Ilya Muromets- This biplane is DONE!

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

This is looking fantastic.

...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....   

Well Done, Mike!  Congratulations and kudos!

Brian 

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

Darwin, O.F. 

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. 

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. 

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!

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.

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! 

Now the REAL FUN starts.  Partial insanity is understandable upon completion of such an undertaking.

Darwin, O.F. 

Looking fantastic fella. Theres about a months worth of rigging there. Good luck.

...Guy

Short post tonight.  It's late, I've had a long day, and my bed is calling my name.  Although short, it IS important- my Ilya Muromets is now a real biplane!

All of the major details are here.  The next step is rigging, so I need to find some stuff that I was looking at to do it.  Hopefully it won't take too long to find some.  Until then- well, unfortunately, you'll have to wait.  Sorry.

Comments/criticisms welcome! 

Excellent job so far. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

...Guy

My Biology class is at night after Cross/Track practice and starts around 6.  On Monday the class goes for a bit longer than an hour, but on Wednesdays there's a lab that goes until 8 or 9 at night.  Nasty stuff.

Oh, did I mention my earliest class is tomorrow, at 8:30?  And I live at home, so I'm going to have to wake up around 7. 

i have 2 of those (diff brands) in my stash 

i looked at them and put them back

your a braver man then i

She looks very nice, Mike!  Can't wait to see it finished.

Regards,

Mark

Ugh. Too much time in classes. I know on Wednesdays I'm going to want to die... I've got class at 9:30-10:20, 11:30-1:20, then I've got work from 2-11:30. Driving a bus is cool, but not when you drive for that long!

So what the heck kind of class goes on that long?! 

Thanks for the comments everybody.  Right now I'm adding a few final details before securing the top wing, stuff like the two extra fins (and associated linkages), the tailskid, and the hundreds of control horns.  I tell you what, the whole tail area looks a LOT busier now than it does in the photos!  And I'm not even done with it, yet! 

RadMax8 wrote:

P.S. Now that school's started back up, you still gonna be making good progress? I know I won't

I want to say yes, but I must be realistic- probably not!  I have a class that goes until 8 or 9 at night two days every week, and when I'm home I'll probably be working.  For this build, though, I can get it to the point of rigging, and then slowly add a line or two whenever I get the spare minute or two to do so.  Can't let it get in the way of homework, though.

I'll get some new photos up in a bit, right before I attach the top wing.  It's getting close, now... 

looking forward to the finished product, so far so good.

Roy

Mike,  She's looking nicer with each update.  As for the rigging - You don't have to think of it as a LOT of rigging - It's just a little rigging... alotta times.

May your hands be steady and your patience long - Complicated rigging really does make for an impressive model in the end - I'm sure you'll do great.

Chris

Glad you bit the bullet, Mike! That thing looks pretty darn good with paint and decals! Do you have a lot of rigging? I hope you can keep your sanity, that's a big pair of wings!

P.S. Now that school's started back up, you still gonna be making good progress? I know I won't

Well, I finally got fed up and dragged the compressor inside so I could get some painting and decalling done.  One or two nights later, and look at the difference!

This is still just a dry fit.  As soon as I get all the exhausts placed I'll get the engines attached to the wing for good.  THEN I need to attach the upper wing and do a small bit of rigging in where the fuel tanks go, then I can slip the fuel tanks in afterward.  Then it's onward to the main event- RIGGING!

Overall, I think she looks rather nice, wouldn't you say? 

Alright, here's a bit of an update, as I am unable to paint much due to the weather.  I got one engine completely finished, including radiator and exhaust pipes. 

Also, I have the two fuel tanks all painted up and detailed awaiting their installation on the inner cabine pylons.

And finally, a bit of a false mockup- the top wing, engines, and fuel tanks aren't glued into place, and the undersides are still primer colored.  From this angle, though, you really can't tell. 

Enjoy! 

Thanks, guys.  I think I'm going to repaint everything- I was able to find a color that's more or less the same as it is now, but it's not a custom mix- therefore, I don't have to worry about running out for touchups and whatnot.  It may be a shade or two lighter, but not by much.

Merry Christmas, everybody!