Ilya Muromets- This biplane is DONE!

Well, not only is my Spruce Goose cursed, so is my Ilya Muromets!

I finally got my rigging material in the mail today.  So, I'm all set to get rigging.  I set the Ilya on the desk, spin around to get something else... and hear a crash.

APPARENTLY the coat I had on the back of the seat had enough reach to get at my model and send it on a three foot flight- straight down.  One wing busted off, nearly all the stuts disconnected from one wing, one major cabine post disconnected and over 13 struts completely off.   

I was able to get the one wing back on, and tonight, when I SHOULD be rigging, I'm instead going to see if I can get all the stuts back where they need to be.  The ONLY thing that made me try to salvage it is all the work I've already put into it.

But still.  Honestly?  This seriously me off! 

I have some good news.  I was able to get the wing back on and most of the stuts.  I only have three or four left, so it looks like I'll be able to salvage it.   Thankfully.

I'm happy to hear that because I did not want to see that bird remain unfinished, or should I say I want to see it finished. Maybe its time to go buy a snaptite F-16 and a sixpack and have a fling in front of the beast to humble it.

Hows that tripe? I thought the brass wing idea was brilliant!

bondoman wrote:

I'm happy to hear that because I did not want to see that bird remain unfinished, or should I say I want to see it finished. Maybe its time to go buy a snaptite F-16 and a sixpack and have a fling in front of the beast to humble it. Hows that tripe? I thought the brass wing idea was brilliant!

If only I could.  You see, I can't really get a six pack because I'm not legally allowed to for another 10 months.  Ah, the joys of being 20- not a teenager, but not really an adult. 

The tripe is doing fine.  Just primed it today and should be able to paint once the weather lets me. 

Good news, everyone!  (Oh, how I miss Futurama...)  After staying up until 1:00 last night, err... this morning, I was able to get all the stuts back where they need to be, and I'm happy to say the kit is none the worse for wear!  The wing root of the wing that busted off looks a bit funky, but not so bad it's noticeable.

I got a LITTLE rigging done, right by the fuel tanks.  Just enough so I could get the tanks attached.  I'll get some photos up soon, but right now I've got to leave for an Indoor Track meet in Saginaw Michigan.  I tell you what, though, it looks pretty sweet. 

Congrats on resurrecting the beast from diaster.  You have the patience of Job and then some.

Darwin, O.F. 

Well Done, Mike!  Congratulations and kudos!

Brian 

...this is all I was able to get done!

Admittedly I'm taking my time, but still, rigging this thing is very tedious.  It's enjoyable, though.  It may be one of the more enjoyable parts of building a kit, right up there with decalling- gradually it looks more like an airplane and less like a model.

I'm using E-Z line, an elastic nylon thread.  I didn't drill all the way through any wing; I just put small divots in each area that is going to recieve a line.  I glue one end, let it dry, cut it a bit smaller than the gap it's going to cover, stretch it with tweezers to the other attachment point, glue it and (with my third hand) hit it with a bit of accelerator.  Five seconds later, and you have a rigging line!  Repeat ad nauseum until finished....   

ALL, ALL, ALL?? Incredible, I'd say, however it seems to have killed Yuri Gargarin.

This is looking fantastic.

Geeeez, that looks amazing so far. Ive rigged a WW1 Neiuport and that was serious hard graft. You had more work to do on 1/4 of one wing. This thing is going to be sooo cool when finished.

...Guy

Well, the wing is, anyway! 

There were a few hairy moments which resulted in nasty globs of superglue, like on one aileron wire, but it's not really noticable, and other than a few isolated cases, rigging went smoothly.  I was able to get the undercarriage installed and partially rigged (there's a few lines missing which connect to the outer wings which I'll get to later.

Since we're on the topic of ailerons, let me say this- the lines used to control them are some of the GOOFIEST things I've ever had to build.  Three lines on top branch out to six when they reach the control horns.  These merge down to four underneith the wing, which THEN all come down to one line which attaches to the forward lower wing!  Getting all this stuff attached TWICE?!  And keeping it SYMMETRICAL?!  Oh, buddy.  Very challenging.

This is the main reason I like the EZ-line- it stretches!

Next up- probably about six hours worth of rigging on the tail.  Until then! 

Most Impressive Mike.

The rigginig really makes it.

Chris

Oh man, that looks soo sweet. Did the plane have skids? Thats amazing. how on earth did it take off at all.

Great work fella, keep it up.

...Guy

It did, but the wheels attach to the open holes in the outside skids.  This was to help in the event of a rollover (a common occurance) or possibly a wheel failure (also common).  There WAS, however, at least one Ilya which was fitted with skis.

The wheels are going on later, once I find a suitable shade (I don't want to use the same color as the skids). 

WOW.

...A remarkable aircraft in astounding minature! I could gawk at it all day! Bravo! Truly, beyond COOL!

Sorry for the long delay folks, but lately I've been hammered when it comes to college.  I'm an art major, and I have a HUGE critique coming up with the entire art faculty, which I've been trying to prepare for.  I've been getting progress on my Ilya when I can, but it's definitely taken a back seat right now.

This build is nearly finished.  To tide you over, here's a few detail shots of what I WAS able to get done.

While the rigging on the wings was nice and orderly, the rigging on the tail is a venerable rats nest.  Not as difficult as the wings (more room to manuever), but still complex in its own right.

Spaghetti factory indeed...

A bit of work up front.  The guns are added, and some doohicky on the front.  Don't ask me what that is.  Parts for it were included in the kit (these are thinner replacements) and I saw ONE diagram for it in a book.  So, I put it in, just for visual flair.

Also got the wheels on.  Not sure if they're 100% correct, but they look right enough to me.

All that's left is one more gun mounting, and props.  Really close, now... 

Holy moly!

What a monster.  You are to be congratulated.....I'd have to be persuaded big time to attempt one of those.

Wow, all i can say is wow.

...Guy

Mike,

Very nice work on the tail.  It's an odd plane - which gives it a beauty all it's own.  Nice !

By the way - Nice doohicky !  (Am I allowed to say that ?)

Chris 

DURR wrote:

you should present this aircraft  to the faculty , because what you have here is definatly art

I said I was almost done- well, now I am done COMPLETELY!

Not too much to say, save that I'm really happy how the props turned out, especially for my first attempt at natural wood props.

Now, just for fun, here's a shot of my entire collection so far.