HS Buccaneer PSS Build (Part 3)

The 1/72 scale Airfix kit that I build in Part 1 and Part 2 provided me with a lot of information but did not include a much needed front view of the buccaneer. I had to revert back to a Google search to find a drawing that contained cross sections of the fuselage. With the aid of this drawing I then scaled the 13 formers to I/7^th scale that I required. Six of the Formers (where the jet engines are situated) were too big to print on a normal A4 (unless you tile them) printer and I had them plotted by my brother on his A2 plotter.

After cutting them out and pasting it on thin Formica I will cut and shape those to the outlines of the plotted formers to make up templates for my hot wire foam cutter. Up to yesterday I managed to do 5 of the smaller formers with the bigger 8 still to be done.  Once all the formers are done I will order the foam and proceed cutting it, building up the fuse in sections as per Formers 1 to 13.

This technique differs somewhat from the top view /side view approach and may require more work but I think that I will end up with a more accurate / symmetrical fuselage especially more so because of the complex curves of the buccaneer’s fuselage.

For now I am happy with progress and I am including some pictures of the build as up to this date.


I don’t know when I will make the next posting and therefore would like to this opportunity to whish all the BERG Blog readers a Merry Christmas and a happy new year (2011)-May all your landings be good ones.

There is a Buccaneer in my front garden (PSS build Part 2)

Over the last 3 evenings I managed to finish the Buccaneer 1/72 scale model and I must say that this project is now starting to draw me in. I do not think that building the plastic kit was a bad idea as I have learned  a lot and now getting more and more excited about the project.

I did not have any major problems with the build, as many reports pointed out, and found that my fuselage top and bottom lined up ok, however the right hand saddle where the wing would slot in had a 1 mm lip but I shaved this off and had no further problems with the fit after that.

My biggest problem was in and around the cockpit area, but somehow just carried on no matter what went wrong. The biggest setback I had was when the fuel nozzle disappeared after I had glued in position. I did not wait for the glue/paint to dry properly and carried on working and when I turned the model over knocked it off. Later on I realised that the nozzle was gone and started a massive search that lasted for at least a half-hour before it finely found it - stuck to my left outside forearm. The buccaneer won’t be Buccaneer without this all important feature and if I did not find would not know how to manufacture a small part like this, but in the end everything worked out I am happy with the result.

The only things that I have done extra were to make a stand to mount the Buccaneer on because I wanted to see how the Buccaneer would look like in full flight. Of the 144 pieces that came with the kit there must be about 60% or more left (fuel tank and bomb parts).

 I did not fit them on the wings as they would crowd the underside so much so that you would not see any part of the wing! Anyway I think it will take about the same time or more just to assemble and paint all the bombs that the Buccaneer could carry. I probably will assemble them, but for now I don’t want to lose the focus on the building the 1/7 scale PSS Buccaneer.

I don’t think that I will get much more done in terms of building this Des but I would like to get the plans drawn up so that I can start building in Jan 2011.

I posted some pictures that I found really inspiring to me as you can see with them you do not need to imagine how the Buccaneer would look like flying on Volksrust slope and I hope that you will enjoy as much as I did taking them.

Roll-on 2011!



Building the HS (Hawker Siddeley) Buccaneer S50 PSS Part 1

Well there you have it, a brave statement to make to start a build like this but this time round I decided not to rush this PSS project so rather that the 40 days build of the Aero Commander I have given myself at least 40 weeks or even more!

Not easy decision to make but I am sure it will be worth all the effort. So yesterday I bought an Airfix model Kit of the Buccaneer HS S50 1/72 scale (the same version that SAAF use to fly) and I was pleasantly surprised that kit included the SAAF livery and decals of the Air Force at the time (No 426), late 1960 to early 1990).

The main reason for acquiring the 1/72 kit was for the detail, 3 view drawings and other information that one can obtain from the kit, a luxury that I did not have at the time I build the Rockwell Aero Commander.

After studding the plastic kit and browsing the Internet it became clear to me that even the plastic kit itself was not an easy build! So I decided to build the kit even though that I am not a expert at building plastic model aircraft kit’s and so doing can get the feel for what I am letting myself into.

I have found at least one good build of this model so I will try and follow it closely and see how it works out.

The idea at this stage and similar to Aero Commander, is to scale the buccaneer to 1/7 of the original size making the scale wingspan just under 2 meter. I might also stretch wing somewhat as to improve the wing loading, although the 22 ounces per square foot of the Aero Commander work well I would not like to exceed this figure as a starting point.

Once again I will photograph and post the Build as I proceed with the work.

Here are some pictures to start with.

More Pictures of The Cesna 'Dragonfly'

GEMS PSS 2010 Event a major successes.

Paul Carnel’s winning entry with the Cesena ‘Dragonfly' does a close in fly-by on the Volksrust North slope.

The wind was howling on Saturday, so much in fact, it was very difficult to lift the bigger models into the wind and launch. In the video below, take note how the wings are bent downwards by the force of the wind until Norbert manages to get them up and flying just before the launch. Also note how the guys shirts are flapping in the wind!!

Evan  Launching Izak’s  Mig 7 for it’s Maiden flight.

Paul  receiving the winner’s trophy from Evan Shaw.

The 2010 GEMS PSS event over this weekend started on Saturday with excelent conditions for the entire day with a steady North westerly wind of +/- 30 kph and at times peaked as high as 40 kph. This proved to be Ideal conditions for Pauls ‘Dragonfly’ my Aero Commander and Norbit’s Jet. Sunday however, some low cloud set in and the wind changed direction to easterly. Despite this Norbet flew his 6 met SB10. Not exactly a PSS, but spectacular none the less!

There were not many slope gliders that didn't take to the air and everyone had a ball of a time. Thanks to a well run Event from the GEMS club. Here are just a few of the many pictures that we took over the weekend.

Evan Launching the Aero Commander

  Norbit’s Jet Fly By.

The War-birds squadron displaying how to do formation flying.

Paul’s "Splatfire" did not got shot down in a dogfight with some other war birds, it just promptly explode on a perfectly normal landing !

By Sunday the wind turned Easterly and most of the pilots had already stared the journey back, however we manage to take this group photo with the aid of 3 photographer’s  and if you're wandering  what Evan is doing on the ground take a look at the picture below.

I took my E-slope Mini Pulse with and it had no problem flying in the high wind conditions we had on Saturday, but unfortunately the way I mounted the wing proved to be the weak point, breaking away from the fuse on landing, (no major damage and it can be fixed in half-hour or so.) Flying out over the slope I never needed to run the motor as there was so much lift. However the one time I needed it was when I came to far back over the slope and go into some serious turbulence just behind the edge of the slope. I just open the motor for a burst and it shot forward back in to the smooth air within a few moments.

To all the Members of the GEMS club, thanks for a very relaxed and pleasant weekend.

Now to think of a PSS topic for next year’s event!.

Seems Izak was very upset the weekend came to an end!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Actually the ravages of flying in very windy conditions and facing the setting sun on Volksrust west facing slope)

Berg Picture of the Year (2010)

(Click on the picture to open it in a new window and then click on the picture again to make it bigger)


This picture collage was compiled consisting of 11 pictures all taken of the last 11 months of postings from the BERG blog.


Thanks to all of you that have contributed to this year’s postings.

(pictures and articles)

 I hope that next year’s postings on the BERG blog will be as rewarding.

Fireworks at BERG Nats

And this is the result of Juanita's now famous "flaming exit" speed run. The model was rather far away and rather low on the last leg of her speed run and "landed" on the HT wires across the road from the B.E.R.G. field.


There was a big spark with the model disintigrating immediately and before we knew it, the dry grass was alight. To make matters worse, there was a bee hive situated in the burning long grass making firefighting a tad difficult.

Here is Juanita with the only parts of her model salvaged:
the towhook and canopy!