Vickers FB-26 Vampire

[djuggie]

June 24, 2024

The top wing is now attached and drying until tomorrow.  I didn't use my Aeroclub jig because of the location of the lower wing.  The top wing was attached by cutting each strut individually, drilling my rigging holes and installed them one at a time.  It is a little fragile at this moment but it should be strengthened when the fuselage to wing structs are added.  Think of them as reverse cabanes.  I will not build the tail booms until the top wing is secure.  It is this area that I am little vague as far as location but I will figure it out.

Dennis

[NigelR]

Nice work Dennis. I would be completely out of my depth trying to add the tail booms to this. It will be a testament to your modelling skills to see this one done!

[djuggie]

Nigel,

I am looking forward to the booms.  At this moment I am working on the structs from the fuselage to the lower wing.  How many languages can you say "nightmare".  The alignment has to be perfect which I am not.  The angles, the precise gluing, all challenges.    This has to rank near the top of my most difficult kits. 

Thank you for your comments on my modelling skills which at the moment I consider very low.  But I will prevail.  I may drool for a few days after, but it will be finished.

Dennis

[djuggie]

June 26, 2024

Progress to date.  With the exception of some touch up, the wing to fuselage section is complete.  The next step will be the building of the tail booms.  There are considerable alignment problems but, all in all, it is going together well.  This is a model that I put too much thought into.  I should have just taken it out of the package and put it together.   But that is water under the bridge and I am too far along to quit.  Rigging could take place this weekend.  But for now, on to the tail booms.

Dennis

[djuggie]

June 28, 2024

Tail booms are in place and it is now ready for rigging.  There are some alignment problems I have to work out but the fix may be worse than leaving it alone.  It has gone together surprisingly trouble free so there is a good chance I will make only a half-hearted attempt at repairs.

Dennis

[Dutch522]

Ye gods what a beast! Looks great from over here on the East Coast, Dennis.

Dutch

[djuggie]

Dutch,

The east coast is as close as I want someone to see this kit.  I have always said I build "illusions".  With the naked eye, my models are highly praised for their detail.  However, under the harsh eye of a macro camera lens, the truth is revealed and my model sinks beneath the waves in a manner similar to the Titanic.  On the other hand, with the right camera angle, the illusion continues.

Dennis

[DaddyO]

Great so far Denis (who knows I might even dig out the kit myself)

Paul

[Dutch522]

Smoke & mirrors, Dennis, smoke & mirrors

Dutch

[NigelR]

Well, you made attaching the tail booms look easy, and I don't think that's an illusion......

[djuggie]

July 16, 2024

Finished at last.  If anything could go wrong building a kit, it happened here.  I wasn't feeling well, life got in the way and I fought this kit from day one.  Only by sheer willpower did I finish it.  It should be on the shelf of doom but I wanted finish it.  It is not one of my better models and I found it very difficult to build.  There are alignment problems, my PC10 paint bottle disappeared so the touch up doesn't match, all of drilled hole had superglue in them, so the had to be re-drilled.  The rigging was very complicated and my reference material was lacking.  But, it is complete and will join the other models in the case.  What I do know is that the chances of the FB-26a being built are slim to none.  Rant mode off.

Dennis

[macsporran]

Well it looks terrific to my eye - and I am grateful to you for letting me see what this rare bird looked like from different angles.

(So glad you plugged that sphincter hole with a propellor, it was looking distinctly bum-like at one stage!)

Great model
Sandy

[NigelR]

You got it done and the most important thing is you have a model that is pretty much unique, I doubt whether there are many (any?) others out there. Yes, it's got some imperfections but it really looks the part. Any flaws always seem much bigger in our eyes......

It's a pity when models become a bit of a struggle but sometimes pushing through to the end gives you a sense of achievement and I hope you got that from this one. I never even knew this plane existed until you built this model!

[RAGIII]

I seemed to have totally missed this one Dennis    To My eye the results are excellent! Certainly, a unique bird for your collection!
RAGIII

[KiwiZac]

I missed it too - I can't help but think of the Lockheed P-38 when I see that nose! What a machine!