Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Floaty GB: 1 Jun - 31 Aug => Topic started by: Brian da Basher on September 14, 2019, 03:49:48 AM
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So for years I've had the fuselage from a 1/72 Heller ND-622...
(https://i.postimg.cc/766Jmthf/Heller-ND-622-box-art.jpg)
(let me unpack that for you)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4nCK4J59/Heller-ND-622-kit.jpg)
I always wanted to turn it into a float plane but never found wings I was happy with until yesterday...
(https://i.postimg.cc/m2xNgRhj/LL-xprog-01.jpg)
Those are 1/72 Revell P-26 wings left over from another build. (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=8310.0)
(https://i.postimg.cc/B6Q7N32H/LL-xprog-02.jpg)
I can't remember where the main float comes from but the outriggers are drop-tanks wrapped with 10 thou card. The ventral fin was cut from 20 thou stock.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NFXn241z/LL-xprog-03.jpg)
The cockpit hole was stuffed with more card, rolled into a cylinder. I built this yesterday and the first bit of paint is drying now.
(https://i.postimg.cc/s28KPWDd/LL-xprog-04.jpg)
But will I beat da Deadline?
Stay tuned to find out.
Brian da Basher
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You Can Do It!!! (https://youtu.be/qztuEucrNBc)
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We believe in you... >:(
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You figured out another one. Good use of card stock.
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Looks good, Brian! It reminds me of the Supermarine S.6B racer
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Go buddy go !
My Catalina is going down to the wire too
Good luck
Mog
>^-.-^<
PS: Looks good too ........
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Looks good, Brian! It reminds me of the Supermarine S.6B racer
You've got an eagle-eye Frank and caught the subconscious influence before I did. :icon_surprised:
Well, after some coffee
(https://i.postimg.cc/pVSR50Ms/FLGB-coffee.jpg)
and a hearty breakfast
(https://i.postimg.cc/bJD8mbQx/FLGB-coffeecake.jpg)
I was back at it and most of the major paint is on and dry enough now for an update.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gjVC7KrZ/LL-xprog-08.jpg)
Earlier, I stuck a bit of crimped foill from a bag of snacks inside the radiator.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ryfC1rfn/LL-xprog-09.jpg)
It looked like louvers but that detail got lost under the paint. :(
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0bL319Z/LL-xprog-10.jpg)
Oh well, onward & upward. Rudder stripes are next, which will explain the cursing you hear...
Go buddy go !
My Catalina is going down to the wire too
Good luck getting your Cat completed in time, Mog!
Brian da Basher
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Not being at all happy with that blank radiator, I added some detail.
(https://i.postimg.cc/tCLMwNJT/LL-xprog-13.jpg)
These are nibs of plastic wire soaking in a shallow bath of Gator Glue.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fyV8gVhm/LL-xprog-14.jpg)
As you can see, I also started on those rudder stripes. Ugh. :-\
Brian da Basher
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The U.S. Navy Loening XLFPF "Loner"
(https://i.postimg.cc/rpGDCCn3/LL-001.jpg)
While the Loening Co. is well-known as the maker of the famous Loening OL amphibian (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loening_OL)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qBFvK5Bg/Loening-OL-5.jpg)
they're less known for a follow-on, the XLFPF prototype float-plane fighter.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pdPWxNCc/LL-002.jpg)
Developed soon after the Lone Eagle's famous non-stop Atlantic flight
(https://i.postimg.cc/NfT2jc8Q/boy-s-story-of-the-lone-eagle-book.jpg)
during a time of rugged individualism one could rightfully call the Lonely Era.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9hhKKqK/LL-003.jpg)
So it seems natural a single-seat Loening float-plane would be called the Loner.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NjBFGrfx/LL-004.jpg)
Envisioned as a means of air defense for areas such as archipelagos, small beach heads, deltas, swamps and creeks, the Loening XLFPF "Loner" was ideal for use when aircraft carriers were impractical.
(https://i.postimg.cc/HkVKy6xW/LL-005.jpg)
The Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics was impressed with the design and gave Loening the go-ahead to construct a prototype in 1929.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gjgSwhb6/LL-006.jpg)
The new XLFPF prototype completed flight-tests as the 1930's dawned. The Navy's BuAer requested additional endurance testing in the form of long-range friendship flights to Central and South America.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zBXTycz0/1931-XLFPF-Goodwill-Tour-A.png)
The route and distances were daunting, but the Navy would have warships waiting at various points to assist in refueling, navigation, and rescue if needed.
The Pan-American flight had every indication of success but even the best-laid plans are apt to be un-done by mechanical gremlins.
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYpMVdNX/LL-007.jpg)
Unfortunately, engine trouble forced the pilot to divert to Corpus Christi, Texas. After repairs were made, the XFPF continued south to Mexico.
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5dkRcGr/LL-008.jpg)
Where it broke down again. And was repaired again.
(https://i.postimg.cc/MZfgHPnW/LL-009.jpg)
This would continue on each and every stop during the flight.
(https://i.postimg.cc/JzYQb8FS/1931-XLFPF-Goodwill-Tour-B.png)
The Pan-American goodwill tour became full of bad will because the pilot had to constantly coerce the locals into fixing never-ending mechanical break-downs.
(https://i.postimg.cc/3wPCcBYB/riot-sketch.jpg)
The aircraft was finally abandoned in Guyana as the pilot ran from an angry crowd of local mechanics and their families.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPrstT1D/LL-010.jpg)
The light-heavy battle-cruiser U.S.S. Cascadia spirited the pilot back to the United States but it would take a lot longer for his Loening XFPF "Loner" to return.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLLpxsYz/LL-upper.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fLnq9ZtD/LL-under.jpg)
By the time things quieted down in Guyana, the prototype float-plane fighter had been torn apart during the riots and the pieces were packed up and put in the mail. Fifth class.
(https://i.postimg.cc/9Qy7fhhG/LL-money-1.jpg)
It finally arrived in even more pieces in 1933. By then the Depression had taken hold and the Navy wasn't going to be getting any new aircraft.
(https://i.postimg.cc/LXGPX6n3/LL-money-2.jpg)
Nothing remains of this once promising (on paper) float plane fighter today except an access panel which lies derelict and forgotten in a closet of the Pelican State Seamen's Association Ladies' Auxilliary Museum Gift Shoppe Cafe` & Creamery on Lake Pontchartrain Landing, Maxfield Parish, Louisiana (Who dat?).
(https://i.postimg.cc/90jfK4DK/Pelican-State-SALA.jpg)
Still, for one brief moment the Loening XLFPF "Loner" showed the promise of a bright float-plane future.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NGT9DtKZ/LL-011.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydCBYM7S/LL-012.jpg)
Brian da Basher
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Well done Brian, you made it on time and with a back story I'm impressed
Nice .looking plane tell the designer chappie :smiley:
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Nice job, Brian! I looked at the sprues for the original kit, and swapping out the main wings was a good choice!
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(https://media0.giphy.com/media/fwqAg6ZS6ebL2/giphy.gif)
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;D :smiley:
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I can only wonder at the strength of will it must have taken not to use the original P-26 landing gear, Brian... ;)
Samshing build, and a great story.