1/18 Ho-229 Project Build ( Retired ) !!

[normandy]

cjg476, Here is a link that mentions Freeman Field and the aircraft shipped to that location and buried in 1946...(post #21) http://forums.fourtitude.com/showthread ... an-History

The link was part of a post I made after seeing photos of the Ho-229 with wings on for the first time...
http://www.warbird-photos.com/gpxd/view ... ten+Ho+229

Good luck with your dig!
Normandy.

[cjg476]

I need to find out more..I will rent a bulldozer and dig that history up...I cant believe they would do that...kinda "jaw drop" shocker that they would just bury the stuff...

[cjg476]

http://www.indianamilitary.org/FreemanA ... useum.html

Found more...sounds like a cool story...of saving history

[pickelhaube]

Sorry guys but I have a bit of bad news , and I am really bummed out by it.

I doubt if the Horten will be shipping for Christmas.

With lack of time and some technical difficulties I just do not think that I will make the deadline.

If all of the kits were filled the shipping would be that you probably will not get it anyway.

It looks like I can make about 2 kits in one day. More or less.

I am working next Monday and a half of a day Tuesday but I have off of the rest of the week. And I also plan to take off the whole week between Christmas and the New Year.

So hopefully I can do some crazy pouring.

Some of my buddies warned me not to do such a project but I did not listen.

Anyway it will get done just a few weeks late.

I do believe that as far as aircraft goes this could be my first and only full build. Armor full builds are so much easier. True they have more parts just a lost less of headaches.

I will still do mods for existing aircraft and of course armor but aircraft is WAY TOO MUCH WORK.

Again sorry guys for the let down.

I did the best that I could.

Matthew

[YT]

No worries at all. I don't mind waiting a bit.

[flyboy_fx]

You need to get an injection molder.

[tmanthegreat]

No worries! As long as I know my prebuilt model is comig eventually, I'll be happy

[normandy]

Ah hell Pickel, I'm still waiting for the King Tiger from from 21st. Whats that been?........five years?
I understand thing happen, technical and other.
You've always kept us updated and asked our opinions on this project, no one else does that.
I didn't need the 229 by Christmas anyway.
Thanks for taking this project on Matthew....I can't imagine the amount of time and money you've put in to it so far.

[aae83]

Enjoy your holiday, Matthew. No rush or pressure on the kits.

You do awesome work and am so looking forward to it, whenever it arrives.

aae83

[flayrah]

Anything good is worth waiting for.

[Star56]

Oh that's okay! We will be getting a true rarity when it is finished! Look forward to a great present in 2012!

[maritime96]

No worries at all Matthew, take all the time you need. History shows again and again that the art of a true master cannot be rushed.

[gburch]

Don't sweat it! We all know you've been working very hard on this project. Some schedule slippage is inevitable. I am 100% certain that not a single person who's put money down on this project is concerned -- we all know we'll get more than our money's worth.

... and don't give up the idea of doing another aircraft. You'll have learned a lot on this project. A second plane would be a lot easier! (he said . . .)

[CW4USARMY]

No problem Pickel! Would rather you take your time and get it right.
Thanks a million for doing this for us!

[Jay]

Mate, it's the Christmas season. You're MEANT to be taking it easy. I know i'm freaking done with trying to meet deadlines for this year. Just to reiterate what others have said before, a big bear man hug for all the work you have done this year. It's been a rocky road.....someone had to drive.

[pickelhaube]

Thanks guys for the understanding.

I finally made the mould for the main center section. THE MAIN SECTION LOOKS GREAT !!!!!!!!!

IT TOOK 2 FULL GALLONS OF RTV TO MAKE IT AT A COST OF $175.

It also took 8 small cups of resin to fill the mould.

In comparison it takes 4 cups to make the M-10 top hull and 4 cups to pour each wing panel.

It looks like I will need another $500 worth of resin to pour all of the kits.

So far I have about $1,400 worth of RTV and resin in the Horten project.
Another $500 will put me well over the $2000 with all of the other materials invested in the project.

I would say easily $2,500 total over all. I have sold 20 kits so that is about $125 cost per unit.

So if some of you can pay more on your deposit it will sure help out.

Also I may have some goof pours enough to maybe make 2 kits that I can sell for $125.

These kits will need an experienced modeler to correct them.

Let me know if there is interest and I will let you know what needs to be done to bring them up to par.

[snake]

No rush Matthew. Take your time and get it right.

Delays are common with upcoming releases, and you should be relaxing over the Christmas season, not working hard to meet some imaginary deadline.

We have all waited a long time for this, and I am sure nobody will be disappointed if it takes a couple of more months even.

[pickelhaube]

Things are moving along nicely.

I think that I have all of the kinks worked out in the moulds. This last pour of the mid section will tell the tale.

So far I have about 5 full kits made almost ready to kit up.

But I have not finished the master canopy plug.

When this is done and when I get a chance to up load directions it will be time to ship.

These things have some weight to them. So you guys who are going to hang them.

Make sure you have some stout line.

[Star56]

Great news Matt. I assume the full builds will take a bit longer. Can't wait to see some pics of the final masterpiece!

[normandy]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait.
Pickel, I'm back to the same old problem......what paint scheme to pick.
Ah what the hell, I'll build them first and then figure it out.

still like this one........

[tmanthegreat]

Glad to hear things are back up and running. Can't wait for the full-build to arrive, but certainly take your time to do them right.

When all is said and done, I think I'll take this over to my local Hobbyshop and see if I can get Pickelhaube some more customers. They will be impressed, no doubt

[Star56]

Happy New Year!!!! How is the construction of the Reich's wonder weapon progressing?

Hope all is going well at the production facility!

Tom

[Grognard]

Great looking project. I haven't been able to follow the thread much (Government restrtictions on blog sites). I was suprised when it came up a couple of days ago. Most pictures are blocked (Govt. blocks photobucket, flicker, etc). well keep up the good work.

[derek_001]

I tink your first built should be in this scheme but with the white and black stripes in the tail section
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... itain.html

[pickelhaube]

OK Guys,

Here is a progress report on production. I RAN OUT OF RESIN , ANOTHER $400

Everything is now coming out great. I had some issues with the wings. Apparently gasses got trapped in the wings from the resin setting up.
In some of the thin areas in the wings . Small sections actually bulged out

For some reason only on the left wing The bulges appeared 2 WEEKS AFTER THE WINGS WERE POURED.

I think that is could have been in the temperature change . This was a quick solve .
I just drilled some tiny holes in the trailing edge and a 3/8ths in the wing root rib. I also did this to the right wing just in case.

It has been 2 more weeks sense I have done this to new pours and THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED !!!

So we are good to go.

The main body section is good to go as well. I was developing some air bubbles on top of the rear engine nacelles .
I have been able to vent those out so they are now cherry .

All the parts look great with no issues. When you guys get these kits the build should be an easy one.
EXCEPT FOR THE USUAL FLASH CLEAN UP.

But it should not be to bad . The pieces are coming out fairly clean.

There has been a lull in the production. Running out of resin will do that .
I put in my order for 4 more units of resin 2 weeks ago and it just now came in.
My supplier gave me the regular excuses because of holiday shipping . Yada, yada , yada.

I have been using the time to enjoy the company of my son who is in from collage and I have spent the time working on another pet project.

So the Holidays are over , my son is going back to collage Friday and I have 8 gallons of resin waiting to get used.

Let's get back to Horten business !!!!!!