Well I needed something else to keep me out of trouble plus something that will be a long term build, so I have come up with something to equal the He-177Z...another words something completely bonkers!
Ok I’m the first to admit I am totally mad and this build will prove it!
My work pattern has changed so I will have more time for models!!! So rather than signing up for more GB’s which I normally do on another web site, or actually completing the ones I’ve signed up for on time I decided I needed a new long-term project. The Heinkel He-177Z was a long term project which I loved so instead of building the bigger one (it is still there just waiting to be built) I have gone for this project which I had mentioned a few times on this or other sites..
So the basis for the build will be Hasegawa’s 1/48th Arado Ar-234C-3 which will provide the body, interior and undercarriage, though it will probably end up providing a of other bits as well!
I love the look and it’s super cool, plus a nightfighter as well! I had received all the bits sometime ago but after a quick look at them I got very scared!! The reason for this is the add on bits from Unicraft!!! The parts may be a little bit basic which is to say they are basically lumps of resin and not much else!
The wings from Antares are nice and need little work to fit my build.
The engines or turbo-props are barely recognisable as engine parts and as can be seen I have had to add sheet plastic to help build them up so they at least may be round in shape! They even come with an internal engine sections if I wanted to leave the engine covers open…or should I say a blob to match the rest of the engine blob!
The new nose is….well more or less useless, as can be seen from the photo is much smaller than the canopy section. The mod kit is for the Hobby Craft Arado Ar-234 which is completely the wrong in the nose section compared to the Hasegawa model, it’s way too narrow! So I can either modify the clear section which is pretty well impossible or completely build a new nose section! Plus all the other bits in this mod kit are pretty well useless as well, will have to use most of the kit parts for this build! I will either have to modify the resin bits I have or make a completely nose section, which at the moment looks to be the easiest path!
So I have pretty well given myself a not so easy task for this build. Whether I complete this build or if it is destiny for the box of doom is something to be decided as the build progresses.
For a start I need to get these engines at least round in profile, hence the addition of card to the engine bodies and spinners. If I can get these sorted there may be a possibility this project will get going. Once the main bodies are round in profile I can work on the nose cones and props. Once these are done I can then start to work on how they will mount to the swept back wings, custom mounts will be needed for this.
Well the spacers I added have done the trick and allowed me to move on.
The prop cones needed an extra spacer to make them sort of round, this gave me the chance them to work on them. For this I cut out some disks from plastic card which were to be the reference guide for the shaping.
A micro Dremel to act as a sort of lathe. This setup worked perfectly and in a short while I had two very workable prob hubs.
The main engine pod also had a plastic disk added, though this was slightly smaller, the prop hubs will be temporary glued to the pods for final shaping.
I am really happy with how this turned out as it is or will be the hardest part of the project. There is a lot more work required for the completed Turbo Props but good progress has been made.
As for the cockpit, as has been mentioned I will use most of the kits original cockpit assembly and custom make a new front section to fit the radome. I was thinking I’ll need to cut about 1cm from the Hasegawa nose but I think I will use it as a foundation for the new nose.
So this is going to be a crazily big project, nothing that will be completed in a couple of months for sure! Again I must be completely crazy to attempt this build, I had planned it for a WhatIf GB, but given the work required it’s not possible in the time given. So this Christmas or next I’m not sure when it will be finished so welcome aboard on this crazy adventure. Regular updates are not included!
However given the progress so far, I may have to slow down else I will finish it before Xmas!!!