Author Topic: DH Heron Medivac  (Read 11978 times)

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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DH Heron Medivac
« on: April 01, 2020, 07:26:24 AM »
Hi all

Back in February 2019 I opened a sort of time capsule containing five aircraft one of which was an old Airfix DH Heron.

It was pretty battered and had not had a sheltered journey from the 70s. Its transfers were peeling, the paint was faded and covered in dust and grime.

But on the plus side it was relatively intact including four complete propellers and all the landing gear, the only major part missing was the passenger door.

I couldn't think of any thing to do with it at the time so it went into the drawer of possibilities  (not the box of doom mark you) to await its fate...... until now that is..........

by Robomog, on Flickr

There it is at the back,  the EE Lightning in the foreground is currently in pieces whilst undergoing a restoration but has stalled because I'm having trouble reviving the canopy.

So first job is to disassemble the aircraft as I need to buff up the transparencies and also add some nose weight when I put it back together.


by Robomog, on Flickr


Also it's easier to widen the passenger door to allow easier access for stretchers, I don't plan to do any internal detail it depends on if I have to ditch the transparencies and use Klearfix


by Robomog, on Flickr

Currently removing the old decals...

by Robomog, on Flickr


More when it happens.......

Mog
>^-.-^<
« Last Edit: April 01, 2020, 08:32:59 AM by Robomog »
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline The Rat

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2020, 07:39:11 AM »
Sounds like a natural role for the Heron! Its distant cousin the DHA Drover was used in that capacity.
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2020, 08:06:20 AM »
Nice cutout for the door. How are you going to make the new door?

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2020, 08:45:23 AM »
Interesting find Mr Rat it really looks like the missing link between the DH Dove and Heron
 
Frank3k - Not to sure about the door looking to create square frame, filling edges, then inserting card doors and sanding them to fusalage profile.

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2020, 02:34:34 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2020, 08:18:19 AM »
Wow stored that long yet completely intact! What a find!

You're off to a wizard start, Mog!

Brian da Basher

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2020, 06:00:52 AM »
Hi all

Small progress update


While the plane is in pieces I have installed the  nose weights to stop it being a tail sitter 

  by Robomog, on Flickr


I've installed the rear door panel, but its going to take some PSR to complete.  The side of the aircraft at the tail looks fairly flat but as you can see from the second shot it's quite curvy.

by Robomog, on Flickr

by Robomog, on Flickr

I have backed this up with some sprue  to give it some strength for when I start sanding. Once I've got it profiled I'll scribe on the outline and add some hinge/latch details.

I am currently in the process of reviving the glazing, doing some detailing of the wheel wells  and generally tidying up the joints of the wings more of that in the next post ........

Thanks for looking

Mog
>^-.-^<


Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2020, 06:44:39 AM »
There is something about these reviva builds that is quite satisfying

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2020, 07:01:32 AM »
Those mods look good to me, Mog!

I was most delighted by the pilot sitting on all those sinkers.

Brian da Basher

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2020, 08:02:52 AM »
Absolutely buzz, as long as you can get it apart without wrecking it  ::)

Brian, I don't usually put pilots in my builds unless I'm finishing them wheels up, but this pair have made it this far so I decided to leave them in. Besides the cockpit is so cramped there is not a lot I can do with it !  ;D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline finsrin

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #10 on: April 05, 2020, 12:56:47 PM »
Door enlargement is neat change.  :smiley:

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2020, 01:48:40 AM »
Thanks Finsrin

Done some more work on the door, I have sanded it to contour but found I hadn't quite backed it up with enough plastic card and some holes appeared which I filled and rubbed down. Unfortunately when I tried to scribe the outline of the door the filler crumbled.

by Robomog, on Flickr

I toyed with the idea of using a decal to represent the door but figured this would not look right against the raised detail and finally decided to create the frame in plastic strip, which had the added benefit of hiding the scratched detail.

by Robomog, on Flickr

It's a little over scale as you can see here but I will rub it down until it is just a small raised section

by Robomog, on Flickr

I thought the wheel wells were a little sparse so I've added some detail there.

by Robomog, on Flickr

20200410_205928 by Robomog, on Flickr

And the really good news is with some careful cutting, sanding and buffing with good old toothpaste I've managed to save the transparencies

Before..........

by Robomog, on Flickr

After........

by Robomog, on Flickr

I have to admit there not perfect as some of the surfaces are a little 'faceted' now but, do not scream "glue !" and the remaining defects will not show when they are installed

Thanks for looking.

Mog
>^-.-^<







Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Frank3k

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2020, 02:19:42 AM »
Good save on the door and canopies! Are you going to scribe rivets on the door?

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #13 on: April 12, 2020, 07:19:27 AM »
Great recovery on both the door and transparencies. Probably better than what they were originally

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #14 on: April 12, 2020, 08:53:36 AM »
Thanks guys,

I forgot to mention they've had a dip in Alt Klear, brings em up a treat. :-[

Frank - probably not going to actual rivits but will scribe some panel lines on the door so it doesn't look too blank

Mog
>^-.-^<
« Last Edit: April 13, 2020, 03:10:16 AM by Robomog »
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #15 on: April 12, 2020, 01:08:40 PM »
Inspiring in that this has inspired what next build (kit-bash) similar to DH Heron Medivac will probably be.  :smiley:

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #16 on: April 12, 2020, 10:25:23 PM »
That's an amazing save on the transparencies, Mog!

Those things can crack if you just look at them funny.

Brian da Basher

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #17 on: April 13, 2020, 10:42:03 AM »
That's an amazing save on the transparencies, Mog!

Indeed! We were spared any shocking close-ups of their original condition but, from a safe distance, they looked seriously foggy  :o

Those things can crack if you just look at them funny.

True of us all, Brian. True of us all  ;)
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
  • Would you buy a used kit from this man?
Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #18 on: April 19, 2020, 07:16:56 AM »
Hi all.

A bit more progress, after three attempts finally got the door finished, it still looks a tad over scale but trying to reduce the frame any more leads to bits falling off. The hinge and handle detail will be rubbed down and shaped a bit but the final look should be something like this........

by Robomog, on Flickr

Since this was taken the interior has been painted and the fuselage glazing has been installed, should be closing up the fuselage soon.......


More when it happens..

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Frank3k

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #19 on: April 19, 2020, 08:57:23 AM »
The cargo hatch looks good!

Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #20 on: April 19, 2020, 10:02:17 AM »
The cargo hatch looks good!

It does indeed! NIce work Mog  :smiley:
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Offline elmayerle

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #21 on: April 19, 2020, 11:42:31 AM »
The cargo hatch looks good!
Very good!!  That's a beautiful job on the whole model but especially the cargo door.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #22 on: April 20, 2020, 05:43:42 PM »
Agree! Nice! :smiley:
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Offline Robomog

  • ...had a very bad experience with [an] orange...
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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #23 on: April 23, 2020, 08:03:11 AM »
Thanks chaps

Bit more progress, the fuselage is back together but it has not lined up very well.

I'm using dissolved putty to fill the fine gaps it's not bad stuff for fine cracks but boy does it sink as it dries !

by Robomog, on Flickr,

I hope this is not an indicator for the rest of the build  ???

Mog
>^-.-^<
Mostly Harmless...............

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: DH Heron Medivac
« Reply #24 on: April 23, 2020, 09:26:59 AM »
I was using CA glue for a similar purpose and discovered that it too was doing the same thing as putty.  Only way out was to add more and sand it down, add more and sand it down until the depression eventually disappeared or I passed the point of not caring.  :smiley:
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