What exactly is a Step along a seam line as opposed to a gap? What tehniques are used to fix the step. I have seen the term step used in builds but do not have a good idea exactly what it is and how it differs from the traditional gap.
One side of the seam sits proud of the other even though they may be in contact.
Basically three approaches to fixing a step.
Best, and least labor-intensive – though not always doable – is to carefully ‘recrack’ the seam, then clamp (with rubber-bands, wedges, clamps, or whatever will work) again so the seam is level, and reapply adhesive.
Both the other two choices are less advisable, but may be necessary in some cases. You’ve either got to:
a) fill the low side with putty, epoxy, or scrap, until it’s level with the higher side; or
b) plane/sand down the high side to match the lower.
Both are likely to involve messy structural recontouring – in addition to whatever panel lines and detail needs to be restored – and may also throw subsequent assembly steps out of alignment.
Much better to try to deal with such mismatches during preliminary assembly. The use of shims, internal struts from sprue scrap, or the like to bring the part sides level can solve such problems much more easily beforehand than after the fact. ALWAYS test-fit…at least twice. [:D]
Thank you
Thank you
One of the things that can help with a step in fuselage is to clamp sides vertically as well as horizontally. The gap roblem is that the distamce top to bottom is slightly larger on one side than the other. You can usually squeeze it easily with your fingers but it will bounce back as soon as you release.
What I have done sometimes is to apply slow setting glue, then lighty clamp the two sides together. Then a few clamps top to bottom, carefully so that the clamps are resting on the larger side As you tighten the clamp slowly the side should compress enough to minimise the ledges, finally with the clamps resting on both sides. Also when first clamping the two sides together at the sides, try to share the “ledge” evenly to to bottom.