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| Small tank Lightning. . . resin route | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 8 2014, 03:39 PM (564 Views) | |
| Drewe | Jan 8 2014, 03:39 PM Post #1 |
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Amused To Death
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So got the fuselage halves from Peebeep in the mail today (thanks mate!) and immediately set about "productionising" the tank for my own needs. Something to note is that in no way shape or form is this for a "commercial" job - it's a quick and easy way to make my own resin tanks for multiple Lightning conversions based on the new Airfix kit. First thing to do was glue the fuselage halves together, attend to the seam and remove the ventral fin (easier to make from card than try to mould it in situ!) . . . superglue and accelerator had this done in a few minutes, and then the tank was roughly cut out. I've left plenty each end to fettle the fit on the model by hacking and filing pure resin. I'm already seeing the tank is a little bloated and will need some slimfast attention - but again, easier to do to s solid piece of resin later than fiddle with plastic and possibly go through it. ![]() To make the tank mouldable I simply made it a solid "shape" with plasticard ends and base (it's hollow, but for the sake of casting it's now a solid), and sanded it all smooth. Then some strips of 2mm thick card were glued along the lower edges, the idea is for a lip for mounting the resin onto the Airfix fuselage - we'll see! ![]() Then a quick and simple mould box from pasticard was superglued together, and the tank glued to the bottom of it. Liquid (water or, in my case isopropyl alcohol) was then poured in to the point where the tank was covered, and then this was transferred to a measuring cup to see how much RTV I needed. . easy! Why did I use alcohol? Simply for it's quick evaporation - a quick blast into the mould with a hairdryer and it was ready for moulding. ![]() Then mixed some RTV up and poured it gently into the mould, from a height to burst all the big bubbles. I'd love a vacuum chamber but it's well beyond my resources, and this will do the job okay. This will now be left somewhere warm overnight (my airing cupboard!) and tomorrow I'll remove the master from the RTV and cast a tank to see where we're at. Hopefully something simple but good enough for multiple early Lightnings. Stay tuned!
Edited by Drewe, Jan 8 2014, 03:39 PM.
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| foxy | Jan 8 2014, 03:47 PM Post #2 |
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Happy modeler
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Excuse my French, but whats RTV stand for, the first I take it is Resin. Where can you procure this please. Cheers foxy
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| Drewe | Jan 8 2014, 03:54 PM Post #3 |
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Amused To Death
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RTV is Room Temperature Vulcanising rubber. It's the stuff used to make the mould, and sets using a catalyser, rather than through heat like normal rubber. Google will bring up any number of suppliers, take your pick, I've used lots of different ones over the years. |
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| foxy | Jan 8 2014, 04:10 PM Post #4 |
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Happy modeler
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Thank E kindly Drewe .Never used the stuff, but will in the future,(tells one's self to keep in mind). Cheers for explaining that. foxy
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| Bill Clark | Jan 9 2014, 10:58 AM Post #5 |
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Advanced Member
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Looking good Drewe, is that the Trumpeter belly tank? |
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| Drewe | Jan 9 2014, 03:08 PM Post #6 |
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Amused To Death
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So before work this morning I pulled the master out of the RTV and quickly cast a tank, leaving it to cure as I went to work. When I got home (and after applying a few decals to my Harrier GR.3!) I pulled out the Airfix fuselage halves and cut the tank away. Then adjusted the length of the cast tank (I had left a good portion on each end - probably sawed off 2mm at the front and nearer 4 at the rear), roughly sanded the rear angle and tested for fit into the Airfix belly.![]() ![]() Pretty happy overall, it's about as good as could expect given my fairly haphazard approach! It's too deep, but that is accounted for by the fact that I added some card at the bottom whilst preparing it, I'll run a rough sanding stick along the lower edge against the raised mounting plinth to remove the excess. A little filling at the rear and some blending and I think I have something that will pass muster once I've de-fattened the bulge some! But overall. . I useable tank for my small belly projects. (Bill, yes it's the trumpeter tank) Edited by Drewe, Jan 9 2014, 03:08 PM.
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| Bill Clark | Jan 9 2014, 03:19 PM Post #7 |
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Advanced Member
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I kept clear of the Trumpeter tank, as it's too 'bloated' and a couple of mm too short, but it certainly looks okay from here! And should be easy enough to de-bloat a bit!!!
Edited by Bill Clark, Jan 9 2014, 03:20 PM.
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| Rory | Jan 9 2014, 08:40 PM Post #8 |
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Advanced Member
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I'm not an expert on Lightnings ( any thing really) but the tank looks too wide, I thought that the sides were rounded but not that rounded. That looks like an emaciated AEW radar dome from a Gannet. |
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| Drewe | Jan 9 2014, 09:08 PM Post #9 |
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Amused To Death
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Did you not read the bit about "de-bloating"? |
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