Halinski Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien - Page 2

**GreMir** · #11 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 07:44 AM

Thank you.
Yu,
This is my second Halinski kit after the 2001 Hayabusa. I'm still not quiet ready for the latest kits...
Dan,
Yes. What I do is to glue the joining strip to the segment, then connect the other one. This way I can massage the connection from both inside and outside. When I'm satisfied with the result and glue sets, I can slide the former into position and secure it with glue.

**Lex** · #12 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 06:55 PM

I have built a scale-down of this kit, and I think the Halinski precision standard means that any methods used to place formers are suitable on this aircraft. I only had a little fitting issue on the sides of the cockpit connecting the front and back fuselage, but that was due to the way the model's designed and my skills. Anyway best of luck to you Michael

**CMDRTED** · #13 (**permalink**) 05-31-2009, 07:42 PM

Great job Mike, as Lex says the only "tricky" part is those center cockpit segments. I think I attached the connector strips to the fwd section and the aft section leaving the centre sections just plain skin sections and trimmed them to fit in between the fwd and aft fuse. The trimming was almost non existant it fit so well! Good Luck!

**Don Boose** · #14 (**permalink**) 06-01-2009, 07:40 PM

Another great Japanese airplane under construction by Mike Krol! That's always good news to me. Although this one is definitely way beyond my skill level, I'm going to enjoy the build and the commentary.

It's also nice to hear from you again, Ted.

Don

**GreMir** · #15 (**permalink**) 06-05-2009, 10:00 PM

Cockpit is fairly sparse so I was able to finish it in just two evenings

I think I stumbled onto a little design flaw with the first segment behind the cockpit. Actually the skin is correct since it perfectly matches the next one going aft - the problem is former VII which is to large.
I cut it out on the line, sanded it to get smooth surface, but when I tried to fit it into the skin No 5, I ended up with a 2mm gap. Granted, all this would be covered by air scoop, but I had a little uneasy feeling about this.
I went around checking build reports of this plane and strangely almost nobody was showing bottom of the plane at this stage!
The only photo I found was on kartonbau and it did show 2-3mm gap. next photo showed a very pronounced bump in the connection with the next segment aft, so it was clear that the gap is unacceptable.
To solve it, I connected skins 5 and 6 (those thin strips at the bottom of part 5 are pain...) and tried to slide the assembly onto the framework - no go.
I kept sanding former VII until I could slide the skins onto the frame without the need to use any special force. You can see result on the photos below.
Drawing shows the headrest as a vertical piece but it seemed a bit unnatural to mount it like that and I gave it a little tilt forward.
Forward fuselage is only dryfitted.