I’ve just ordered a kit that has me quaking in my boots, and grinning like a Cheshire Cat (I do have a cat and live in Cheshire, so quite appropriate!).
A Planet Models 1/48th Messerschmitt 109z in resin. GULP![:0]
http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=8PLA8648
I’ve never bought a full resin kit before, and I’ve got sweaty palms at the thought of it. What new skills will I need to make a decent job of it?
Planet Models makes some excellent Resin kits. If you have used resin detail sets, you pretty much know what to expect. Casting stubs that must be carefully removed & you must use CA or Epoxy for assembly. Don’t forget that resin dust is toxic, so take precaution when cutting, filing & sanding.
Regards, Rick
Hmmm… didn’t realise resin dust was toxic. Crap… what does it do to you? (or what will it have done to me?)
I’ve heard the occasional horror story about warped or cracked parts (particularly fuselage). Is it an easy task to straighten them with hot water? How does one go about it?
Looks like a fun filled kit.
Well that’s a simple anwser: kill you! [:0]
Seriously, it’s indeed toxic. It causes lung problems etc. Very severe symptoms.
However, protection is easy: wet sand and use good quality face masks.
I really doubt that hot water will fix a warped resin part-they are not as flexible as styrene.
Dan
I’ve been thinking about buying a Planet Models kit myself.
Do they put any kind of metal reinforcement pins into the landing gear legs and other thin or load bearing structures?
Not in the few kits that I’ve actually seen, but they may in others. They do seem to cast the landing gear legs in a harder resin than the rest of the kit.
Regards, Rick
I’ll let you know when it arrives. Mine was only bought because it was A ) an unusual subject - my favorite type, B ) less than half price! C) I like a challenge, and resin kits are supposed to be quite the challenge… [:p]
Yes the dust is toxic to a degree but the exposure level will not kill you. It could cause respritory irritation. You should wear a dust respirator when cutting and sanding this stuff. A respitator is a mask with TWO straps to hold it to your face. A dust mask has only ONE strap and is not for this material. Use super glue and accelerator to fill seams with. Prime the parts and look for micro holes. These don’t generally show up until you prime and I have found quite a few of them in Plant Models kits. Mr Surfacer is pretty good for taking care of these holes. Take a look at the RS.14 build on my site under the Axis tab - it is a full resin build and may offer you some tips. If you run into any trouble feel free to contact me for help.
No they do not and I have had a few issues with the gear slowly collapsing on a few of their kits. I strongly suggst adding some pins into the gear legs.
Swanny - your usual helpful self, as always. Thanks [;)]
Whats the history with the plane?
was it on the dawing board before the twin mustang?
Cap-I may be wrong but the twin Mustang (I wanna say F-82-but know that’s wrong) wasn’t used until the Korean conflict.
Dan
The resin dust is a fine particulate matter that causes lung inflammation sort of like coal dust or asbestos would. It’s not like you would keel over immediately, it’s the sort of thing that would cause damage to the lungs with many exposures and progressive damage secondary to that. If you’ve heard of “black lung disease” from working in the coal mines, that’s the sort of thing that would happen with resin dust. Hope this helps.
Thanks Matthew - so it’s just the sort of thing I should be avoiding, particulary as I’m mildly asthmatic! [;)] Must purchase a respirator.
I’d be interested to hear the history of the 109Z too. I’m sure I read somewhere that they were looking at the possibility of using it as a night-fighter, and it would have pilot in one fuselage, and radar op in the other. The kit box shows the right-hand 'pit faired over though, but I wonder if the kit has an option of glassing or fairing the 2nd 'pit… hope so.