What category

Maybe a new category called "Scratch Projects" should be created for things such as that.  What say, Aaron?

Times ago i scratchbuild a sci-fi tank and posted in the scratchbuild section the complete wip i'll leave there, now just need to be painted and will post in the sci-fi section when finished. I think it's just personal taste, you also can double the posts in the scratchbuild and aircraft sections ,don't think someone want not

Doh!  I see we already have a scratchbuilding category here on the forum!  Just never noticed it before.

Don, I am going to build two Issotta Fraschini Asso 2000's in 1/35. It's a W configuration 18 cylinder in engine, air cooled. They aren't particularly large models and will be viewed in the engine room of a boat model from above. I bought a CD with the drawings, but don't really know where to start. Should I make one and cast the pieces for the other? Any other MTB builders (MAS too) want a pair?

Is there any success in building a fairly distinct engine from parts of others available, or, as I suspect, is it better to just bite the valve cover and start from scratch?

It's an interesting power train, as directly behind the power output there's a Alfa Romeo four cylinder inline engine in parallel with a power transfer gear, for slow cruising. Those I figure can be found at least close.

But, where's a good place to start?

Bondoman if this could help here my typhoon and grief wips with scratched engines:

Hawker Typhoon

HE-177

also i'm building the italeri macchi 205 with scratched db-605 starting with a balsa wood piece in italian GB

bondoman

Don, I am going to build two Issotta Fraschini Asso 2000's in 1/35. It's a W configuration 18 cylinder in engine, air cooled. They aren't particularly large models and will be viewed in the engine room of a boat model from above. I bought a CD with the drawings, but don't really know where to start. Should I make one and cast the pieces for the other? Any other MTB builders (MAS too) want a pair?

Is there any success in building a fairly distinct engine from parts of others available, or, as I suspect, is it better to just bite the valve cover and start from scratch?

It's an interesting power train, as directly behind the power output there's a Alfa Romeo four cylinder inline engine in parallel with a power transfer gear, for slow cruising. Those I figure can be found at least close.

But, where's a good place to start?

My own rule of thumb is to only make molds to make three or more of an identical part.  The cost and effort to make the RTV molds (the resin isn't cheap either) are enough that I will build two identical parts, but if I need more than that, I will cast.  If, for instance, those were V type engines with seperate cylinder blocks, so you have four to do total, I would definitely make one pattern and cast the rest, using the pattern as one of the final blocks.  But to get two cylinder blocks- no- I'd fabricate them both.  For instance, on the Hispano, I only need two of any part at the most, so I see no casting involved.  BTW, I make my engine models from basswood. 

Above is an example of an Offy midget race car engine I did in 1:4 scale.  Basswood is a fine material for scratchbuilding engines.  Tight grain easy to fill for painting.

Don, that Offy engine is outstanding.   At first glance, I would have sworn that it was all metal.

IMHO, put it in Scratchbuilt.  Misc. could mean a kitbash or 1/2 and 1/2, but when you say Scratchbuilt, it stands for "From Scratch" which is what you do and extremely well too.

Jim

fox

Don, that Offy engine is outstanding.   At first glance, I would have sworn that it was all metal.

IMHO, put it in Scratchbuilt.  Misc. could mean a kitbash or 1/2 and 1/2, but when you say Scratchbuilt, it stands for "From Scratch" which is what you do and extremely well too.

Jim

I have never been to a contest which has a seperate scratchbuild (genre) category.  Some large meets have a scratchbuilt subcategory within a genre ( aircraft- scratchbuilt), but that still leaves me with the choice aircraft-scratchbuilt (or car-scratchbuilt) vs misc- scratchbuilt.

Some shows do have special awards for best scratch model, but still need to decide genre- aircraft/car or misc.  So the question is, do folks accept a scratchbuilt aircraft engine as an aircraft entry, or a scratchbuilt car engine as a car entry.  Or do only complete aircraft or cars belong in those categories.