Well this is what the mailman dropped off today. It a Wings 1/48 scale Fokker D.21 vacuform kit. I want to try a vacuum form kit so decided to order one up. It looks interesting, definitely going to test my meager skills.
Anyhow, I’m not going to get started on it any time soon, too many other projects going right now. I brought this up in another thread, is there enough/any interest in doing a “Vacuform Group Build” sometime late this/early next year?
I’ve never done a vacuform kit either but I would like to learn how, so I would be interested in a groupbuild. Maybe some experienced vacuformers would be willing to participate and we can work it like a learn as you go experience.
A vac group build sounds great. They require a bit more work and some slightly different approaches to assembling them but the final produce can be as nice as any injected or resin kit. My favorite build of all time might well be my Chance-Vought Pirate by Airmodel. Swanny does a beautiful vac. You should check out his site.
Yep, I’ve checked out Swanny’s site, it’s what inspired me to give it a shot. I’m counting on him to give us newbies a lot of help with the build.[;)]
First of all, may I compliment you on your excellent choice of kit there! I see there’s at least two choices of Dutch markings in there, plus some others as well. If you need some reference pics when you build it, I think I know where to find some.
As far as the Vacu GB is concerned, I may have said this earlier but I’d be in if we don’t start too soon (i.e. early next year-ish). I have a 1/48 Scimitar box staring at me from the shelf… That would be my first too by the way.
let me say that looks like fun. and the group build sounds great also. but i will not say i am in or not yet. want to find a suitable subject.
joe
I done a 1/72 YAC-1 Caribou VAC kit back in 1980 for one of the “Golden Knight” pilots, CW3 Anderson, and swore I’d never do another one after that… but admittedly, my position has softened over the years and I might like to get into another one, but it would have to be an aircraft I’m passionate about.
We’ll keep our eyes open.
Thanks,
Frank
Welcome to the real dark side of aircraft modeling. First thng you need to do is buy a very fine point sharpie type of permanent magic marker and trace the outline of every piece. I find that having a few sheets of black aluminum oxide sandpaper 120 grit isvery useful once the pieces are etched and snapped out. Feel free to ask me for any advise you need. After you finish one vac kit you will find your modeling skills will have advanced expotentially.
No truer statement has ever been uttered!
Frank
Haven’t done a vacu kit in ages, the last one being Warbirds’ 1/72 Junkers D.1, but I feel ready for some punishment so count me in.
Yes - Vac form will I am sure add a new dimension to modelling - sometimes I feel that assembling the finely detailed and finished parts from say Tamiya, Hasegawa or Academy etc. is not really stretching the skills. I am almost finishing the TCM TB3 which contains (very loosely) some of the techniques of scratch build (spars and formers etc) which was very interesting, and gave my interest a boost. Vac form therefore should be good also - demanding just that little bit more concentration, effort and time. I have done a bit in other fields. Dynavector do a Javelin and a Gannett - both are favourites of mine at 1:48 scale. By the way may I ask of Model Granpa if his ID is anything to do with age. I am mindful that everyone else in Forum must be about a quarter of my age. Just to emphasise matters I began my modelling (just after WWII)with kits that contained some pieces of balsa vaguely shaped like the aircraft illustrated on the box, a pieces of 20swg wire, some decals and (possibly) a canopy. You had to carve and sand away about two thirds of the blasa which you assembled using a tube of balsa cement that was just sufficient to glue a couple of matchsticks together - assuming it was soft enough to squeeze it out of the tube. Painting was acheived by mixing talcum powder with clear dope to seal and grain fill the wood. I then graduated to “flying modesl” where the the “balsa” resembled ply from a tea chest and the only “blade” available was a razor blade broken in half…
Miduppergunner, I’m not as young as use to be. I’ll be 46 in October.
I call myself Model Grandpa because I enjoy the hobby, but the main reason is Hannah my Granddaughter.
You are a mere stripling, my boy. Charming little girl I see - she is more the “model” perhaps?
I sure really, really really hope you mean exponentially ??? [:)]
Ok, seems to be some interest in a GB. I’m going to throw out 3 possible start dates for a vacuform group build. Give me some feedback if you think any will work. Also would like to hear if more builders are interested.
Here they are:
November 15, 2004
January 15, 2005
February 1, 2005
I would prefer february, but january would work too, provided there’s no rush[;)]. I’m really looking forward to this build. 'T will be a good one[^].
Why the heck not, never done any vac-form model before, but if the GB starts not earlier than February 1, you can count me in…
I you want to make it a GB you should start a topic in the GB section of the forum, I’m already curious how many will dare to try it [:)]
Ok…it is up! Time to sign up and be counted.
Now you’ve reminded me of how long it’s been since I did an entire vac form kit, rather than conversion and update parts. One vacform that was both bare bones and quite accurate was a triple conversion. It made a two-seat F-106B, an very early F4H Phantom II (there are some marked differences between that bird and the Phantom we all know and love), and a switched nose for the Mongram F-105D, to backdate it to a F-105B, which had the tiny radome and the Vulcan gun farther forward. There are now more AM parts to add to this vac-formed kit. lt is unique and high qaulity, but darned if I remember which of the major vac-form companies made it. I have seen someone take – in this case a 1/24 TBM Avenger – and make a beautiful model out of it, and this was a combat models kit. All they give you is the major structural components. Not one detail is included. But they get the shape and the panels lines and such pretty much perfect. And they makes some absolutely huge models that come in boxes as tall as my six feet.