forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: hrcoleman66 on February 16, 2022, 07:21:34 PM
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I've always loved the BE2c. Who hasn't?
I have references coming out of my ears!
I thought It was time to join in this Scratch building lark and I couldn't think of any subject I'd rather tackle.
So the planning begins.
Step one is to reproduce all references I have to 1/24 scale.
Step two is to work out how the hell I'm going to construct it... Materials and such like.
I'm thinking that at this scale, I can almost get away with timber for the fuselage framing. But I think the Wings will and up being solid Styrene, or at least Styrene sheet with a Balsa or other wood core.
Various details are going to be either fabricated from brass sheet and tube, or styrene or Resin 3D printed.
I've started experiments along the 3D print line wit hthe main fuel tank.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51885181319_c77f4e2a0c_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51885510110_052815e5b7_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51883892727_abd8261aed_k.jpg)
More soon (I'm busy drawing up the Gravity Fuel Tank at the moment).
Cheers,
Hugh
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I think I have something already done in 3D that could be useful for your project, if you plan to build an early BE2c. Please check this:
https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2 (https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2)
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I think I have something already done in 3D that could be useful for your project, if you plan to build an early BE2c. Please check this:
https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2 (https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2)
Oh my god! Would you be prepared to share the files? I’d even be prepared to purchase them! Your time and effort are worth payment!
Cheers,
Hugh
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I think I have something already done in 3D that could be useful for your project, if you plan to build an early BE2c. Please check this:
https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2 (https://flic.kr/ps/3Y7oK2)
Oh my god! Would you be prepared to share the files? I’d even be prepared to purchase them! Your time and effort are worth payment!
Cheers,
Hugh
Of course, just PM me with your email address and I will send them to you for free. I made two sets, one for 1/32 that can be scaled to 1/24 and another one more detailed for the 1/8 version I plan to build. The smaller version have thicker (and less) cooling fins, otherwise it would be unprintable.
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What a fantastic project, consider me subscribed and patiently awaiting further updates. A BE in 1/24 should make for an impressive model with scope for lots of detail, which I think you're covering well already!
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Welcome to the scratch builders section: you will find the project easier than you might imagine!
It would seem that the BE 2 series has at last got the recognition that it deserves on the forum - even if all three projects are scratch builds.
I for one will be following along.
Stephen.
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Welcome to the scratch builders section: you will find the project easier than you might imagine!
It would seem that the BE 2 series has at last got the recognition that it deserves on the forum - even if all three projects are scratch builds.
I for one will be following along.
Stephen.
I predict that in a few months we will see a few 1/32 BE2c's being built from the upcoming Lukgraph kit. ;)
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Tagging along on this one :)
Alexis
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So, I've been doing trial prints of Beto's files.
Complete success with the Block, sump and Magneto, but still working on successfuly printing the Cylinders. I did get them to print 99% complete this morning, but one of the induction ports failed due to the support not attaching correctly. Clean up is also a PITA. The Cylinder parts are very fragile. And keeping them in one piece while getting rid of all the print supports is a real bear! I think I will end up printing the cylinders a few times just so I have some pares in case of breakages.
Beto's files are VERY detailed! Lots of fine detail which means that the files need to be very carefully orientated to ensure that the details are preserved.
I'm learning a LOT about 3D resin printing!!!
Magneto.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51894869584_97e9b82c3d_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51893574577_083a641a97_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51894869399_6a3a10f421_k.jpg)
The flywheel. In the back ground you can see my first failed print of the cylinders.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51894869289_1c55cde5a7_k.jpg)
The Sump.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51893574302_2e86c4e926_k.jpg)
Crank Case.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51894869174_c1dcdff82d_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51894534451_252d0eb34f_k.jpg)
Cheers,
Hugh
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Those parts look most impressive. It looks as though your project may move a little more quickly than originally anticipated.
Stephen.
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A very, very promising start Hugh!
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Thanks to everyone joining in.
I've been trying to get the cylinders to print successfully, and completely over thinking it!
A few failed prints early in the piece have had me adding supports everywhere to try to ensure a decent result... and The supports have just been getting in the way of this part.
Beto lined up the two banks of cylinders facing each other and designed to print straight on the build plate. He says he didn't use ANY supports so I tried directly on the build plate with only a light support for each induction port. I also printed three sets of all eight cylinders so that if there was a problem with any of them, I'd be sure to get eight good ones... That was the plan anyway.
And here is the result. There is some warping of the tie rods, but I think that might be from my over zealous clean up with the old Isopropyl Alcohol spray bottle...
They have settled somewhat over time.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51898834301_5f6e4b8a3e_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51898834206_6a8f489f81_k.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51898845261_d0c7c1192b_k.jpg)
Beto certailnly knew what he was doing when he drew these up!
Cheers,
Hugh
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Glad you printed them successfully!! - Meanwhile I'm struggling with my 1/8 scale version... where the cooling fins are not simplified (I modeled half of the fins at double thickness for the 1/32 and 1/24 versions) and I had to model a lot of supports, but they are located inside the valleys between the cooling fins, so they will be easy to remove with a thin resin saw.
A final note for all 3D modelers/printers: It's much better to add the supports when making your model rather than letting Chitubox or the slicing software of your choice do his own thing. I use Chitubox strictly for slicing, not for adding supports.
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They look great Hugh, good save!
Meanwhile I'm struggling with my 1/8 scale version...
As I type this the radio is playing an Iron Maiden song entitled "Can I Play With Madness?" ;D
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Those engine cylinders look super. Amazing how such small details can be achieved!
Stephen.
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Wow !
Alexis
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3d printing certainly adds another dimension to scratch building. I wish I had the patience and time to learn and execute it. The possibilities are obviously unlimited and the result as you show us here, are incredibly detailed.
You are certainly raising the bar Hugh, and this can only turn into a fabulous BE2c!
Willem
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Greetings all.
This is still on my mind and in the planning phase. It stalled because the weather got too cold and my Resin printer didn't want to play.
Recently went to my storage unit and pulled it apart searching for my reference drawings and the package of drawings for the engine which I could have sworn were for the RAF1a, but it turns out they were for the Renault 70hp (The same engine Beto modeled in 1/8 and 1/32 scale). Not sure I want to go and redo all of his good work, given the awesome detail he has managed to replicate in his solid models. And they print up just fine. Trouble is, I;m now wondering whether I want to do this in 1/16 rather than in 1/24? Or is that really too much of a space hog?
Cheers,
Hugh
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Both, maybe?
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Both, maybe?
Do the 1/24 with solid cored flying surfaces and the 1/16 as open frame work? I like the sound of that.
Cheers,
Hugh
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The larger you plan to build it, the more detail you'll want to replicate. And then you find needing to upscale it to fit all the detail you want... and then comes the endless search for blueprints of every single piece of the airframe. Finally you settle for 1/8th scale, redraw lots of plans... until you find you NEED to go to the National Archives in London just to dig into the contents of a mysterious box called "Avia14", where the original plans of the B.E.2 series is stored. That's the point where I am now, after finishing a pretty beautiful Renault engine that now resides in a small showcase waiting for a model to be built around it.
Sometimes I imagine myself arriving to the National Archives in a way that resembles the warehouse in Raiders of the Lost Ark, opening the "Avia14" box and finding it empty, just with a note that reads: "Greetings from Sir P.J." ;D
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Hello Hugh,
Great project, and I am following with interest.
I don't remember who shared them with me, but I have 44 (high resolution photographs of) factory drawings of the Be2a and 6 of the Be2c.
Please PM me if you are interested.
Willem
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The larger you plan to build it, the more detail you'll want to replicate. And then you find needing to upscale it to fit all the detail you want... and then comes the endless search for blueprints of every single piece of the airframe. Finally you settle for 1/8th scale, redraw lots of plans... until you find you NEED to go to the National Archives in London just to dig into the contents of a mysterious box called "Avia14", where the original plans of the B.E.2 series is stored. That's the point where I am now, after finishing a pretty beautiful Renault engine that now resides in a small showcase waiting for a model to be built around it.
Sometimes I imagine myself arriving to the National Archives in a way that resembles the warehouse in Raiders of the Lost Ark, opening the "Avia14" box and finding it empty, just with a note that reads: "Greetings from Sir P.J." ;D
That's a really good point Beto and one that has crossed my mind. I have a huge roll of drawings that I purchased about... 15 years ago with AVIA14 printed all over them. So I suspect I have the detail drawings you're referring to. The package of drawings I have for the Engine is also the same reference you used for your sensational files. I'v been using my lunch breaks to start the same in Solidworks. In one complete assembly though. And in some areas not as detailed as your files are. But it gives my mind exercise in what is otherwise a very tedious work day. I;m also trying to teach my self FreeCad, so I can work on all the details while I watch tely in the evenings, but it's so different to Solid Works, I have to say, I'm struggling.
Not sure at my time of life I can be bothered with the detail required to satisfactorily complete a 1/16 scale model, let alone a 1/8.
So I guess I'll start with the 1/24 build, see if I'm able to finish it before I'm too old/infirm/blind to do so and then decide whether I want to embark on the 1/16 version.
I'd really like to see photos of your finished 1/8 engine by the way.
And, although I suspect it might be a breach of IP on the part of the vendor I purchased the package of drawings from, I'm more than happy to wander over to the local print shop and get them scanned... For limited sharing with my friends. Or does the IP rest with the National Archives? In which case, I guess they are in the public domain?
And in other news, this morning I picked up a second hand Anycubic Mono 4K. The files I printed at the start of this thread were done on a three year old 2K Mono. I know, You can get affordable 8 and 10K machines now, but well...
Cheers,
Hugh
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Hello Hugh,
Great project, and I am following with interest.
I don't remember who shared them with me, but I have 44 (high resolution photographs of) factory drawings of the Be2a and 6 of the Be2c.
Please PM me if you are interested.
Willem
Do they have AVIA14 emblazoned on them? If So, I think they might be scans of the drawings Beto and I have.
Cheers,
Hugh
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Yes, they have in the right hand lower corner.
So I think you guys are alright there :)