...some wonderful headway on the Herc this weekend!
just about everything fell into place reall well, all parts fitted perfectly or acceptably,
got a short list of tweaks and adjustments,
and I think I am ready to move on the Tail sections.
Heres a recap of what I got done:
Redesign of the "new" forward Former went great.
My first "redesign" fitted perfectly with only the necessary adjustments to the shape and size of the cutout for the Wheel Well.
I am implementing a complete new part numbering system, at the moment this new former is "B", but that might change.
While I waited for some glue to dry, and since I have the new Wheel Well in place,
I decided to test build the new front Gear assembly.
Following pic shows the necessary printed parts plus a little build diagram.
One of my goals is to create an assembly that can be fitted with no other support.
in other words, I don't like the idea of wire supports sticking through little holes...
so my new assembly mounts on a wide front brace and a rear support (sort of a tripod effect).
Heres the assembly with some Mustang P-51 wheels I pulled off another model. The actual C-130 wheels will be a little shorter and fatter.
...all looks okay and the fit in the wheel well is as intended.
I'm gonna make a few small adjustments to the design but its pretty much what I had in mind.
Only real question is the overall ride height of the plane.
I've done a lot of measurements to try to get front and main gear to the correct height
and to get the fusleage to sit at the proper angle and ride height,
but I won't know for sure until I get all the gear in place.
All thats left is to add three more sections of fuselage...
which brings mean to the rear door/tail sections.
I'm also at the point where I am cutting out the openings for the main gear wells.
I remembered from my last C-130 build, that I questioned whether there should be a second former in the area of the main Gear wells.
As it stands, Nobi's design has one central former where you fit the wheel well boxes.
I think two formers in that opening is the better way to allow for a flat and secure attachment of the new Gear design and Wheel Wells.
So, I have doubled the applicable former "F" and added a pair of spacing braces.
Its pretty simple to attach the two braces, glue them to the existing former and then drop in the second former.
Once the openings are cut for the Main Gear wells, there are two visible former cutouts ready to receive the new wheel well boxes.
The wheel well boxes now have two attachment points.
Once I get the boxes printed and assembled I'll know for sure if this is all good.
And thats it...for now...
I've got a short list of tweaks and minor adjustments to deal with
and then its on to designing the Tail sections.
But before that, I think I will check out the fit of the side fuselage blisters.
Stay tuned!