and Brian! @Brian: myself I find it good to know all the vices of a kit beforehand... 😉
Thank you very much, Guy and Brian! @Brian: myself I find it good to know all the vices of a kit beforehand... 😉
30 January 2022, 19:13
Album info
Some final remarks: 30 grams of weight behind the cockpit seems too much - she is standing on her own legs but wobblying a bit when touched. IMHO she would look better in the "in-flight" mode, but the underside would need to be much more reinforced. The polistyrene is soft and flexible. Empennage joins need to be reinforced with pieces of wire, wings-to-fuselage similarly... The flat piece in the front of the instrument panel cover is ca. 3 mm too short - after unmasking the windshield, one can see the front undercarriage bay's top there... And be prepared for a lot of puttying and sanding... Happy modelling, Mates!