What annoys you the most about aircraft kits?

[stona]

Wing to fuselage joins and eliminating those annoying seams across the fuselageJohn

I think that the wing to fuselage join is something that does concern a lot of modellers, particularly if they are not 'habitual' aeroplane builders. There are many ways to minimise the stress of this. A couple are used by me almost routinely.

The first applies to all aspects of building a model and that is to dry fit well ahead. This should enable you to avoid either squeezing the fuselage making it to narrow to fit the wings properly, or having it too wide to fit. I have resorted to using lengths of sprue as spreaders to widen a fuselage by a couple of millimetres when fitting the cockpit has resulted in a slight narrowing.

The second ties in with my attitude to instructions (that they are simply someone else's opinion of how to put a kit together). Whereas a gap can be fairly easily fixed a step most definitely cannot. It is worth considering how you attach the wings. Sometimes it might be better to fix the upper wings (and these are separate on almost all kits) to the fuselage BEFORE attaching them to the lower wing(s). You should be able to make a nice even and stepless join with the fuselage. When you now attach the lower wing(s) you will find that rather than a step at the fuselage you may have a small gap at the wing leading edge and gaps, as mentioned above, are much easier to fill, fix and hide than steps.

It may also be worth fixing a lower wing assembly to the fuselage before adding the upper wings. The only way to find out what works is to plan and dry fit a couple of stages ahead.

Whatever you do check the dihedral (the angle of the wings relative to the fuselage). Ideally it should be correct but even more importantly the same on both sides. Nobody will notice a degree too much or little dihedral except you. Most people don't know the correct angle and won't have a protractor in their pocket anyway. Obviously the margin for compromise can't be too big or the model will just look wrong, but there is a little window. Everyone, even SWMBO, will notice if the model is asymmetric.

Fuselage seams are generally a simpler proposition. First and most obviously you must ensure that the two mating surface actually do mate. Sometimes a little sanding maybe needed and I've had to remove the little alignment 'pins' on more than one occasion when they were actually causing a misalignment! I then tape the two halves together and run a liquid cement into the join, squeezing the two halves together. You don't have to do the entire join in one go. Once finished leave it alone for the ooze of plastic which is filling the join and gluing the halves together to completely dry. I usually allow at least an hour. Remove the tape and scrape the excess ooze off with a blade. Scrape carefully along the seam, not across it. Nine times out of ten the seam will need no further filling at all.

Cheers

Steve

[PaulTRose]

canopies..........i hate masking canopies!!

[stona]

canopies..........i hate masking canopies!!

Tape and a new blade on the scalpel.......or buy pre-cut masks

I don't mind doing most canopies but a 1/72 Bf 110 was a bit tedious and for a 1/48 Lancaster a set of pre-cut masks was worth every penny!

Cheers

Steve

[Alan 45]

It's all a learning curve for me, I think I've just worked out why my decal instructions are different to the aircraft I've built , this is the matchbox re-box and the instructions for the aircraft are the old matchbox one but the decal and paint instructions must be for a revell one as the pictures are very different to the look of the kit I've built , the little fiddley ones aren't a problem as I just have to put them where it says and the detail on the aircraft illustration doesn't matter but the lines on the engine nacelles don't match

Here's what I mean [ATTACH]86912.IPB[/ATTACH]

See the engines, now look at the model [ATTACH]86913.IPB[/ATTACH]

The lines over the nacelles are very different

[Guest]

For me I love decals. It is the near finish of a model after all the work put in.

The model starts to come to life. Not far to go and it is on the shelf. You can then look at all you have achieved.

Every now and then I look at those finished and think that is all my work. The first I made and the last. I am very proud of what I have achieved and why not there is a lot of patience impatience expertise grind but there is an achievement. Grandsons all four when they come around head for the model room and I get question after question and I like that very much. After all grandsons are not impressed with to much OAPs do so this is a real plus.

So any model what ever faults I always finish before starting another. That is my rule. It is a challenge at times and I am up for it. I like challenges it is the very spice of life. Get through them and you have achieved. Not to and I would certainly feel a failure.

So yes moans at time but another challenge another day. Meet the day with intent.

Laurie

[Guest]

Nothing specifically annoys me, but I find I get less relaxed in the later stages of a model - decals and particularly varnishing. It takes me a long time to get to this stage and the thought of doing something that could spoil it all at this stage makes me a bit nervous. Having said that, it's a great feeling when you get the final coat of varnish on over the decals and everything looks good.

[stona]

Painting is the bit that gets me most nervous! I enjoy painting, it's probably my favourite part of any build, but the potential for Mr Cockup to pay a visit is extremely high

I agree with Doug that getting that final varnish on and seeing everything look more or less as you hoped is a very satisfying feeling.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Actual just thought of something which does annoy me.

I leave all the little bits which get knocked off to the last hour of the last day of well near minute to "stick em on".

Then as you gently place this lovely model on the shelf your hand accidentally knocks a bit off. Or senior son lifts it off the shelf for a magnified look at the finishes and has a senior moment as the rigging collapses. I have some choice phrases for these moments which generally get me through the situation or if not I repeat them.

Laurie

[Guest]

I have found two things since I started knocking a few wingy things out, sorting out the weapons fit on modern aircraft research never seems to tally with the instructions and each picture I find seems slightly different to the last one and Trumpy give you lots of nice decals to put on the loads and no instructions on placing them! hence back to the first problem.

[Neil]

I only have the one small annoyance. You get the box, remove any sellotape holding the sides. Pick up the plastic bags with all those lovely sprues and look lovingly at them. Look at the decals and have a good look through the instructions. Open up the bags and carefully examine the sprues. And there is always a lovely smell, new models just smell so good don't they? They do have a distinct smell.

Then the minor issue, that would be the interface between the boxed kit and the completed article, ie muggins! In computer terms, it would be an ID 10 t issue in the PC/keyboard interface.

Neil

[stona]

In computer terms, it would be an ID 10 t issue in the PC/keyboard interface.

In my world we call a problem with the weak link in our control chain, always the human being, a BIP, for Biological Interface Problem

The human itself is just called a stupid b*stard!

Steve

[flyjoe180]

In my world we call a problem with the weak link in our control chain, always the human being, a BIP, for Biological Interface Problem The human itself is just called a stupid b*stard!

Steve

They say every new airliner in the future will come with a dog. The computers will monitor the aeroplane systems and fly the aeroplane. The Pilot will monitor the computer systems and report any issues. The dog is there to attack the pilot if he tries to touch the controls.

[Guest]

In my world we call a problem with the weak link in our control chain, always the human being, a BIP, for Biological Interface Problem The human itself is just called a stupid b*stard!

Steve

In the IT world talk of 'PICNIC' errors - Problem In Chair, Not In Computer. Maybe we've now got 'PICNIK' - Problem In Chair, Not In Kit.

[rickoshea52]

They say every new airliner in the future will come with a dog. The computers will monitor the aeroplane systems and fly the aeroplane. The Pilot will monitor the computer systems and report any issues. The dog is there to attack the pilot if he tries to touch the controls.

And the trolley dolly is there to feed the dog.....