KLM DC-4/C-54 (Papertrade 1:50) - Page 9

**Leif Ohlsson** · #81 10-04-2021, 08:13 AM

Just in case I won't be back for a while, congratulations on this work, both Erik and Diderick. Very, very nice! - Leif

**Diderick A. den Bakker** · #82 10-17-2021, 08:19 AM

Unfortunately Erik is having to slow down a bit - he is having serious health issues in the family. Pail Paaymans is going full steam ahead on the Spirit of Freedom version, als these pictures of the nose landing gear show. He is now working on the main landing gear - when that is finished the various elements will come together to make up the complete model! Watch this space!!
Some time ago we discussed the possibility to leave out the balancing weight in the nose: 60 grams is a lot, and may easily damage the undercarriage, even if reinforced with steel wire (visible in one of the pictures). Using the balancing strut as visible in so many real life pictures will be a logical way of presenting a static model.
Just received pictures of wings and engines in place.

**scon10** · #83 10-17-2021, 01:48 PM

Love the detailed nosewheel.

**Diderick A. den Bakker** · #84 10-21-2021, 03:40 PM

The Avianca test build is also making progress.

**scon10** · #85 10-22-2021, 01:51 PM

Maybe it's a photo effect, but it seems to me that the stripes on the fin are not parallel to the cheatline on the fuselage. Also, is the nose a bit pointy, or is it a radar nose?

**Erik Zwaan** · #86 10-24-2021, 08:55 AM

Hello everyone! It's been a while as my mind was and to a lesser extent still is, not geared up to modeling. Too many sad and disturbing things going on in the family lately. Doesn't mean I haven't done a thing in the past few weeks but progress certainly slowed down.
In any case, herewith a quick update. Started with the wings and regardless of other matters, it's been quite a struggle up so far. I'll keep it short.

The wings are large surfaces and the internal structure is elaborate, many ribs and spars. I strengthened the internal surface by gluing regular printer paper and sanded the ribs and spars quite a bit to have an easy fit, rather than a tight one and the risk of pressing the skins too hard on the ribs.

At this stage I'm far from done yet with the first (left) wing but it looks like that pre-assembling it as much as possible and only then inserting the internal structure, will give the best result. The structure is still loose inside the wing.
Gluing it will be tricky as I found out when working on the right wing: You have to press the main spars flat on the table surface to keep the wing straight and without torsion during the drying process. In other words, I have to start all over again with that one.

I altered the attachment of the wings to the fuselage by creating a kind of sleeve from which the spar tabs can be inserted. This allows me to construct each wing at a time before attaching it to the fuselage.

Also a few pictures of the right aileron.

Cheers,
Erik

**Diderick A. den Bakker** · #87 10-24-2021, 09:08 AM

Glad to see you back on course!

**romanmodels** · #88 10-24-2021, 03:05 PM

wing looks good Erik

**Diderick A. den Bakker** · #89 10-27-2021, 02:23 PM

For those who know their Alice in Wonderland: Oh frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! (I) chortled in (my) joy!!
Paul Paymans just sent me some pictures of his finished Spirit of Freedom. KLM version and Spirit will be going to the printers this weekend. Some of you have already sent reservations, but without their own email - please mail me direct: [email protected]/
Download versions of KLM, Spirit, Santa Fe Skyways and Avianca will be available from this weekend - please send you address, so i can sent payment details.

**yankeekilo** · #90 10-27-2021, 03:08 PM

pure perfection!!!