Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: raafif on October 27, 2012, 10:06:32 AM

Title: who's a Wally !
Post by: raafif on October 27, 2012, 10:06:32 AM

Like a silly twit, I volunteered to build a 1/48th Walrus model for a friend who restored the real one in the RAAF Museum.  Suffice to say that he bought the Classic Airframes kit but the build proved that the Smer kit wouldn't have been more work !

Here's the basic fuselage & wings in my precision jig to align the struts & mainplanes ... metal spars in both wings helped keep the model together.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M1.jpg)

perfectly square & rigged for flying straight .... I used brass wire superglued in for all rigging.
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M2.jpg)


After 2½yrs work it's finished .... full rigging on floats even !! I must'a bin insane to start it .... I certainly was by the time I finished it :-X
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M3.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M4.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M5.jpg)
(http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/hobgrot/M6.jpg)

I carefully wrapped it in GladWrap & ensconced it in a big box with lots of foam pellets so that it would survive thru the Parcel Post to my interstate friend.  Apparently only one undercarriage leg came off so the mail-workers mustn't have kicked it more than once .... which is a darn sight less than I was tempted to do >:D

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: apophenia on October 27, 2012, 10:51:55 AM

It may have fought you along the way but nice finished result of a great subject!  :)

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: GTX_Admin on October 27, 2012, 11:34:38 AM

That looks great! :)

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: finsrin on October 27, 2012, 11:37:53 AM

Congrats on such a fine build on a challenging subject.  :)
Though my own build skills have improved, they are yet to reach your level of quality.

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: Litvyak on October 27, 2012, 12:40:19 PM

Uh... wow.

I have an Airfix Walrus here, anybody want it?

Seriously, gorgeous work.

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: GTX_Admin on October 27, 2012, 12:53:40 PM

Good replica of the real thing IMHO http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhibitions/tech_hang/walrus.htm (http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/exhibitions/tech_hang/walrus.htm)

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: jcf on October 27, 2012, 01:37:39 PM

Nicely done.

The only 'major' error on the old Merit (reboxed by Smer) kit is that the engine nacelle is aligned
with the centreline rather than twisted to starboard as it is on the real aircraft. It is correct in outline,
although very simplified interms of internal detail, which is to expected from a mould of its early
'60s vintage.

Title: Re: who's a Wally !
Post by: Brian da Basher on October 27, 2012, 01:41:37 PM

That's some absolutely first-class work, raafif! I really like the yellow. It had me thinking "Matchbox kit!" Your Precision Jig is a masterpiece of engineering!

Brian da Basher