Hi, guys...
This is my next batch of photos on this build. I managed to get the floats rigged and then my attention turned to attaching the upper wing; each side meets on two small central spars, which in turn, sit on a beam attached to the top of the cabane struts. The beam is provided as a 3D printed piece, but although initially seeming to be quite strong, it ended up snapping in two. The second and third photos below show my preferred option of attaching the wings, doing each one separately and attaching the struts before moving onto the other side... that didn't work overly well and during the attempt, this is when the 3D part failed. The fourth photo alongs shows a new beam made from the brass rod supplied in the kit, in place above the cabane struts. Given the various attempts to get the wing into place, these struts required an extension which was effected by superglueing three thin rectangles of plastic card together, and then supergluing that bundle onto the cabane strut. Everything was then coated in filler and once dry, I used my hand drill with a sanding disc fitted to smooth out the filler and shape the plastic card to something more presentable. As you can see, I eventually succeeded in getting the top wing into place. Most of the struts had to have their reinforcing brass rod inserts pared back, but a couple had to then be re-extended (!) using the same plastic card routine described above. Although now fitted, all of those small adjustments, and one of the interplane struts have still to be painted, but I can catch up with that a little later.
The alignment of the wings is almost 100%, but the slight shortfall would not be noticeable to the casual viewer, so I'm happy with that. The rigging on the left wing has now been all but completed save a few items relating to the aileron and one cable which fits into the lower forward cowling; I elected not to attach that one until I'm almost done as sure as fate, if I did it now, I'd damage it before I'm finished!
So, now the right wing will have its rigging undertaken and hopefully that will be accomplished by the weekend. One thing I wanted to do is see how the full undersides looked, now that both wings are in place and especially because this is where much of the earlier period of the build was spent bringing out the frames and linen effect. I was very pleased with this aspect when I checked the photos. I think the fuselage has also blended in nicely as well. In case you're wondering, I did manage to turn the model back over onto its floats without mishap... no struts pinging out of place, nor me getting smacked in the face with turnbuckles and rigging wire and having to start all over again... lol!
Thanks again for looking in. I hope you like these photos and I will post more in due course.
Regards,
Paul
8 attached images. Click to enlarge.
