FINISHED! P-35 From Modelik 1/33rd

[smithdr]

All,
Here are some better shots of the P-35 all done and ready for a flight. The pictures tell the story of some triumphs and some issues...especially on the bottom. For example, you can see where I needed to add to one of the rear fuselage skins as I took too much off while attempting to fit it to the fuselage formers. This model turned out nice overall, though, and I'm impressed by the design. I tried to keep it "as designed" and not stray too far from the creators intent. My only differences were a little color added to the interior using markers, interior green sprayed on the turtle decking, making 3-D wing tip lights, using elastic thread for aerial wire, imparting curves and twist to the prop, modifying the landing gear with two more braces, using balsa to make the wheels, a commercial vacform canopy, using balsa for all my internals instead of cardboard, a picture of a Pratt and Whitney engine on the engine bulkhead, more realistic pitot tube, drooped elevators and finally, some slight color variation on the fabric surfaces.



The hardest part was, except for the formers around the cockpit, all the skins were too large for the formers and I needed to take off about 1/8 inch on each. Of course, I'm not sure why this happened and it could well be how I cut the formers. A tiny mistake magnifies pretty quickly with these. I also needed to be careful as parts were mated on the fuselage and wing outer panels with butt joints (not my favorite) so if you aren't paying attention, you will impart steps and make the seams looks bad. Ask me how I know! Adjacent formers need to be cut out and sanded together at the same time to be dimensionally identical (or dang close). My only "gripe" would be the prop as it's sort of flat and has a weird hub that could be improved.



I am VERY impressed with this model as it was not designed or printed via computer. It has a good Seversky sit and really looks like the real machine. I'm also impressed with the silver skinning as it didn't flake and was easy to fold and shape. I have not made a paper model with fake aluminum and was expecting the worst.


This is way too long. Thanks for looking and we'll see what's next after Christmas!


Cheers,
Dan