Vosper Perkasa P150 1/32 Scale - Radio Control (R/C) Model (Build Log - Part 15)
This is the fifteenth entry in the build log and relates to Step 15: Final Assembly. This step covers the accurate fitting of the forward and aft superstructure along with any methods to retain these items securely. Aditionally an ‘On-Off’ switch plate is fabricated and fitted.
To fit the rear superstructure, the hull requires some minor preparation of the hull opening, this is to remove any nasty sharp edges that may cause injury and to ensure the two lugs on the rear superstructure fit accurately and allow the rear edge of the moulding to fit accurately agains the rear deck. On my example, one of the two plastic lugs had snapped off, so I removed the other and made two new ones from four peices of 3mm or 1/8″ marine ply. These new lugs, along with two more peices of 3mm or 1/8″ marine ply are added to act as guides at the underside of forward end of the rear superstructure. All new lugs and guides are fitted 7mm inboard of the side edges of the underside of the moulding, which now slides fore and aft in the hull opening accurately and easily yet is a firm push fit into the closed position.
Click images for a larger view.
To fit the forward superstructure, the hull requires some additional minor preparation of the hull. I used a 2mm drill bit as a router to carefully open up all the slots in the deck to allow the tabs on the superstructure to fit through. Once these slots were drilled, I used a needle file to true them all up. I also used the needle file on the forward tab of the moulding. At this stage I found it difficult to get all tabs of the moulding into the deck and to stay there. So I added a large wooden beam, profiled to fit the camber of the deck, under the deck at about the door positions. It was glued in with Stabilit Express, see below.
This beam holds the deck, (note the colour change on the RAL 6003 Dark Green / Humbrol Matt 30 using digital photography), at the correct shape and when used in conjunction with a steel hook glued firmly underneath the bridge and some short model aircraft wing retaining elastic bands, the arrangement acts as a very secure retaining system.
Now all I need to do to securely fix the forward superstructure is to follow the 4 steps below:
1 Hook the two rubber bands onto the wire hook.
2 Fit the forwardmost tab into the deck slot.
3 Wrap the two rubber bands around the beam and hook them on to the hook once more.
4 Fit all the remaing tabs into the remaining deck slots, one side at a time works best.
Finally the radio ‘On-Off’ switch plate is made from two more peices 3mm or 1/8″ marine ply, one part to hold the switch, the other to act as a stand off from the underside of the deck in order to allow the rear superstructure to freely slide back and forth over the switch. See image below.
