SPA Modeler

speedgraflex wrote:Stuart! / Carlos! / Duke!

I am not going to sideline this, and it is because of you. The second kit will be here on Thursday, so I am going to start with the engine components first and merge these kits together as one complete build. I have been waiting with my teeth gritted while Carlotta waits to learn if she still has Covid. And our only option to see each other at the moment will be in March 2021, if she is accepted at UCLA. I feel cautiously optimistic.

Yeah...that makes two of us!!

Way to go Bruce! I'm thrilled to hear this. A for Carlotta, I'll keep her in my prayers for a swift and full recovery.

Looking forward to seeing more. I'm hoping that today I'll be able to get into my Hobby Room myself.

Joe, yessir. I know. Time to buck that trend of stopping what gets started. You still learn a lot but the feeling of completion would be nice. I looked over my Heller 1/72 Bf109 recently. So close to finishing that one... and yet I started and stopped a bunch of kits afterwards, this one included. We shall see.

Duke! Thank you for your prayers!

Okay so kit 2 arrived and I jumped into adding ignition wires to the existing cylinders using copper wire. I still think copper wire beats every other wire when it comes to forming a gently realistic curvature which stays in place.

Nice wire (or, war in KY) work. Let's "Git 'er done!"

Thanks, Lyle! I am on it! The wiring is done. I de-assembled engine 1 completely, added the wiring to each cylinder head, re-assembled the crankcase. I’m working on the crankcase cover, sheathing each tie rod in brass. Good times. And yes, I know - pictures. Pictures to come. I would like to work my way around the crankcase cover first and then post the ready for painting images.

So this is now gonna be a side by side Gee Bee Build? Like Mike’s pair o’ Super Hornets?

No it’s going to be one build from two kits!

Work in progress - considering what will happen if I keep the kit plastic tie rods, adding brass collars to visually shrink the size a bit.



The four brass pieces are first attempts, nothing is glued or measured or set in stone. Just being playful with what is within the kit. Its possibilities. The gold markings I added to the photo in CAD autodraw. Nothing to scale. Just ruminations. Just bootlegging for kicks.

I hope throwing a second kit into the mix helps things along! I like copper wire too since it is a bit stiffer than lead and holds its shape better. I think it works best if you have the ability to pre-shape your wiring runs. If, however, you have to move your wiring into place after initial attachment, I think lead might be a valid choice since it is softer.