forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Vacform Kits => Topic started by: djuggie on January 24, 2024, 06:01:42 AM
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January 24, 2024
I need to put aside 1/32nd for a while so I returned to my roots. 1/72nd scale is my scale of choice and I can still see it. Trying to keep my collection fairly even, I chose the Joystick Phonix A. I have a thing for seaplanes so this fits the bill.
There is very little information about this plane with the exception of 5 pages in Windsock Issue vol 23, number 23, 2007.
The kit starts with the usual sanding and it took about two hours. The wings did not match the Windsock drawings and they were lengthened at the wing tips. The lower wing was completely redone using Rosepart wings blanks. The ribs are stretched spruce and sanded almost completely flat, leaving only a trace for the ribs. The rudder was cut and reshaped and the horizontal stabilizer was completed redone with plastic sheet. Stretched spruce was used on both of these parts. The engine is from Areoclub. The kit provides the machine guns and prop but these will probably be replaced. The fuselage was cut out and departing from most of my vacuforms, I added flat sheet as locating pins. The dry fit is not that good and these will help with alignment.
Here is where I could use some advise. The two photos and Bob Pearson's drawing shows the plane is a very light grey. It could also be a very light unbleached linen. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.
Dennis
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-01.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-02.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-03.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-04.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-05.jpg)
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Love it, Dennis! Another obscure type swelling the ranks of the UFC (Ugulano Flying Corps)!
I'll definitely be following this one.
Dutch
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More Roseplane action. The forum is becoming a nostalgia fest!
Great start, you make these vacs look easy. But not easy enough that I would actually build one!
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This will certainly be a thread to follow.
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Fantastic! I have a classicvac coming home with me and this may be the nudge I need to get started on it.
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Zac,
I am glad I inspired you but Classic Vacs is not where I would start. What you need is the Rareplane Junkers D.I. With all of the after market parts now available, it will be a very easy build and a good kit to get your feet wet. Now, you ask, where can I find a 40 year old kit? I just happen to know this guy that I can hook you up with. Send me a PM for the details.
dennis
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Dennis,
For what it's worth, the two Choroszy kits of the Phonix A show a light grey fuselage with linen wings and red-white-red wingtips.
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The RVHP kit has a brown (wood) fuselage and linen wings.
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Thank you for confirming the color scheme. Going through my completed A-H kits, that is where I was going to go. This confirms it. Thank you so very much. Love this group and the collective knowledge.
Dennis
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An excellent reference for A-H seaplanes is "Seaplanes of Bocche" by Boris Ciglic, published by Jeroplan Books. I highly recommend it, even though it doesn't mention this type! Also "The Eagle of Trieste: Part 1 The man and his aircraft". Gottfried Banfield being "the man".
Ian
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Send me a PM for the details.
I shall - colour me intrigued!
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February 7, 2024
Took a little time off to restore a small metal box and repair a chipped plate. But I digress.
I built an interior just to put something in the space. No idea what it looked like in real life so this will suffice. Besides you will not be able to see it after the wing and engine are in place.
The fuselage was closed up and the forward bottom section was made a little more pronounced. As you can see, a great amount of putty work was required. A small lip was added to the front of the fuselage and sanded to shape. It is now ready for paint.
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-06.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-07.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-08.jpg)
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Any progress is good progress my friend! I love the little rudder bar and, although I have no knowledge of the type, the instrument board looks pretty darned good too.
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February 10, 2024
The next major step was painting. A great deal of masking was required but the results were acceptable to me. Paints are Tamiya. My unbleached linen is Tamiy Buff with yellow added. I go more toward the yellow side for my linen. All surfaces were sprayed with Future Floor Wax and the decals were applied. My decals are showing their age and there was some minor breakage. I must remember to spray them prior to application. For 30 year old decals they well and only a minor amount of setting liquid was necessary.
The next set of photos will be installing the lower wing and tail surfaces.
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-09.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-10.jpg)
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Not sure how I missed the last two updates, but everything is looking shipshape and Dennis fashion. I’ve always loved the A-H aeroplanes, and this one is going to be a beauty when she gets finished.
All best,
Dutch
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Looking terrific Dennis, great work!
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Love the Austrian flying boats, can’t wait to see the final result - looking good so far.
Looks like the larger crosses broke? Maybe you can repair it with scrap decals, Airfix and many aftermarket sheets for example often contains that sort of thin black lines just for separating the dofferent scheme options.
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Looks great Dennis. I always appreciate that others are still building these vac kits and scratch building. I’m currently working on an interwar Douglas PD-1 vac kit. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.
Tim
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February 14, 2024
Not a great deal to report. The tail surfaces are in place with struts and rigging. Pontoons are in place and the locating holes for the engine support is ready. The engine will be mounted tomorrow. So far the measurements look ok.
Dennis
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-11.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-12.jpg)
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Any progress is good progress ;)
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Indeed, any progress is good progress, and this looks good! :)
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February 17, 2024
Made good progress yesterday. Had to rework the engine as I had it backwards (exhaust on wrong side) But that was corrected and mounted.
Now the hard part. Normally I eyeball the top wing in a single bay model but with the struts at an angle, I pulled out the Aeroclub jig and am glad I did. Not an easy project. But it is mounted and looks ok as far as much trouble it gave me.
The last photo shows it is ready for rigging, installing the last few parts and minor clean up. I could have it done this weekend.
Dennis
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-13.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-14.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-15.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-16.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-17.jpg)
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Lovely work and loads of visual progress!
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Looking lovely, and that jig is also a worthy piece of engineering!
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Gorgeous little bird, Dennis... I've always loved A-H aeroplanes as I've mentioned before, and this one is just increasing my appreciation of them!
Dutch
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February 18, 2024
It is complete. A more difficult kit due to the high engine mount and all of its struts. Wing alignment would have been near impossible without some kind of a jig. I do have an Aeroclub jig but I have seen some excellent hand made jigs that get the job done. The rigging was very simple and took about 30 minutes to accomplish. My reference material was Windsock #23 Vol 6.
The first photo is of my building and carry box. It is a simple box with slots and 5 drawers. Most 1/72nd scale kits fit in and I can have 5 models going at the same time. But who does that? No one in their right mind but then I have never claimed to have a right mind.
The balance of the photos are the completed kit. Lots of color which is my weak point. Throw color at me and I will follow you anywhere. Thank you for looking.
Dennis
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-18.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-19.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-20.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-21.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-22.jpg)
(http://priswell.com/djuggie/PhoenixA-23.jpg)
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Lovely Dennis! You've managed to capture the little Phonix in all its beauty, and the colour combination is great.
Very well done.
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Absolutely! I’m with E, this is a little gem. I’d love to see your collection in its entirety someday, Dennis, but unless you have a warehouse like Peter Jackson I don’t imagine it’s all on display at the same time :D
Dutch
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A really neat and precise build, full of colour. I'm with you, which is why I love A-H subjects.
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I want to thank every one for their positive comments on the Phonix A. There are some rough spots but, all in all, it turned out ok.
Dave, anytime you find your self in the middle of Calif, let me know and I will arrange a tour. No warehouse needed.
I have posted 2 photos of my display cases under "Completed Models" and you can see how to maximize a large number of kits in a small area. On reason why my collection has grown is the fact that I have not moved in 30 years. Models do not fare well in transit.
Dennis
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I wish I still worked for the humanitarian foundation in Woodland Hills, Dennis, I’d take you up on it in a heartbeat! It’s only a three hour drive from the Valley… I’ve been talking with them about doing another project together, so who knows?
Dutch
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What an absolutely gem, beautiful work Dennis! I thoroughly enjoyed following the build and the end result is satisfying to see.
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Sorry to have missed this: I scratch built one of these many years ago using the plans provided in the kit and sent to me by Dan (ninetythirdliberator): https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=7037.0
Yours is a super model - not easy from a vacuform (which is why I scratch built mine!)
Stephen.
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Stephen,
I just looked at your model and I am very impressed. I have built two scratch builds but they both had flat sides like fuselages.
I would never attempt what you did. Thank you very much for your comments.
Dennis
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What a cute little ship! Nice job on that one...Dan
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Another great build I missed!
RAGIII