Today I am sharing some more progress about the two main projects that I have this year.
The radio panel on the 1/12 B737 cabin has been finished. I did an initial test on all the radio panel sections and I like the result. Something to keep in mind when viewing these images is the size of these parts, they are much smaller than what you can feel from the photo.
I still have to test the fitting of the various knobs and switches. Basically each radio module will be added one by one by the modeler, on top of the radio pedestal which will have three columns separated by a panel line to perfectly align each module.
For my own test, I did not sand any edge, so they were simply cut off the base to check the overall result of them together.
The main panel has also been completed, but before I test it, I would like to have the main structure done (the main panel was remade again), that will be the next step.
On the other subject, the B747-8F/400F, it is progressing well, most of the nose section is completed, there are some smaller details I still need to add, and I am also considering making the padding that is located inside the nose cone.
Sometimes you need to make some sacrifices regarding fitting/dimensions/realism. This was the case for the hinges and rods (rods will be made out of metal or plastic), also, details in the renders may be “exaggerated” in some cases but because later on, these will be very subtle once printed.
The electric motor and the gearboxes were made and there will be some wiring inside the nose.
While the nose area is almost done, work has continued with the main deck. Currently working on the rear section and the side door platform area.
This set, which I finally called it “Transdetail kit” (because it transforms the detail from an original kit and it is a kit itself, not quite like a transkit that changes the original model kit), will also include decals; the anti slippery marks on the main deck made as a decal will be a nice addition solving the difficulty that would be having to paint each little rectangle perfectly.
Finally, the restock of the B787-8 galleys and some other currently out of stock items and the release of the new items will be on July 29th. These new items will be:
– 1/144 B787-9 Forward cargo hold module. – 1/144 B787-9 Rear cargo hold module. – 1/144 Antenna set “A”. – 1/144 Satcom antenna set. – 1/144 Pitot tubes assortment. – 1/144 Radomes; Viasat, Gogo 2KU, Arinc 791, Inmarsat GX and Boeing factory. – 1/144 Airbus narrowbody sharklets. – 1/144 Airbus A350 sharklets. – 1/144 B747-400 Winglets.
Some out of stock items like the baggage carts will take a bit more time since I am making the new movable towbar version. I am also progressing with the work of the rest of the projects; the 1/72 Schopf F59, the 1/144 Pulsar 7D etc.
That is all for now, I hope to share more finished things soon. Take good care everyone.
It has been a long time of silence without updates, things have been difficult here and at times surrealistic because of the changes that bring the loss of a loved one.
Things have to go on and so does work. I also spent a good amount of time readjusting my workplace to make things easier for me, to maintain a better order and to make a better use of the space.
Today’s update is a major one, at least from what I used to post. Needless to say, the time that I am having at this moment is wider, but like a little puppy exploring the outside for the first time, I am also in a similar phase where I am taking steps with everything at a time.
The first update I want to share is about the 1/12 B737NG cockpit. Both sidewalls were done:
You can see light bleed coming from one of the corners, this is something I will solve once I make the outer structure past the main panel. The details like rivets or screw heads will be added later prior to the casting.
I have been working on the radio panel:
The idea is that each module will be placed individually for more building inmersion and to make things easier when assembling the specific knobs and switches, you can see holes for now, but these will be used to add the knobs.
I have finished making the glarewings and the outer shape, but because I have to test things first, I will show this in another update.
Since I have done the sidewalls in the current software, I decided to also make the main panel again, this is all for better fitting purposes.
I am glad to count on the help of my friend Philippe for this project, it is a huge project so I am working on sections at a time. I want to finish the main panel details, then work on the fire panel and the throttle quadrant.
Another project that I had lying on the table for quite some time now were the A350 wingtips:
The winglight will also be made with translucent resin as I shared on earlier entries for the B747 wingtip and the Airbus narrowbody family.
This wingtip is intended for Revell’s A350-900 models, it represents the new version that was later fitted on the early builds and fitted by default currently at the Airbus factory.
Obviously the airfoil presented some difficulties because I had to make the profile as per Revell’s wing profile which is thicker because of the plastic, then there was the issue of the thickness as the shape reached the tip, so I had to work within those tolerances. I want to express my thanks to a friend who helped me greatly to make these as accurate and close to the real ones as possible.
The next update I wanted to share is about the B747-8F/-400F. I know that some may be skeptical about this, was making a new fuselage really needed? Well, yes because the main deck and the cargo holds are a major part of the fuselage inner structure, I could not simply modify Revell’s fuselage so mine will be ready to fit all those elements.
At the same time, I am also going to make a thinner representation around the nose door edges and make a new cockpit. The windshields will also be different from those on the Revell model, I may be doing a combo of PE and acetate.
The project was on a long pause because I was struggling to make the end of the hump properly, since the transition edge should not be fully smooth, it has a round edge. I was fortunate enough to have the help of my friend Jan at LearnSolidworks.com, a website that I fully 100% recommend for those who would like to initiate in 3D and for those serious about learning.
The wing root (the first section is a test here) has also been giving me a lot of headaches because the Revell’s original wing indent, was going way too further deep interfering with the interior of the fuselage, so I am at this moment figuring out the best solution for this, the idea of using Revell’s wing is still in the plans, but modifications to it will surely be required, most probably a cut and a fitting modification.
Note that the fuselage has no detail so far, I am just working on the overall exterior shape now, I want to solve the wing union first and once this is done, I will start the outside work prior getting into the cargo holds and main deck.
During all this time working on the new radomes, I also decided to remake the MCS8200 radome. The first version I made was handmade, so I decided to make a new version of it although I am still unsure what to do, due the similarity in shape I may catalog this as “Boeing” radome and continue providing the original MCS8200 radome:
The other radomes I made did not present an issue if using them for either narrow or widebody aircrafts, however, for this one, a narrowbody and a widebody version will be made, the one featuring on these photos is on a B737.
I have also been working on the new type of baggage carts, this was something I had in the plans but that took me more than I thought. Currently a first prototype was built, other two versions will be made; a fully covered one and a lining covered/semi covered version.
The biggest difference between this and the previous version is the towbar, it can rise up and down now, also, this “open” version has photo etched straps at the sides.
This GSE model is still a bit far from completion because I am still doing tests with the parts since these are quite thin.
Another update regarding a GSE is this Pulsar 7D transporter:
This model was requested to me a long time ago, so it will be the first one of the Mulag family, for which I expect to make the rest of the models (belt loader and tractors).
About the other projects:
The 1/72 Schopf F59 is currently in the casting phase, a new body was done so I had to discard the initial molds. I will be doing a first test assembly soon since the interior is nearly completed.
The B787 galleys and cargo holds are ready for packaging, most are already packaged, PE for the galleys is needed to make. Due to the recent events as I mentioned at the beginning of the email, the process had to be paused. I will resume the packaging stage soon and give a release date once I have units of the rest of the new items ready (pitot tubes, radomes, antennas, etc).
That is all for now, I think this is the largest update I have given since I started with this business. For me I am still on my adapting stage but surely continue working on all the projects.
I hope to share another update soon and give more info on the release date. Best wishes, Guillem
It has been again some time since my last update, things have been very busy here as it is not easy sometimes to take care of our elderly. I’ve been somewhat burnt and gloomy, however work distracts me thankfully and I’ve been working hard on the upcoming restock which I predict for the second or third week of March, so no updates usually mean no time to post due work.
I am trying to increase the numbers per item, from the usual ten unitsto at least twenty. A week will be dedicated to finish the base parts, and two will be required for those parts resin-casted and for the photo etched.
Along the way I am also doing some modifications in the making process in order to cope with the production rate maintaining the same quality, so for example, the twobar pushbacks have now their bodies resin casted, which is similar as the AST-1 F method for its body, same body/quality just different production process.
Work on the belt loader TUG 660 “v2” has progressed forward and I expect to make a test and a finished version soon.
I plan to have the TLD ABS 1740 stairs truck handrails resin printed as opposed to resin casted, this makes the process a bit quicker but also allows me to add some more extra handrails in the set. Also, I will probably be changing the 1,5mm metal rod by a plastic one (which I may provide silvered) as the time to cut/sand each metal bar was extending a lot, the brass tubes will still be included.
Basically all units for the AST-1 F600, stairs truck and the Commander FMC15i are nearly done. Production of other items is also on the way.
So as I mentioned earlier, I plan to have a general restocking each month, so if I restock on March 18th, I will be producing again for the third week of April and so on.
As production is taking me some time, progress on the current projects is a bit slow (but steady) so this weekend I was able to dedicate it to the 1/12 B737 cabin project:
Sidewalls will come next together with the forward electronics panel (FMC). Note that the work done so far still requires detail such as screw heads (and all the panels for each section).
Regarding the 1/200 scale GSE, it is a reality as I was able to test it finally. The 1/200 scale will consist in finished GSE items though, so these will be more limited (and perhaps customizable), but for test purposes here is the first F110 next to the 1/144 version and near the USB drive for size comparison:
To my surprise, the model was able to retain all the details, including the figure, the rear engine grid, fire extinguisher and even the holes of the chocks and panel lines.
The 1/72 is also moving forward:
Apologies for the overexposed photo, details are on the engine cover despite they can’t be seen here.
Although the F59 in 1/72 is progressing well, it sure has much more work to do than the 1/200 models.
The cabin shown here needs a lot of modifications and improvements, it is merely a “mockup” to see the overall fitting. The cabin will most surely be resin casted as so is the body and engine cover. A lot of work still required on this one which I will now move on to weekends.
There is so much going on with all the projects that at times I do feel quite overwhelmed as I do not want to disappoint anybody, however I have set myself schedules and times to do things so that I can actually finish something before going to the next.
That is all for now, I will most surely be publishing more news next weekend as I progress with stuff.
