Jon H Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 (edited) As much as i really do not need more models, i have ended up with a CMPro 72'' P51. I have been after a suitable model to continue testing the laser inline engines as nothing i have in stock is either suitable or can be put together in a reasonable period of time. So, Mike (who is also testing our inline in a YT P51) offered me this CMPro offering for resurrection. The previous owner of this model decided it needed a new paint job, which is fair enough. Sadly however, they decided to paint it with what looks like dulux emulsion and applied it with a yard broom. This paint is flaking all over the place and is up to 1/16 inch thick in some places! There are also some weird things added all over the model. It has also had its retracts out at some point and dummy drop tanks under the wings have caused damage when being torn off This is our starting point.. Lovely paint finish on the wing tip. And yes, that tip is just a raw balsa block with no finishing. Weird wooden extensions to the wing fairing The intake for the rad scoop looked weird.... Until i realised it was a bodge of balsa and filler! I then found the correct intake buried under it all paint thickness.... Edited December 4, 2021 by Jon - Laser Engines 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 Having made a mess of the photos on the last post im splitting them up. So, what to do? Well there are some scale issues to correct. New fin/rudder profile and new wing tips. I am also going to make the flaps a little larger as well. The nose is a little long but i cannot do much about that so it will stay. I also needed to modify the fuselage to allow a firewall further back so the inline engine will fit. Out came the stick of inches and once everything was marked and measured out the razor saw came out to play for some fuzelage amputation. With the front section chopped off (it will be gutted and turned into a cowl later) i knocked up a firewall from some nice beefy ply Which fits as you might imagine I also did some faffing around trying to work out the best method of paint removal as i think taking it all off with save a good few lbs on its own! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 That's the sort of job I like playing with,,, have fun Jon,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 I admire a project. Having been bitten too often, I’m getting immunized a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 I do enjoy rescuing a model that, although in a bit of a state, is basically sound and should not be wasted. The problem is i end up with so many as it has to be quite sad before i condemn it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 God it looks awful Jonathan! Even I wouldn't fly a model like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 2 hours ago, David Davis said: God it looks awful Jonathan! Even I wouldn't fly a model like that! I have to confess, i dont know what was going through the mind of the person that did the work. In that shot of it from a distance it looks...ok, but close up its as rough as a badgers backside. But, i think it can be saved with a little work. I just need to find some silver film covering for the wings that wont break the bank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Walsh Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Hobbyking have silver covering film in stock, £12 for 5 metres. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outrunner Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Jon, I've used silver Easycote seconds from Airtek £15 for 5 metres. I heard mutterings about it but I couldn't fault it, cheap and easy to use. I was really pleased with my silver Mig 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 I found the red Easycote was not dense enough to cover marks on the structure underneath specifically the black laser cut edges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 Well, today has been a bit of a nightmare. I started with some paint removal from the fuselage. After my palm sander sent my hand numb i went to using a chisel to scrape it all off. This was effective but time consuming and i still have a long way to go. I then turned my attention to the wing. I chopped off the wing tips with my tenon saw, then yanked all the control surfaces off. After that i started stripping the covering and was really shocked by how heavy it was with all the paint on it. As you can see, it just splinters off and reveals some nice markings. I dont know why you would paint over it. Anyway the wing looked a bit dodgy when first stripped as all the painted areas in the next photos were where previous repairs had either glued the covering down or, in the case of the under side, was solid filler. It was at this point that things began to go rather wrong. Every time i peeled back a piece of wood i found something nasty. This meant a larger area needed stripping. I then found even more nasties. This was made worse by the fact that the wood use has to be the softest and most fragile balsa i have ever known. Just looking at it makes it all fall apart. But, all 4 main spars are broken, some in 4 places, and the previous 'repair' work was a massive bodge job and needed to be stripped out. I need to replace all of the leading edge ribs, much of the sheeting, and make some ply webs to take the load off of the damaged spars. All in all, its a right dogs dinner. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Well that is a nice way to spend your Sunday,,,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Hilton Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Bill from Bills kits makes some very nice foam wings . Could be a way forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Ermmmm that was a bigger bite than you expected - still we now get a better how it was done ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Crikey. New wing time I would think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gates Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 With the wing spars broken and that amount of sheet work, I personally would be starting with a new model. Good luck with this one Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 (edited) the new wing idea had crossed my mind. A 4 piece foam jobby would be pretty easy. But, i think there is hope for this one even if i end up replacing most of it. Edited December 6, 2021 by Jon - Laser Engines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 I know you're just after a test-bed for your inline engines without having to build something completely new, but this lot looks somewhat stomach-churning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 When I saw this I thought it was in a skip. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 A tidy workshop means you don't have enough planes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 My work bench often ends up a mess simply due to lack of space and the fact that i always seem to need every tool i own. Having too many jobs on the go is not helpful either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ovenden Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 12 minutes ago, Jon - Laser Engines said: My work bench often ends up a mess simply due to lack of space and the fact that i always seem to need every tool i own. Having too many jobs on the go is not helpful either. A messy workbench is the sign of a genius at work! Jon I'm with you on fixing that wing. It's annoying to do, but very satisfying when you can save a wing (or fuselage) like that . Once done it will be better and stronger than new. Good luck with the rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul De Tourtoulon Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 Quite right, this is my workshop at the moment, Einstein would be prude of me,,,? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 It's going to end up like Triggers broom 15 heads and 5 handles ? ? A terrier comes to mind John , you just won't let go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Jon - Laser Engines said: My work bench ? Ooops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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