Halinski Spitfire brothers

Hi,

It's been a while since I finished FW190.
My next model to try is a ALL-MIGHTY spitfire.
I recently learned that Halinski Spitfires are pretty much similar so that I could share building instructions among them.

So I decided to build them together. They are Spitfires of brothers.

The building started at the bottom part of front main bodies.

The back sides of front bottom parts.

Quote

Originally posted by eskatee
The construction might be pretty similar [never change a winning team =)], the individual models do show up "some" differences [=under-understatement].

I will try to find some genuine pictures I bought about a half year ago, although there is a little bit of chaos [ try to read this as anarchy] in my collection.

Where do you come from? As you prefer to communicate in English, I got rather curious,

groetjes from Amersfoort, Netherlands,
Gert

Display More

Hi Gert,

I wish I could speak German but I can not. English is fine to me. I am in US near San Francisco.

Halinski Spitfires are quiet similar. Even their part numbers are 99% same. I thought it was a good idea to build spitfire brothers together but it turned out that it's been quite boring work. I am almost half way done in building. As soon as I organize and reformat photos, I will continue posting. Thank you very much for your comment.

YY DAD

The building continued to the upper parts of Vb front main body.

Front parts of other Spitfires are continued.
I usually glued parts without skeletons inserted. In that way, I can reduce mismatches on surfaces.

Quote

Originally posted by eskatee
The first batch of pictures, and yes, they do represent the atmosphere in those [pre-] war years in the USA.

Coming up, later on, something more, I really appreciate your building report, especially your effort to get the best out of it in this forum, which contributes very effectively to our hobby, which is our purpose,

cheers,
Gert

Thank you very much for sharing your valuable collection. They look go great.

YY DAD

Quote

Originally posted by Henni
Very clean build so far.
How do you manage the bottom parts without adhesive flaps? Pretty impressive!

Hi Henni,

About a year ago, I stated building Halinski WWII airplanes without using connection parts for seamless connection. Actually, there is not much hidden technique. I just carefully bring parts together and apply instant glues from one side to the other. It is slow and laborious but I think it is worth.

Thank you. I will dig up a few photos to show how I did.

YY DAD

Quote

Originally posted by Wiesel

Yes, this is also my question.
Gert, some instructions would be appreciated... =)

And what's the source of the pictures?

Hi Helmut,

I will post a few photos soon.

YY DAD

Quote

Originally posted by YY DAD

Hi Helmut,

I will post a few photos soon.

YY DAD

Display More

Here's how I did for part connection

1) Prepare parts with clean cut
2) Align the parts and glue them on a end
3) Align and glue on the other end as well as a center.
4) Reduce any mismatches by pressing back
5) Glue them thoroughly
6) Outside after gluing.

Every question, comment, and suggestion is always welcome.

YY DAD

Quote

Originally posted by paolo
Hi

Your work is very impresive, my respect to you.
Just one more question about your glue technic - what kind of glue have you been using ?

Kind regards

Paolo

Display More

Hi,

I use instant glues like Loctite 401 in more than 90% cases. Espeically, I mainly use instant glues for part assembly without connection parts.

YY DAD

Here comes the tail part assembly of Vb. Nothing's inside. Skeleton parts will be put in later.

Here is another tail part assembly for IXc. Nothing's inside, either.

Here comes the last tail part assembly for Vb Trop.

Here is the comparison of tail parts.

Now is the time for putting skeleton parts into tail assemblies.
In the original design, the tail skeleton is one assembly but it is divided to two for the ease of putting in.

First, the bigger skeleton was put into the tail body from an backside opening and then the oval shape skeleton was placed through the front opening.

Quote

Originally posted by Thomas Stickler
Hello YY Dad.

Impressive build up to now. Looking forward to what is comming up.

I have another question concerning your glueing technique. How do you apply the instant glue? I had always problems because of the rather large tip and that too much glue is coming out even when using very low pressure to the tube.

Maybe you have another way of apllying the glue.

Regards and keep up the very good work.

Thomas

Display More

Hi Thomas,

Thank you for your nice comment.

I attached the photo of my instant glue.
I put a blunt needle (so called epoxy needle) on a tip.
I can not remember its exact size but should be ~25G.
One drawback(?) is that a needle gets clogged easily but you may use your lighter to open the needle. Just burn up your needle a little until you see white smoke coming out. Of course smell isn't good. You may keep the instant glue for a couple months with a needle. A needle really prevents glues from drying.

One more tip for an instant glue is keeping a old bottle. I learned from one of the most experienced expert of "HOWPAPER". Every time when you use the bottle, you squeeze it and make it softer. Later, it becomes kinds of a softer bottle which you may easily control how much you apply glues. That's why my bottle looks old. I've used it for two years now. I just refill it when I need.

YY DAD

Quote

Originally posted by Wilfried
... wooden glue and a toothstick, sharpened with a surgical knife did the same ...?
Or not?

So let's keep on glueing
the Wilfried

Hi, Wilfried

I haven't tried wooden glues for this type of assembly. It may work or not. The whole issue is how to keep parts in positions during drying processes. I guess small parts might be OK but large parts might not. Later I will show a whole skin part assembly of a main body without connection parts.

YY DAD

Putting tail skeletons for other Spitfires....

After adding one more tail skin part,

Quote

Originally posted by KlausMoeller
Good morning YY DAD,

the technique you are using requires high precission cutting as well as
seamless fit requirements of the individual parts to be assembled. Do you apply a "first fit check" prior to glueing the parts of the next section?
Do you fix the skeleton parts after insertion with instant glue?
By the way "YY DAD" stands for ???

regards
Klaus

Display More

Hi, Klaus,

Yes I usually check every fitting before assembly. But Halinski kits normally have great quality to fit well. I can do simple checks-up. Well-fitting of Halinski kits might be disadvantageous in the view that it causes consecutive mismatches in building due to small tolerance.

Yes, I fix skeletons after putting them, mostly with instant glues.

About YY DAD, it is to honor God's lovely presents and master pieces, my two beautiful daughters. In my home culture, we are commonly and informally called as someone's dad or someone's mom. Somehow I really like this nickname and that's why I chose YY DAD. My two daughter's initials start Y and Y. I hope you don't mind. Or You can call me John.

YY DAD

The front skeleton of Vb was inserted into the skin assembly.

The same insertion step for IXc

The insertion steps of front skeleton assemblies for Vb Trop is different with the others because of its special air intake shapes. An original one-piece skeleton assembly was built to produce two parts of upper and lower skeletons as shown in the first photo. And then the lower skeleton was put first (the 2nd photo) and then the upper part was slid in from a back side opening.

After finishing the first stage of main body works,

Building steps move on to Cockpits.

Quote

Originally posted by Zaphod
Hello YY DAD,

thank you for the precise description of your methods. It looks like a very clean build.

Are the main bodies completed and will bejoined together next?

Zaphod

Display More

Hi Zaphod,

Thank you for your kind comment. The front and tail part will be joined after cockpit buildings are finished. Cockpit assemblies will be inserted too.

YY DAD

Cockpit building got started.

Quote

Originally posted by Royaloakmin
Hallo YYDad, it was interesting to learn about your name. How do you keep the parts segregated while building three planes at once? I have trouble keeping everything straight for one model! Very nice work.

Hi,

Good to hear you again.
I don't have special ways to keep parts except that I have a dedicated drawer and a few different colors of highlighter pens. Halinski propeller fighter kits (KA) have only a few pages so every time when I call it a day, I just put everything in the drawer. I might also think about a way to keep parts when I try other models like ships, tanks and so on later.

Thank you for your kind comment.

YY DAD

Finishing front panels, levers, and pedals,