forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Mike Norris (UK) on November 12, 2024, 01:37:47 AM
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Hi all,
As my build of the Airco DH.2 is drawing to a close, I thought I'd start planning on a future build.
The model is 1/32nd scale and 3D printed from Bjorn Carlson of 'Flying Bear' in Sweden.
Bjorn has concentrated his research and models on the 'Thulin' types designed by Enoch Thulin, of 'AB Thulinverken'.
The 'Flying Bear' website currently has aircraft models of the Thulin N, NA, K, KA and float and ski versions of the N and K.
The ski conversion for the K will also fit the Fokker D.VII. In addition, there is a refuel cart, figure, Sopwith Pup upper wing section and ski conversion for the Albatros B.II.
https://www.flyingbear.se (https://www.flyingbear.se)
I've not seen a build of Thulin aircraft so I?m looking to build the Thulin K, Serial No.D.3 of the Dutch Marine, 1917.
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/profile.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/D3.jpg)
The following is based on the information Bjorn has on the Flying Bear web site.
The Thulin K was a Swedish naval fighter aircraft, operated by both the Swedish and Dutch armed forces.
Enoch Thulin, of 'AB Thulinverken', designed the Thulin K in December 1916.
Sweden was not part of WW1 and neither the army nor the marine saw any reason to use anything but trainers and reconnaissance aircraft.
Nevertheless, the Army Flying Corps eventually saw a need for advanced training.
After initial flights in early 1917, the Swedish Army purchased two of the single seat K versions for the 'Flygcompaniet'.
However, the design was in fact obsolete as a fighter, but thanks to its low weight and good maneuverability it became popular among its pilots.
Thulin himself broke the Swedish altitude record in it in 1919.
The time between order and delivery was extremely short, mainly because the type was basically a mix of earlier Thulin types, having Thulin B wings and Thulin D fuselage.
Tail surfaces were more rounded and the cowl was slightly changed. Two different set of wings were used.
It was a shoulder-wing monoplane of wooden construction employing wing warping for lateral control.
Powered by a 90 hp Thulin Gn?me derived rotary engine, it could be configured as a single seat or tandem seat aircraft.
Initially the Type K was not equipped with ailerons, but used wing warping instead, as also on the Thulin A, B and D as well as the Fokker Eindecker.
It also had a single elevator surface and no tailplane.
The army, however, modified their aircraft and installed balanced ailerons and balanced elevators with a tailplane.
Enoch Thulin soon followed their initiative.
The modification seems to have worked out fine on the army's aircraft, however Thulin reported severe problems with aileron vibrations in high g dives.
It is a complete mystery why he continued with these manoeuvres.
The loss of his right aileron on a practice flight was the cause of the crash that killed Thulin in 1919.
However, the Type K was more successful as an export plane.
The Royal Netherlands Navy bought twelve K single seaters and three two seaters (KA or K1) between 1917 and 1918.
Both types were delivered without armament, but the Dutch Navy fitted theirs with machine guns firing through the propeller arc and also experimented with 20 mm Madson cannons.
The Dutch Marine ordered a squadron of Thulin K's and armed them with two synchronized Madsen 8 mm guns.
They also performed tests with a 20 mm automatic cannon.
Should be an interesting subject to build - we'll see,
Mike
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Hi Mike,
You may want to take a look here:
https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-t/vliegtuigen-t-thulin-k
It is in Dutch, but if you use Deepl translator, it shouldn't be a problem.
Please let me know if I can do anyting for you.
Willem
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I was chatting to someone at Scale ModelWorld (can't remember who) and they mentioned the 3D prints by Flying Bear, who I knew nothing about. They said they are very good quality models. This will ne interesting indeed.
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I was chatting to someone at Scale ModelWorld (can't remember who) and they mentioned the 3D prints by Flying Bear, who I knew nothing about. They said they are very good quality models. This will ne interesting indeed.
That might have been me, i remember talking about Flying Bear with people ;D
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Hi Mike,
You may want to take a look here:
https://www.ipms.nl/artikelen/nedmil-luchtvaart/vliegtuigen-t/vliegtuigen-t-thulin-k
It is in Dutch, but if you use Deepl translator, it shouldn't be a problem.
Please let me know if I can do anyting for you.
Willem
Hi Willem,
Thanks for the link.
I had most of the information already, but did pick up a few new bits of information.
Good to know I can contact you if needs be,
Mike
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That might have been me, i remember talking about Flying Bear with people ;D
It was indeed Sam, it's all coming back to me now.... :) You were quite complimentary about the scale thickness of their parts IIRC.
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Yet again this forum introduces me to a completely unknown type. I'm keen to follow along Mike!
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Nice to see a Thulin. I?ve built three Thulin types - D, N and NA - although not in your scale, and was hoping to build a Dutch K at some point too, so will follow with interest.
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Hi all,
After a delay in delivery of this kit due to damaged customs paperwork, my kit has now been delivered.
https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=14766.0
As the Phonix C.I is now just waiting for its display case, I'm starting the Thulin K kit at last,
Mike
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Hi all,
As the Caproni-Pensuti (AP-1) model is complete, I've started on the Thulin K monoplane from 'Flying Bear'.
The engine, like the entire kit, is 3D printed and to a high standard of detail and quality.
The Thulin A rotary engine of 67 kW (90 hp) was a license-made Le Rhone 9C engine.
The engine is supplied as separate parts, namely the engine block, nine cylinders, front cover with intake manifold pipes and the rear ignition slip ring.
The Thulin engine was based on the French Le-Rhone 9C engine, with some differences.
The most obvious difference is that the Thulin engine had inlet manifold pipes made from Aluminium casts, as opposed to soldered fabricated Copper pipes.
The kit supplied propeller, although good, was replaced with an Integral propeller from 'Proper Plane'.
This propeller is virtually the same as the kit propeller.
Only a slight adjustment to the blade openings in the kit supplied propeller spinner was necessary to get the propeller to fit correctly.
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/engdone1.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/engdone2.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/proptest.jpg)
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Excellent start, that engine looks great. Looking forward to seeing this one as I will probably get the Pfalz EI when it is available.
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Looking great Mike! Lovely engine and prop!
RAGIII
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Very Neat Prop!
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Hi all,
The cockpit assembly is ready to be fitted into the fuselage.
Despite being careful, I still managed to snap three small parts, which I either replaced or repaired.
I've rigged the cockpit bracing wires that will be seen once the cockpit is in the fuselage.
Now to fit the cockpit and floor panel with controls,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/pitdone1.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/pitdone2.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/pitdone3.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/pitdone4.jpg)
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That's a fantastic looking interior and the quality of the parts looks really good. Nice work so far.
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Love it. You can almost see where we are on the map.
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Terrific looking interior Mike!
RAGIII
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Fantastic work Mike !
Alexis
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Hi all,
The fuselage is now closed up.
The control column needed to be moved rearwards slightly as it was fouling the cockpit frame and stopping the floor fitting into the cockpit.
Also the wing warp lever assembly on the rear of the control column torsion bar was very fragile and one piece broke away.
I cut it away and used 0.5 mm diameter tube (secured to the cockpit floor) to represent the cable attachments,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/fusprep.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/floor1.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/floor2.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/flooron.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/flooron1.jpg)
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Your mod to the control column seems to have worked perfectly!
RAGIII
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Hi all,
The basic fuselage, propeller and flight surfaces are done.
The fuselage:
Linen covering - base coat of MRP 256 (CDL) then the internal formers masked off, Tamiya XF55 applied, masking removed and light coat of XF55 to blend.
Engine cowl and panel Tamiya XF81.
Wood effect Windsor and Newton Raw sienna oil paint.
Weathering Flory Models Dark Dirt wash, AK Interactive Kerosene and engine oil and Mr. Color' Super Iron 2 (dry brushed).
Decals kit supplied but need to be cut from sheet as not separate decals.
Finish Tamiya Semi-Gloss X35.
Flight surfaces essentially the same for linen, decals and weathering.
NOTE - Linen colour difference between fuselage and flight surfaces are due to photograph lighting.
Now its onto the weapons, windscreen and upper pylon to complete the fuselage,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/fusdone.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/wingsdone.jpg)
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That looks absolutely spiffing Mike!
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Gorgeous!
RAGIII
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Hi all,
The fuselage now has its machine guns, upper pylon, fuel cock and windscreen fitted.
Also the wing and elevator top and underside rigging anchors fitted,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/screenon.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/anc1.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/anc2.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/anc3.jpg)
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Looking good Mike !
Alexis
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That finished cockpit area looks great, this does seem like a really nice kit.
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Great job, as always.
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Mike, your linen replication is magnificent! Very realistic look indeed. I?m excited to see the finished product as this is a new aircraft for me.
All the best,
Tim
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I'm with Tim, never seen this before.
These are Dutch markings before there was a IJN?
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I'm with Tim, never seen this before.
These are Dutch markings before there was a IJN?
Hi Allan,
The Dutch Air Force, originally known as the Luchtvaartafdeling, was formed on July 1, 1913 and adopted a plain orange disk as its first roundel in 1914.
This orange disk was used until around 1919-1920, when a new roundel was adopted, featuring the familiar three-color design,
Mike
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Hi all,
Moving along now.
Wings and landing gear fitted.
Front end rigging done, including:
Flying wires
Landing wires.
Wing warp control wires and cables.
Elevator control cables.
Pylon bracing wires.
Rigging was created using 0.08 and 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament and 0.4 and 0.5 mm diameter tube.
Also Gaspatch metal turnbuckles Type C, A, One Ended and Anchor Points in 1:48th and 1:32nd scale.
Now onto the tail unit,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/landwires.jpg)
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That's looking really good Mike. The fabric effect and rib show through look really good.
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Hi all,
The model itself is now finished.
I've added the rudder, elevator control lines and bracing wires.
Now it's just the figures and display base to complete,
Mike
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/tailrig1.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/tailrig2.jpg)
(https://www.thatoneplease.co/buildlogs/THULINK/propon.jpg)
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Lovely
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She looks fantastic, looking forward to the completed photos.
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The rasterized surface on the engine cover was a feature of the real plane, or is it a 3D printing fault?
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The rasterized surface on the engine cover was a feature of the real plane, or is it a 3D printing fault?
Hi Richard,
It's printing striations and on the nose of the spinner.
I didn't notice it until late in the build by which time it was too late to remove.
It is minor though and looks worse in the lighting of the photograph.
In reality I suspect the cowl and spinner may have had similar marks from manufacture anyway,
Mike
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Turned out quite nicely Mike!
RAGIII
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Hi all,
The completed model shots will be up in the Completed Models page shortly.
Thanks for your support and comments throughout this build,
Mike
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Fantastic work - very nicely done, Mike. Really love the way you do your turnbuckles.
Cheers,
Gary
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Great job on a rarely seen a/c.