Classic Airframes 1/48 Avro Anson

[Dave W]

Spent an hour on the build in the shed tonight before it got too cold to do any more.The join along the bottom of the fuselage needs some filler.In hindsight I should have glued the bottom join,let it set and then glued the top join.

So it was out with the filler.I bought some new products (for me) at the Telford show.So decided to try them out.I Used Mr surfacer on the upper fuselage and Vallejo on the lower.

I manage to get some assemblies glued before it got to cold to carry on.

[mossiepilot]

Would never have thought of using a metal G-clamp on a model, was it as scary as it looked, I'd be too afraid of damaging the surface detail.

Tony.

[Dave W]

Got the tail planes,wings,cowlings and wheels glued together.None of these parts have locating pins,so a bit of care is needed to get them lined up correctly.

I've noticed a problem I'm going to have when it comes to fitting the undercarriage.Earlier in the build I fitted the wheel well parts . These consisted of a roof for the wheel well and a bulk head.The instructions are pretty vague as to the location of these parts. I've fitted them where I think they should go.

As a result, the angle of the undercarriage locating points on the bulkhead mean the legs will be splayed outwards and not hang vertically.So I will have to adjust the legs so the model will sit correctly.Ive also noticed the legs are wider than the opening in the undercarriage bays. So the openings will need to be made wider.

[Dave W]

Would never have thought of using a metal G-clamp on a model, was it as scary as it looked, I'd be too afraid of damaging the surface detail.Tony.

It's a lightweight aluminium clamp which i use with great care. I only do it up just enough to hold parts together.Its not ideal,but it does the job without causing damage.

[Guest]

My kit arrived from Hannants yesterday (yes, you read that correctly - post delivery on a SUNDAY!!) Looks like a very interesting and challenging kit with the resin etc. Will be eagerly looking forward to watching your continued progress!

[Dave W]

My kit arrived from Hannants yesterday (yes, you read that correctly - post delivery on a SUNDAY!!) Looks like a very interesting and challenging kit with the resin etc. Will be eagerly looking forward to watching your continued progress!

Make sure you fit those bulkheads in right or you will end up with the same problem as me.

[flyjoe180]

Hi Dave, good progress on the Anson so far. I posted a link in the reference section for pics of the restored NZ Anson. They may be of use for you?

http://www.scale-models.co.uk/aircraft/17461-avro-anson.html#post146938

[Dave W]

Thanks Joe.I found those pics online when i started the build.Very useful.As i said to Boldman,be careful when you fit the undercarriage bay parts.Ive since managed to remove the bulkheads without damaging them.

[Dave W]

Sorry Joe.Saw the tittle and thought you were building the same kit.

[Dave W]

Managed to get a bit more done in my freezing cold shed tonight.My Daughters moving in with her boyfriend soon.So I will be moving my modelling table into her room.Looking forward to it!.Glad she's staying in Southend though.Anyway,I sanded the fuselage joins down.Im pleased with the result on the top where I used a little Mr Surfacer,finishing off with a sanding sponge.But on the lower surface join I used Vallejo putty which I'm not happy with.I found it quite hard to sand and in some places it didn't stick very well to the plastic.So I've gone over it with my trusty Squadron Green filler.It also had more resin fun sticking parts for the gunners turret to the plastic turret fairing.Still got to glue what looks like a bicycle seat to it.

[Guest]

Coming along nicely Dave! They need to sell that green squadron putty in bigger tubes for us !

[Dave W]

I've managed to sort out the fuselage underside join.Then I fitted the gun turret fairing.This isn't a very good fit and probably isn't helped by my having to fit a plastic card shim in the fuselage join just in front of it.So a bit of filler is going to be needed.

I've also glued the wings on.These are a butt join to the fuselage with no locating tabs.So they are a bit tricky to get right.They don't appear to have any dihedral when viewed from above.But as you can see from head on they are angled up a bit.Both wings are the same so I guess they must be right.

Last thing I did this evening is fit the right horizontal stabiliser.

[Vaughan]

All's looking good Dave. There would have been some dihedral but how much I don't know. Looks like you've got it even and in scale with the aircraft.

Vaughan

[Dave W]

Thanks Vaughan,but when I looked at it this morning it just didn't look right.Got a day off today so performed a bit of surgery on the wings.The left wing came off easily without causing any damage.But the right wing was stuck fast.So I cut along the underside join with a razor saw.Ive put some thin plastic card in the gap and I'm happy with the dihedral now.When the glues dried I will fill and sand the join.Then I will have to rescribe the lost detail.

I can't find any decent head on views of the Anson.All Ive got is a small drawing in 'Aircraft of the Royal Air Force' by Owen Thetford.So I'm having to go by that.

[stona]

The dihedral was very small,I've seen a figure of 2 degrees. It wasn't "cranked" but started at the wing root.

Drawing from an old Flight magazine.

Steve