FineScale Modeler – October 2019

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Since the kit’s uncuffed prop isn’t correct for an FM-1, I modified it with
blades from Tamiya’s 1/48 scale Wildcat. First, I removed the blades with a
micro saw, as close to the hub as possible. Then, I secured the hub to a
shaft of 1⁄16-inch diameter brass tube with superglue.

I chucked the hub in my motor tool and turned it at low speed against

an emery board to smooth it evenly. A segment of heat-stretched

styrene tub was slipped over the hub to restore the correct diameter

and secured with liquid cement.

I glued the correctly configured blades to the
hub. Now I would be able to insert this
spinnable prop into the engine, make it turn
with help from a fan, and take in-flight photos.

The canopy sill on the right side wasn’t straight,

but because of the thickness, I could shunt the

part to the right to compensate and then sand

down excess with 400- to 2,000-grit sanding

sticks. (See sidebar for more canopy info.)

To correct the toy-like rolling wheels, I

sharpened the shaft of the unused wing

hinges and plugged each hole (left). Then, I

trimmed the shaft and blended it into the

wheel hub (right).

After cleaning up the wheels, I added styrene
strips to fill gaps under the wing at the wing-
root. I smoothed the join, leaving a round notch
for the wheels to fit. Now, I could add wheels
and doors and fill the gaps with superglue.

I assembled the outer wing panels and

clamped them to the center section along the

wing fold, ensuring that the trailing edges and

flap hinge were properly aligned. Then I

applied liquid cement generously to the joint.

I attached the stabilizers, and filled the drop tank

holes, wing fold joints, and adjacent sink marks

with superglue. I smoothed the seams and

restored the mismatched leading-edge shape at

the wing fold with emery boards and sandpaper.

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