forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: Squiffy on November 29, 2014, 03:03:41 AM
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As if I haven't enough on with building a Zeppelin Staaken, I am going to have a go at scratch-building! :o
I've never scratched an aeroplane before so I'm going for something small and simple; something that you can't buy a kit of too (as far as I'm aware).
Behold! The Eastchurch kitten...
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/resources/images/2895258/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Victoria_P.V.8
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36118/EastchurchKitten.gif) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36118/EastchurchKitten.gif.html)
It would be useful to have a drawing with the dimensions on, or one scaled to 1:72 but I suppose I can try and work it out from the dimensions given in the Wiki page.
Now I've just got to work out how to build it...
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Really looking forward to seeing this one being built.
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Well Done Squiffy
I will look forward to this one, especially since it has the ABC Gnat engine and a 'possible future build' of mine has that engine. I am guessing this is a very small plane (especially compared to the Staaken)
Cheers, Alan.
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I've made a start. It's all a bit experimental, so let's see if this works...
I wanted to have a go at making a wing first as this, to me, seems like it could be the most difficult thing to get right.
Having scaled the drawing to very approximately 1:72 I took the sheet of 80 thou. plasticard that I used for making the airfield office on my diorama...
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36119/EK-002.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36119/EK-002.jpg.html)
...and then made cuts in it...
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36119/EK-003.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36119/EK-003.jpg.html)
I then took a sheet of 10 thou. plasticard and cut a sliver off it. The sliver was cut into lengths and fixed on using M.E.K. solvent to represent the ribs.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36119/EK-004.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36119/EK-004.jpg.html)
The ribs were trimmed and the leading and trailing edges of the wing sanded down. The corners were also sanded.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36119/EK-005.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36119/EK-005.jpg.html)
And then a coat of paint applied, just so I can see how it looks.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36119/EK-006.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36119/EK-006.jpg.html)
The ribs look rather prominent but no more than on some old Airfix kits. I may have another go but if I do I will have to buy some strip, instead of cutting a sliver of 10 thou. plasticard as one length isn't enough to do one wing and cutting a second sliver to the same exact width is almost impossible.
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Great!
It is a nice little kit.
Also revell triplane wings were adapt to reproduce that thiny wings.
All the best
Er me
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The ribs look quite realistic to me :)
How wide are the ribs? Our friend Bob of the Buckles variety makes masking strips with thin tape down to 0.5mm wide, could work too?
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Great choice for a scratch build Squiffy but in 1:72 scale it will be very small, in reality it was a tiny aircraft but quite attractive. I have used Bob's "strippers" on several of my scratch builds and they work a treat, at present I am applying the 0.75mm strips to the wings of my Curtiss Hydro.
Des.
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Very well beginning.
Martin
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Hey spiffy great start. I am in deep of my first scratch build too. You will do great. So far I am happy with my 1/72 LVG C.VI scratch. I wish I could post my picks but my galaxy 4 phone won't let me.
You will learn a lot doing a scratchbuild. I know I have! I admire all your projects an look forward to this one!
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Great start Squiffy. I find the ribs on wings the most difficult part of a scratch-build and I agree about using tape as it is consistent, but it has its own problems too. If you want to use plastic strip try Evergreen strip - that is consistent even though it is too big - lots of rubbing down required.
I shall be watching this with great interest - scratch building has become the way forward for me.
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Nice start Squiffy! The wing is looking excellent!
RAGIII
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Thanks for the encouragement, chaps.
I've made the lower wing now but with a scrap piece of micro strip. It was thicker than the plasticard so has taken more sanding but at least the thickness of the ribs is consistent.
I've also made a start on the fuselage.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36120/EK-007.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36120/EK-007.jpg.html)
I started by cutting the paper outline from the drawing and sticking it to 80 thou. plasticard with white glue, which simply peels off later.
The underside and side.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36120/EK-009.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36120/EK-009.jpg.html)
Top. The front only goes as far as just aft of the engine as the shape changes at that point and I thought it better to make that seperately.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/soddit36120/EK-008.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/soddit36120/EK-008.jpg.html)
The white plastic bar is to give it some strength and to provide a base for the rudder etc. and cabane struts. The top rear will be skinned with 10 thou. plasticard and the front and cockpit opening... well, I have to give that some thought.
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That is coming on very well and quickly too. I try to build the cockpit detail before assembling the fuselage as fitting is easier. However a basic seat, control column and instrument panel would not be difficult to add at this stage - would much be visible anyway?
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Very good work.
Martin
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Many, many years ago Scaleplanes did an incredibly basic PV-8 in 1/72 vacfrom.
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That is coming on very well and quickly too. I try to build the cockpit detail before assembling the fuselage as fitting is easier. However a basic seat, control column and instrument panel would not be difficult to add at this stage - would much be visible anyway?
If you look at the photo in the link that I gave the answer is not a lot! The pilot appears to fill the cockpit opening (or perhaps the chap in the photo has eaten too many pies? ;D ). I think this model cries out to have a pilot figure to give scale to just how small the aeroplane is.
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I've not updated this for a long time but then I've not done anything with it for a long time. This week I had a burst of activity and made and fitted the struts and landing gear.
(http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l5/soddit36/Stuff2/Scratchbuilding-003.jpg) (http://s92.photobucket.com/user/soddit36/media/Stuff2/Scratchbuilding-003.jpg.html)
The wheels are from my spares box, source unknown but are approximately the right size. The propeller spinner is a piece of plastic rod sanded to shape.
There's really not much more to do other than a tailskid, rigging and the fitting of a Lewis gun. All in all it's a very poor effort but, being my first scratchbuild it's taught me a lot.
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Great to see you back on this project Squiffy, the landing gear looks excellent.
Des.
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Looks terrific Squiffy! Good to see you finishing this one up!
RAGIII
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That looks really good especially for a first attempt at scratch build. Do put up pictures of the completed model. Looking forward to seeing more of your scratch builds.
Stephen.