forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Paper and Card models => Topic started by: NinetythirdLiberator on June 27, 2020, 02:35:33 AM
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And so it begins..............
I chose this kit since I have too many German planes on the piano. While not RFC, at least it has roundels! I've always liked the SPAD series and this one certainly fits the bill. It is the most complicated paper model I've built thus far. A company called Halinski makes the Tamyia of paper models but they are mostly WWII era. They are rendered ala Matt77 and have 1000+ parts counts. You should see their Panzers...Lots of layering of pieces, tiny cuts and rolls etc. Nothing is left to the imagination. For example: a telescopic site on a Japanese fighter I have could be made of 3 pieces...a rolled tube and two flared ends. In a Halinski kit, the same piece will have 10-14 parts. They are truly amazing and build into incredible replicas if you are up to the challenge! This kit reminds me of those in design, complexity and count number. I love it! ;D
You can see the "kit" and directions which are photos of the model under construction. There is also a time-lapse video of the designer beta-building one which does help with some placement. It's really cool.
I started by backing the structural parts on 1/32nd balsa and then began the fuselage/cockpit tub. It's not done, but already it took 20 parts just for the pit! You can even see a hole for the camera that will be visible from below. Lots more to do, but I wanted to document at least the start. Part tolerances are very precise and I'll need to watch my balsa thickness. When it says put your paper on a 0.8mm backing, they are not kidding.
Anyway, I hope this one goes well. So far, fun and neat.
Cheers,
Dan
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:)
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Awesome start! The interior details look to be fantastic, actually far more accurate than the Hobby Craft kit 8)
RAGIII
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Hi Rick,
I agree! There is enough detail printed and added to make it a very close replica. In any event, it will sure look busy in there. To top it all off, everything fits a treat thus far. I'm not anticipating any huge issues at all. Just lots of careful cutting, folding and rolling.
I only have a Roden SPAD VII in the stash...this will be fun.
Thanks for looking...Dan ;)
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Dan,
This is one of the schemes I've wanted to do in 1/32 scale for my stashed Hobbycraft kits. I'll be following along faithfully.
Kevin
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Thanks, Kevin. This one will, I think, give the HC model a run for it's money. So far, so good!
I put some more things in the cockpit tub like tank lines, joy stick and rudder pedal straps while also adding the right fuselage side. This made everything nice and square and strong! Lots more to do, but you get the idea so far. I'll try and finish the interior and close her up tomorrow. Skinning the fuselage will be lots of fun. ;D
More soon...Dan
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Looking good Dan! Best of luck with this more complicated kit. I am sure you will be up to the task. ;D
Best,
Bob
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Looking Fantastic...and familiar ;D
RAGIII
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Thanks, Rick and Bob... :D She's moving right along!
I got the main tub done and started adding some formers and even the camera. Skinning starts tomorrow!
More soon...Dan
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;)
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Hello Scissors Minions... ;D
After finishing the underside, I got the first part of the fuse skinned along with the problematic (in terms of complex shapes) head rest. I needn't have worried. Worked really well with only a bit of thinning of paper with sandpaper and careful pre-shaping. Dang...starting to look like a SPAD!
Cheers,
Dan :D
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Dan,
That sure is moving along at a brisk pace. Do you have a secret stash of sheet balsa and paper in case there's a run on them?
You're going to make paper modeling very inviting to the rest of us.
Keep up the great work,
Kevin
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Thanks, Kevin...I have a bunch of balsa for my flying models too. Of course...I tend to use the heavier stuff on these paper guys since they are just static. I will run out! I wonder if we'll fall back a phase and then the hobby store will be verboten again. :-[
Last update for tonight...promise. I got the photo access panel attached and then couldn't help but add the tails. I really shouldn't have, but I'm stalling on the rest of the front. It looks a tad painful! :P
More soon...Dan
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Coming along great!! Will you be doing one of Luis' Albatros next? :)
Gene K
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That really is looking like a SPAD! Lovely work on the tail end, Dan. The fuselage is looking good.
Best regards,
Bob
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This one really picked up on that center piece under the engine that Rick was wondering about. Another copper/brass colored representation. I bet that piece had something to do with the radiator and cooling system or maybe an oil cooler.
Great work on the tail feathers. I also like the fuselage panel over the photo bay. Paper models can show details like a thin sheet panel better than in plastic.
Generally speaking this will make a better Spad model than the 1/28 Revell clunker I have half done. Model on...we're all avidly watching.
sp
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You are working at a Feverish pace on this one for sure. Lovely SPAD and superb build!
RAGIII
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Thanks Gene, Bob, SP and Rick! Here is a bit more though I'm not done with it, at least you can see the beginning progression of the front gun deck. A ways to go but getting there!
Cheers,
Dan ;D
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Progressing very nicely Dan! I notice that this kit has a distinctly matte finish. Are you planning on leaving it matte or hitting it with some semi-gloss at some point? I'm always interested in the degree of sheen of the coatings applied to WWI aircraft, and how they would look considering scale effect.
Great job so far on this one. Keep it up! ;D
Best regards,
Bob
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Continuing to be a Terrific build Dan! I have to say again how well this kit captures the interior details and colors!
RAGIII
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Wow, Dan! This seems to be an extraordinarily intricate kit and you are doing an amazing job with it. Brilliant work.
Cheers,
Bud
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Thanks Bob, Rick and Bud!
I got more of the forward part done by skinning and making some louvers as well as starting the front rad shutters. More to come!
Cheers,
Dan
P.S. BOB! I just use dead flat but semi gloss would look great and may make them look less like toys. I know that's what Tony Greenland who is an amazing armor fellow from England does. In one of his books, he clearly shows a tank in dead flat compared to semigloss and it does look better. That would be a good thing to experiment with. I do know that some paper modelers use a really glossy finish which I don't like...
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Some how I missed this one , sorry Dan . I'm really like how this one is turning out so far , coming together really well .
Terri
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Thanks, Terri. Your input is always important! Welcome aboard...
I added the cowling, started the radiator shutters, added the cockpit edging and the little Hisso cylinder bank covers. The nose is very complex, but is really shaping up. Looks better in person, I must say...
Keep gluing,
Dan
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Ok...I think the front is all done except for the exhausts...but I'm exhausted tonight (ha, ha) so that will wait for tomorrow. I got the rad shutters completed, added the gas cap fitting (I think) on the right cockpit edge, the guns, the spent ammo chutes and the windscreen. That part is a bit odd. I have not put in the clear part yet as the geometry doesn't seem correct based on some shots of the real machine. Seems to need a slight point on the top middle, but the jury is still out on that. Any SPAD experts care to comment, that would be helpful! ;)
It really does look cool now and very much like a SPAD. All those little extra parts really make it along with cutting out some louvers etc.
More tomorrow...Dan
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Excellent progress.
How did you cut the louvers?
Gene K
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Hi Gene...
I just cut the long, vertical slit with an xacto. It's easy to follow since they are printed on the paper. Then I carefully put a tiny slit on either side of that main slit. I then lay the part onto my trusty mouse pad (back side) and gently push the cuts out with a pencil or something similar. If I'm really careful, I'll color the inside of the part (white paper) with a silver sharpie so you can see the "aluminum" on the underside. You can push them out as much or as little as you want. You can see the first one I did (forward nose on the left side) is horrible but I got better on the other parts!
Hope this helps...Dan
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I just cut the long, vertical slit with an xacto ... ..
Thanks -- that's a lot of slitting! ;)
Gene K
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It is a very detailed and impressive model.
Sincere congratulations.
Marco
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Your SPAD is looking beautiful Dan! In Many respects, like I said before, the detail is better than the Hobby Craft plastic kit!
RAGIII
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Thanks, Rick...I've only built the old 1/28th of old. It looked ok to me...but I was 8. ;D
This is definitely a step up!
Tonight as explosions ensue in the background...sounds like some folks are going over the top...I got the top wing done. You can see the ribs and spars skeleton and then the steps of skinning. One shot shows that the trailing edges were a bit off. This is typical and means you need to coax the paper a bit more or, in my case, sand a tad off of the top of the ribs and maybe cut a tiny bit off from the leading edge of the ribs to allow the paper to make it all the way back there. I use a ruler to tease the paper over...takes multiple attempts and care is needed. I never pull it over in one go. Recipe for disaster! But patience wins in the end!
A straight and flat top wing! :D
Happy 4th for you fellow US folks!
Dan
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Evening All!
A bit more done tonight. Instead of working on the lower wings, I decided to try to make the prop as it's an interesting design I have not encountered in paper before. I was dubious at best but I'll be danged...it's actually shaping up! Usually, you make the blades either separately and plug them into a hub or you basically make a flat prop and then I twist them to an approximate helix. As you can see in the first picture (from my computer plan...sorry) it starts out as just two whole serpentine parts.
I started by pre-shaping the blades a bit by making them curved on their surface and did the same near the hub. Then I carefully edge-glued the mating tips on one side...maybe a 1/3 of the way down the length...trying to make sure it didn't glue "flat". Then I did the other tip and slowly edge-glued toward the hub waiting for the previous step to dry before twisting a bit and continuing. I did each side alternately and made sure no odd bending was taking place.
I ended up with the final shot. It still needs some edge painting and maybe some more twisting and I have no idea how to put in the hubs but I'll play with them tomorrow. I'm amazed at how the basic shape was realized. Wouldn't have thought it possible with the starting point. The designer is a genius...or the computer program used is amazing! ;)
Oh! For a break I also made and installed the ailerons. Top wing looks neat...I am continually amazed by this design.
More tomorrow,
Dan
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Nice wing and prop Dan! Your efforts continue to inspire. Paper props still make me nervous. ;)
Good luck with the hubs.
At your speed, this one is nearing the finish! ;D
Best,
Bob
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I have No Real idea how you managed that prop but it looks terrific! I Love the wing!
RAGIII
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Thanks Bob and Rick! And Rick...the prop actually turned out and I'm still trying to figure out how! :o :o
After the prop dried, the "hole" was kind of oval. I found that the prop hub was almost exactly the same circumference as a Prisma Color pencil so I stuck it on and let it sit for awhile. When I took the prop off, the hole was pretty dang round. Then I just glued in the hub...Bob's Your Uncle!
I'll work on the bottom wing tonight...Dan ;)
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The Hub came out great. Good Idea in problem solving using that pencil to round out the opening! The prop looks Terrific in place!
RAGIII
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Looks better than the wooden ones I have been carving on. Great way to take advantage of the properties of the paper. Excellent work Dan
sp
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Thank you Rick and SP. You are right! I think at least 85% of these paper models is working the paper properties. You can get away with lots of stuff if you tweak and train the paper! ;D
One last post tonight. Got the bottom wings done. The tubes you see are the exhausts which I'll try to put on next and then it's cabane strut time!!!!
Cheers,
Dan
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A question for all:
What color should the turnbuckles and metal parts be on a SPAD?
I am getting the cabanes done and I will start rigging etc. tonight. I see some restored or replica French planes with these parts colored a pretty blue. Is this legit? I just want to know what I should spot paint these parts.
Thanks in advance! I've searched on the internet, and we all know it never lies, but the color just seems odd to me.
Cheers and pictures tonight...Dan ;D
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And here they are! Got the top wing on. Seems straight and ready for adding the interplanes etc. I remember pulling the lower wing and landing gear off of my Dad's 13 inch Comet SPAD when I was about 7 and flying it quite nicely from our back porch up onto the roof. I also remember my Dad not being too pleased...
I wonder if anyone tried flying a SPAD monoplane? Would have given the D-VIII a run for it's money... ;D
Cheers,
Dan
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Looks wonderful Dan! Nicely done. I see the exhausts in place and looking the part, so I assume you had no problems with getting them rolled and formed properly?
Almost there! Looking forward to the finish.
Best,
Bob
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Thanks, Bob...the exhausts went on but if you look TOO closely, you see some nasty buckles. I think I needed to cut more reliefs from the tip. Overall, they do look fine, though!
I got the landing gear installed, the bottom wing attached and the secondary struts added along with some basic rigging. I need to let this dry before putting the double flying wires on. Can't rush those...I should be able to fit/rig most of the rest of it tomorrow, make the wheels and then do some touch-ups and airbrushing enhancements and she'll be finito.
Thanks for looking,
Dan
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Dan, that really looks like a SPAD! This will be a very nice model when completed. Well Done! ;D
Best,
Bob
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You are leaving Me in Your Dust Dan! The SPAD looks awesome and the rigging is looking great!
RAGIII
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Thanks, you guys...
I'm basically cheating, Rick! I don't need to paint or get the right colors etc. That's the one thing I don't like about the paper models is that they are all identical. Granted...this one and Bob's are rendered so well, they are gorgeous! But it's ironic that the reason I like these is also a negative. I really like airbrushing and making the model my own. Of course, at a contest you would really be judging the building skill as every paint chip, piece of weathering etc. are all the same. I tend to be one that gets wowed by a lovely paint job and miss the crooked stab! ::)
I think I may do a video series on a recent Dornier Arrow I downloaded and show how to treat it like a typical plastic model and paint my own camo etc.
I'm watching your SPAD x 3 with awe. Really nice job(s). I will finish mine before yours, but I do think yours take more time and skill.
I hope to post some more progress tonight...Dan
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Dan, I really like the idea of a video on the Arrow treating it like a plastic kit. That would certainly broaden the horizon for paper kits, and might actually be very beneficial for those renderings that are not on par with Marco's repaints--I couldn't bear the thought of marring one of his kits with my own scheme! :o
Best,
Bob
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I'll keep you posted, Bob! I agree that putting paint on Marco's renderings would be like finger painting over the Sistine Chapel.
I got her all rigged and started on the last details like the wheels and tires. You can see them initially sandwiched and then sanded and primed for their final treatment. Then I couldn't resist showing it on it's wheels...just sitting and not done.
Some more stuff like aileron linkages on the bottom wing, touch-up painting and delicate airbrushing around the control surfaces but all is at hand. It'll be posted tomorrow on the completed area.
Another neat-oh paper model and the best fitting, thought-out and engineered paper model I've built to date especially considering the complexity. It's like a WNW kit in that it looks daunting but goes together so well and makes the modeler look really good.
Cheers,
Dan
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Fantastic SPAD Dan! Looks like a well-built plastic kit. I'm glad to hear it went together well for you. I suspect that's as much a testament to your paper carving skills as to the kit's design. I also suspect I could find a way to foul it up, considering how the Berg has been fighting me. ::) Very well done my friend!
Question: What motivated you to go back to the balsa wheels after using O-rings on the Pfaltz D.III? Did you turn the balsa wheels on your Dremel like the Nie.24?
Best,
Bob
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Wheels: I just wanted try that again since 99% of the kit parts have worked as advertised. These balsa wheels worked better than others I've tried since I followed the directions and added the extra rings that make up the tires. That gave me a good stop to sand toward. On the Nieuport and others, I've just sandwiched the balsa and then try to make a nice tire. It's harder that way.
Plus...I had no appropriate o-rings, it was 9PM and I really wanted to see it on it's legs! So partly a kit fidelity question, part laziness and part lack of patience! Kind of like all my models...
Cheers and thanks for looking. You will beat your Berg guaranteed.
Dan
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Your build of this SPAD has been a joy to follow and inspired Me to keep plugging aqay at My plastic version.!
RAGIII
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I was just reviewing some of my favorite builds and wanted to give another thanks for this great thread. The kit's artist, Luis, is definitely at the top of the paper model designer class. His attention to accurate detail, as well as his precise engineering make all of his paper kits special. Unfortunately he is too short on time (artist and teacher among other things) to post details on how he designs and builds his spectacular creations.
I hope you start another Luis model ... soon. 8)
Gene
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Thanks, Gene! I too want to start another one. I have a triplane that may be fun to build. We'll see!
Thanks for looking at this old build. Still looks darn nice on the shelf...Dan
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I have a [Luis Igualada] triplane that may be fun to build.
I hope you do the Triplane so I can follow along. I have all six of Luis' Little Fokkers, and have started s couple of them. He did a great job sorting out and providing the detail differences between the F.1 and Dr.1.
Gene K
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Hi Gene...
It will either by my next one or the one after that!!!
Dan