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Modelers Lounge => Time to relax => Topic started by: Rob Hart on June 08, 2015, 07:48:12 AM

Title: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Rob Hart on June 08, 2015, 07:48:12 AM
After reading the review of the Small Stuff 1/48 Clerget and admiring the exquisite detail, I'm left wondering if I have the skills (not to mention the eyesight) to actually assemble the thing.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Des on June 08, 2015, 07:54:33 AM
You are quite right Rob, the afftermarket accessories being produced today are exceptional and the three Small Stuff engines I just reviewed are no exception. I have to admit that some of the parts are extremely small and could prove a little difficult to deal with, but I think with a lot of patience, a good magnifier, good lighting and steady hands you will end up with a superb engine.

Des.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: lone modeller on June 08, 2015, 08:31:53 AM
If you think that the 1/48 engine parts are small you should try the 1/72! I bought a couple of Le Rhone engines recently and had a job to see some of the parts even with a magnifier! The quality of them is just eye-watering - now all I have to do is assemble them. They make my scratch-build efforts look hopeless so in future I will cover my scratch builds with cowlings and leave the Small Stuff engines uncowled as they are simply too good to cover up.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 09, 2015, 06:19:48 AM
Quote
After reading the review of the Small Stuff 1/48 Clerget and admiring the exquisite detail, I'm left wondering if I have the skills (not to mention the eyesight) to actually assemble the thing.

I have put together a little article which describes the process of assembling one of these engines:

http://www.smallstuffmodels.com/p/buildinganengine.html

Having assembled all of my engines by now, I can say that in my opinion it's quite doable and doesn't require any above average modelling skills. Without painting, it takes about an hour or two to build an engine, and although a process is a little tedious, it's mostly straightforward. I even managed to loose only two or three parts per 5 engines.  :)
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: guitarlute101 on June 09, 2015, 06:28:31 AM

Excellent Eugeney! Brilliant engines! I've waited for years for engines that are this detailed to show up on the market. Time to break out the extra cash.

Mark
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 09, 2015, 06:36:58 AM
Thank you, Mark!
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Nigel Jackson on June 09, 2015, 06:45:16 AM
Breathtaking quality  Eugeny and, no matter what the scale, I found your article extremely informative and valuable.

Best wishes
Nigel
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: radio on June 09, 2015, 06:46:36 AM
I will order some 1:48 engines when I at home.
Martin
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 09, 2015, 06:50:49 AM
Thank you! I'm glad the article is helpful.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: RAGIII on June 09, 2015, 08:47:47 PM
Beautiful engine and a very informative article! I can apply your techniques to 1/32nd! Thanks for sharing!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: bobs_buckles on June 09, 2015, 10:45:53 PM
Those engines are truly beautiful. A mini model in it's own right.
Thanks for bringing them to market and I wish you every success for the future.

Cheers,
Bob Von B
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 10, 2015, 03:13:57 AM
Thanks a lot!
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: ALBATROS1234 on June 10, 2015, 11:56:40 PM
i have to say that these engines look better designed than other 1/48 resin engines i have  gotten in the past. i also think the little included tool will be helpful upon assembly. also the price is right. i will be getting some of these engines .
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: ALBATROS1234 on June 11, 2015, 12:02:52 AM
i also like the looks of your 1/72 mercedes engines. in 1/48 we are left wanting for a good engines. all the ones available are either wrong, made to look like a combination of a d.iii mixed up with a d.iiia/au or they are too large to fit in the majority of my kits which are mostly eduard and special hobby. i wish someone would create engines like these that will fill the need for 1/48 modellers. the best we have is the vector which was built from the 1/48 roden engine so its too big to fit in most of my kits.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Thumbs up on June 11, 2015, 01:14:25 AM
I have a couple of the 1/72 Le Rhones from Small Stuff and there is nothing that comes close to them! Thanks Small Stuff.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 11, 2015, 04:06:05 AM
I have a couple of the 1/72 Le Rhones from Small Stuff and there is nothing that comes close to them! Thanks Small Stuff.

Thank you! Glad you liked the engines.

in 1/48 we are left wanting for a good engines. all the ones available are either wrong, made to look like a combination of a d.iii mixed up with a d.iiia/au or they are too large to fit in the majority of my kits which are mostly eduard and special hobby. i wish someone would create engines like these that will fill the need for 1/48 modellers. the best we have is the vector which was built from the 1/48 roden engine so its too big to fit in most of my kits.

Well, the size of the engines is a problem, and I'm afraid, making an engine that will fit most of the target kits without modification is both impossible and, in my opinion, wrong. Such an engine would be just too far off to be considered an accurate replica. Not to mention it's just not possible for the set designer to check the engine against all the potential target kits. Still, with 1/48 rotary engines I tried to compromise a bit and and made them just a little bit smaller then they should be (about 0.2 - 0.3mm in radius). This should make fitting them into the cowling a little easier, but still some of the the cowlings might require thinning from the inside.
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: coyotemagic on June 11, 2015, 04:28:04 AM
Just ordered 4 of the 5 1/48 offerings.  Got an Aeroclub Pup on the way which will (hopefully) be home to the Le Rhone (if I can get that cowling thin enough).  Can't wait.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Aftermarket manufacturers keep raising the bar!
Post by: Eugeny Knupfer on June 12, 2015, 04:35:23 AM
Thank you for your order, Bud. It's on its way to you.