TP's WNW 1/32nd Scale Biff

[GAJouette]

 Gary,
Glad to see back at that outstanding Biff my old friend. Outstanding Staghound too,commission build?
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Trackpad]

Gary,
Glad to see back at that outstanding Biff my old friend. Outstanding Staghound too,commission build?
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Hi, Gregory,

Glad to be back! The Staghound is "sort of" a commission build. I met a member of the crew that served in this vehicle in Europe, 1945. I live near the Base where his Regiment is now located, so the thought struck me that it would be nice to build his Stag and present it, either to him, who might then present it to his Regiment, or to the Regiment directly in his name. I was Armoured Corps for almost all of my Army career, so there is a direct link, so to speak, from me to him and to the Regiment. We'll see how it plays out!

And now, back to the Biff! 

[Trackpad]

Excellent work on the Staghound. Have you considered a figure to show how big that machine really is?

Steve

Hi, Steve,

I've got an excellent figure from Ultracast, but I'm hoarding it against either a Firefly or a Stuart build. Gotta start using these aftermarket thingies, I agree, but only for those builds that stay with me! 

And you're right: the Stag is a pretty big vehicle. I saw that when I measured it up against my old Centurion Mk. 5!

[mgunns]

Hello Gary:

Great work on the Stag, hopefully the guy or the regitment will appreciate the effort and display it accordingly. 
To digress a bit, I built a Revell Forrestal using two kits to represent it as it appeared in 1967 when the fire broke out.  One of the guys in our Sea Cadet Squadron was on the Forrestal when that happened.  I tricked it out pretty good to make it look like it did during its WESPAC cruise:  P.E., scrounged a/c folded wings, decals the whole nine yards.  When I presented it to him, he almost demolished it by touching everything wondering how I did it.  As he was lifting it up to check out the screws and the shaft he banged it on a chandelier.  I did a field expedient repair using super glue and left.  Never saw it or him again.  As I say, I digress.   Looking foward to the BIFF.

Stay warm.

Mark

[lcarroll]

Mark,
   I can only imagine the pain! I recall as a teenager I did a scratch built hand carved hull replica of my Dad's DDE, HMCS Skeena. He was the Coxwain of the ship and wanted to present it to the Captain who was about to retire. Similar situation; the Captain's Daughter was a Highschool friend; she later told me she was so impressed by the detail, as observed on a shelf in her Dad's garage! Doh!!!
   We are definitely mis-understood and undervalued members of this society!
Cheers,
Lance

[mgunns]

Mark,
   I can only imagine the pain! I recall as a teenager I did a scratch built hand carved hull replica of my Dad's DDE, HMCS Skeena. He was the Coxwain of the ship and wanted to present it to the Captain who was about to retire. Similar situation; the Captain's Daughter was a Highschool friend; she later told me she was so impressed by the detail, as observed on a shelf in her Dad's garage! Doh!!!
   We are definitely mis-understood and undervalued members of this society!
Cheers,
Lance

My goodness!  The Captain surely didn't appreciate the effort, he should have given it to his daughter who did.  I concur with your assessment.  We certainly are the mis-understood and undervalued.  (Except by my wife)

Cheers

Mark

[lcarroll]

Mark....Amen, Brother!
Cheers,
Lance

[Trackpad]

Just a short verbal update for now, as not too much has happened with my build. That said, I've been able to repair the fuselage spine seam, repaint that area, and start to repaint the grey/PC10 nose area (initially got some panel lines mispainted). The serial is now on the left side of the vertical stabilizer, right side to follow shortly. I decalled the rudder but was not happy with my efforts, so they got stripped off and I'll paint the striping in the next few days. On a slightly different note, I've made a fair start on the engine, but I don't expect to work miracles on it as I'll be displaying the model with closed cowlings.

Edit: Well, maybe closed cowlings. We'll see!

Other than that, not a bunch happening. As and when they do, I'll get the info posted here schnell! 

[Chris Johnson]

Just a short verbal update for now, as not too much has happened with my build. That said, I've been able to repair the fuselage spine seam, repaint that area, and start to repaint the grey/PC10 nose area (initially got some panel lines mispainted). The serial is now on the left side of the vertical stabilizer, right side to follow shortly. I decalled the rudder but was not happy with my efforts, so they got stripped off and I'll paint the striping in the next few days. On a slightly different note, I've made a fair start on the engine, but I don't expect to work miracles on it as I'll be displaying the model with closed cowlings.

Other than that, not a bunch happening. As and when they do, I'll get the info posted here schnell! 

Take your time Gary. I know you and Lance are busy with other things. I'll continue to plod along myself. I dispensed with decaling the rudder too as it's just so much easier to paint the stripes. We're three for three on that darned fuselage spine seam! Good to hear that you're going with closed cowlings as that'll be different from Lance and me. Mind you, I have no business leaving them off when I compare my engine to Lance's!

Cheers,

Chris

[mgunns]

Hello Gary:

Thanks for the update.  I am contemplating doing that for my next build, as I have one German done, and am in the final throes of the Pfalz DXII.  It is interesting to see the takes of the "Three Canadians" on this kit.  I am looking forward to seeing your next batch of pics on this.

Best

Mark

[Trackpad]

OK: I wimped. Seeing the other Biff engine work around here, I decided to suck it up and give it a shot. In an uncharacteristic burst of enthusiasm, I got most of the main engine parts together, then decided to tackle the wire harnesses. And so, I present to you my version of "A Bad Hair Day:"



With the wire cut and the holes drilled, I thought to fit the unannealed wires just to get an idea of the challenge and the motivation. Tomorrow we start on the details, but this was a bit of fun (especially as I was watching my Toronto hockey team defeat our arch rivals from Ottawa while I was doing the drilling!). That drill session cost me three broken bits (Drill Bits Unlimited), BTW. I've snapped off eight of the finer sizes so far: anyone got an idea of how to use these things without destroying them? I'm hand-holding them now after losing the first four or five in my Dremel and pin vise.

More later. Thanks for dropping by! 

[mgunns]

anyone got an idea of how to use these things without destroying them? I'm hand-holding them now after losing the first four or five in my Dremel and pin vise.

More later. Thanks for dropping by! 

Hello TP:

I use them in my garden variety pin vise, but; I only have about a quarter of an inch exposed.  At that length, I am not bending the drill bit but still have plenty of room to work at drilling out the holes for the eyelets or spark plugs.  Sometimes I even go down to 3/16.  I have managed to use the same bit for my SE5.a, the Gotha, the Hannover and now on the DXII and it is still going strong.  Give it a go.

Good luck

Mark

[uncletony]

For me the perfect hand tool for the carbide bits is a ball-end pin vise with a universal chuck... You can hold and turn with one hand and use your other hand to guide/support the bit wih your finger.

[pepperman42]

Wow - the Rolls Royce of pin vices. How long is that one? If its as long as I think Im tracking it down.

Steve

[Chris Johnson]

Just looking at your 'bad hair day' gives me a dose of Yogi Berra's 'deja vous all over again'. You and Lance have waaaay more nerve than me. Copper and unannealed?? I took the easy way out and used lead wire.

I'm gradually working my way through my first sets of 0.3mm and 0.35 mm carbides from Drill Bits Unlimited too. I only use them in my fingers but I still manage to break them. Evidently, carbide isn't particulary suited to drilling curved holes. 

Cheers,

Chris