Agustin Gomez has just started cockpit section!!  

1/32 Scratch-build RAF Tucano

by Agustin Gomez

The Tucano T1 is a modified version of the Brazilian Embraer EMB-312 Tucano aircraft, and is built under licence by Shorts of Belfast. The Tucano is operated primarily from No 1 Flying Training School, at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, to provide basic fastjet flying training to RAF and RN student pilots, and basic WSO training to all potential RAF WSOs. Student pilots fly around 130 hours during their training course on the Tucano before progressing to the Hawk T1 aircraft at RAF Valley. The aircraft is powered by an 1150shp Garrett Turboprop engine, has a maximum speed of 300kts (345mph) and can maintain 270kts (310mph) at low level. It can operate at up to 30,000 feet and has an initial climb rate of 4000 feet per minute. The Tucano replaced the Jet Provost in RAF service and its two-seat tandem cockpit makes it an ideal lead-in to the Hawk, which is flown at the next stage of training. The turboprop Tucano was chosen to replace the RAF’s Jet Provosts because of its greater fuel efficiency and lower operating costs.

The aircraft handling is similar to that of a jet aircraft and it is fully aerobatic, thus providing an excellent workhorse for training fast-jet pilots in all aspects of military flying. It is used to develop students in a full range of skills, including general aircraft handling, formation flying and low-level navigation and, due to its comprehensive avionics and ice-protection packages, it can be flown in all types of weather, by day and by night. The Tucano’s all-weather flying capability, plus its excellent endurance, allows a great measure of flexibility in the training role. Should weather conditions be poor at their home base, crews operating from RAF Linton-on- Ouse can fly low-level sorties to locations as far away as Wales or the north of Scotland. The Tucano has recently undergone a wing and fuselage strengthening programme to overcome aircraft stress problems and will remain as the RAF’s primary fast-jet basic flying-training aircraft until later in the decade.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/tucano.cfm

I decided to divide the fuselage into 2 halves (right and left) and each one of them into 3 sections, front, center and rear.

First I cut the side view, attached some ribs and the space between them with balsa wood and automotive putty.

In the rear part, as you can see I had the first problem. The putty, after drying bended the plastic sheet so I had to remake that part in a separate one.

This part was made almost the same way as the other fuselage parts, divided into left and right. The only difference was that I had to leave it hollow for building the interior. This was made using a thin balsa wood instead of a block.

The same as the other part a lot of sanding and again putty, sanding an putty……

You can see in the side view, I left the “canopy” just attached by very little parts so afterwards I am going to use it as a guide for building the canopy mold.

For building the canopy I started by removing the plastic guide I had left inside the cockpit, it was attached by leaving small pieces of plastic. This part was going to help me with the shape.

So the same as with the fuselage I put some balsa wood and over it putty, all that sanded into shape using the center as a guide.

With the mold ready I vacuformed with transparent plastic. Also I made a white canopy (with white 0,3mm styrene) for making the exterior frame, and the interior frame again with putty, unfortunately I didn´t take pictures of this process.

After finishing with that I made the detonation cord, in the front with styrene, but it was very difficult in the back side (because of the shape) so I decided to continue with copper wire.

This Part was made just with different plastic pieces.  First of all I had to separate the fuselage, because that way was easier to work inside.

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to be continued ...