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hi mates

I am looking for pictures of Cheetah C front wheel well , it's a complex area , and I would like to add a maximum of stuffs ....thank you for reading
snoop

Hi Snoop

Short of getting photos of the C's wheel well consider also looking for Kfir well photo's (which also seem to be in short supply).

Here is the Aires wheel well set for the Kfir that might help.

http://www.aires.cz/en/product/iai-kfir-c2-c7-wheel-bay/19-3530/#lightbox/0/

Also PM Geoff/ AT6C directly he may be able to get a few photo's of Spotty for you, I think the gear doors are open.

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hi Mars
thank you for your input, I also thought about the Aires set , but I am " afraid" that it's only a recast of the original kit part , but I don't " close " this option , now about the Kfir gear bay : well I think ( according to the single bad picture I get ) that the Cheetah bay is more complex , and "busy " ,more "pipes " running along the side wall .. so , still looking for more info ...thanks again
Snoop

you advise me to contact Geoff / AT6C ..I will !!!!

Snoop, which kit are you converting?

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I am working on the Italieri Mirage III E 1/32 , several stuffs have been already done ,but, I haven't cut the fuselage yet , the trickiest part of the build ..does it ?
you advised me to contact Geoff /AT6C !!?? , well I didn't find him , does he attend the forum ??????????
Snoop

Hi Snoop

AT6C is very active on the forum my well respond on this thread. he last posted on the Canberra thread http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10392

I have often thought the Italeri kit would be a good kit to convert.

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hi Mars
thank you mate , I sent him a PM , hope he will be on line
Snoop

No problem, post pics!

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I will , for now I "reworked" some stuffs , namely : the tail fin ; wings ( tooth dog ) main wheel well , doors bay , landing legs , IP , engraving new panels on the fuselage . all of this took time , I only started the build a month ago . now , I will care the cockpit tube .. I will post a thread..... IF .. the build turns nice ...
Snoop

Snoop, please make sure that you are aware of the Cheetah C pilot seat / nosewheel configuration.

The Cheetah C is the only aircraft of the Mirage / Kfir/ Cheetah variants where the the pilot seat is NOT above the nosewhee of the aircraft.
The pilot seat was moved forward of the nosewheel and should you be building a Cheetah C from a Mirage 111E kit you will need to lengthen the fuselage with a plug from behind the cockpit to a position in front of the wheel bay.

If I can recall correctly the plug was 50cm.

Geoff

hi Geoff
I know that I have to cut the fuselage , and add a "plug" just behind the cockpit , this is the trickiest part of the build , a bit "scary "... if I can say . the fuselage has been stretched of 60 cm ( 19 mm on the 1/32 scale) , and the nose wheel remains in the same position
Snoop

Its not too bad, just work accurately. once you have tacked the cockpit in place the you have integrate the plug into the structure of the model, it has to support the weight of the nose section and could be a weak point. My suggestion would be extend the plug backwards into the fuselage.

When I built my 1:48 Cheetah C I used a superwood core for the plug that rested on the noes wheel well, once I was happy with the measurements I strengthened the the plug section as much as possible. Then cosmetically added layers over the core using automotive body filler.

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hi
that's something to consider , noticed !! .. thanks
Snoop

Snoop, the best way that I found to do the plug was as I can remember when I built "Spotty" was;

Make a vertical cut just behind the cockpit, then extend the cut at a 45 deg slant to just in front of the nosewheel and then cut vertically down.

I used polystryrene plastic strips to strengthen the sides of the fuselage where I had cut and extended the fuselage.
Then I built up the gap between the strips and the fuselage surface with pieces of styrene and filled in with Green Stuff, sanded down after filling in the gaps.

That was 25 years ago!

I will only get access to the hangar next week where the Cheetah is displayed, I tried today but was un-successful.

Geoff