Side forms on Messerschmitt

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:22 am

I am building a Messerschmitt kit and have gotten to the point of attaching the side formers that cover the space between the wing and fuseloge. The instructions called fro them to be cut from thin cardboard. I have done this and glued it it place. It was one of the harder things to the model thus far. It looks alright, but is there really nothing better to do this than use cardboard?

Also should I cover the cardboard the same way I have covered the rest of the plane with tissue and white glue mix?

scigs30 · Post by **scigs30** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 9:45 am

Nothing is really better, sorry. That is one of the hardest parts of any model is doing the fillets or as you call it side former. Many people have tried different techniques, but still it is hard. I don't use cardboard just because it is heavy. I use regular old paper. Yours look great, what is the the issue?

jim · Post by **jim** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:18 am

i had a hard time with those on a spitfire ended up using some printer paper i soaked one side in white glue and pressed it into place with a small paintbrush
u just reminded me im also on a messher ive got it all to do again
hehe

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:21 pm

Thanks for the complement on the "fillets". It just felt "dirty" cutting up a cereal box and gluing it on the plane. It was a huge pain and was the only parts thus far I had to hold in place for it to dry.

I think I am going to cover it with tissue and try and smooth out the edges a little into the wing.

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:55 pm

jim wrote:i had a hard time with those on a spitfire ended up using some printer paper i soaked one side in white glue and pressed it into place with a small paintbrush
u just reminded me im also on a messher ive got it all to do again
hehe

Nice, this has been a fun build. My first plane in about 12 or 13 years.

I still have a old P-40 27" half done to finish from about 12 or 13 years back also.

kittyfritters · Post by **kittyfritters** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 12:21 pm

Try making them of 1/32" (0.7938mm, OK, use 0.8.) balsa sheet, and forming them before you glue the wing to the fuselage. If you are making a removable wing, rubber bands, magnets or a single machine screw, for hold down, you are going to make the fillets attach to the fuselage anyway. In a removable wing, the fillets make a saddle for the wing.

The example of a CO2 powered, 400 Series Bf-109 is by Don Butman.

The wing is located by a peg at the leading edge and the rare earth magnets at the trailing edge of the wing have 3 pounds pull per pair, more than enough to keep the wing on in flight. In Don's 400 series models the cowls and even the motors are held on by this tupe of magnet.

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 2:25 pm

That looks great! I may do this on my next model. I almost wanted to create something from a block of balsa and shape it to fit (only doing static models right now).

On another note, what are the make of those wheels?

kittyfritters · Post by **kittyfritters** » Fri Oct 15, 2010 4:33 pm

The wheels are Du-Bro, I believe. Here is a link to their current catalog.

http://www.dubro.com/hobby/ecatalog/dubro/tmb.htm

Just click on the image of the page that has the product you are interested in for the details.

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:07 am

David Duckett wrote:I believe the wheels are those included with the kit.

Way to nice looking wheels for stock ones.

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:07 am

kittyfritters wrote:The wheels are Du-Bro, I believe. Here is a link to their current catalog.

http://www.dubro.com/hobby/ecatalog/dubro/tmb.htm

Just click on the image of the page that has the product you are interested in for the details.

Thanks I may have to look into them for a P-40

kittyfritters · Post by **kittyfritters** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 11:22 am

David Duckett wrote:Can you provide a Dubro part number for these 1 3/4" wheels?

I took a look at my 400 Series Bf-109 and those could be the wheels that came in the kit. If they are Du-Bro wheels they are #175SL with treaded foam rubber tires and weigh 4.4 grams each. I weighed the plastic kit wheels and they weigh 5 grams each. This is not an issue on Don's model since the main gear is plug in and the model is flown, free-flight, "gear up". However, if I were doing an R/C conversion of a 400 series kit I would definitely want the Du-Bro wheels for smoother landings.

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 1:37 pm

Alright so I ended up covering the cardboard with tissue. At first when I started I thought it was turning out to be a bad idea. The cardboard started to bubble and just not look nice at all.

I kept at it and it turned out better than I had expected after seeing the cardboard bubble. It still needs a little clean up and maybe just some more tissue on the bottom edge to smooth out the line, but I think I am happy with it for now.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:05 pm

i like useing 3/32" balsa sheets to use to make those fillets with. its strong, wont buble and crinkle when you put glue on, in fact, i dont even worry about covering it after its on. i sometimes sand it down even more to make it easier to bend, but it would go on fine just as is. it does look better than cardboard and paper as i have tried both.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:06 pm

and you can sand it down where as paper or light cardboard you cannot do as easily

hurt138 · Post by **hurt138** » Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:40 pm

I may do that on the next build. I ended up putting more tissue over them and they look better than they where, But I am still not 100% happy with them.

This model has been on the bench waiting for me to come back. Its been too cold and to busy to spend much time on it the past while.