forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: lone modeller on May 20, 2016, 09:14:59 AM
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Evening All,
In my last build (the Phoenix A or Hansa-Brandenburg W 18 flying boat), I wrote that it was a test of concept for me: I wanted to attempt a flying boat as I had not constructed a hull before and was not sure what the best approach would be, so I used a push mould. Now I want to attempt another flying boat and this time I am trying a different approach by building the hull from sheet card. I know that there are kits of this KDW (biplane fighter - water) in 1/48 scale (Omega Models) and 1/72 scale (Mega Models), but as usual I think that it is as easy (and considerably cheaper), to make the parts yourself. I also wanted to try something interesting and a little different so here goes.
The sides and bottom were cut from 30 thou card and then a box structure was made using 20 thou card formers: the cockpit will be made to fit into one of the forward compartments which I painted with oils.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/35911602550_496d884a1b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WHomid)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4317/36138802422_e15e1c1d98_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4sNUo)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4316/35911606280_3a0abbc5e9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WHonpw)
While waiting for the paint to dry (three days), I started on the cockpit details including the pilots seat, the ammunition and spent cartridge boxes, control column, rudder bar, etc. The only kit part which I will use will be an Aeroclub Schwarzlose machine gun.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Another fantastic start to what I am sure will be a Brilliant Model!
RAGIII
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You have made a brilliant start Stephen, this is another of your model builds that I will be following along closely.
Des.
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Your builds are such fun to follow, Stephen, and this one is no
exception. Beautiful start on the hull and interior, my friend.
Looking forward to the next updates!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Stephen, I`m going to follow this one closely - the CC is IMHO one of the most interesting WWI flying boats. I have the Omega kit, so maybe your build will motivate me to finally have a go with that one...
Great job on the hull and the cockpit.
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Wow, that was quick! Looking very good already....
Ian
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Thank you gentlemen for the encouraging remarks.
Yes Ian I got off to a flying start on this one but rest assured, my normal snail's pace will resume soon enough as I find that I do not have the time to sit down and concentrate.
xmald: this is one which has fascinated me for a long time too - now at last I have screwed up the courage to have a go at it, and I am hoping that I do not screw it up!
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Evening All,
The first task I had to complete when the paints in the cockpit compartment of the fuselage were dry was to add the upper and lower surfaces to the rear fuselage from 30 thou card. The lower surface was butted against a former to give the step on the lower fuselage: all the tiny gaps that seem to appear from nowhere when adding tapered pieces were filled with filler - fortunately very little was needed in this case.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/35471098884_674f451ecf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3sDUq)
Now I slotted the cockpit sub-assembly into the relevant compartment in the front of the hull so that I could start to fit the forward pard of the upper fuselage. The latter was made from 2 sheets of 40 thou card which had been laminated. The cockpit was cut out using a pair of didvders to scribe the circle and then the mg slot could be sit using a sharp craft knife - again scoring the hole.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4318/35471096534_63c8f68613_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3sDcU)
The card was then glued directly to the top of the hull and when dry had to be shaped to the curved cross section and sloping front using files and finishing with glass paper. I used a similar method to shape the fuselage top behind the cockpit - this was a hump shape where the lower wing spar was attached to the top of the hull. A very small amount of filler was used to shape the finer details of the edges behind the cockpit as in my enthusiasm I took off a little too much plastic. The small rim around the top of the front of the hull was made from 10 thou rod.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4329/36138849392_8aa382358d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t3Sd)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/36138847452_24d69b9526_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t3hL)
Then the whole was primed to see if there were still any gaps or uneven surfaces..
Thanks for looking.
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You are really producing some spectacular results here Stephen. Constructing a hull with all those curved surfaces so well out of sheet stock is impressive to say the very least, lovely work! 8) As with all of your Builds I'll be following your progress closely, and as always enjoying it immensely.
I may have missed it somewhere but what glue are you using on the card stock joins?
Cheers,
Lance
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Thank you for your kind remark Lance. I use Revell Contacta professional for the sides to formers, and for the guide strips along the edges of the sides where the top and bottom pieces. I use Humbrol liquid poly to attach the top and bottom rear sections. For the top front (cockpit section) I used Revell again. Ihope that is helpful.
Stephen.
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Truly remarkable work, Stephen! Shaping up to another show stopper!
Cheers,
Bud
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Truly remarkable work, Stephen! Shaping up to another show stopper!
Cheers,
Bud
I agree completely with my Amigo!
RAGIII
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Truly remarkable work, Stephen! Shaping up to another show stopper!
Cheers,
Bud
I could not have said it better.
Des.
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Hi Stephen
I am a great fan of your stuff anyway but this one is of particular interest, I would not have thought it could be built without push moulding. I cannot wait to see how this one progresses.
Alan.
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looks like a cc to me
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Evening All,
Thank you gentlemen for your kind comments. Alan: I push moulded the fuselage/hull for the Phoenix as an experiment and I wanted to try a different method for this model. It happens that this hull is more amenable to the card construction method because the top does not have any double curves on it. Therefore it was straightforward to sand the nose section to shape rather than mould it. The underside of the hull is slightly curved upwards but that was achieved in the usual way by bending the card in hot water.
Just as I thought that I was getting somewhere quickly I had to go away again and I seem to be back at the snail's pace as usual! Well I have put the lower wings on to the fuselage - these are butt joints as the wings are so thin (30 thou card) that putting pins in was not really practical. The ribs were made from 10 x 20 thou Evergreen strip sanded down to a smooth cross-profile.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/36138853172_26d6f809bc_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t4Zo)
Then I added the engine platform - made from 30 x 40 thou strip sanded to aerofoil section for the 4 main supports, and 20 x 30 thou strip for the remainder.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4296/36138857662_58f08b64dd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t6jN)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/36138856832_93380a3540_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t65u)
The small curved supports were shaped from 20 thou card.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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This is taking shape beautifully Stephen, the wings look excellent and the engine support frame really looks great.
Des.
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Sensational work, Stephen! She's shaping up brilliantly.
Cheers,
Bud
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Evening All,
Thank you Des and Bud for your kind comments.
I have completed most of the painting and markings: the national markings were home printed but the numeral on the hull was from Letraset dry rub down transfers. Before anyone comments I know that the numeral is too large but I did not have any alternatives and did not want to hand paint them as the hull is painted with oils and would be difficult to touch in. Apart form a few sharp-eyed and knowledgeable modellers I doubt whether anyone will notice.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/35499300733_9578aed789_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W5Xckc)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36138860782_ac6816cb17_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t7fA)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4299/36138861112_83d05e89d6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4t7mh)
The engine and radiator have also been made - the engine was a bit of a problem because there were so many small parts which I found very difficult to replicate so some were added as representative parts. I also carved the propellor from wood.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35499301043_9b8be00ae3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W5Xcqx)
Now I have got to mount the engine and rig the frame before I attempt those star struts!
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Moving along nicely !
Ed
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Really looking terrific! Lovely work all around!
RAGIII
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The painting looks great as do the decals and the numbers, nice work on the engine as well, this is shaping up to be a really nice looking model.
Des.
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Evening All,
Thank you Ed, Rick and Des for the kind remarks, they are as always much appreciated.
I fixed the engine to the mounting and added the frame which will hold the radiator at the front of the engine support. I also fixed a small piece of wire to represent the fuel pipe from the top of the hull to the engine, and rigged the engine supports with copper wire.
Now the fun began: I had got to put on the struts. I started by making the centre pieces of the struts from 30 x 40 thou strip - the corners were cut off and the rest filed to shape.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4304/35471225444_d416eb87e4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3tiwu)
8 of these were made. Struts were made from 20 x 30 thou strip which were filed to aerofoil section. The distance between the ends of the struts where they were to be attached to the wings had been measured using a pair of dividers and the distances marked on a piece of paper. Then one end of the struts could be placed on the points which I had marked on the paper and the other ends attached to the centre pieces. I started with the lower struts. I made a simple jig from card and glued one of the lower struts to the location holes on the lower wing and rested the top end against the card jig which had been placed at the half-way point. While the strut was still flexible I glued the other strut and allowed this to rest against the card jig.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/35499303323_b988151f41_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W5Xd6R)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4293/35911680390_64974cf096_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WHoKrh)
Then I gently withdrew the jig and allowed the two struts to come together, adjusting them so that they were correctly placed. A drop of liquid glue fixed them in place and they were allowed to dry.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4309/35911682760_210da9b211_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WHoL99)
The other pair were glued and set into place in the same way.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/36138873262_a354b538f6_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4taXL)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4298/36138875202_b083114911_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4tbxd)
To put on the upper struts the top wing had to be held in place, also with jigs. I have seen these made from pieces of card with a photocopy of the side elevation glued on to them and then slits cut so that the wings could be inserted and held. This seemed too complex for me - I am not very good at cutting thin slits and getting the two sides exactly aligned, and I thought that there must be another way. I made two jigs from card: the height of the uprights were the exact distance between the top and bottom wings. Then I glued two pieces of card to extend above and below the wing leading and trailing edges - this would lock the wings in the correct position while I was placing the upper struts.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/36306243535_5eda5572f2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XjfZj8)
The pairs of tweezers (Bo please note: not the jewel encrusted ones), were used to hold the model steady while I inserted the upper struts. I made the two centre section struts from wire and glued these on to the front of the engine supports and the underside of the top wing. This helped to hold the top wing in place while I fixed the outer upper pairs of struts. One pair was fitted to the port wing first.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/36306244025_f6b633303b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XjfZsz)
The starboard side was added.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/36264416506_c4eb4966c0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XfyBAs)
These were allowed to dry completely and then the jigs could be carefully taken away.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35471162694_92ec3c4407_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3sYSA)
Finally I now had the space to place the last pairs of upper struts and the top wing was complete (and I was able to breathe freely for the first time for two days).
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4312/35471164924_055b708fe0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3sZx3)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/35471166404_caaacba5da_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/W3sZYy)
The "n" struts between the engine mounting frame and the top wing finished the strut work.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36138892212_c9ffb2c70b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4tgAu)
Now I have to paint the struts and make and add the gravity tank on the top wing - that will be the topic of the next post.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Stephen,
That's absolutely brilliant use of jigs, I would be completely lost in attempting the star strut arrangement you have completed beautifully! This work of yours, particularly on this subject, is a fine example of true modelling, masterful to say the least. Just outstanding work all round!
Congratulations on a very unique and successful Build!
Cheers,
Lance
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Amazing work on the struts Stephen, your brilliant design of the jigs made fitting the struts a lot easier for you even though the strut arrangement is quite intricate. This is a beautiful looking model and I look forward to seeing more soon.
Des.
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Excellent flying boat , Stephen
a little colorful jewel
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Amazing work on the struts Stephen, your brilliant design of the jigs made fitting the struts a lot easier for you even though the strut arrangement is quite intricate. This is a beautiful looking model and I look forward to seeing more soon.
Des.
Stephen,
I can't say it any better than Des has! Brilliant work on the jigs and such a beauty!
RAGIII
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Amazing work on the struts Stephen, your brilliant design of the jigs made fitting the struts a lot easier for you even though the strut arrangement is quite intricate. This is a beautiful looking model and I look forward to seeing more soon.
Des.
Stephen,
I can't say it any better than Des has! Brilliant work on the jigs and such a beauty!
RAGIII
I couldn't agree more, Stephen! Brilliant!
Cheers,
Bud
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Evening All,
Thanks to Lance, Des, Ermio, Rick and Bud for your kind remarks which I always appreciate and find encouraging.
I have finished this one - painted the struts, (which incidentally were steel rod coved in a metal sheath but painted to look like wood), and added the mg (from Aeroclub), and windscreen, radiator, propellor and the header tank on the top wing. I also made a small trolley which was based on photos found on the net.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4320/36138894742_e115e9be47_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X4thm7)
There are more pictures and information on the type in the completed models section.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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AS usual brilliant
I like the innovative use of make shift jigs for the wing assembly.
A joy to follows
Alan.
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This is jolly good looking CC! You are truly skilled modeller to acheive such high level of work on a scratch built model. I simply love it!
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wow impresssive
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Outstanding, very impressive.
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AS usual brilliant
I like the innovative use of make shift jigs for the wing assembly.
A joy to follows
Alan.
Ditto in Spades !!!!
Ed
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Superb!!
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All I can say is wow. You have really shown skills of a master scratchbuilder on this beauty! Hansa Brandenburg aircraft are very difficult subjects for scratchbuilding due to the struts system (I can tell, I built one H-B D.I) and you handled it in an excellent way.
My hats off to your skills!
Ondra
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Gorgeous results! I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this one come together!
RAGIII