AEG B.II

[Skyhook]

Hi!

As a break from the Gotha madness, I decided to get back to this for a change. I have made additions to it gradually since the last update and now the situation is this.

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I probably got a new method for making Hazet radiators working and these look quite promising. Before I have always used the method of making the radiators from separate lengths of plastic, scored with a knife to have the right texture and then cutting the pieces to correct length and gluing them to a rod up and down. I have never managed to make a single unit where every vertical radiator element is perfectly aligned.

This time I took a piece of 0,25 mm plasticard, scored the texture and only after that cut the empty spaces between the elements with a metal ruler and Xacto-knife. Then I cut one horizontal end of the radiator straight and then glued a heat-stretched sprue rod to the edge for the lower tubing. Only after that I cut the upper horizontal end straight and glued another rod for the upper tubing.

As a result I got all the elements in right angles as I had worked the whole radiator element as a one rectangular sheet instead of fiddling with separate lenghts of individual vertical plasticard strips.

I will add photos later, to explain myself better?

Cheers, Skyhook

[DaddyO]

Looking great Skyhook and it'll be good to see some pictures of your radiator construction (which I think I understand)

Got a couple of aircraft that I fancy building with the same style radiators 

Paul

[enathan]

It's good to see you're back to the B.II Skyhook, excellent work so far.

[NigelR]

Good to see this one moving forward, it looks superb. Lovely work since the last update.

[Skyhook]

Thanks, all!

Here?s a few pics to show how I did the radiators.

At first, I scribed a piece of 0,25 mm plasticard with a Xacto-knife, I used a pencil and some smudging to see what I was doing.
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Then I drew the guide lines. Some elements are practically without the gaps, so I just scored the dividing lines with a knife. After that I drilled the ends of the actual gaps to make the cutting easier.

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After marking and drilling, I cut the gaps between the appropriate elements as needed.

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Next I cut the radiator to the right size and shape, leaving the drilled end intact at this phase. I added the heat stretched sprue for the tubing, gluing it in place with superglue. Important to apply pressure to the radiator, that the elements will be at right angles and at the same level.

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After that I cut the other end and added the other piece of tubing in its place in the same way. This will look pretty good after painting. I will add the supports to the backside and cut them to the correct lenght. Higher at the rear and shorter at the front. And then the rest of the tubing to connect the radiator to the engine. You will note that regarding the item at right, I did not cut it quite straight, so two of the elements are not long enough. I will glue a filler piece there later?

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There is doubtless many other ways to do it as well, but at least this is definetly easier in 1/72 than putting them together from separate pieces.

Cheers, Skyhook

[NigelR]

Nice work, I think the radiators look very realistic in situ. A very clever solution!

[Skyhook]

Thanks, Nigel!

Here is the situation as it is now. The wings and the radiator tubes etc. are in place; next up, the landing gear and the exhaust horn - next weekend, I hope.

Cheers, Skyhook

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[DaddyO]

Looking great Skyhook 

Love these early flyers with their plethora of crosses and side radiators

Paul

[Skyhook]

thanks, Paul!!!

I also like those early birds, nowadays more than before. Actually I quite appreciate those early, very simple color schemes especially. They seem to show the actual architecture of the plane types better than more flashy paint schemes of the later years. Although I like both

cheers, Skyhook

[NigelR]

Wow, that is looking absolutely superb, a fabulous model! This is going to look amazing when it's done.

[Flamingo]

Excellent!

[lone modeller]

Thanks for the tutorial on making the radiators - definitely something to keep in mind for future reference.

The model is first class in every way - the more so as it is on God's Own Scale. I have on my "to-do" list some of the different B types - this will be extremely helpful when I finally get around to making them.

Stephen.

[Skyhook]

Thanks all for your continued interest!

Now it is basically ready. Rigging and all. A few touch ups with paint to do and tomorrow I will try to photograph it and add to the completed models section.

Cheers, Skyhook

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[NigelR]

That looks fantastic, looking forward to some detailed shots of the finished model.

[DaddyO]

That looks fabulous Skyhook 
(Must have a dig through my model stash to find an early 2 seater now)

Paul