Fokker F.VIIb/3m "Southern Cross", „1985"

Nacelles: oversized attachment notches for the struts filled. Engine of the kit is too small (14mm, should be approx. 16 mm) and a bit simple🙂. Will be replaced. Because they are no a Wright J5 (R-790) in 1:72 I had to scratch them. Small Stuff is a excellent base.  

The fit of the three upper wing parts is excellent for a kit released in 1966…. In this year I learned to walk🙂 

Wing assembled from 5 parts. In the original the wing was covered with plywood and has no true recessed “panel lines”. The “lines” between the plywood sheets were sealed and were more raised than recessed.  

Restoring of raised “panel lines” works well by using new, sharp scalpel. After producing a “flat cut” you have to sand them carefully with flexible 1000 sanding stick. You can see that there are no noticeable differences between original and restored raised panel lines.  

Lower position of the linkage is visible on several original pictures but you can’t see where the linkage leaves the wing on upper side on any picture. Because of that you need to think about the construction.  

 

Inspections panel in the leading edge for the linkage. Here both linkage were “umgelenkt”. 

After intensive research I can resume that this is the correct configuration for the record plane: fuselage and nacelles in middle blue, wing and damper (landing gear) in alu dope, short exhaust stacks, covered wheels in alu dope, 3 x 2 blade prop, plane name and reg number in bold letters.  

Clear parts for windows are very useable. Because the rear sides have a slight “lens effect” I sanded them with 2000, 1000 Tamiya sanding paper and finished with “fresh unused” paper sheet (abrasive effect compared to fine 8000/10000 grit sanding paper). 

Frogs kit has a great advantage because it’s designed directly as THE Southern Cross airplane and not as a typical Fokker VII/3m. So it’s not necessary to fill windows, dors or open areas in the fuselage.  

Unfortunately I overlooked that the clear parts are to narrow. It’s easier to made a new clear stripe than modify the opening in the fuselage.  

Engraved panellines instead of raised. Stars removed, oversized holes for the struts filled.  

The original has welded tube structure covered with fabric. The windows framing was made of rectangular wood profiles.  

 

 

The most important question is: how much can you see of the interior through the small windows? I suppose a bit more than nothing!🙂 

The oval “thing“ is the auxiliary fuel tank. You can see a navigation table with several instruments.  

I left the side walls of the tank because they are invisible through the windows. The front is more than enough. I suppose the rectangular panel in the middle is the fuel gage.  

Fortunately there is a great picture that shows the rack with the three radio transceivers.  

Fuel distribution panel with valves: not 100% correct but very “complicated & important” 🙂 

Gizmology (by Sheperd Paine)🙂 the older modeler among us will remember this modeling legend…  

Cockpit floor should be higher. Control column scratched of different materials should be installed nearly the seats.  

 

I’m not sure if the instrument panel will be visible but “safe is safe” (sicher ist sicher)🙂 

Tubular frame made of steel tubes and mahogany profiles for the windows framing.  

Probably the wall between Cockpit an cabin was made of wood. 

Hard to say which color should be have the cabin floor... 

Attachment points for the struts.  

Reinforcing panels sanded thinner. Oversized mounting hole filled.  

3 of 7 struts per side in place. For better strength I used brass tube for the main strut. 

 

 

4 more struts per side: 7 total per side = completed.  

 

 

How to solder two small wire peaces together?  

For both parts consisting 2x2 wires I used only two parts wire and separated the useable parts AFTER soldering.  

 

As a reminder the picture 39 repeat. Soldered connection point after separation” 

 

Pattern for cutting airbrushing mask. Which size is correct?  

Airbrushing works perfectly  

 

Attachment points for the struts in the fuselage corrected (very aft and not approx. 12 mm from the end).  

Several details on the upper side. I could determine the function only of one of them (the largest round part is the base of the moveable round (dipol) antenna. 

Thinn PVC instead the kit part.  

Masked. For comparison “armored glass” element of the kit.  

I used the kit blades and combined them with a scratch made prop hub.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Windscreen made of three separate pieces of thin (0,14 mm) clear material.  

 

Clearly the most difficult task of this modeling project. For the framing I used painted decal stripes.  

 

Struts in place. Every has worked as hoped/expected🙂 

 

 

Control cables made of thin polyamid thread.  

Wind generator for supplying the radio equipment.  

 

Position light: plastic rod, wire and colored 2K epoxy.  

Control cable made of 0,135 flex rubber rigging material.  

The best detailed engine I’v seen. More detailed than the most radials in 1:48.  

Finally all three Whirlwinds are completed.  

 

 

 

Engines painted and ready for installation.  

 

 

Today it was a very good day also for modeling… and finishing the Southern Cross. “Fitting” to the start of the transpacific flight nearly 100 !!! years ago.  

For now a few quick pictures taken with my smartphone.  

 

It was a big fun to imitate one of the known original pictures. 🙂