Stirling Glider Tug

[rtfoe]

Thanks Steve, John R, Andy C, and Dave for your kind replies.

Glad to share this old kit build. It's my second attempt for this kit. The first one was a bomber version that was stolen when displayed at a LHS. Had no choice but to make a vacuum pump to get the glasing...didn't know where to get any after market material for it. The crew are huddled at the briefing room John. I still build Airfix kits for nostalgia. I feel the Italeri kit engraving too deep but must be an easier kit to build with less clean up of the parts. I re-did the old Defiant and will share the progress shots on it later.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Hi, more progress on the Stirling, this time the tug mechanism situated under the tail...

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Basically it was made up of three pla sheets cut to the shape of a 'D' and sandwiched attached to short swivel arms in cut outs at the base of the tail planes. The center portion of this 'D" where the cable release housing is connected further up the fuslage via a rod. All this was from guess work off pictures on glider tugs.

Cheers,
Richard

[Richard48]

Some really great work so far.Ive always liked the look of the sterling.I remember getting an airfix one for Christmas when i was 11 or 12.Black plastic and glue everywhere.My.brother made the bomb tractor if i remember.Keep it up as its very interesting.
Richard

[rtfoe]

Thanks Richard.
Yes , this Airfix kit shows its age but was the only game in town until Italeri decided to jump in. All the glider tug parts are available in that kit...just came out 7 years too late for me.:smiling4:

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Next, the engine nacelle slats needed thinning down...then the radial engines were painted black and dry brushed with silver picking out the raised vanes on the pistons.

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The inside of the nacelles were painted interior green and radilas fitted. The propellers look horrid with large amounts of flash but they were in the right proportions...major clean up ahead.

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More to come later.

Cheers,
Richard

[Wouter]

Hi Richard, this is a most impressive build you have going on here mate. Great scratch- and paintwork!

Cheers

[scottie3158]

Richard,
Great work as one would expect from yourself mate.
Scottie

[rtfoe]

Thanks Bros...Wouter and Paul. Glad to have you along for this old build.

Cheers,
Richard

[Steve Jones]

Wonderful work on the engines. Very metallic looking:thumb2: Great stuff

[rtfoe]

Thanks Steve, I've been away down south in Singapore last weekend and have not done any bench time or been on the net. This is another one of those old builds that is being shown again. The engines would mostly be covered so strong contrast highlights helped bring out the detail when peering though the cowling.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Continuing the blog on the Stirling. I masked the many windows on the fuselage with white glue using a coctail stick for application. I let the glue flow slowly into the edges.

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I forgot to show how I scribed panel lines with the help of a strip of dymo tape as a guide. Then dimples from the injection molding was filled with Tamiya putty after carefully masking the area with cello tape. This helps prevent detail from being sanded of whn sanding the putty.

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Any raised plasting from the scribing or raised panel lines were sanded down. The many hundred revits were toned down by wet sanding as well.

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Cheers,
Richard

[Fernando N]

Hi Richard, nice of you to show the techniques you use for things like scribing.
Sweet looking tow mechanism too.:thumb2:

Fernando

[rtfoe]

No problem Fernando...always willing to share as it's never rocket science or a trade secret.:smiling:

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Any bits that didn't look right was tackled like the flaps which at the wing was hinged and squared off so you can see right through...I covered that with a strip of plastic and flushed it with the wing. The same was done to the tail flaps.

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The plane was made ready for masking.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

Continuation of the Stirling...it should be paint now...actually no as there is the little details to touch up and mask...

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If anyone of you have built an old Airfix kit will know that not all their clear parts fit snuggly, dimples and thick parts are encountered. Proper masking and then filler added at the joints and smoothing out with fine sanding. Dimples filled and edges on thick parts shaved thin to give an optical illusion of a thinned panel for the undercarriage door.

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Then pre-shading is done with a steady hand and sore index finger. Then a final burnish to the masking and plugging up any gaps before painting commences.

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Next painting begins...

Cheers,
Richard