Model Forum / General / Models / March 2006

Hi all,

   Anyone got an idea for how I can bring the fuselage of a 1:32 Revel
Ki-61 Tony back in line.

   It's an old kit that may have been stored hot sometime, I got it
recently with all parts and a yellow decal sheet. One or two parts were off
the sprues, but tapet nicely to other places on the frames. Now I've done
the engine, cockpit and fuselage. After adding the wings to the fuselage I
can see that the fuselag has a slight turn to the right (When seen from the
front), not much, maybe 1 milimeter and I could probably live with that, but
when test fitting the tailplanes, I can see the it's twisted too, the rudder
is of with something like 3-4 degrees fro vertical, and the tailplane also,
that is just to visible to accept.

   I've tried splitting the seem from the cockpit and aft, and I can twist
the tail into vertical, but that gives the tailplaned different heights from
the ground - not acceptable!
   I've heard of straitning resin parts with hot water and tried that
without succes, has any of you done that, and if so how long does it tahe to
warm the styrene enough? 10 min, 20 min?

   Thanks in advance for any hints, I just don't feel like making a pair of
cuts wit a saw to straighten it, but without advise from you, that may be my
last resort.

Claus Gustafsen
Strandby Denmark
mail me at claus@gustafsen.nu
See my modeling at www.gustafsen.nu