Even in 1/72 scale the Argus measures 23.72 inch wing spans and a 22.08 inch fuselage length. Drawings have been printed and need to be assembled before templates can be made. I have ordered some basswood with little hope of getting it before July. I may do one in pine until the basswood arrives.
Lou
Look forward to some progress pics as usual. Regards Paul J.
We have a "Friend Of The Argus" Facebook group that I wish to entice in making their own Argus. This build will be aimed at the novice builder.
Lou
Drawings have been printed in top and side views. The side view is in Excel (3 pages) and the top in Word (5 Pages). I will post the top images on the next post.
The side view is pasted into an Excel page and enlarged to have a fuselage length of 22.08 inches and a fuselage width of 2 inches. The common number is 2 inches for the fuselage. I printed several copies before getting the 2 in width.
The images are paste into a legal size Word doc. Test print the center section to get that magic 2 in fuselage width. Then the other sections are sized to the same percentage of the original to get all parts to show the same scale. The wings should be 23.72 and the fuselage 22.08 inches. It may take several tries but better to get it right. Note the port wing is just a reverse of the starboard and will not have a search light. I will cut and glue the fuselage top and bottom to card stock for the templates. Another set of drawings will be printed to make templates for the one piece wing. I have yet to decide if I will build the dihedral into the wing or shape it flat and cut the center section in a saw tooth fashion like the 1/48 and 1/32 versions.
Lou
Wood has been purchased. I look for the whitest and lightest pieces.
Lou
Just picked up a 2"X7"X72". Sweet, now I need to visit a saw mill to cut that down to workable size.
Lou
And so it begins. Nice straight grain light clear pine 1" X 6" X 8'. The upper portion will be cut along the lines and three of those will be laminated to form the fuselage and the bottom part will be the one piece wing. The tail surfaces will be cut from another board of almost the same quality.
Lou
PS. I was not able to secure a band saw large enough to slice the basswood. I will save it for other projects.
Looks like you found some quality timber there Lou, looking forward to some progress shots as usual. Regards Paul J.
The main wings have been marked by placing the drawing over the wood and placing pins at the junction spots. Once removed the pin holes are joined by pencil lines to form the shape of the wing. (Pictures 1 & 2)
Lou
The fuselage pieces are cut and will be glued shortly. The last picture reminds me of my early work circa 1954.
Lou
I always love watching your projects, Lou.
Garet
Thank you Garet. I hope the Argus group I belong to on Facebook will follow it as well.
Lou
The fuselage block is glued and the top surface is sanded square to the sides.
Lou
I cut out the paper profile and placed it on the side of the block and marked the location of the center fuselage breaks. These lines are applied to the all around the block and as wood is removed to the image edge, the lines will be continuously replaced.
Lou
The side view drawing was created by Pat Boulanger, a friend on the Facebook group "remember the Canadair CP-107 Argus" https://www.facebook.com/groups/235528537586/?ref=bookmarks
Lou
Some progress done in January but just photographed today. Note the ruler for size comparison.
Lou
Its a good size.
Cheers
Gordon
Spent a couple of hours planing the fuselage down to size and doing some contour work on the forward fuselage.
Louis
A bit more work on the Argus.
Louis
I have renewed interest in my Argus. I am carving the airfoil shape for the main plane.
Lou
Of course looking forward to more pictures of another fine model.
Some progress with the Argus. The vertical fin is rough carved and held in place with dowels.
Lou
Forward fuselage received some attention today.
Lou
Looking good Lou. What is the wood type; it seems to have a green tinge to it?
Fraser
The tinge is lighting. I am using laminated clear pine boards from my local lumber yard.
Lou
I rounded off the center fuselage today. I ordered and received a set of 1/72 Argus decals and the itch to get at it is back.
Lou
Nice to see a couple of resurections Lou, regards Paul J.
Good to see. I like the shape of the Argus.
Fraser
I you search Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/367296544077400/permalink/919573782183004 you will find that Michael Hill made this Argus.
(https://scontent-lga3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s600x600/141733249_1603168203205827_1086513511147181863_o.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=esN-TWGSqKsAX9FhGPB&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-2.xx&tp=7&oh=29695a33523e05cc1ee5d66b4b393810&oe=6045ADC5)
Lou
Engine nacelle templates cut. Spent a good hour sanding the fuselage. Another couple should have it where I want it.
Lou
After nearly a full year since my last post. The engine nacelles have been cut out and carving has started on an outboard engine.
Lou
The previous four nacelles are scraped and new ones fashioned. It happens!!!
Lou
I does Lou.
Looking good.
Gordon
Thank you Gordon. Sometimes, one needs to scrap parts and start over.
Lou
The engine nacelles are contoured and rough sanded. The wing has been thinned down to 15mm using my hand planer. Unusual for me is the building of a flat wing and I will cut to insert the dihedral. I wanted to avoid laminating the wing. The 1/32 and 1/48 versions required lamination despite being done flat and cut afterward.
Lou
Nacelle were further carved/sanded to as more circular shape and carburetor intake scoop installed.
Lou
Number 1 engine notched to the wing.
Lou
The nacelles are models in their own right. I think the turbo-compound engines are a marvel of engineering. There are a couple here at the local museum, but they have not been displayed very well and get overlooked.
Fraser
Some progress following a two week trip to see my son and daughter. Engines are test fitted to the wing and await minor trimming before permanent attachment.
Lou
Note: Comparison with the 1/144 North Star wing.
Looking good Lou.
Gordon
Thank you Gordon. I need to put some sanding time on the fuselage to take out the high spots.
Lou
Wings are mated to the fuselage. Gluing will take place once fillets are carved. Note the size difference between the Argus and the Halifax. During WWII, the Halifax was a heavy bomber. Now is would be a medium at best.
Lou
Moving along, the wing is screwed down and the stab and vertical fin are held in place with round toothpick dowels.
Lou
The wing has been rough sanded and await its first primer coat. Due to the size, I need to wait until the weather is better to spray outside.
Lou
Outstanding carving of the engine nacelles! The whole wing speaks of strength.
Fraser
Thank you Fraser. Dovetailing the center section make that area stronger than the rest of the wing.
Lou
Making the wing filets.
Lou
I decided to put the Argus higher on my priority list. Wings and horizontal stab are glued. The wing has an additional wood screw ro hold it in place.
Lou
Looks strong Lou. It is a hefty model judging from the grip you have on the fuselage. It could have been carved from a baseball bat ;)
Fraser
A lathe would have been handy, but alas, my Mk I eyeball will have to do. At 1/72, that makes it a 2" circular fuselage. It probably weights in at close to 5 lbs.
Lou
I applied filler to the vertical fin and I am currently sanding the main wing fillet to their respective shapes. I wrap 120 grit sandpaper around a dowel to get the concave shape.
Lou
My Argus has finally made it to the paint booth. It is rather large and can only be done in sections. One can only hope for an early summer heat wave.
Lou
Progress is slow but still active.
Lou
The Argus is looking good. Its always nice to see the builder in their natural environment too!
Fraser
Thank you Fraser. I guess I am in my man cave.
Lou
The weather has cooperated enough to spray some more primer. I have just a few spots to clean up before painting.
Lou
Looking good Lou.
Depths of winter over here.
Cheers
Gordon
We have not had a good June with rain, rain, and more rain. We had two days of summer and warm temp. The mainland has had scorching weather and huge forest fires that haze our skies with smoke. So I guess, rain is not that bad even if it makes it impossible to spray.
The Argus is a slow-moving project that started in 2018. I hope it ends in 2023!! ;D
Lou
Ran out of light grey primer. It is now ready for some colour.
Lou
That is a familiar color...
Indeed, it was my primer of choice until I found the light grey primer/filler.
Lou
I have started applying the white top using matt paint as it goes on better. The last coat will be gloss. Here it is after some additional sanding after the first couple of coats showed some imperfections I could not ignore.
Lou
More sanding and another photo. I added the bubble observation windows on the rear fuselage.
Lou
A bit of progress.
Lou
Front end. Windows are decals.
Lou
Excellent work so far Lou.
My homemade decals a bit hit and miss at times.
Cheers
Gordon
Thank you Gordon. I frequently need to do several prints before getting the result I want.
Lou
Most of the decals have been applied. All prop blades are carved and a few extras for good measure. The propeller assembly comprises of seven parts.
Lou
Roll out on 01 Oct 2023 after over five years on my bench.
Lou
Note: Triple photo is 1/72, 1/48, and 1/32.
Lou, thank you for showing the beauty of the Argus. It certainly looks like it is ready for a patrol! Also nice to see that the project was completed even after an extended time. There's hope for me yet.
Nicely done!
Fraser
My Bonnie was started in 2008, so there is hope for everyone. What's on the horizon for you?
Lou
Now that's perseverance! I actually have five light aircraft that have been started on the bench in the roughed out and shaping stage. I will be posting about them soon as individual projects.
I look forward to seeing them.
Lou