- Apr 5, 2013
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#3 was always one of my favorites. Lots of detailing on this model. Nice! 
Thunderbird 3
- Thread starter Sky Seeker
- Start date
Thanks Z!#3 was always one of my favorites. Lots of detailing on this model. Nice!
Obviously more to do. The dicey part of joining the nose cone and the other sections of the model together are coming up. Fingers crossed.Sky Seeker
Joining the nose cone to the upper intermediate section
Glue applied to the periphery around the opening around the vertical tabs. Glue also applied to the tabs. Once positioned, the tabs are pressed into the inner side walls of the nose cone. This is done to reinforce the connection with the upper intermediate portion and the nose cone. This makes the connection MUCH stronger.
Note - overgluing done on the base of the nose cone to further reinforce and join to the two portions together.
Nose cone joined!
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
Glue applied to the periphery around the opening around the vertical tabs. Glue also applied to the tabs. Once positioned, the tabs are pressed into the inner side walls of the nose cone. This is done to reinforce the connection with the upper intermediate portion and the nose cone. This makes the connection MUCH stronger.
Note - overgluing done on the base of the nose cone to further reinforce and join to the two portions together.
Nose cone joined!
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
Thanks Rhaven! There will be future pics on the addition of a silver ring on top of the ring area to smooth everything out.
I built Thunderbirds 1-5, plus some of the pod vehicles. Sadly the pictures have been lost (with the tapatalk debacle). I'll take some new ones and update my build thread
I (re)started my Thunderbirds project (previous attempt got destroyed)
Here is TB1 - Hiro's design and quite a nice straight forward build. (did it in a day)
All the models (as far as I know anyway) are from the original "supermarionation" TV series, not the crappy 2004 movie or more recent "Thunderbirds are Go!" reboot.
Here is TB1 - Hiro's design and quite a nice straight forward build. (did it in a day
)All the models (as far as I know anyway) are from the original "supermarionation" TV series, not the crappy 2004 movie or more recent "Thunderbirds are Go!" reboot.
Cybergrinder,I built Thunderbirds 1-5, plus some of the pod vehicles. Sadly the pictures have been lost (with the tapatalk debacle). I'll take some new ones and update my build thread
I (re)started my Thunderbirds project (previous attempt got destroyed)
Here is TB1 - Hiro's design and quite a nice straight forward build. (did it in a day
All the models (as far as I know anyway) are from the original "supermarionation" TV series, not the crappy 2004 movie or more recent "Thunderbirds are Go!" reboot.
It's great hearing from you!
Been a while! How's everything going in SA? Just took a look at your old thread and a lot of the older pics seem to be gone.
It's good to know that you'll upload them again sometime. Looking forward to seeing your pics of Thunderbird 3.Have a good one!
Sky Seeker
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Thanks Skyseeker. Life got a bit crazy, but getting back to normal now. I've updated my thread, most of the build picks lost though 
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Did you have a personal archive of your original photos?Thanks Skyseeker. Life got a bit crazy, but getting back to normal now. I've updated my thread, most of the build picks lost though
Mid section Ring redo
As you can see in the earlier pic that the top of the ring is pretty messed up so I decided to add another new cut out ring to make things smoother.
The pic below shows everything attached. It might look white it's not. It's just REALLY shiny when the flash hits the ring.
That's it for the ring.
Sky Seeker
As you can see in the earlier pic that the top of the ring is pretty messed up so I decided to add another new cut out ring to make things smoother.
The pic below shows everything attached. It might look white it's not. It's just REALLY shiny when the flash hits the ring.
That's it for the ring.
Sky Seeker
Final stage - bottom section
Side connectors - before assembly
Side connectors - before assembly
Upper and lower tabs joined to final stage
Make sure to cut out slots and then pre-fit side connector portions
Connector sections pre-fitted to the main body of the final stage
Connector sections glued to the main body - with joined section overglued for additional strength over folded tab portions
Connector sections glued to the main body - with joined section overglued for additional strength over folded tab portions
Glued Tabs dried
Now if you noticed only two sections were showed - the third connector section was a bit tricky - so here's the solution:
Cut the tab only part way to allow the third connector portion to be slid in (normally we cut the tabs off - do NOT do that in this case)
Side view - tab opened to receive the 3rd side connector - front view
Side view - tab opened to receive the 3rd side connector - back view
3rd side connector - slid in
3rd side connector - Slid in and glued in place
That's it for now.
Sky Seeker
Side connectors - before assembly
Side connectors - before assembly
Upper and lower tabs joined to final stage
Make sure to cut out slots and then pre-fit side connector portions
Connector sections pre-fitted to the main body of the final stage
Connector sections glued to the main body - with joined section overglued for additional strength over folded tab portions
Connector sections glued to the main body - with joined section overglued for additional strength over folded tab portions
Glued Tabs dried
Now if you noticed only two sections were showed - the third connector section was a bit tricky - so here's the solution:
Cut the tab only part way to allow the third connector portion to be slid in (normally we cut the tabs off - do NOT do that in this case)
Side view - tab opened to receive the 3rd side connector - front view
Side view - tab opened to receive the 3rd side connector - back view
3rd side connector - slid in
3rd side connector - Slid in and glued in place
That's it for now.
Sky Seeker
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Final stage - main body - ends joined together - then overglued to reinforce.
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
Engine nacelles - templates - I'm only showing the assembly of one of the three nacelles the rest are the same in assembly
Engine nacelles - templates - highlighted and colored
Engine nacelles - tabs attached
Engine nacelles - ends attached - note that the sections are lined up in order to be attached from left to right
Engine nacelles - first and second sections joined
Engine nacelles - third section joined to first and second sections
Engine nacelles - fourth section joined to first, second, and third sections
Engine nacelles - end piece joined to nacelle to cap one end
All three nacelles assembled - leaving the tops off for now to enable access to the interior for any additional gluing
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
Engine nacelles - templates - highlighted and colored
Engine nacelles - tabs attached
Engine nacelles - ends attached - note that the sections are lined up in order to be attached from left to right
Engine nacelles - first and second sections joined
Engine nacelles - third section joined to first and second sections
Engine nacelles - fourth section joined to first, second, and third sections
Engine nacelles - end piece joined to nacelle to cap one end
All three nacelles assembled - leaving the tops off for now to enable access to the interior for any additional gluing
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
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Assembly of the engine nacelles to the final stage - bottom section
1st nacelle attached - make sure to pre-fit the nacelle to the connector to make sure that everything fits together then glue
2nd nacelle attached
3rd nacelle attached
Once the nacelles are attached overglue the nacelles to the connectors to reinforce the nacelle connection - it might look messy - but it works!
The nacelles all are glued together and dried. Top end caps are added. Please note that if you overglue any internal gluing is redundant and really not needed.
Top view - please note that any white areas were colored with pencil to reduce glare.
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
1st nacelle attached - make sure to pre-fit the nacelle to the connector to make sure that everything fits together then glue
2nd nacelle attached
3rd nacelle attached
Once the nacelles are attached overglue the nacelles to the connectors to reinforce the nacelle connection - it might look messy - but it works!
The nacelles all are glued together and dried. Top end caps are added. Please note that if you overglue any internal gluing is redundant and really not needed.
Top view - please note that any white areas were colored with pencil to reduce glare.
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
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Bottom End Plate Cover - template
Bottom End Plate Cover - template - arrangement - pre-assembly - this is roughly how they should be assembled
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - remove the tabs and then re-glue them so that the pieces form together tight edges
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - pieces assembled minus the last piece
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - All pieces assembled - the gap in the center was to be covered by the black circle. However, I lost it somehow and had to improvise.
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - Overglue joints for a more secure assembly
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - Overglue areas dried - Note center section is covered so the black circle is not necessary anymore.
Bottom End Plate Cover - Top of the cover is colored in silver to match portions of the nacelles. To make sure that the plate is adequately colored, just hold the plate up to the light and see how many gaps you have. Add more glue and color as needed until you can't see any light pass through on the bottom.
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker
Bottom End Plate Cover - template - arrangement - pre-assembly - this is roughly how they should be assembled
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - remove the tabs and then re-glue them so that the pieces form together tight edges
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - pieces assembled minus the last piece
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - All pieces assembled - the gap in the center was to be covered by the black circle. However, I lost it somehow and had to improvise.
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - Overglue joints for a more secure assembly
Bottom End Plate Cover - assembly - Overglue areas dried - Note center section is covered so the black circle is not necessary anymore.
Bottom End Plate Cover - Top of the cover is colored in silver to match portions of the nacelles. To make sure that the plate is adequately colored, just hold the plate up to the light and see how many gaps you have. Add more glue and color as needed until you can't see any light pass through on the bottom.
That's it for now!
Sky Seeker