The Aerodrome Home Page
Aces of WWI
Aircraft of WWI
Books and Film
The Aerodrome Forum
Sign the Guestbook
Help
Links to Other Sites
Medals and Decorations
The Aerodrome News
Search The Aerodrome
Today in History
The Aerodrome Forum


Go Back   The Aerodrome Forum > Archives > Models


Models Topics related to WWI aircraft models. Forum is closed for posting.


Welcome to The Aerodrome Forum, an online community where you can discuss WWI aviation with thousands of other members from around the world. To gain full access to the Forum you must register for a free account. As a registered member you will be able to:
  • Post messages and search the Forum

  • Privately communicate with other members

  • Participate in live chat sessions other members

  • View images by talented aviation artists in our Gallery

  • Buy, sell or trade items in our Classified Ads
All this and much more is available to you absolutely free when you register for an account, so sign up today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 15 July 2005, 04:51 PM   #1 (permalink)
Shot Down
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 241
 
Vickers FB.5

Hi all,
anyone here had a bash at building the 1/48th scale Blue Max kit of the Vickers FB.5?
It's an aircraft I've always liked but I'm not sure of the Blue Max kit.
Thoughts anyone?
Cheers
S.
Sandy Spigot-Colon is offline  
Sponsored Links
Old 15 July 2005, 08:29 PM   #2 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
Tripehound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Posts: 221
 
Got one going now. My major complaint is the wing trailing edges. Evidently the mould didn't close all the way and the edge was quite thick with lots of flash, but this ain't the only Blue Max kit with that problem. Sand them down and redo the ribs with Evergreen stock or thick decal strips. The tail structure is all metal, but I will replace it with plastic like I did on my Lone Star FE-8. After rigging it's stiff enough and doesn't weigh a ton. The thing that caused me to set it aside was the almost total lack of the multitude of metal fittings details that the real A/C has. I intend to reproduce this with black decal bits and plastic stock. There's a few pictures on the web, but the Datafile is recommended.
Tripehound is offline  
Old 16 July 2005, 06:19 PM   #3 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
drbubba43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 110
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tripehound
Got one going now. My major complaint is the wing trailing edges. Evidently the mould didn't close all the way and the edge was quite thick with lots of flash, but this ain't the only Blue Max kit with that problem. Sand them down and redo the ribs with Evergreen stock or thick decal strips. The tail structure is all metal, but I will replace it with plastic like I did on my Lone Star FE-8. After rigging it's stiff enough and doesn't weigh a ton. The thing that caused me to set it aside was the almost total lack of the multitude of metal fittings details that the real A/C has. I intend to reproduce this with black decal bits and plastic stock. There's a few pictures on the web, but the Datafile is recommended.
While I havn't started it yet... Ditto every word! I'm still looking for a tank to replace the one molded into the rear fuselage. For some reason I can't put my finger on, that one detail really lessens the illusion.
I've been scrounging through model car parts an WWII bombe but no luck so far. Model train stuff is next.

Ray
drbubba43 is offline  
Old 17 July 2005, 06:42 PM   #4 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
Tripehound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Posts: 221
 
The tank was the first thing to go. Find some round stock at the hobby shop. Plastruct makes a wide range of tubes and rods. Glue a thick chunk on the end (if it's a tube) and chuck it up in a drill. You can get the ends evenly rounded that way. The kit would be a delight for somebody with a case of AMS. Virtually ALL the insides can be seen.
Tripehound is offline  
Old 18 July 2005, 06:11 AM   #5 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
drbubba43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 110
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tripehound
The tank was the first thing to go. Find some round stock at the hobby shop. Plastruct makes a wide range of tubes and rods. Glue a thick chunk on the end (if it's a tube) and chuck it up in a drill. You can get the ends evenly rounded that way. The kit would be a delight for somebody with a case of AMS. Virtually ALL the insides can be seen.
Thanks for the suggestion. I actually have the plastc tubing for the tank, but I was hoping to find a prefab before I start this project...

As for AMS, that me. Except I'm getting therapy for it. AMS does not eqate to better finished models, at least in my case, it only means more unfinished ones...

I liked your Idea of using plastic on the rear instead of the metal included. I plan on taking that rout now also. I was concerned it might not hold its shape well till you mentined it here.

on a slightly different note. What is the Lone Star FE-8 like. Is it worth my time? What would I be getting myself into with that kit? I have no experience with Lone Star's kits at this point.

Ray
drbubba43 is offline  
Old 18 July 2005, 08:11 AM   #6 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
Tripehound's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Mobile, Alabama
Posts: 221
 
In my opinion, Lone Star kits, or at least the resin parts, are poor, not to put too fine a point on it. I have a DH-5 and two FE-8's from them. The DH-5 is all resin and very poorly done. I've started it and set it aside to await a really rainy day. Nearly all details are too heavy and need to be reworked. It makes the old Aurora stuff look good. The FE-8 is resin wings and tail and a vacuform nacelle. The nacelle is fairly good, but the external detailing is very light and needs enhancement. No big deal there. The wings are worse than the DH-5. They vary greatly in thickness along the span and are nowhere near the correct shape. They need plastic stock added to widen the center section chord. Kind of a shame because the ribs are fairly well done. I'm going to scratch a pair of wings for the second one and then decide what to do about the nearly-completed first.

On the other hand, the all-vacuform FB-12 I got from them looks to be pretty well done. The nacelle sides may be a little too flat, but that can be fixed.

I tried a gentle e-mail to the company, and they defended their work stoutly. The second FE-8 was to verify that the first wasn't a fluke. Unfortunately, it appears it's not. They make several neat planes, including a Junkers J.I. I'd have a hard time forking over 80 bucks for that and finding the same quality.
Tripehound is offline  
Old 18 July 2005, 08:20 AM   #7 (permalink)
Two-seater Pilot
 
drbubba43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 110
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tripehound
In my opinion, Lone Star kits, or at least the resin parts, are poor, not to put too fine a point on it. I have a DH-5 and two FE-8's from them. The DH-5 is all resin and very poorly done. I've started it and set it aside to await a really rainy day. Nearly all details are too heavy and need to be reworked. It makes the old Aurora stuff look good. The FE-8 is resin wings and tail and a vacuform nacelle. The nacelle is fairly good, but the external detailing is very light and needs enhancement. No big deal there. The wings are worse than the DH-5. They vary greatly in thickness along the span and are nowhere near the correct shape. They need plastic stock added to widen the center section chord. Kind of a shame because the ribs are fairly well done. I'm going to scratch a pair of wings for the second one and then decide what to do about the nearly-completed first.

On the other hand, the all-vacuform FB-12 I got from them looks to be pretty well done. The nacelle sides may be a little too flat, but that can be fixed.

I tried a gentle e-mail to the company, and they defended their work stoutly. The second FE-8 was to verify that the first wasn't a fluke. Unfortunately, it appears it's not. They make several neat planes, including a Junkers J.I. I'd have a hard time forking over 80 bucks for that and finding the same quality.
Thanks for the head's up... I think I'll wait a bit befoe I bite that one off. Still got lots of kits to work on. Sound like more of a scratch build project than a kit, and if I'm going to go that far, I think I just tackle my Maurice Farman...

Ray
drbubba43 is offline  
Old 18 July 2005, 10:59 AM   #8 (permalink)
Forum Ace
 
PeterL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 1998
Location: Stockport UK
 
Lone Star vacs are good, but the resins are produced by pouring polyurethane into the vac-form moulds. The result is the worst of both worlds and you're really better off with a vac-form.
__________________
cheers

Peter L
PeterL is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Tags
vickers, fb5



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Vickers FB-5 Help Kalt Aircraft 1 12 November 2006 11:41 PM
Vickers Mk1 Omega Replica Aircraft 15 11 January 2006 04:09 PM
Vickers Machine Gun Silky Aircraft 5 17 June 2004 10:41 PM
Vickers F.B. 16D JohnFitz Aircraft 7 21 March 2004 09:03 PM
Vickers Gun Bus FB5 CGreen Aircraft 1 2 March 2002 08:24 AM


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:24 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.5.1 PL1
Copyright ©1997 - 2012 The Aerodrome