FGMM Mike/Ike

**AndyC** · #1 04-22-2010, 02:20 PM

My FG Mike/Ike racer. Just a cool plane and was really fun to build too.

**jagolden01** · #2 04-22-2010, 02:42 PM

Very nice! Been looking at building that for a long time.
How was it to build the wheel skirts?

**AndyC** · #3 04-22-2010, 02:50 PM

Actually, because they are in two seperate pieces and use a layered wheel, really easy. I think now, I should have made the wheels a bit thicker to add some more roundness to the skirts. The entire plane builds really nice. I wrapped the LG struts around flat toothpicks to get a semi-tube shape going.

**airdave** · #4 04-22-2010, 03:02 PM

what an interesting looking plane!

yes, the wheel skirts are a bit of a trick.
I just finished a GeeBee which i will be posting soon
and it has the same type of wheel skirt assembly.

I used buttons for wheels (as suggested in the kit)
but it still left the gear a little thin.
And there was no way to "round" the edges.

But to be honest, even if you 'thickened" things up,
you would still have to do a lot of cutting and forming
to get a real good rounded shape.

I think the flat paper look is kinda cool.
It reminds me of the old wire-fly planes!

**Don Boose** · #5 04-22-2010, 06:22 PM

Very nice. Love those Golden Age Thompson Trophy racers. 1932 National Air Races

One of the first plastic models I ever built was one of these, probably in 1/48 and probably by Hawk, in the early 1950s.

Don

**jagolden01** · #6 04-23-2010, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyC

Actually, because they are in two seperate pieces and use a layered wheel, really easy. I think now, I should have made the wheels a bit thicker to add some more roundness to the skirts. The entire plane builds really nice. I wrapped the LG struts around flat toothpicks to get a semi-tube shape going.

Andy, the semi tube' comes through pretty clear in your photos, look good.

**mchale** · #7 04-23-2010, 07:43 AM

hi andy nice job on the plane

**wag** · #8 04-23-2010, 05:17 PM

Looks very good. The nose looked a little daunting(at least to me) but you pulled it of beautifully.
Wayne

**AndyC** · #9 04-23-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wag

Looks very good. The nose looked a little daunting(at least to me) but you pulled it of beautifully.
Wayne

Thanks. The nose is odd for sure. I actually did that part last cause I was scared of those petal slices at the top. I have it formed from the back with a small piece of tissue. It was a pain but not too awful. I just did it slowly and carefully..as best I could.

**ghshinn** · #10 04-23-2010, 08:08 PM

You did great on the petals. I'm still trying to figure a good way to do them, but it looks like you've got a good technique going.

Garland