Albatross C.V/17

[Skyhook]

Thanks!

I constructed the cabane structure of split and sanded bamboo strips. The horizontal bar is heat stretched sprue. I used to work with The legendary Strutz brass profile rods, but they have been unavailable for years and years (as far as I know). Since then I have used split bamboo, because it is very cheap and easily available (i use ones sold as skewers for barbecue etc. and it is also very stiff in the scale thickness. For round profiles I use metal wire.

5EC4F990-C3A2-4C8C-869A-1FF1DFC14352 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Here it is under a base paint
4C5AB895-1A1C-4A14-9412-1FD3A366F6F7 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Cheers, Skyhook

[Skyhook]

Now i glued the upper wing to the cabane. Very carefully, paying a lot of attention to aligning the wings and fuselage correctly. Before this I added the ”walkways” and pencil markings for the wing sturts in the wing surfaces. I note that I forgot to add the compass to the lower wing, but will add that later.

5503027E-3A48-481A-916D-E314BC0645DF by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Now it is time to add the wing struts (split bamboo, sanded and cut to shape). I use my a bit unusual method. I fristly add the inner front struts. They have a small hole just in the lower wing! That gives more freedom to adjust the sturt completely straight and aligned… i just add small drop superglue to the upper end when the plane is upside down and the strut in the right place. Then I do the outer front strut in the same way, but the hole and the first gluing point is in the upper wing. I always wait for enough time to let the glue set properly (tamiya super thin liquid glue acts as a good kicker for superglue, though), before i proceed to the next pair of struts. I do it this way because it is very very hard to get everything straight if you make the holes for every strut beforehand. And the end result is strong enough, you just have to be careful enough during the construction…

29172496-BBBF-448F-89CD-AA577D9AE3B7 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

5656F76C-95FB-4649-8A82-6B7E443D3FDF by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Cheers, Skyhook

[NigelR]

That's all looking very good and your strut work is very impressive. A nice colourful scheme as well.

[RAGIII]

The markings are looking great! Always a good feeling when the upper wing is added!
RAGIII

[Flamingo]

Nice progress! Looking very good.

Interesting to learn about the different methods of modellers.
Tried bamboo myself but found it difficult to get rid of the surface structure,
I prefer copper wire hammered flat or sheet which can be soldered.

Regards Joachim

[Skyhook]

Thanks!

Now i decided to take care of the wheels. I could have taken some spares from Roden or Eduard models, but they are generally for fighter types and a bit too small and light for a heavy 2-seater. And now I can show you my technique, which looks perhaps a bit crude, but in my opinion works rather nicely.

At first, I cut two discs, a bit oversized, from a 0,5 mm plasticard. I use a heavy duty compass tool, that is sharp enough to scrape the plastic easily. I work from both sides, so the discs come off easily.

F2B10F68-AFB7-456A-B79F-6F2454815913 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Actually, I later had to note that I should have cut them a bit larger, but here they are.

87A85AEB-BBA5-4F20-A6E4-6F26E7CAED18 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Then i took 0,7 mm plasticard and i made two holes. This will be the outer half of the tyre. I used 0,5 mm for another pair…these will be the inner half of the wheels.

E1BAEB90-7B5F-4691-8A6F-45D9E4AAEE96 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

I have several different tools for modifying those holes. I use a electrical hand drill for the work. Different shapes for different things, that ball-shaped is important for getting the inner sides of the tyreplates curved in the right way.

9BD84CC4-4419-4F9A-99AE-BA324B36E5CD by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

This is a special one. I have a nice piece of plastic, originating as the seal for a car motor oil can. It has the right shape for the outer wheel centre. I have glued it to a piece of wood.

7BD55E37-518D-44F2-906D-5E8F6AD2C557 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

I use it as a mould for heat forming the canvas covers for the wheels. I use 0,25 mm plasticard and a candle.


883B7CE7-7636-472A-9FDF-F1741EAE56E8 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Ok, here are the parts; they all will be glued together with superglue.

3AFDC913-36DF-496F-B645-D9485F1A42CE by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

I started with gluing the heat formed canvas covers (after a little sanding) to the centre plates.

DB7BCAE0-6903-4921-8700-A5B561F5F6E6 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Then the tyre plates to each side.

F1D7F765-B283-4A79-B79A-DEA636F3DB78 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr


Here they are, cut near the final shape and then some sealing with liquid cement.

051BCC6A-0AF5-413B-B37D-F9988DC943BF by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

When properly cured, here’ the other sanded to shape and size, the other still waiting.

FCCD8FC2-B560-4889-AFE9-1C3727926225 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Then i use the electric hand drill as a lathe. I use wet sanding paper for the finalizing the shape etc.

6F050AAE-DB72-487D-9F09-7058248C0F05 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Here they are with base paint. There’s also another pair (for Albatross J.I) unpainted…you can see that there will be a little puttywork needed for the rim. After that a little more sanding in a lathe and they’re ready

817D6ACE-A53A-41A2-BEB5-65BDC65D7E52 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Cheers, Skyhhok






 

[RAGIII]

A complex but very effective process! The results are two great looking wheels 
RAGIII

[Thumbs up]

Using seals from containers is something I noticed to!

[Skyhook]

I even managed to do the undercarriage too. I indeed used metal wire, flattened with a hammer and a sort of anvil,  as Joachim mentioned, Thanks! .  I filed some material away from the middle and then bent them into the proper angle. 099F89D3-4ED2-47B4-B1FF-B124D4A472AE by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

96EAE240-79F8-4247-AF46-7A544AF30694 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

i use metal wire for the undercarriage and the axle simply for sturdiness. Actually, it is also easier with wire than using bamboo or plastic.

When the undercarriage legs are identical in shape and lenght, i simply glue them in place with superglue.

D5307A1D-4EDF-40B2-A99F-D7DBD619AEFD by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Now the unit is ready and painted. Then I added the wheels etc. I just need to add the claw brake and the wire for it later.

1FDC2036-8EA4-45E9-96FA-E92A5A9DE692 by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

5C4CB9CF-24DA-4FE8-9AF0-3B3C0DA3D10E by Amiga Hassel, on Flickr

Cheers, Skyhook

[RAGIII]

This is really coming together Nicely! Awesome work and I am looking forward to the next update!
RAGIII

[AngryJazz]

Very nice work! 

[NigelR]

Those wheels look like a lot of work but turned out really well. The whole build is coming together very nicely.

[Flamingo]

Love it!

[Allan31]

Beautiful, amazing scratch building, true art.
Thanks for the bamboo skewer for struts idea, seems the perfect substitute for the brass of yesteryear.

[NinetythirdLiberator]

So much ingeniousness here!  Wow is all I can say.

Dan