Well, here is the beast. Fuse is ready for some carving and the molded top block is in the mold. This is where I get to be artistic. Or at least as artistic as I get. The blocks are all just tacked on for carving up. Still trying to decide if I want to put on a plastic canopy or just go with a simulated canopy. I have a canopy for it, but will have to decide if it's worth the effort.

Soon as the carving and sanding are done, I'll pop the blocks off and throw the parts in the jig for assembly.

Mark,

Have fun with it. Better flying than sitting in the rafters.

I may have the new plane done by the Roundup or perhaps the Fall Follies.

Thanks Ty, Doc,

I got the rough shaping done on the fuselage yesterday. Found out that a week in the mold for the top block wasn't enough. I had used two pieces of 1/20" balsa molded together with some epoxy and veil between. I wrapped the mold with cling wrap to keep the balsa being molded from sticking to the mold (due to epoxy leakage, though I scrapped almost all of it off). I then wrapped the balsa in cling wrap to keep the ace bandages I use for molding from sticking to the balsa. Worked fine as far as inadvertent gluing goes, but it also didn't let any water out, so the balsa was still soaking wet a week after being put into the mold. But the epoxy had mostly dried. Go figure.

So I pulled it apart and took out the cling wrap then wrapped it back up for a couple of days.

I built the rudder yesterday, too but it probably way overengineered. It's light at 1/4 oz, but is probably too complicated and I'm not sure I like it. I'll post a couple of pictures of the progress later. Should be ready to put it together into a complete plane in a few days. Also got the elevators started and the flaps.

The nose looks pretty cool. I'm leaning toward a simulated canopy at this point. The shape look neat and I can't really duplicate it with a plastic canopy short of molding my own. Not going there.

Mark,

I've just never had much luck making canopies. Usually end up with a problem. We'll see. I'm kinda liking the simulated one at this point. But you never know.

The planes coming along great Randy. Put a canopy on it and put a pilot in it. Drives the ARFers nuts.

After cutting out a half a million little pieces for the wing, going with a block canopy would be a crime.

SWEET!!!!!!!

HEY,  you changed access hatch styles on me,, sheesh

Mark,

Wasn't enough room for a round hatch, unfortunately, so I improvised.

Bill,

Well, I'm not that talented with an airbrush. But I can probably do a fade of some type. Scott Urabe does some killer work. Here's a picture of his "Ninja". I'm going to have to ask him how he got that reflective effect.

Ty,

Eventually, I'm going to build a plane like this and use a transparent covering. But I haven't taken the time to "pretty up" the internal structure to allow that this time. Maybe next time.

Mark,

Yea, I figured it was done with dagger strokes (or rat tails, as the the guy I learned with called them). Not sure I have a steady enough hand for it, but I've been practicing with the air brush a bit on a big art pad. I'm getting a bit better at it. Nice having a Paasche double action air brush that works pretty well. I'm getting the hang of it. I'll probably try it on a test piece and see if I can get away with it. I like the blue fade on Scott's plane, but I'd probably use either charcoal or darker blue for mine. It will go with the paint scheme better.