Blue Streak

[Darwin]

A couple of pics just to let Dave know I got through the Blue Streak build that was interrupted to get in a couple of beta builds. Better shots will be taken at a later date once I get up the interest and energy to make some corner of the shop into a 'photo studio.'

[airdave]

Fantastic!
So happy to see this.

Is there a paint issue on the cowling of that port outboard engine?
I'm not near the file at the moment, but I must have a look.
Is the model missing the cowling colour?

[Inky]

That looks great, some day I will get around to building some of Dave's stuff that I bought.

Keep up the good work, can't wait to see your next project.

[Darwin]

Dave, one of the cowls is missing a texturing level. As well, I think there may still be a left-side right-side mixup with a couple of the outer nacelle parts. I'd say about 95 percent of the issues I had with the Grumpy kit have been corrected...what remains, excepting the cowl texturing, is fairly easy to contend with as a builder...and, if you are aware of it beforehand, just printing out two copies of the page containing the cowls will take care of things. And, even with the added penny of noseweight, it is still precariously balanced. I'm guessing that the reason is not having the added weight of the bomb bay detailing forward of the main LG is why. As a final nitpic, you might add a caution to cut down the canopy former to allow for the thickness of the plastic sheet if the transparent canopy is opted for. Altogether, an enjoyable build, but now I'm about B-24ed out. Now to finish up the last of the details on the HO Smaily. Anyone know if any of the Polish armored trains survived long enough to become German 'captured equipment?' Even if not, I may press forward with my latest brainpoot for a diorama and call it creative history.

Inky, thanks for the kind words. They are few and far apart lately.

[looker]

I've never gone through it fully but check out
Polish Armoured Trains
Certainly some of the Polish drasines were captured and used.

[Darwin]

Thanks, looker. This site gives me some very interesting ideas. Now if I can find one of those half-track trucks that would be buildable in HO scale. Ideas are poping out all over, but will need one hell of a wide-angle lens to capture in a photo. Anyone know of a source of clear lucite rod with about 1/8 inch diameter or a bit less? And an HO scale I-16 and Stuka?

[airdave]

Thanks Darwin

re: the cowling colour issue....yes, it seems the colours got a little mixed up
and one cowling part is missing its green colour.
I have fixed this problem and will be uploading an updated file shortly.

There are four of the cowling parts #28 , and they are all basically the same.
*only difference with this model is the paint chipping in the artwork.
so as Darwin says, its easy enough to print an extra cowling part and replace
the errored part.

I have modified the instruction about "nose weight" in the model too.
I have increased the total weight to 16-20 grams but suggested it be
spread over two locations in the nose (around the Nose Gear)
to spread the weight out a little bit.
We don't want too much weight behind that nose canopy and having it
weaken the connections of any parts.

Re: the left-right mix-up issue of the Engine parts.
I have again checked all the numbers...I have rechecked the left and right placements
...I rechecked Marek's old model to see if his had any confusion
...it all looks good to me.
I even assembled all the parts (on the computer) to see if the right and left
angles/measures look right...and they do (I think).
So I don't really have an answer for that one.

Unless with varied builds, the parts don't line up the same?
Meaning, if you don't get the skin and rib shape just right,
maybe it affects and alters the fit of each engine?

Canopy Former...I have added a small note about altering the former size based
on using thicker materials like clear plastic (for the canopy).
Obviously this is something that a more skilled builder should realize anyway.

Thanks for all your critiques!

[Darwin]

Dave, the specific issue with the outer nacelle parts is with part 45. As currently identified, there is no way (with possible exception of turning one of the pieces over so the texturing is to the inside of the nacelle) the presently identified part 45L is going to correctly fit with part 47L (ditto for 45R/47R). The problem stems back to the original Marek kit...I suspect that, as badly as the L/R nacelle parts got jumbled up on the parts sheets, there was computer assistance somewhere in the process (going back to one of my design trueisms...to err is human, to totally flux it up requires computer assistance). Re the skilled builder comment...true if the builder doesn't have his mind on autopilot while doing the 'easy' parts of the build. Don't look too close at the fuselage skin in the photos, or you will notice a bit (about equal to the width of plastic sheet) of the cockpit interior texturing peeking out under the bottom of the canopy framing....

[airdave]

ah! now I see it...yes, it looks like 45R and L are reversed!

can't tell you how many times I looked at those parts and didn't see it.

ok, great...I will mirror those parts and fix 'er up.
damn, gotta stop the upload of the replacement file. lol