Help from all expert scratchbuilders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lucien Harpress

Member since
June 2003
From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.

Help from all expert scratchbuilders!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Lucien Harpress on Friday, May 7, 2004 7:57 PM

I'm thinking of doing a project that is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay over my skill level (which right now is about 0), and need some help.

Check out the link in my signature to see what the heck I'm doing.

Despite the complicated look, the only reason I tell myself I can handle it is because the only major plastic surgury (how many times has that been used?) I will have to do is that center section between engines four and five. But, as I said before, my skills are nil. My question- what would be the best way to match the airfoil of each wing across the whole section, and what would be the best way to make it? Right now, the only theory I have is to glue a stack of sheet styrene together, and sand out the final shape. Very wasteful, I know, but I think it's something I can do. If there's anything easier, though, I would be glad to hear it!

Thank's!!

That which does not kill you makes you stranger...

-The Joker

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maddafinga

Member since
March 2003
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Posted by maddafinga on Friday, May 7, 2004 7:58 PM

You've got me on how to do it. I am completely at a loss. The finished product would be really really cool though. I'd love to see progress pics and a finished build of it.

Best of luck to you!

Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga

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rjkplasticmod

Member since
February 2003
From: A Spartan in the Wolverine State

Posted by rjkplasticmod on Friday, May 7, 2004 9:08 PM

Well you certainly aren't afraid of a little challenge. Your idea of building up the center wing section from sheet styrene would work. If $ isn't an issue, and since you will need 2 kits to start with, might consider using 3 kits and cutting the needed wing section from the spare. I'm not sure that would be dimensionally correct, but from the plan view it would seem to be close.

RICK

At My Age, I've Seen It All, Done It All, But I Don't Remember It All...

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, May 7, 2004 9:12 PM

I think the best way would be to build it like an actual wing....make ribs out of styrene, and then use styrene sheet over the top like it's sheet metal. Honestly, I think that would be the easiest and fastest way. Also, it wouldn't be too hard to do since the width only has to match the two wings......I mean there's no drastic change of shape, once you build one rib you are happy with, just duplicate until you have all you need. (you should duplicate a couple extra just in case.) The best way to get an idea of making the rids and braces would be to get a hold of some RC plane blueprints, and just kinda duplicate it (as much as possible) on the scale you need. Let us know how it turns out!!!

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Lufbery

Member since
December 2002
From: Harrisburg, PA

Posted by Lufbery on Friday, May 7, 2004 10:05 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lucien Harpress
My question- what would be the best way to match the airfoil of each wing across the whole section, and what would be the best way to make it?

Lucien,

Check out the link below on scratch building wings:

http://www.wwimodeler.com/escadrille.html

It's based on the method pioneered by Harry Woodman in his book, Scale Model Aircraft in Plastic Card first printed in the '60s, but available at this web address:

http://www.wwimodeler.com/harry/woodman.html

Good luck!

-Drew

Build what you like; like what you build.

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ChrisJH666

Member since
January 2004
From: Brisbane Australia

Posted by ChrisJH666 on Saturday, May 8, 2004 2:12 PM

The stub end of the outer wing you cut off will give you a template for the correct profile for your new centre section. It might be a good idea though to build it with a good strong centre spar running from one to the other rather than just relying on the wing joints to hold it all together

In the queue: 1/48 Beech Staggerwing (RAAF), P38 (RAAF), Vultee Vengeance (RAAF), Spitfire Vb (Malta), Spitfire VIII x2 (RAAF), P39 x2 (RAAF), Martin Baltimore (Malta?), Martin Maryland (Malta), Typhoon NF1b, Hellcat x2 (FAA)

Chris

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Lucien Harpress

Member since
June 2003
From: A Computer in Adrian, (SE) Michigan.

Posted by Lucien Harpress on Saturday, May 8, 2004 4:28 PM

You know, honestly, making the ribs, then laying the "skin" over top of it never occured to me! I does sound a lot better than my idea. The only reason I went with it is because I had some extra sheet plastic stock lying around from a previous project.

Thanks for the spar suggestion, too. Reading reviews on the internet of the kit, it was generally good, except for lack of any spars inside the wings. I would defenitly expect I would need to put something inside it.

It also makes wiring the engines easier using this method. (Yes, on top of everything else, I plan to motorize this puppy! I have my ordeal with that posted in a different topic.) I just realized how difficult it would be to drill holes for the wires all the way through the thing using my method.

Thanks for the help!

That which does not kill you makes you stranger...

-The Joker

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