Small Scale Military Headquarters

...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

Its been about 30 years since I last worked a balsa kit, so I'm hoping all goes well with this. The plane is supposedly 1/32 but I imagine details are a bit off considering what it is.

Does anyone here have much experience with this type of kit (or even this particular kit)? Are there alternative materials one can cover the framework with? I was considering using aluminum foil - has anyone done this with success?

If I can pull this off then I will have quite a feather in my cap, collection-wise. As we all know, no one has stepped forward to offer a twin-engine bomber in 1/32. I missed out on winning a B-17 (actually closer to 1/30 but I can overlook that fact if I can get one hanging from MY ceiling) as it got too pricey for me. Apparently the same company (Sterling) who made the B-17 made a P-61 Black Widow close to 1/32, so I'm keeping an eye out for that now. There is a 1/32 B-29 in balsa out there as well ($300) - that's a 53 inch wingspan! I could manage that if I take down my 1/18 262 nightfighter.

..... ... Sounds like you got yourself a pretty neat vintage kit there. Sorry , can't help ya' though.

........ Congratulations ! *


- Mitch v MG

Have "fun" building that kit.

Balsa wood nonetheless.

Good luck CplSlade.

Cool!

I'm going to be all legalistic and not officially recommend or endorse anything specifically.

Silkspan would would be a step up from tissue. Althouth the name sounds impressive, it really isn't much more than tissue with some silk fibers in it. It's been a while since I used it, I think it is available in about 3 weights. My understanding is that airplane dope will continue to shrink throughout it's lifespan, so you don't want to get a heavy silkspan that could over power the balsa over time.

Silkspan typically has a "thread direction" and sinks more along the direction. So, it needs to be applied with this in mind.

Silkspan is still easily punctured. Big model, more risk.

Monokote (is a brand name, there are alternative brands) is a mylar kind of film that shrinks and adheres when heat is applied. It is available in some metallics.

Same risk as heavy silkspan, it might be too strong for some balsa models and warp or damage a model.

It might work better than aluminum foil.

My biggest concern is that the Guillows kits might not be have been designed to structurally tolerate monokote. Research and check out some of the youtube tutorials.

Good luck.

And get yourself a bottle of Great Planes Pro Wood Glue. It's a really good glue for balsa models.

There's a fine art to sanding the cowlings and other parts away from the styrene sheet.

Here's somebody's finished model.

http://www.virtualaerodrome.com/image_d ... 98&offset=

One other note, which isn't great news, I have the die cut and laser cut Fokker Triplane, the newer laser cut version is a better cut, more precise and easier to work with.