Not sure where to post this—
I have a large fiberglass scale model but have no clue as to the methods of construction. This would be the 1/48 B-36. It has a nice photo set of layout plans but no advice on how to actually build it.
English is not the model company’s strong suit. Is there any site or model forum I can go to for advice?
Andy
As for gluing it would be CA. For filling and sanding the same stuff we always use but again it’s fiberglass use a mask
Do you mean resin? I’ve never heard of fiberglass kits.
Actually, there’s a Czech company producing a 1:48 B-36 kit in fiberglass and resin, I’m guessing this is the model in question. I assume they use fiberglass for strength due to it’s size (the completed kit has a nearly 5 ft. wingspan!):
http://www.hphmodels.cz/hph/b-36-peacemaker/?lang=en
Sorry I can’t help you with construction, but I know they use fiberglass in some RC boats and airplanes. Maybe look into RC construction techniques.
Holy … is that expensive
I’d suggest epoxy. As with all big scale models, volume and weight increase at a rate three times that of dimension as scale increases.
Therefore the skin loses its use as structure. You should look at inserting wood or aluminum strengtheners.
Ive seen some large vac form models where expanding foam was put in the shapes.
The B-36 kit is very different from anything I’ve seen before. The shipping weight was 10 lbs. The wings and fusalage are the only fiberglas parts and are a very thin (less than 3/32nd in) layer with reinforcing mountings for a 3/8 in round steel rod that slips through the fusalage and extends into a wing spar in each wing. All pieces fit like a glove! The builder needs to cut into the wings and body---- for the tail, and wheel wells, etc. Buried within the fiberglas shells are detail parts and mountings for gear and cockpit. Really amazing!
The fusalage and wings although fiberglas are coated with some kind of exterior coating—smooth as glass. I’ve been told that the company makes fiberglas (full scale) sailplane wings and this seems to be a miniature example of their work.
The rest of the kit is PE, resin, and brass/steel. It came with a 2 lb nose weight. It’s just big—I mite need a 55 gal drum of Alclad to finish this beast!
The reason I got the kit is I was raised with these monsters at Carswell AFB and saw about 150+ everyday at the field during my growing up years---- sure miss 'em!
Surfaces are probably gel-coat, like you would see on a boat hull. Light sand/scuff and prime, good to gofor paint.
From the instructions, it looks like you can use either superglue or epoxy.
From page one, “Cyanoacrylate gule is recommended for all resin and metal parts. You can also ue an epoxy glue (available in our e-shop coded APXY 007G).” That leaves some room for interpretation on what to use for the fuselage and wings.
However, if you look a the icons on page one, there is one labeled “Cyanoacrylate glue.” At the top of page 2, you can see the same icon next to “Fiberglass Parts.”
Looks like a great kit. I hope you do a build log for us.
Thanks for the info guys! I will do a build log for this bird-----
May take some time to get a place to work on it and get all the stuff together, and figure out how to post pictures too.