Smith Composites in Hampton Park, Victoria, Australia | Local business

Smith Composites

Locality: Hampton Park, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 417 312 787

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25.01.2022 First cowl out of the 1/4 P-51 mustang mold. Surface detail is nice and fits on the fuselage nice.

25.01.2022 More work on the wing internals on the FW -190 A8. Its easy making accurate retract rails when you have a thicknesser.

24.01.2022 First 1/4 P-51 out of the mold. All the details are well represented and feels light and strong.

23.01.2022 Ailerons are joined with internal balsa structure for control horn and hinges. Ready to pop open tomorrow.

22.01.2022 First half of aileron mold later up. Once cured flip over and repeat.

21.01.2022 Canopy shaping and re shaping continues on the Composite FW -190A8. I am now happy with the shape as at first it was too high and looked off. Now its time to finish it off ready for canopy and canopy frame to be made.

21.01.2022 I have fiddled with the latch to open the gun hood where switches and other genera will be located. Using the barrels with some wire and springs it works well. Also the next lot of CNC cut wing internals are completed and starting to epoxy into place.

20.01.2022 Rudder is out of the mold and surface detail is spot on. Very happy.

18.01.2022 1/4 Scale P-51 upper cowl is being pushed first to get one made and test fit onto the fuselage plug. All panel lines are done and surfaced primer applied and wet sanded. Screws are the only surface detail except hatches which will be litho plate.

18.01.2022 More work on the Ailerons of the FW -190A. All waxed and set up of parting boards are done. The first aileron will be completely moulded before I begin the second. PVA release film applied and Tooling gelcoat done. Tomorrow I will lay some glass.

17.01.2022 Molds painted, cloth and core cut ready to go.. start tomorrow.

16.01.2022 Been working on a Spitfire kit for Rob and its taking shape nicely. All epoxy fibreglass parts are completed and time to get cutting foam core wings.

15.01.2022 Aileron number 02 mold is complete. Its nice when the plug comes out easily without damage. All surface detail is well represented and ready for parts.

14.01.2022 A rudder for the FW -190 A was layed up this evening. Relatively simple process and currently under vacuum until tomorrow. Short video of the vacuum pulling down. I use a simple EZ vac continuous run unit which works perfect. Nice and simple.

13.01.2022 Aileron #01 mold is done and is perfect. All surface fabric detail is shown and ready for waxing. Now its number Aileron #02 to get ready. Some tail end parts completed as well.

13.01.2022 Today was focussed on joining up top and bottom wing skins. All ply internal structure is first epoxied into the upper wing skin complete with joiner bar inside to assure correct alignment. Then the lower skin is applied after a thickened up epoxy goop is applied on top of all timber and any point of the upper and lower skin touches. Once this has been done I bolt and clamp up the two mold halves and with a torch I inspect to make sure there is sufficient contact and epoxy squished out slightly to make a gusset. A few photos of inside the openings to show the joining. Tomorrow I will remove the wings. I also removed the ailerons and rudder from molds today as well.

12.01.2022 Hello guys and girls I am trying to get into contact with a chap by the name of Ian Tammen from WA (I think). I have his number but cannot get hold of him. Any help would be great such or his current mobile number. I hope he is well and possibly changed phone number. Cheers Trent.

12.01.2022 I though I would do a quick assembly if the plane with some temporary legs to get a look on its feet. Also helps the motivation.

11.01.2022 Time to drag out the FW -190 A8 molds. Wing skins are done, ailerons, tailplane and rudder are layed up under vacuum as we speak. Next molds prepped are gun hood and cowl.

11.01.2022 Ailerons out of molds this morning without any problems. All detail is clearly visible and all ready for hinging and hook up.

10.01.2022 I didn’t really show the engine box which is moulded in. It is set back about 320mm from the spinner back plate which should accommodate many engines. If needed it can simply be cut back and reinforced with fibreglass and carbon fibre.

10.01.2022 Big 1/4 scale P-51 plug is at the finishing stages. Primer surface down and the majority sanded. Panel lines are done and work on the overlapping raised panel lines continues. Molding getting closer. Excuse the mess.

09.01.2022 Hello I have been a bit absent from posting anything of late. I do apologise for that but I have been busy with life and hobby things. The FW -190A8 has been idle for a while but I hope that changes soon. I have been working on a 1/4 P-51D Mustang plug. This is hopefully going to fit wings, tailplane and rudder for an established kit. I have had some great resources for the correct shapes and finishing details. Many engines will work but I have spaced the front of the engine box back 300mm to accomodate many in line multiple cylinder engines but I will use the DLA 116 in line twin gas engine. Next step in panel lines. Its bloody big as you can see with myself holding it up and I am a big dude at 6 foot 5

07.01.2022 Rudder mold version 2 is completed. It was re done to get a better match of the surface detail of the Ailerons and Elevators.

07.01.2022 A little progress on the FW -190A with attention on the canopy. At first I simply took a mold from the canopy purchased from Vially aviation which a part was made and put aside if needed later. Then I layed up another part with the intent of shaping and removing any canopy frame to get s perfect fit to work from. Progress is getting there slowly with some modifications needed along the way. Fill and sand is the order for tomorrow.

07.01.2022 I didnt really show the engine box which is moulded in. It is set back about 320mm from the spinner back plate which should accommodate many engines. If needed it can simply be cut back and reinforced with fibreglass and carbon fibre.

06.01.2022 First set of Ailerons layed up and under vacuum. Now the wait.

06.01.2022 Canopy plug is now completed and a canopy plus a second one pulled over the first to then build a canopy frame out of. Litho plate has started to be applied and I am currently waiting on some tiny size 0 screws to complete.

05.01.2022 FW -190A wing under vacuum. 3/4 done then its time to fire up the CNC router.

05.01.2022 Canopy shape is getting there. Temperature is rising here in Melbourne so its time to retreat to the house. Here are some googled images of the framework I want to do as a mold to go over the canopy when completed.

05.01.2022 More work on the wing internals on the FW -190 A8. It’s easy making accurate retract rails when you have a thicknesser.

04.01.2022 Of late I have been repairing a Comp ARF extra 120cc for a associate. Undercarriage was torn out plus general surface tidy ups and primed ready for final colour scheme.

04.01.2022 Just receipt gun barrels for the FW -190 A from Jiri Pre and they look great.

03.01.2022 Rudder Version 2 is under vacuum. I started very early which means by this evening I can remove from vacuum and join halves together.

03.01.2022 Rudder is out of vacuum and internal structure is installed followed by joining the two halves.

02.01.2022 Cowl set up to start molding. PVA release film in a light application done ready to apply tooling gelcoat.

02.01.2022 FW -190 elevators hinged with internal linkages. Ailerons hinged and starting to connect scale control linkage. Servo tester hooked up to check movement and all is good. Gun hood hinged and flips back against canopy frame like full size. Cowl fixing in place ... Starting to hook stuff up to keep things moving ahead. See more

01.01.2022 Wings are done and removed from the molds. Very happy and first impressions are they are lighter than the first set due to replacing some of the 4mm plywood with 3mm.

01.01.2022 More progress with the FW -190 canopy frame. Mold completed and first part made. Its a bit rough around the edges with a little damage but suits the overall look. Clear canopy is just sitting in place.