1/32 Granville Gee Bee Model Z Super Sportster.

[speedgraflex]

lol - probably just crappy movies - mainly old daft 1980's sci-fi movies free to view on prime (and youtube). I've had them on whilst I'm working from hone. Stuff like Zone Troopers, Space Raiders, Moon 44 etc. I've also been re-watching all the 'Monarch' movies from the last 20 years - Godzilla, King Kong etc. and the 90's version of Godzilla with Jean Reno. If you want good sci-fi I can recommend 'The Expanse'. I've started rewatching it as the new series is out next month.

I do like old B Movies though - I watched 'Day of the Triffids' the other day for the first time in ages.

Thanks, Stuart! I remember “Moon 44,” with Producer Dean Devlin as an actor. “Lifeforce” by Toby Hooper should also qualify? I love the “Expanse.” Some great actors in the secondary parts (David Strathairn, Jared Harris).

I’ll most likely be reading this:




Duke! Duke! Duke! Happy Thanksgiving, buddy!

[Stuart]

Good choice of Book Bruce - I've not yet read that one.

[speedgraflex]

I am currently grinding out the openings between the tie rods using a “tiny” (technical term) drill bit. With the crankcase cover still being loose I white glued the engine to a taped together fuselage to give me a more stable surface that is also easier to handle. I have both RLM 65 and 76 in mind for the finish when I get there. I have not begun to wire spark plugs yet. Soon. Also I believe the factory painted the cylinder heads gloss black. I think I may cheat and go with a dark, dark grey. Not sure.

[jkim]

Nice! Are not the cylinder heads already painted? Gonna repaint them gloss black or dark grey?

[mustang1989]

Very nice work on that engine and good recovery from the engine to cowl fit Bruce. I know all too well about putting alot of work into something like this and then it not cooperating when it comes to assembly time but it looks like you "punched through" to the other side.

Cool idea with the cup and tissue as well.

[speedgraflex]

Nice! Are not the cylinder heads already painted? Gonna repaint them gloss black or dark grey?

Thanks so much, John!

Forgive me, I was unclear. I painted the heads with a navy blue base coat as an experiment, then finalized the unpainted look somewhat with AS-12 and a coat of Flat Clear. P & W used to paint cylinder heads gloss black at the factory level until the start of WWII, then phased out this step due to high production demands. If I sound knowledgeable it is only because I was reading what was online and found a 1925 cylinder head for sale on eBay which was a gorgeous gloss black, part of a biplane! Also I was planning to add a builder’s plate, maybe with a decal. I am looking for any brass colored decal pieces. I don’t know if I want to add a piece of styrene; at this size it will most likely be out of scale.



Also, also: under the heading of being one’s own critic, I think the work I’m doing is marginal so far. Definitely an improvement but I am very rusty with tools, and am slipping a lot which makes gouged surfaces. I tell myself this is alright because the crankcase has texture but it’s been awhile since I really focused on working with an engine.

[speedgraflex]

Very nice work on that engine and good recovery from the engine to cowl fit Bruce. I know all too well about putting alot of work into something like this and then it not cooperating when it comes to assembly time but it looks like you "punched through" to the other side.

Cool idea with the cup and tissue as well.

Joe,

Thank you so much. Sincerely. I was thinking about your work a lot, because this little aircraft is really a Hot Rod with a propeller! Currently I’m experimenting with Flitz Speed Wax and let me tell you that adds shine. Beautifully.

[Stikpusher]

Bruce, just do the best that you can here, learn from it, and keep on going. Save what you learn and apply it to the next one.

[speedgraflex]

Carlos! Thank you so much!!! I spent the day photographing beautiful jewelry. When I came home I baked a potato the way of Julia Childs (i.e. simply), sliced some left over chicken and in the hour while I waited for the potato to bake I masked and painted the crankcase in RLM 76, and darkened the cylinders with Derwent Duotone water soluble black graphite pencils. I am hoping for redemption. I think I have it, or at least I feel I have redemption in sight. Have a look:



Comparison

As something of a perfectionist I shudder at the rough edges of the crankcase where before there were none, but the tie rods are much more in scale than the kit plastic, and much more closely fit each cylinder head. Let’s look at a more direct comparison:



Gunze RLM 76 is, at least, quite a good match!

[speedgraflex]

Test

I am content with using a piece of paper colored with a bronze artist’s pencil as the manufacturer’s plate for now. Pity I could not find a small decal to use over this, to give it more verisimilitude....