control build ecardmodels.com Sea Vixen

[rutzes]

Dear all,

the design-thread can be found here: http://ecardmodels.com/forum/index.php?topic=368.0

I got the file from NOBi and started working on Sunday but due to minor progress I start the report by today.

I imported the file to CorelDraw to add there remarks if necessary. I hope that it didn't change the color considerably. It should be mentioned that I scaled the model to 1/33 that it fits to my other builds. In case of problems with the fit, they should be more pronounced in this case and will draw more attention to such problems. Due to my experience with other builds from NOBi, I expect no such problems.

I finally want to start with two images of the instructions, which show the complete model:

[rutzes]

I will make this report as follows: Before showing the different sections of the build, I'll post the respective image of the instructions.

As for most cases of a plane build, it starts with the fuselage. This are seven sections, expecially in the center section, the parts are pretty large (in both 1/48 and 1/33 :-). The parts are displayed in picture 04, the tabs and formers can be found in 05:

[rutzes]

On part 02, I found a first error, which is on a pretty pronounced position. The starbord "722" has on the center 2 no white rectangle. I changed this detail in CorelDraw (06), the comparison of the original and modified part are shown in 07:

[rutzes]

The next pictures show all parts of the fuselage, which are not assembled at this stage. The first two parts will not be added to the fuselage until the end of the build to prevent troubles if some weight has to be added to the nose:

[rutzes]

The next section are the wings. Nothing complicated - a rather basic inner structure, each wing being divided into four parts + air intake.

[rutzes]

Different stages of the assembling progress:

[rutzes]

The wings after completion:

[rutzes]

The wings preliminarily added to the fuselage. Not glued yet - first the engines have to be completed to see if the engined can be added after mounting of the wings or not:

[cgutzmer]

GREAT! Thanks for taking this on :)

[rutzes]

Sure, it's an honor! Until now, it's also fun to build, the fit (I scaled it up to 1/33) is very good.

The next step are the engines:

[rutzes]

some of the parts reveal different line thickness, this should be changed in the final version. I will show NOBi in my pdf with comments, which lines shall be changed. Each exhaust consists of 7 parts:

[rutzes]

The completed engines. The formers were slightly to large, on the tabs it could be marked which parts have to be removed (this can be done in a simpler way before assembling the exhausts):

[rutzes]

The engines added to the fuselage. I'm not sure about the correct order. I added the wings before mounting the engines therefore it was a little bit complicated. I'm not sure if an inverse order would be better:

[rutzes]

A short preview about the next steps - completing the cowlings of the air inlets:

[cgutzmer]

coming together very well! thanks for pointing out improvements :)
Chris

[rutzes]

Just a short update on the status at the very modent. Tomorrow, I'll show more details and the different steps ...

The booms are not yet glued to the wings and consist at the very moment of 3 parts, just in case problemswith the rudders might occur. Since no bigger problems were found until now, I belive the rest of the construction fits good, too ;D

[cgutzmer]

oooohhhh nice :) thanks for the update!

[rutzes]

Sure ;-)

Here comes the build with more details.

picture 26 shows the parts of the upper engine cowling, which can be mounted without problem:

[rutzes]

Mounting the lower part of the engine cowling, a small problem occured (27): Parts 28 and 42 have the wrong shape. This is also well visible when the parts are compared with the shape of the adjacent parts 27 & 41 (img. 28). I suggest to change the shape as shown in img. 29 (red lines: old shape)

[rutzes]

In the center, the old parts can be found. The two other parts are already the modified ones:

[rutzes]

The fuselage after completing the engine cowlings (31 & 32). Here I've seen that it is of utmost importance to add the wings as exactly as possible.

[rutzes]

From my point of view, it would be a great improvement to add 2 or 4 formers (31a & 32a):

[rutzes]

The R & Y of Royal NavY are not white on the rudders. I changed these parts with CorelDraw and will use the modified parts (33):

[rutzes]

But: The next step is the canopy. sketch (34), parts (35) and assembled canopy (36, 37):

[rutzes]

Sketch & parts of the rear part of the plane (38, 39) & end for today - nearly 1a.m. in Old Europe:

[rutzes]

Happy easter to all!

Despite the great weather, I could finish the build of the Sea Vixen. First, the booms were completed (40, 41):

[rutzes]

Next step were the rudders:

[rutzes]

which were mounted to the booms:

[rutzes]

The Sea Vixen together with Canberra (Skyline Paper Models) and Jaguar (Fly Model) - yes, the Brits like colorful planes ;-)

[rutzes]

I decided to add some Red Top missiles, which were taken from the Lightning kit from Fly Model. These missiles will be added after completion of the beta build and having taken pictures for you, Chris:

[rutzes]

A few more parts for the rudders (I belive some electronics):

[rutzes]

Next step: Tyres

I decided to change those parts a little bit - the rims are no more independent parts, which are glued onto the parts with the carcasses. Looking at e.g. http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/seavixen/walkaround/svix25b.jpg , I decided that it would be better in 3D to do so. I also added more layers since I assemble the tyres from 0.5mm thin card (it's easier to cut):

[rutzes]

The next step would be the tanks (img. 52) but I was to lazy to photograph the assembled ones ...

[rutzes]

Therefore I show at the very moment just 2 images of the completed model and will post some more pictures this evening. I will also finish my comments for NOBi and hope to be able to send them back today or tomorrow.

[rutzes]

For comparison, I add also some images of the model with the Red Top missiles. The positions of the pylons are only estimated and the shape of the pylons is a copy of the ones for the exterior tanks...

Let me emphasize that the missiles ARE NOT part of the model but taken from the English Electric Lightning from Fly Model.

[rutzes]

Finally, I want to show here some gallery pics of the completed Sea Vixen:

[rutzes]

part II:

[rutzes]

part III:

[rutzes]

part IV (the last ones):

[cgutzmer]

That looks great! The canopy is sure wierd though - I suppose thats part of the appeal :)

Thanks for all the pics!
Chris