Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: KiwiZac on November 04, 2018, 06:32:49 AM

Title: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: KiwiZac on November 04, 2018, 06:32:49 AM
Hi all,
Just a build I've had underway for ten years or so. A friend's Fleet which lives at Omaka Aerodrome here in NZ (and is currently for sale (https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/aircraft/aircraft/auction-1680538893.htm?rsqid=75ca1b276cd9479fb733414bf2424c94) if you're keen).

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1902/44979129254_01e3ba28d6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDN5w)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDN5w) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4906/44979129344_7e29816156_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDN75)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDN75) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1942/44979129994_3cdb0d334f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDNih)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDNih) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1919/30763214127_c345c000de_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/NSrvMz)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/NSrvMz) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4832/31831612838_da07f5afdf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/QuRkv1)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/QuRkv1) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr

The friend who owns the Fleet is the same one involved in the RAAF Tiger Moth I posted earlier, so I had to do this:
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1937/44979130064_a369edf33d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDNju)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2bwDNju) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4836/43886081010_049e091bbf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/29S4CV9)Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/29S4CV9) by Zac Yates (https://www.flickr.com/photos/83399146@N05/), on Flickr

Graham also owns a Stearman and is putting together a Bristol F2B replica...
Title: Re: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 05, 2018, 03:54:54 AM
That's very nicely done, especially the rigging!

Quite a corker, old bean!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: apophenia on November 06, 2018, 04:04:36 AM
Nice build of a lovely subject! Is this the Azur kit?
Title: Re: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: KiwiZac on November 06, 2018, 10:28:32 AM
Is this the Azur kit?
It is. It came with the parts for the inline-engined Fleet 10 as well. But very fiddly in places - dry-fit and cut four times, glue once! The wing struts seem a bit short, for example...

Thanks for the kind comments! I was pleased to see owner Graham's reaction to the photos, he seemed quite touched. It's a great machine I've not had the pleasure of flying in, and I hope it goes to another owner in NZ.
Title: Re: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: apophenia on November 09, 2018, 05:19:32 AM
Sounds like a right clunker of a kit ... making your build all the more impressive  :smiley:

On the wing struts: In light of all the other fit problems, they probably were short. Mind you, with the Fleet's 'flat' upper wing and equal span lower panels, the real thing's wing gap looks quite odd from some angles ...
Title: Re: NZ-based 1/72 Fleet 16B Finch
Post by: KiwiZac on November 11, 2018, 04:27:18 AM
I trimmed the struts a little, generally only at one strut, because the wing had a crazy-high angle of incidence. Ah well. It's rigged, there's no way I'm putting in new ones, and the owner of the 1:1 subject didn't mention it when he saw the photos so I say it's done!  :smiley:

I put lots of work into the cockpits through scratched and painted detail - including the battery under one of the seats - but you can't see them. Maybe I need to borrow Dad's DSLR to take some macro shots!! I'm pleased and, as I said earlier, Graham really enjoyed seeing the pics.