Tupolev R-6 Modelik 1/33 scale

[Erik Zwaan]

Isaac, indeed it looks like a ship as you described it. Ship builders sort of fixate the "skeleton" to a floor board to avoid twisting and skewing when gluing the hull plates. I hope this is correct English. Your progress is impressive, by the way!

Regards,
Erik

[Isaac]

Now its time to see what the overall framing will look like. I placed the wing frames thru the fuselage. It confirmed that the wing center spar needs alot of reinforcement.


here is the layout:









Isaac

[Isaac]

This aircraft had a lower "turret" or more like an observer gondola / barrel that was lowered and the position was facing aft. It was not powered nor rotated. It is interesting to note that there are "trousers" for the observer to place his legs in.

In this kit there are some pieces that so far make no sense to me. Specifically, there are two long rods on top that must connect to the lower fuselage? For now, I build them, but they are not yet glued.

Also, at this point there are no guns yet. That will come at the end of the build.







Isaac

[Isaac]

Time to get the external fuselage skins on the frame. As state, this is more like building a ship hull or a train car than an airplane.


The skins are grouped into the lower half and sides sections and then when done , I will add the upper skins. Since so many pieces are involved in this long and slender fuselage, great care should be taken by dry fitting as many times as it takes.


here are the parts of the lower and side skins:




Now, lets form and glue the forward section. It only glued to itself at this point. Do not glue to frame yet!







Note that the nose section has two clear flat transparencies in the windows that are added.



Next is the center section with the wing spar and lower gun turret cut out.






Now dry fit those to the frame.







Got it? NO gluing to the frame yet!



Thanks


Isaac

[YOAVHOZMI]

you are very quick....good for you.

YOAV

[Wyvern]

Looks like you're doing a great job with this one, buddy.

Wyvern

[Isaac]

Start here:


The skin to glue to the fuselage frame first is the one having the cutout for the wing spar. Those two sections should match to each other. From this part, you will then go forward and then aft.'




Once the center skin is glued, add the forward one. I needed to trim the extreme nose inner compartment so it will match the outer skin. Nip and tuck!







Note:

I decided not to complete the interior of the compartments yet. That's because I needed to push my fingers on the inside to glue the thing. The interior can be added later, just before the top skins go on.



Isaac

[Isaac]

I started posting the next installment, but then decided to call my friend in Boston to see how things are. He is a great plastic modeler. Our conversation lasted over an hour and it got too late to post my work.


So will try again tomorrow.

Isaac

[Loui]

excellent wip.... and greeeaat picts

[Isaac]

Now we can add the back sections. Make sure that the glue tabs are attached to the forward piece being glued.









And now the problem . The frame is approximately 0.150 inches too long for the skins. The solution as you will see later on is to trim the rear framing. That will cause other issues later on as well.






Isaac