Crusader AG-4

Roland Sachsenhofer
These pictures mark the beginning of a construction report which, for once, deals with a really interesting aircraft! 🙂 Considering that the finished aircraft is painted in a reflective copper colour, this can be considered unusual.
The kit from Avis must of course be handled with attention and a certain amount of experience, but so far it builds wonderfully. I am curious to see whether this positive impression will continue with the further construction steps.

Cuajete
Roland, it looks like a horrible plane to me because it reminds me of a tick, but in your hands the tick will turn into a swan and maybe then I will see it with different eyes. As you say, it is an unusual model, so it will be worth seeing for that too.
Following! 🙂

Lochsa River
checking out progress...this is in the stash...looking forward to your magic...

Guy Rump
Looking good. 👍

Robert Podkoński
I am not sure, Roland, but I hope you've not made the same mistake as me with this model - the booms and empennage should go quite high since the tailwheel leg is quite short (as far as I remember the horizontal empennage should be level with the upper line of the side windows). Take a look at my review here if you wish: scalemates.com/press/issue.php?id=4097

Ben M
Watching… I have this kit in the stash.

Gerald
👍

Hans-Jürgen Haag
👍 i like this flying Bus 🚌

Roland Sachsenhofer
Hi mates! I am very pleased with the amount and quality of your feedback. I appreciate your interest, but also the really useful tips!
Robert, your tip really triggered me.
I immediately assembled the remaining parts to a whole to check whether the height of the tail boom would also work out ground free - and, relief, the tail fins are appropriately far above the ground!
I modified the small tail wheel a bit to increase stability. A piece of wire now connects the tail wheel to the fuselage; a result that I also consider a visual improvement. As soon as I have taken a photo of it today, I will show it to you.

Robert Podkoński
I am happy to hear that, Roland (and not much surprised, taking into consideration your skils and experience). I had to lenghten the rear wheel leg quite considerably:
From my archive | Album by podkon (No) (photo #33)

Finn
Cool thing, looking forward

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you! But my skill and experience didn't save me from totally overlooking this issue until you pointed it out to me. 🙂
Extending the landing gear leg would probably have been my solution too- great reaction Robert!

Roland Sachsenhofer
I show you here a few pictures of the Crusader standing on its own wheels. Robert's hint inspired me to check whether the rear end would be high enough above the ground - yes, it works - lucky! When building a future Crusader you really have to pay attention to this.
You can see the tail wheel mounted on a metal rod, which was glued into a hole on the fuselage.
Next step: primer for the metal colours!

Robert Podkoński
Thank you, Roland 🙂 Good work!

Ben M
Have you seen the video of this plane on YouTube?

I got the kit because the real plane was built in Denver where I live.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you Robert and Ben. The video is great; always a real treat to see the objects of our modelling desire live, in motion and shaking from the power of their engines! The video has enriched my imagination of the AG-1 Crusader, thank you!

Roland Sachsenhofer
The Crusader is about to be rolled out, although the new photos still show a lot of room for improvement. I scratched the six rudder balance weights myself: if they are included in the kit at all, ide parts are not usable. For this purpose, flat "tension wire" from the biplane section was anchored to the rudder with a drill hole, onto which the arodynamic weight was modelled at the end with white glue. The pitot tube at the nose was also made with wire.

Michael Kohl
I am not in on this build? Well, this has to change immediately! 🙂
Thanks for explaining your technique of modelling the counter balance weights, as would have asked you otherwise. I lost mine of the Vampire I built and my attempts to fashion the drop shape proved futile so far. I will try your technique next.
Keep up the good work.

Cuajete
Very nice painting job, Roland 👍
How did you manage to shape the counterweights? I have tried it with white glue, but I never managed to get that accurate shape.

Ben M
The copper color looks great!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you mates for the answers! Let me tell you briefly what I think is good about creating these streamlined shapes with white glue or some more liquid putties: the surface tension forms a more or less spherical shape of the drop by itself, which you apply with a toothpick tip or something similar. That is the first step. With additional white glue that has already dried a little, you can then pull the back part away a little more pointedly. You can do the same at the front end if you want a longer shape, making sure that the material is more fluid: here again the surface tension pulls the material more round onto the central spherical shape.
Well, that's the theory! In practice, only every fifth attempt worked the same way, for the other four attempts there is another advantage of this method: you can correct it at any time and start again from the beginning! 🙂

I show you the two propellers of the Crusader: after the plastic parts of the shaft and propeller blade were cast very blurred and much too soft, I sanded the propeller blades into shape and put a wire through a central hole. At least it looks better now and will attach well.

The Crusader might be finished today, then I might be able to take some quick pictures today.

Villiers de Vos
A very unusual subject. Very nice progress.

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you Villieres!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Now it's done: the AG-4 Crusader can celebrate its roll-out! A lot of scratching was done here on a small scale, which has enriched the modelling experience. A true truism I can say: small models on a small scale are quite a challenge in terms of effort! 🙂 I hope you like the result, I really enjoyed it. Thank you for your interest and your helpful comments!

Bernd Grün
Awesome result, Roland! Congratulation! 👌

Guy Rump
Great result Roland. 👍

Moreno Baruffini
Really a little gem! Bravo!!!!

Neuling
A little gem in nice presentation!

Michael Kohl
nice and clean

Villiers de Vos
Very nice work.

David Culp
What a beautiful and rare build. I love odd airplanes.

Lochsa River
Really nice! What an eyecatcher

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you all very much for your motivating comments! The project was really fun and a welcome change!

Curatorm
That's a smart build! Good choice and well done!

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you very much for these kind words, mate
- and thank you all for the huge amount of "Likes" to this!

bughunter
Funny egg plane - an egg with wings 😉 Well built and painted 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you, your words are very appreciated!

Cuajete
And indeed, the tick turned into a beautiful swan. I love the finish, Roland.
A perfect job that is making me think about buying one of these 🤔
Congrats!

Łukasz Gliński
Outstanding job Roland and that colour! 😄

Ricardo Reis
Different and very nice! 👍

Roland Sachsenhofer
Thank you mates! I am very happy and honored that you like the AG-4 Crusader!
This will not be the last "Avis" project.