Topic: Chris's Fairey Swordsman 33 (Read 14477 times)

madwelshman · « **Reply #50 on:** January 08, 2021, 08:20:53 am »

Chris,

Are the cabin sides fixed/part of the boat now/when finished and the individual boxes will lift out to gain access?

Is that right or am I looking at it wrong?

Will

ChrisF · « **Reply #51 on:** January 08, 2021, 12:02:05 pm »

Hi Will

The cabin sides are glued to the cockpit box and once the roof etc. has been added the superstructure will lift off as one. Photo attached of the River Cruiser which shows it and it will be very similar for the Huntsman 31 and the Swordsman.

I'm not a fan of access hatches, particularly through the front cabin roof and have adapted all my current 1:12 builds, including the full rear cockpit Huntsman 28 which was a challenge, to a full lift off superstructure - photo added for that.

It's quite fiddly to do, especially getting a narrow and uniform gap at the junction with the deck and if the deck is cambered the bottom of the cabin sides isn't a straight line. I like the full access that it gives though.

Chris

madwelshman · « **Reply #52 on:** January 08, 2021, 12:30:28 pm »

Ah ha, right, I get what you mean.
Yes, the full lift off style will certainly give much better and easier access won't it.

Thanks Chris.

mrzippy · « **Reply #53 on:** January 08, 2021, 02:11:37 pm »

I can pass on a good tip for a perfect deck/cabin side joint on model Fairey's, passed to me by a skilled pattern making pal,
known throughout his trade as 'cast matching' -

My Swordsman was epoxy/lightweight glass cloth skinned throughout before any Halfraud's paint spraying etc.

Apply a layer of Sellotape or brown parcel tape to the final finished planked deck,
(yes this is heart in the mouth, seat of the pants stuff) and up the hatch surround upstands.

Apply the smallest fillet of P38 car body filler to the bottom edge of the superstructure,
while the fillers still soft sit the superstructure on the deck squashing the filler - hence filling any gaps,
I did mine in 2 hits - one per side.

Sellotape or brown parcel tapes glossy surface should stop the filler sticking to the deck,
if it does stick (mine did) a squirt of Lighter Fluid (Ronsonol in a can) soaking under the tape will release it.

After finish sanding I applied a layer of epoxy/super fine cloth to the cabin wrapping it under/around the P38 fillet
and back up the inside wall of the cabin - just to be sure the P38 stayed in place, should it get knocked.

Hope this is of interest, its scary old modeling but the results are worth the extra effort. regards Paul

ChrisF · « **Reply #54 on:** January 08, 2021, 02:49:20 pm »

Thanks for the tip Paul but I think I'll pass on that! I'm nervous enough just using small pieces of masking tape on the planking! I'm happy enough with the fit of those I've done so far. I've used cling film over the deck and upstands when gluing the sides to the box so that they don't get stuck to the deck. I didn't on my other builds and they did stick slightly but as not planked no harm done.

Is yours an Aerokits Swordsman or one of the smaller SLEC ones?

Chris

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #55 on:** January 08, 2021, 03:03:51 pm »

There is another, less fraught, dodge for improving the deck cabin joint and that is, with the cabin in place, to glue a thin piece of stripwood along the base of the cabin sides, front and back. It can either be painted to match the cabin side and look unnoticeable or could be treated as a typical wood 'kicking strip' as is often fitted to protect paintwork from the shoes of people walking around the deck. You still need a bit of clingfilm under the joint in case any glue dips down though.

Coln

mrzippy · « **Reply #56 on:** January 09, 2021, 11:42:13 am »

Colin, I had forgotten to mention spending three intense days of flatting down the experimental (first attempt 12 years ago) epoxy deck
with finer and finer grades of wet&dry until I'd achieved a perfect glass finish - resulting in giving myself 2 very painful tennis elbows ! -
all this before starting the crazy fraught P38 saga. Lol.

Chris, My model is the original 33" Philip Connolly version from MAP plans range, converted to open rear cockpit,
built as homage to the great Phil - who was a member of my local model boat club way back in the 1960's,
you may have seen it at the annual Warwick show on King Lear Model Boat club stand along with many more Fairey's.

My pattern maker pal Tony mentioned above, built the giant 1/5th scale Huntsman 28 powered by twin Honda 50cc four strokes.

Paul

ChrisF · « **Reply #57 on:** January 09, 2021, 05:04:38 pm »

Hi Paul

Interesting that you converted it to the full open cockpit version, you'll have to post a picture up. No doubt I have seen it at the Warwick show. Wow, your mates Huntsman 28 must be a beast!

Chris

ChrisF · « **Reply #58 on:** January 10, 2021, 06:00:35 pm »

The roof beam at the mid-point and the front window are now in place. Once the glue has gone off the top of the window can be sanded down to the final level ready for planking the roof.

Chris

madwelshman · « **Reply #59 on:** January 10, 2021, 07:44:01 pm »

Looks really good Chris, especially loving the deck, that looks fantastic.

Will

ChrisF · « **Reply #60 on:** January 10, 2021, 07:58:16 pm »

Thanks Will, it is (at last!) really starting to take shape now.

Chris

madwelshman · « **Reply #61 on:** January 10, 2021, 10:22:48 pm »

With that deck and cabin shape, it most certainly resembles a Fairey now.

Nice one Chris.

mrzippy · « **Reply #62 on:** January 11, 2021, 01:31:16 pm »

The beast fifth scale -

madwelshman · « **Reply #63 on:** January 11, 2021, 02:16:47 pm »

Quote from: mrzippy on January 11, 2021, 01:31:16 pm

The beast fifth scale -

WOW

That's impressive, what a great looking model. It must look fantastic and so realistic on the water.

ChrisF · « **Reply #64 on:** January 11, 2021, 04:06:20 pm »

I bet it sounds good as well. Have you got any shots with the top on? And nice planking.

You'd need a big lake!

Chris

mrzippy · « **Reply #65 on:** January 11, 2021, 04:33:35 pm »

Here's a link to a video of early testing on a windy day at Fleetwood, choppy conditions even for a model of this size !
she runs very quietly - 4 stroke's chosen deliberately to keep the noise down, cooling them however is another matter.
Paul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oq336xoNbg

ChrisF · « **Reply #66 on:** January 11, 2021, 05:00:08 pm »

Very impressive. It was a bit choppy wasn't it! No problem for a Fairey though.

It's a big version of mine with the lift off superstructure.

Chris

madwelshman · « **Reply #67 on:** January 11, 2021, 05:01:08 pm »

Fair play, she looks fantastic on the water. Sounds good and she's not very noisy.

ChrisF · « **Reply #68 on:** January 12, 2021, 06:04:09 pm »

Made a start on the roof planking using 3 x 9mm obechi which once finished will be sanded to profile. Might be a few days though as I don't have enough timber to finish it and have had to order some more. I needed some more ply etc. anyway and will use some thinner obechi for the rear cabin roof as the base for the planking to match the deck.

Whilst waiting I will drop back onto the Huntsman 31 and start the superstructure.

Chris

ChrisF · « **Reply #69 on:** January 16, 2021, 05:17:29 pm »

Two for the price of one here!

As said have dropped back onto the Huntsman 31 to start the superstructure. Have built the cockpit box as per the Swordsman and have printed out the cabin sides to check for fit and now ready for cutting out.

Chris

ChrisF · « **Reply #70 on:** February 05, 2021, 10:46:26 pm »

Making progress on the superstructures. Won't be doing much more on them for a bit as going back to the Huntress and starting on the superstructure etc.

Chris

DJW · « **Reply #71 on:** February 06, 2021, 08:16:23 am »

Morning Chris

Nice planking, did you just use clamps, or pins too..?

Nice to see the builds taking shape.

David.

zooma · « **Reply #72 on:** February 06, 2021, 09:59:24 am »

They will soon be on the water Chris!

It will be nice to see your Fairey fleet together when they are all finished - all at 1/12 scale they will look really good!

Bob.

ChrisF · « **Reply #73 on:** February 06, 2021, 10:47:49 am »

David - the roofs are obechi planks glued at the ends with Slo Zap and along the edges with a/resin and then clamped or weighed down at the ends until the CA has set. Then left overnight before sanding. Like yours, the rear roof planking of the Swordsman is the first layer and will be overplanked to match the deck.

Bob - a way to go yet and need to wait for spraying weather but yes, they are getting there. Watch this space for a group photo!

Chris

DJW · « **Reply #74 on:** March 05, 2021, 06:39:45 pm »

Hey Chris...
Must be time for an update...
Just saying

David.

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Author Topic: Chris's Fairey Swordsman 33 (Read 14477 times)