Cessna T50 1/48 Squadron "Encore"

[LyleW]

I went online to check out kit reviews. You picked a challenging project, bud. Proud of you. As far as the two canopy parts are concerned, my advice such as it is would be to work those separately from the fuselage, then join them later. I think there are some precedents established for doing so with bomber models. I would gently polish both front and top parts and keep these well away from the fuselage for the moment. On CP 1 I would mask the vertical supports from top to bottom and paint those first, then mask the horizontal sections and paint those. I would set that aside and work on the clear part (CP 2/3?) above it the same way. I would pull the tape after a few hours then wait a day before masking the second area.

Alternate: pull a clear section of decals from your spares—not inkjet decal paper, but the kind from Cartograph—paint with Olive Drab. Cut out the vertical sections as these are simplest to create using Zona X-Acto blades. Paint the horizontal braces first, then add the decals. I did this on a spacecraft with thin horizontal windows and this method works. The model I was building like yours to a degree had a lot of curved glass, and I had to paint with the glass in position.

Do a Future wash. Set these pieces into a small plastic container and keep them well away from the work space for a few days.

Some very interesting ideas....The aeroplaney thing will be painted aluminum. I am not going to worry about doing rivets.... But I like the idea of using clear decal paper. I have laser paper to use. I don't think I have any spares with that amount of clear carrier film. Good information. Thank you!

I didn't choose this kit for the challenge. That snuck up on me like Mt. St. Helens. I just really like the Cessna Bobcat. That and Paul tweaked the interest as well. I think it was designed by a beginner at the Williams Brothers Training Academy of How Not To Design Molds. Oh well, I'm in it now and have two WB projects waiting in the wings..get it? Wings? Never mind. The Boeing 247 and the C-46 are lurking out there. I did find a build log/help online for the C-46. Guys name is Richard Marmo and he put together a guide on his build of a C-46. Some 93 pages. Cost me 3.99 US to download it. I am not looking forward to that one, but at least I know what I'm getting into.

[speedgraflex]

I am thinking silver marker for the canopy, but you still need to mask in my opinion.

[LyleW]

I'm not allowed to use markers since the 2nd grade. Some kids/teachers just don't forget.

The wing joins are coming up. This should be an adventure. It is mostly a butt joint, however there is nothing to really "butt" it up against, just the .020" thickness of the plastic itself. Notice the substantial (yes, sarcastic) locating tab on the wing....at least they tried. Oh, and the fit is horrible, so there will a fair amount of filling and sanding. This means handling which means the wings will pop off.





Cogitatin' on this, I may try to add some styrene sheet stock to fill that opening in the wing root. Hmmm.

[Stikpusher]

If it was me. I’d find where some metal tubing fit into the wing roots then drill holes into the corresponding fuselage areas. Have the tubing extend an inch or two out from the fuselage and into the wing to give it some rigidity, like an actual wing spar. I used steel music wire on a solid thickness lower wing of a biplane in a similar situation to give it more strength. Worked perfectly.

[LyleW]

Been thinking about this. Either tubing or strip stock. With those options though, there is a gap on the wing side and nothing to provide any backing for filler. Maybe some cardboard or something. Don’t know yet. I like the idea of tubing...easier to drill a hole than cut a slot in my case. I may also scrape out the recess on the fuselage to make it a bit deeper. That may close it up some.

[LyleW]

Okie dokie.....by scraping out the recess that the alignment tab sits in, it did improve things. Crappy picture, but I could not hold the beast and take the picture at the same time. Fit isn't perfect, but I think it is manageable. Other side is about the same.



Decided to use a combination of brass stock and plastic on the wing mounting. I only had some 1/16" brass stock - square. I cut some slots, thinking I'd run the plastic strip all the way through the fuselage. Nope....floor of the cabin is in the way. So, only the brass square bar will go through. The plastic will be inserted about 1/4" of an inch into the slot

[BlackSheep214]

I'm not allowed to use markers since the 2nd grade. Some kids/teachers just don't forget.

Hmmm.... I can’t imagine why....

[BlackSheep214]

Good one! I have plenty of that.

The fuselage is known to be a PITA by most reviews I've seen. There is either a high spot in the middle or it is warped (like me). Plus, when I installed the IP and cabin floor, it created more tension and poor fit. IP popped off/out 2-3 times. I finally broke out the rotary tool with a grinding bit and went at it. Got it closed...sort of. One of the particularly fun aspects is the cabin door. I want to know what drunken son-of-a-sea-slug, brain dead, moronic fool came up with this gem?



Cut the window from part CP5 and install in part 12? You need your meds.

That made no sense. Do the doors look exactly alike? If so, why the crazy option to remove one panel from one door part and glue to the other door part?

[LyleW]

Blacksheep, that is in case you do not want to mask off the clear door, I guess. I just cut a clear piece from sheet stock. I think it will fit pretty well.

[LyleW]

Might as well fess up. I added some filler across the top of the fuselage. I wanted to “hurry it uo” a bit.

Yeah, you can probably guess where this is going.

Uh, sort of forgot about it. I had placed it under a desk lamp.

Well, it looked like a popsicle left on the driveway in the summer.

Melted the Bonde.

Melted 2 or 3 BB sized holes along the seam.

A good icnch or a bit more started to sag down into the interior.

Smokin’!

No, I did not take any pictures.

Yes.
,I think it is salvageable. Already put the first coat of filler on it.

Time to recite the chant:

OH WA TA JER.KIAM......OHMMM