Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

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Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:10 am

I know this is the Guillow forum and all so I will limit my words and images strictly to describing the build and make no comparisons between the mfgs.
I love the Golden Age of flight - and this airframe depicts what I like most about that era. This plane was designed quickly to race in a National event.
It was constructed simply to go fast, taking one of the most powerful engines available and creating the smallest airframe around that engine and the pilot, as possible.
I always build static models with small added details not included with the kit but relatively easy to make. Here I added some cockpit elements and a Williams Bro's scale pilot and dummy Wasp engine.
(The engine was re-purposed from an old model that left its position on the shelf for a closer look at the floor)
This model will be built using the infill method - I will probably not simulate the fabric covered parts of the airplane - not certain yet - but probably not.
For this kit I had to fabricate a propeller as the kit only provided a plastic, rubber band type prop. There was no plan drawing of the item either and this early prop was of a design none of the scale model propeller mfgs. as yet
mass produce so I had little choice... so here are a few photos
Image
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
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Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:16 am

Image

Image

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...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:20 am

Image

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I made the vertical and horizontal tail pieces out of solid sheet balsa...rather than build them up from all the LC parts.
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:26 am

I used to have trouble bending wire for landing gear and so on...but over time I have gotten better at it. Just like anything else it just takes repetition and mindfulness.
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the Williams Bro's pilot figure busts are kind of cool. For this kit because the cockpit was so cramped I figured this much pilot is all that was needed...
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:33 am

here we have all of the major components ready for more sealer and sanding prior to assembly..
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This is a small part that will attach to the bottom of the aircraft once the wing is installed - You can see I did not use the usual cellophane layer and have it pinned directly to the plan. I was very careful with the glue
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so - what have we got so far?
Image
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:36 am

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just checking the fit - nothing has been glued up yet except the tail feathers...

here is the prop I made - along with the primer coated cowling and engine
Image
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:48 am

I still have a lot of work to do yet.
One kind of major squawk I have with this kit is the lack of any reference to the wing root fairings. Nothing in the instructions or on the plan sheet - nada.
It looks like they are built in sections on the real airplane...three or four rib formers spaced about two feet apart - then skinned in sections to deal with the compound curves needed to make it work.
I think I will complete the model without those fairings in the interest of keeping my sanity.. and because it would surpass my current skill set to make them properly.

So - more sealing and sanding, some painting and then final assembly - touch up and a coat of semi-gloss clear - then the markings, and another small issue. This kit does not have water slide decals...
These are stickers! lol They will be a bear to work with because they cannot be re-positioned like the water slide markings. They are beautifully rendered and very fine - but stickers, really Dumas?
Maybe I can take them somewhere and copy them onto blank decal sheets.
Anyway - I'll post more later unless it isn't ok with the moderators that this is not a Guillow kit. I hope Guillow would create more Golden Age aircraft like this one - there were so many iconic '30's Racers and Biplanes after all
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Tue Apr 04, 2017 3:53 pm

Image

Image
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:47 pm

Ok - I decided to give it a try...

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looks like I will have to apply in layers to get the fairing to the shape it needs to be

using this new stuff - it whips up like cream in this tub..you just stir the hell out of it and it goes on like whipped butter all fluffy like..
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Last edited by heywooood on Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Wed Apr 05, 2017 10:51 pm

I must be nuts...This is a new product - I have never fabricated a wing root fairing before (especially as bananas as what this plane was equipped with) and I have only a handful of reference photo's to compare to.

Oh well - nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. If you don't hear from me soon, avenge my death
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:03 pm

ok - after the third application -
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a little progress...this might work out yet
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Fri Apr 07, 2017 12:22 pm

meanwhile - in FSX...
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the Beech 18 over the Marshall Islands - I would love to find a large balsa kit of this legendary aircraft
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Fri Apr 07, 2017 12:25 pm

the wing root fairings have been shaped, sanded and now coated with sealer - a couple more passes of light sanding and more sealer and we'll
see if she's ready for the primer coat of paint
Image

Image
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby Balsa Pilot » Fri Apr 07, 2017 2:01 pm

well! that is really really pretty! Most of the backgrounds are very cool as well

you mentioned having someone make up a decal sheet-where does this happen, and can you let me know who does this kind of thing please
Balsa Pilot
 
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Re: Dumas kit # 406 GeeBee Z

Postby heywooood » Fri Apr 07, 2017 2:27 pm

you can buy the blank decal paper here and use your own scanner/printer
or go to the kinko's or similar..
https://www.decalpaper.com/
...you made that out of a box of sticks..?
...what is WRONG with you!
heywooood
 
Posts: 492
Joined: Mon Jun 06, 2011 2:51 pm
Location: san diego

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