From the archive (2011):
Khee-Kha Art Products rendition of the Fairchild F.71 is up
to the usual high standards of its releases. Good and comprehensive
instructions with building tips, plans and livery options, resin accessories
again superb and completing the package we find a vacuformed windshield and a
clear plastic strip for the side windows. The molds are crisp and detailed.
This was the first kit offered by Khee-Kha on its expanding range of bush plane
kits.
You will need decals for your personal choice of subject,
but Khee-Kha offers a PIA decal set as an after-market product for this kit, or
you can buy the package (kit+decals). Although the struts are molded in the
backing sheet it will be advisable to replace them with airfoiled stock
material, like “Strutz” or “Contrail” of the appropriate width. I used both to
replace all struts, even the landing gear ones.
The construction has a couple of unusual solutions, like the
fuselage sides that come in two parts and the cabin roof area that requires a
specific approach.
Read the instructions thoroughly and carefully before even
thinking of cutting the parts out of the backing sheet, that will save you of a
potential headache.
You must study your references and be sure to include the
particularities of the specific machine you are modeling. In this case I wanted
to build this for my son who builds Argentinean machines, so a plane that was
used there as a photographic platform was selected. It had a different tail
wheel, prop and tundra/balloon wheels. The engine also had a Townend ring and
the exhausts were arranged in a particular way. For that ring I used a left
over part from another Khee-Kha kit, the Bellanca Pacemaker. The wheels were
cast in resin using a patterned packaging tray that fitted
the bill. The kit’s prop blades were cut out and inserted into a previously
scratched part made of metal tubes and plastic discs for counterweights.
Instead of using the clear strip provided for the side windows I made
individual panes from a CD case. As you can see in the
accompanying images I made the panes first for the kit windows as they are, but
realized shortly after (fortunately) that the photo mapping version had a
different arrangement so two additional panes were prepared to make for the
different parts. The exhausts in this particular machine as said varied from
standard, and had a central element at the bottom running parallel to them that
was probably an oil cooler. Therefore the resin parts were clipped at their
ends and supplement accordingly, and the other element mentioned scratched.
As you proceed with the building pay attention to the
manufacturer’s recommended adjustments and warnings. Anchoring points for
rigging and struts are subtly marked on the molds of stab and wing.
Early in the process I decided to depart from some of the
manufacturer’s recommendations and adapt the kit to my own evil ways. I reduced
the parts for the front fuselage section to its minimum expression and utilized
the full length of the fuselage sides as provided. For the spar another
solution was used, although the kit’s is absolutely fine.
A camera was scratched and added to the interior, plus
control column and rudder pedals. The manufacturer already supplies the seat
and instrument panel. Some exterior details were scratched and added like nav
lights, handles, small tail skid, fuel tank caps, rudder control horn and the
like.
Painting in three tones of metal was followed by the
application of the home-made decals and the exterior details.
A review of the kit written by PugetMeister Jim Schubert,
aka the Kessler Twin’s Terror can be seen here:
Khee-Kha's website tile is at the sidebar on this blog.
superbe sublime beau travail j'adore
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup Christian.
DeleteAlthough "sublime" is a word that perhaps exceeds reality (Ill take anyway :-)
I see what you meant by your comment on the example on display at a Santiago.museum as well as reading the aircraft's history and your build article.At first glance I thought the top photo was a resin kit! An amazing display of scratch building and detailing. I'm thinking I should just sell off my unbuilt kits and take up needle point! I have learned so much about golden age aviation and model building from your website. Thank you for sharing your modeling skills and historical research with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a great pleasure, Mike.
Delete