WOW!!!!  That's some amazing work!  And to think, I have trouble putting a kit together!  You are a true inspiration.  Keep us posted on all of your work.  I will be watching!

scorpr2 wrote:

WOW!!!!  That's some amazing work!  And to think, I have trouble putting a kit together!  You are a true inspiration.  Keep us posted on all of your work.  I will be watching!

Thanks a million for the very supportive and kind comments. Your way too kind, scorpr2.

Sorry about the wait, I'll admit I sorta got lazy. Long story short it's been sittin' on my bench with me saying I'll get to it tommorrow and tommorrow didn't arrive untill almost a month later.

I glued on the supports that hold the rear axle to the frame, along with connecting the axle to the supports. It took a bit longer then expected, since I had to do constant measuring with a ruler to make sure the support brackets weren't too close, not too far, but just right. That so the height of the wheels(later put on) is at the key amount. Also had to use a level to ensure the axle wasn't sagging to far to one side(which could later give the build a lopsided view.)

As for what glue I used, I couldn't use the standard glue that bonds stryene. So I first applied a little Elmer's Nano Glue, (basically Gorilla Glue), to the ends of the support brackets where it would be touching the wood. Then I took some Krazy glue and applied a tad over the Nano Glue. The Nano glue has almost a 4 hour setting time, so I needed something to bond it quick to make sure it wouldn't move when setting(I also couldn't wait that long for the Nano glue to dry.) I then reapeated this process when connecting the axle itself to the supports.

I also started work on the front wheel. I already have an axle for it(using the clear green Lego rod I used for the supports on the rear axle.)  I also made the parts where the supports will touch on the axle. To make these parts, I simply took a piece of sprue and cut it. Then made another cut to get a small piece that sorta looks like a pancake. Taking that piece I drilled it out to fit the axle aka clear lego. Just be sure not to drill to quickly or you'll crack the fragile piece.

All comments, questions, and suggestions welcome!

sfcmac wrote:

I really ge a thrill out of watching you create complex parts out of things like lego's or whatever you see handy that can fill the bill.  Excellent brainwork and problem solving skills at work here!  It looks good too!

Thanks for the comments, sfcmac!! Glad you're enjoying the build and my scratch skills. Believe it or not, in a weird sorta way scratching parts has sorta become like a chess match. For each random part I think of using, it's like I'm thinking ahead in a chess move, seeing which part can go where and what will get the best results. Weird......hope I'm not going crazy.

scorpr2 wrote:

Then you must be a great chess player!!!  I'm still learning to scratch build stuff, so watching this is very inspirational!  Keep it up.

Actually I'm a bloody terrible chess player that couldn't win to save his life. Seriously, I have trouble remebering all the rules and etc. like which piece can move where at what time. Anyways thanks for the comments and for checkin' out the build, scorpr2!

Sorta been awhile since my last update, but I didn't really have that much to show for. I had started on the wheels almost a month ago, with this plan to make the tires out of rubber washers. This entitled cutting them to size, trimming the width, and inverting them......long story short this never really panned out. So only today, did I scrap that plan and moved on to a new one.

I finally went to the basement and got the o-rings out and to my amazement their was a size that was pretty much perfect for the gears. I had thought about using o-rings orginally, but I didn't think I had any the right size....d'oh. So a month later of useless work, I finally got the wheels near completion.

O-rings come in many different sizes, and the set I have has about 225 pieces, with sizes all under an inch. So if you're looking for a specific size, you'll more then likely find it.

After finding the closest size to fitting my gears, I did some test fitting. This helped me figure out that the gears would have to be slighty smaller to fit inside the o-ring. Thus I got out the industrial files and started shaving down the brass teeth of the gear. I didn't shave the teeth flush off, since the o-ring wouldn't have a nice tight fit.

As for the files, any grit/groove is fine. However you'll want to use the ones with much bigger grits/grooves, that way it doesn't take you forever to shave down the teeth.

Then after the shaving down of the gear teeth, I slipped the o-rings around the gear. Thus making a wheel(even if it is a bit crude.) Now I have to actually glue the o-rings to the gear, which I have to do later today.

As for the axle supports, I've finished drilling out all the styrene and collecting all the pieces I need. Thus I can soon get to putting together the front axle, and putting on all three wheels.

All comments, questions, and suggestions welcome!

Yep, those wheels look nothing like those gears anymore. I applied a layer of nano glue all over the gears surface(including the sides of where it's not touching the o-ring. After that dried, I ran into a small problem. The glue expands(bubbles up) where ever theirs moisture. It must have not been dry or something because in a few areas the glue bubbled up. So to resolve the problem, I took good-ole Elmer's glue and filled in the hub area to make it a nice smooth surface(had to use a good amount.) After all that dried I painted the hub ModelMaster Neutral Gray, the wheels Floquil weathered black, and finally took an extra fine sharpie to the area between the hub and wheel.

With the wheels painted I could finally attach them. I took a few hours and did some dry-fitting. For the rear axle, I then dabbled on some nano glue to the axle tips and put on one of those black pieces I drilled out, then the wheel, and then the other black cap piece.(I added those small black painted pieces inorder to ensure the wheel doesn't go crooked.) For the lone front wheel the process was pretty much the same, except alot of adjustments had to be done when the glue was drying.

All comments and questions welcome! Construction now looks like it will move to the engine/bolier.

sfcmac wrote:

I wondered if you had been making any progress lately MG!  Such a unique build that you are doing stellar work on. I really enjoy looking over what your doing. Inspires me when I have to go beyond whats in the box to get the results I want!

Glad your enjoying the build so far, sfcmac. Thanks for the kind comments!!! 

Man I wish more modeler's like you checked in. This thread has been dead quiet with barely any comments/posts/views. Heck during my last update I didn't have a single response.

 I wouldn't sweat it too much MG!  Much more a sign of the summer season than a reflection of your work. I have noticed that replies are down all over. More than likely your just a victim of timing I'd say!

 Well maybe you better check your deodorant...

 We're all watching silently. Afterall, if we were to throw out a couple awesomes and fantastics, what great words would we have when this bird gets done. Seriously though, it's comming along nicely, I myself was wondering if this was still going, glad to see that it is! Can't wait to see the "blinds" go up......er....would it be down? Very nice, I'm learning a thing or two!!

              FERMIS

sfcmac- Well it's good to know my thread's not the only one suffering from slow traffic.

fermis- Thanks for checkin' in and for the comments! For a second there I was worried no one else(other then sfcmac) was followin' the WIP. Well I hope I don't dissapoint when I 'pull down the blinds'.

Interesting subject and build.  I have enough trouble putting kits together let alone try something like this!

Mike

Buckeye wrote:

Interesting subject and build.  I have enough trouble putting kits together let alone try something like this! Mike

Thanks for the comments, Buckeye. Glad you like the subject.

I have been watching your build from the beginning mg.mikael with great interest and envying your skills. I still feel I have trouble figuring out which end of my knife cuts in my scratch building attempts. Your build and a few others have inspiared me to try and build some skills in this area of modeling. Keep up the good work.

Hi MG. This has the makings of being a real eyepopping build. Ive seen pics of the mulitiplane but never a model, and in 1/32 this is going to be a showstopper.

Sorry about not responding sooner. I know how disheartened a builder can feel if he feels like hes been rabbitting on to himself for post after post. Anyhoo, look how many views the post has.

...Guy

vetteman42- Thanks for the comments! Great to hear my build is encouraging you to try out some scratching techniques.

Luftwoller- Thanks for the very kind comments! I hope when finished this build is a stunner(because it will for sure will be one of a kind.)

I finally got started with the engine/boiler, that meant scavenging for parts. Luckily, I had a few ideas in my head for what I was planning to use so that saved some time. Plus I found some parts I thought I would have to make myself, so that was a real time saver.

Here's a pic of all the random parts I gathered so far. It doesn't look like much now, but in due time it will start to look like something. The oil barrel (in pieces) you see there(from Tamiya's 1/35 Jerry can Set) will be made into the boiler itself. The two white Lego pieces that are slightly cuved like bowls, will be the end pieces of the boiler. The flat green piece of styrene you see there(which came from my 1/35 Zvezda scout car, it was orginally the armored radiator slats) will be going to make a top plate on the boiler(where the piston rods come through.) Finally the tie-tag you see there(came from one of those Christmas toys that is impossible to open) will be used to make the exhaust pipe. Since it has the metal in it, it easily keeps it shape, thus perfect for making it curve the way I want.

I sanded off all the markings/ridges that make the oil barrel look like an oil barrel. Thus creating something that looks more like a boiler instead. Then I took the two lego pieces and cut/sanded off all the placement bumps so they lay perfectly flat.

Then it's just a simple action of attaching them to the former oil barrel. Thus creating a simple boiler that still has curved ends and detail. Note: the end pieces aren't permanetly on since I still have to do some drilling and etc.

Finally I made a list for myself, so I know what I have left to do just on the steam engine itself. As you can see I still have a lot of drilling, sanding, modifying, and scavenging ahead of me. Though at least I found some rivets in a stash kit that look perfect, so I'll save some time there.

All comments and questions welcome!!

 It looks as if you are in a zone to me!  The problem solving skills and imagination you are using to visualize in your mind what you want to make and then create it out of lego's extc really impress me. 

Sniff sniff... Still smells funny in here though. What exactly are you boiling in the boiler?

 Seiously I am wondering what you will come up with nex and getting anxious to see the results!

sfcmac wrote:

It looks as if you are in a zone to me!  The problem solving skills and imagination you are using to visualize in your mind what you want to make and then create it out of lego's extc really impress me.  Sniff sniff... Still smells funny in here though. What exactly are you boiling in the boiler?  Seiously I am wondering what you will come up with nex and getting anxious to see the results!

Thanks for the comments, sfcmac!

That funny smell isn't the boiler.....I think it's coming from the stove. It smells like natural gas, so I guess the gas line must be leaking or something. Somebody light me a candle so I can get a better look.

 *Off-topic I just got my September issue of FSM and to my suprise I had another tip published(Fun with Hot Beverages 2)!!!! Yahooooo, man that really made my day. Now I'm just wondering why FSM didn't tell me or pay me......hmmmm.*

ilovef-4 wrote:

Mg, just found this post and am going to be watching this one with interest. Keep up the brianstroming, i like the Legos idea for pieces in this build. Who said Legos are only for kids. Nice job so far and keep up the good work. Charlie

Glad you found the thread and I'm happy it caught your interest, ilovef-4! Thanks for the comments.

No I didn't forget about this build, I just haven't had the time to work on it(I'll blame it my terrible time management and recent schedule changes.) Thus that's why it's been more then a month since my last update. But alas, here is a small update......finally!

I started work on getting together more parts for the engine and propeller. I did find a lego piece that's just about perfect for the propeller shaft and I also started work on preparing the pieces for the piston rods. One of these pieces is the plate that goes on top of the boiler,(where the rods stick out of.) For this piece I used the radiator armor slat piece from my Zvezda M-3 Scout car kit. After preparing the piece, I measured where the six rods will go(making sure they all were evenly spaced apart.) Then I simply drilled out the holes. Note: I still have to make the rods, out of stretched sprue.

I also finished the top of the piston rods where the rod will attach to one side and where the propeller shaft will go through the openings. For this I went back to drilling out some "pancake" cut pieces of sprue. Then I attached a small piece of sprue and sanded it down so the sides were angled. That's how I got the tear-drop shapes of the pieces. Then I simply threw on alot(and I mean alot) of putty to fill in imperfections.

Next work will be moving to making the piston rods, that way I can get the plate attached to the boiler. All comments, questions, and suggestions are appreciated!!

Very nice work. I love the improvisations of the Lego piece and other odds and sods from the spares box. You scratchers  have some serious talent, in my eye,

...Guy

Luftwoller wrote:

Very nice work. I love the improvisations of the Lego piece and other odds and sods from the spares box. You scratchers  have some serious talent, in my eye, ...Guy

Thanks for checkin' in Luftwoller!! Glad you like the improvised parts out of Legos, they suprisingly enough need little clean-up and work perfectly.

santa wrote:

mg. mikael--I envy you for all the rieplies to your post. OH-and my H-18 is on page 4 of this forum.

LOL! You envy me for my replies, I envy you for your amazing scratch-building skills. Thanks for checking out my build, your H-18 is amazing.

I'm glad this got bumped to the top since I hadn't seen it before.

She looks great so far and I'll love to see her when she's done.

 I love the scratch-building stuff, seems I can't even get a kit build and you guys are building stuff from bits and pieces!