Aeroclub 1/72 English Electric P.1A conv

[ShaunW]

There is some excellent modelling going on here, James with bonus points from me for re-scribing, which is my modelling nemesis!

[Spaceowl]

Great rescribing tips there, James - I've got a Heller Mirage 5 in the stash that's going to need a load of that!

[Barry]

Excellent, James.

[shangos70]

Dedication to the cause again James. Top work as per.

[JamesPerrin]

Thank you all.

Before rescribing the fuselage I needed to sort out the wing and tailplane attachment points. Now the wing wasn't a big issue other than the root added dihedral rather than the required anhedral. There wasn't a lot to play with so after squaring it off with my big file I added a very thin strip of card to the top edge of the wing joint and then checked the fit out against the plans.



The contraption is an engineer's height scriber, it has a fine adjustment so I can tweak the position of the wing. Due the to flexibility of the fuselage halves, I may attach the wings before closing up the fuselage so I can close the joint along the top of the root.

The tailplane root's on the P1A and Lightning are quite complex wide moulded shape and the kit is mile off with a narrow raised lump. I looked at references and plans to try and determine the true shape but it was hard to get a clear idea until I went to the loft and pulled out Airfix's recent Lightning. Well I could try to make them from card but they also curve around the bottom edge of the fuselage - time for some experimentation!

I got out my thermo-forming plastic that I bought years ago - you leave in this in 80 deg C water for 5 mins and it becomes soft and malleable. This was squidged over the Airfix kit and once cooled provided me with a perfect mould.



Now what to mould it in? Milliput would be too brittle for something so thin. I had some UV resin glue and had a quick go with that, it worked perfectly though the parts were too soft and rubbery to use in a kit. I could get some harder UV resin but looking at my desk I spied the plastic gloop made from Tamiya Extra thin and plastic card that I use as a filler I knew this would shrink but thought it worth a try and gave the moulds a good coat. I went back and added a few more coats every couple of days - ironically helped by the fact I got covid over Christmas and wasn't up for doing much.

So a week later I was very pleased with what popped out of the mould. Yes, there was a bit of sinkage, but quickly sorted out with filler and as they were essentially plastic parts I could sand the insides to match the fuselage.



The lumps on the fuselage needed to be gone so I filled the back with CA and Acrylic nail powder - fine plastic dust. Then I sanded the lumps off and attached the new tailplane fairings.

[DavidWomby]

Great work going on here, James.

I've used that thermo-form plastic for moulds too but never thought of using sprue goop as the material to make the part from!

David

[JohnRatzenberger]

Always some great modelling going on, and let me not forget the design thought process.

[iggie]

Very enterprising! That's great modelling James

[RayS]

Nice work with the moulding, I have some of that thermoforming plastic and was wondering what to fill it with once I made a mould.

I shall give the sprue glue a go

[ShaunW]

Very innovative, James, that appears to have worked really well.

[Lone Modeller]

Some super scratch building here: although the methods used are abit high tech!

I like the idea of utilising what is to hand on the desk and experimenting with new ideas. More power to your elbow!

[TeeELL]

Some rather fine skills being utilised in this build James - great stuff.

[X12A]

Thats impressive James - way above my pay scale!

[B4en]

Excellent work going on James!
That thermo-forming plastic looks sooo useful. Can you just reheat it to reuse it? Any idea where I could get some?

[beany]

Excellent work going on James!
That thermo-forming plastic looks sooo useful. Can you just reheat it to reuse it? Any idea where I could get some?

Just search Thermo Plastic beads on eBay - loads to choose from - example here:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/14339/i.html ... mo+plastic