1:72 Maquette Ilya Muromets

[RAGIII]

Continuing to look great Ian!
RAGIII

[Des]

You are doing a great job with the engines Ian, looking forward to seeing the cylinders fitted.

Des.

[IanB]

Thanks everyone! I must admit it would be a lot easier without the guesswork. I just can't find pics of these early Argus 6 cylinder engines with the flat underside to the crankcase, so I'm basing most of it on pics of the 4 cylinder engines which appear to have been very similar in layout.

 I got a few more hours in this afternoon, most of it trying to work out what needs to go where, and what size stock I should use. I did get the magnetos done, using HO scale 4 x 6 (1.09 x 1.68mm) rod and fitted them to one of the blocks, along with the PE gear that I have from the Miniworld Scarff ring, so that I could then gauge the sizes needed for the other gears. I think I'm going to use left over PE Vickers gun ends from an Airwaves set I have (Airwaves have to be useful for something surely?) for the other large gear, and just use plastic rod for the mag drives.

 Here's how it looks with those bits on...



 Ready for some paint I think, then I can start to think about adding the cylinders........

Thanks for looking in!

Ian

[steveb]

Nice! So much difference than what it in the box!

Steve

[lone modeller]

Engines are not the easiest of thing to make - you make it look easy! That is really good - I doubt whether anyone knows any better than you so why worry?

Stephen.

[IanB]

Thanks Steve and Stephen,

I'm not really worrying, I just want them looking the part! I also think I'll skip the extra details and just use the one gear wheel, I think it adds enough and gives the look I'm after...
 Here is where I am now, with the cylinders and the gear wheels added..





 I now need to start adding the induction and cooling pipework....

Thanks for looking in!

Ian

[jeroen_R90S]

Cool stuff!

[Juan]

Those engines are coming alive (incredible at this scale).  Look forward to your progress.

[lone modeller]

Excellent engines Ian. I would have scratch built the whole thing I think - the work you are doing you might just as well!

Stephen.

[IanB]

Many thanks for the feedback!

 I had another day to work on this today due to the airport being covered in ice, so I worked on the plumbing. First, the return plumbing for the cooling system...made from some scrap copper wire (I have no idea of the size I'm afraid, but it looks right!)....



and all done....



I then decided to do the inlet manifolds. For these I used .020" brass rod. Aluminium would have been nicer but I didn't have any in stock, so I'll just have to paint it!





I'm happy with that!
 The biggest problem now is going to be adding more detail without breaking off what is already there, so I may mount the engines on the wing for the next steps...not sure yet, but it's a definite option.....

Thanks for looking in!

Ian

[Des]

The engines are looking superb Ian, looking forward to seeing them mounted on the wing.

Des.

[IanB]

Thanks Des!
 I'm a little disappointed in myself for not checking the engine mounts before painting them. All the mounts are the same, but the inner engines sit slightly further forward, so that meant I had to add a small piece of plastic card to the front of 4 of the mounts, then sand them down to a wedge shape....



 This will allow the mounts to fit the wing in the same place, but for the engines to sit further forward on the mounts. They are now in the process of being painted, and once done, I will start to attach the engines to the wing. I'll do that one engine at a time, starting on the right, so that I have easy access to the left side of each engine in turn to add the push rods and other final details without having to worry about actually handling the engines and breaking bits off. The wings will be attached to the fuselage only after the engines are done.

At least that's the plan......

Ian

[lone modeller]

Thanks Des!
 I'm a little disappointed in myself for not checking the engine mounts before painting them. All the mounts are the same, but the inner engines sit slightly further forward, so that meant I had to add a small piece of plastic card to the front of 4 of the mounts, then sand them down to a wedge shape....



 This will allow the mounts to fit the wing in the same place, but for the engines to sit further forward on the mounts. They are now in the process of being painted, and once done, I will start to attach the engines to the wing. I'll do that one engine at a time, starting on the right, so that I have easy access to the left side of each engine in turn to add the push rods and other final details without having to worry about actually handling the engines and breaking bits off. The wings will be attached to the fuselage only after the engines are done.

At least that's the plan......

Ian

…..and the best laid plans of mice and men……..

Wishing you the best of luck Ian. Will be following with interest when I get back from my next trip.

Stephen.

[lcarroll]

Great job on the engines Ian, they really came together nicely. From what I see on the News Channel you will probably get more then one day off, fairly serious weather down your way! Enjoy the break and keep those updates coming!
Cheers,
Lance

[IanB]

Thanks Lance,
Here on Cape Cod we pretty much dodged the bullet. Nothing but some rain and high winds for us, so mostly a non-event!

Ian