Wacky Russian triplane: MAYBE some good news....

Oh, Mike.....man, what a drag....you must have been shattered....then completely embarassed to admit what you've done.
My hat's off to you for coming clean - I'm not sure I could have been so honest.
I've always enjoyed watching the progress of your builds....just keep up the good work - and take the time to realise what an excellent learning experience this all has been - life wasn't meant to be easy.

Cheers, brother......

Do it. Come on just do it, Mike. All you buddies want to see it. It'll make you feel good!

Get to it Mike! Thank you for sharing your talent here with us. It's really cool to see someone my age tackle such a daunting project, then realize how worthless I am

Alright guys, don't get excited, but I MAY have a bit of good news concerning this particular build.  I gave up completely on this build, it's true.  But a plane this crazy can't be kept down forever, and recently I've noticed I'm being drawn to this plane again: downloading pictures, remebering the old build, and SPECIFICALLY what went wrong.

You see, the wings on my first build were the culprit.  Made of plastic, they were too long, too floppy, and too weak, especially when the stut holes were introduced.  I may have found a solution, though.  If I use a sheet of thin-ish brass, I may be able to cut out the shape of the wing and curve it, thus giving it enough strength to hold its shape across the entire span, at least until I get the rigging finished.

Basically what I'm saying is that I MAY take another crack at building this triplane.  And soon.  I've already bought the brass, and am currently conducting feasablity and proof-of-concept experements.  So far, all of them have been encouraging.  Encouraging enough for me to want to give this build another try.

Like I said, don't get your hopes up yet, but this build is (right now) FAR from over...

Well, I haven't tossed a model against the wall yet. But I am building up a pretty decent sized Wall of Shame. And that's with shake & bake kits. I'm afraid if I tried to make a scratch build it would just end up a disjointed mess of styrene.

Don't feel too bad. You push the envelope. And push it hard. Sometimes it pushes back. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. So far the only thing I know that you shouldn't keep trying at is parachuting. 

Now, THAT'S the stage I'm at with my Spruce Goose! 

That's why no progress is sometimes a good thing...... 

Well Mike, i Think you da man. To come on here with the eyes of the whole community watching. Attempting the Modelling Nirvana, A scratchbuild. Who cares it went South. I know for sure ill watch your next online build. You got skills fella

...Guy

Thanks for understanding, guys.  I just really hate to get everyone's hopes up only to dissapoint.

What's worse, not three hours before this "incident", I actually had a mockup of all three wings attached.  Let me tell you, it looked pretty sweet. But on the bright side, I can finally fix that feeling that I was building it a bit large and that I screwed up on the plans early on.

Ah, well.  I can't do much now except get back on the scratchbuilding horse and try again.  Remember that gigantic 12 engined Russian bomber proposal, the ANT-26 that I keep saying I'm going to build?  Well, a 1/4 scale model glider was built as a testbed.  While I don't have any photos of the glider, I can scale down a set of plans for the ANT-26 and make my best guess of what it'd have looked like.  It's going to be more difficult that this build was becasue I have to build a thick, tapering wing, but I need to learn how to do it eventually.

I'm not going to close the door to another one of these little triplanes, though.  Just don't expect anything very soon at all. 

Lucien Harpress wrote:

Then you're really going to hate what I have to say next.  I'll be the first to admit I have a bit of a temper, and more than once a model has been on the receiving end of it.  My Avro 504 a while back was a recent vicitm.  Unfortunately, it's claimed another plane. Yup, you guessed it.  It was a combination of things.  A bottom wing that I put WAY too much time into only to come out terrible, wing struts that were too thick, a nasty orange peel after a night wasted painting, and a snapped wing all added up to total model destruction. No, I don't plan to rebuild. No, I don't plan to build another.  Not now.  Not for a while.  Perhaps not ever. I really hate to do this to you guys, and the fact that this is the second build I've destroyed like this is simply unacceptable.  I apologize.      I think it's time to take a break.  Sorry guys, but unfortunately, this build is over.

Mike,

We have all been there, some of us MANY times , especially me!  The darned things have ended up as thrown targtes for my 12 ga. or simply missiles across the room, but I have never been big enough to admit it.  You are to be commended for your candor, it takes a big man to admit something and you have absolutely no reason to apologize to us.  We feel your pain and encourage you heartily on your next project!    Here's to you, Lucien Harpress!

Brian 

Don't feel too bad Mike! 

I am going to share this with all of you;

I have botched the Tamiya 1/48 P-51D THREE times!!! 

I think most would agree that it's one of the easiest shake-n-bake kits, yet I have not a single one in my display case!

We all understand. I am sure that each of us has sent a model to the scrap-bin in a most unbecoming manner.

Once I really botched an F-20 Tigershark... took off my shoe and beat that thing Ike Turner style

Greetings Mike,

I understand those feelings of angst.  From my Laws of Modeling 101.  I picked this up from Derek Brown an IPMS Judges Grand Champion.

#17.) Tossing a finished, half finished scratchbuilt and / or expensive model kit against the furthest wall in your basement at 90mph is the most sincerest form of self-criticism. But doesn't live up to the acclaimed rush that is supposed to follow.

Then you're really going to hate what I have to say next. 

I'll be the first to admit I have a bit of a temper, and more than once a model has been on the receiving end of it.  My Avro 504 a while back was a recent vicitm.  Unfortunately, it's claimed another plane.

Yup, you guessed it. 

It was a combination of things.  A bottom wing that I put WAY too much time into only to come out terrible, wing struts that were too thick, a nasty orange peel after a night wasted painting, and a snapped wing all added up to total model destruction.

No, I don't plan to rebuild.

No, I don't plan to build another.  Not now.  Not for a while.  Perhaps not ever.

I really hate to do this to you guys, and the fact that this is the second build I've destroyed like this is simply unacceptable.  I apologize. 

I think it's time to take a break.  Sorry guys, but unfortunately, this build is over. 

Great work! I'm enjoying this very much, especially the wings.

    Eddie

I was finally able to crack out the airbrush and lay down the main colors for this beast.  Along with that I added a few of the major struts and, after painting, built up a respectable undercarriage.

The plane is, alas, not a complete scratchbuild.  The wheels, prop, and engine are scavanged from the same Avro 504 the cowl came from. 

Here's a mockup of the next wing in it's proper position.

Imagine the third wing just ahead of the prop, the same distance from the center as the rear one.

This little beasty is definitely coming along! 

Okay, tiny update.  I bowed to the fates and decided to scavange the engine parts from an Avro 504 kit.  I plan to use the prop, engine, cowling, and wheels from the Airfix kit.  So far I only have the cowling attached, as everything else is stuff I need to add after painting.

Oh yeah, I primed it too.  

I just need to add one or two minor details, and then it's off to the paint shop.  Then I have to finish two more wings, paint them, and then begin major assembley.  Man this is such a backwards plane.... 

Looks surprisingly like something that tried to sting me earlier today.... LOL Vile Beasty.

Looks the buisness. I take my hat off to you scratchers. Bigger cahooners than I.

...Guy

Okay, she's a bit farther along now:

Since last time I've added a control panel, a fairing over it up front, I backed off the rear of the cockpit, and oh yeah, added wings.

I think they are pretty close to scale tickness, but are VERY flimsy.  This is one of those builds when rigging will actually help keep the model rigid.  Well, I hope so, anyway.

The control panel was simplicity itself- a piece of plastic painted black was covered with a piece of paper bag with dial holes cut out of it.  Simple, and the result is suprisingly realistic.

Next up?  Well, its a biggie.  I need to start on the engine.  And because I have nothing to scavange from, it's another "start from scratch" assembly.

Ah, well.  At least is looks like an airplane now..... 

Gerarddm wrote:

Nice idea, good luck with it.  BTW, where I used to be from, in the context you are using in your subject title ( as in 'wild and crazy guys'), it would be spelled "wacky", whereas if you ran afoul of Tony Soprano, you'd be "whacky", or "whacked".

I have no idea what you're talking about....   

BTW, Title fixed.

Neat subject- can't wait to see how that comes along!

You always choose such interesting subjects.