Build n' Show kits

[rjdelisi]

Just curious, does anyone build kits like the B-24, B29 or Catalina uncovered as shown on the boxes? I might be inclined to if their structures were a little more prototypically correct.

[Wildpig]

Not those aircraft, because as you mentioned, they are not prototypical correct internal structure. I"ve thought about doing the Sopwith Camel or the Fokker Dr.I uncovered.
They may not be exactly prototypical either but, close enough to look interesting. With the laser cut version, I think they would make excellent uncovered display models by adding details like fittings and wires.

[Pauli72]

I have never done an unskinned kit for myself, but the local hobby shop had a Fokker Tri-Plane (#204), a PBY(#2004), and a Stuka(#1002), without tissue hanging from the ceiling. They looked awsomwe!!! It was always good motivation for me to do the best possible job with the balsa airframe construction phase as possible.

I would discourage you from thinking of it in terms of true, internal-anatomical, scale precision. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, if you have the time to do so, I commend, and encourage you! If that's something that you're after, you will probably have to scratch-build in a mixed media. However; these balsa kits have an artistic beauty unto themselves.

Best of luck on your build, whichever path you decide upon.

[Bill Gaylord]

The PBY also has an error on the rear fuse fillet blend about 1/2" above the hull line, which from memory was done for simplicity of building. It wasn't difficult to correct either. Just a little scale issue, if you want the shape to be correct. You just reminded me that I need to attempt flight with this plane. It was an old speed 400 conversion that is pushed hard. I added a second ESC a few months ago, which may give it a chance of not burning up.

[ADW 123]

I think the whole challange of the hobby is to build the kit and cover it. What everyone is trying to perfect is covering. Go for the tissue.

[Bill Gaylord]

I think the whole challange of the hobby is to build the kit and cover it. What everyone is trying to perfect is covering. Go for the tissue.

Tissue doesn't work well with real rc models, meant to fly in water. I have a deep respect for the free flight community and their beautiful tissue work, but it's just not what I do. Iron-on lends itself well to sheeting, and to more heavily loaded rc planes that land in tall weeds. My flying rc Guillows planes would be shredded, if they were tissue covered.

The rc micro Guillows Stuka below is on my WTFLYR youtube channel. I could have tissue covered it, but it's much easier to get the result below with Microlite, so I'll stick with it. Painted flat, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.