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STATUS REPORTS! ALL HANDS REPORT! :o
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Most Online: 68 - August 07, 2008, 05:36:35 PM
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Greetings from Eastern Canada. I hope the New Year brings greater participation of our members if only to provide praise or constructive criticism.
On the bench for 2009
1/144 Scale
HMCS Bonaventure - awaiting completion of aircraft before proceeding any further
CP-121 Tracker 1 in paint shop, 3 primed and initial sanding completed
HO4S-3 Horse 1 awaiting allotment of time
F2H-3 Banshee - in paintshop
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Banshee_Multi-3.JPG)
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-2377
1/32
Lockheed Hudson - having problems with ink bleeding throught primer. I used black marker to see what the nose glass would look like and it still persist even after sanding and re-prime. I don't want to remove anymore wood at this time.
Beech C-45 - stalled
Fairchild Bollinbroke - stalled
Several plastic kits - stalled
Oops. I forgot
1/48
CP-107 Canadair Argus - Fuselage in block form.
Unfortunately, I made little progress on the traditional model projects last month.
Scale Models:
- Bristol LRQ-1 1/72 remains rough-cut
- Speed Spitfire 1/48 is fuselage only (shaped, though)
- Bristol Spaceplanes Ascender 1/72 has most of its parts shaped, needs to be assembled
- PT-9 (large) still in the ways
- PT-10 1/350 recutting some parts to make another
"Fun" Models:
- Two egg-shaped "rocketships" assembled and primed, need some more putty work before painting
- Miniature Star Wars R2D2 model (in wood): rough shaping, working on paper decals
Plans:
- Still perusing simple ID ship model plans
- Still assembling user-submitted plans (yes, Ray, I still owe you a CD!)
- Started searching Google's new collection of Popular Science for plans. I'm currently searching 1930-1931 and have found a number of "simplified" solid model plans. They are scanned at about 150 dpi, gray scale, so they are just barely useful (the original plans were tiny). You have to go through all sorts of contortions to actually save the image.
Tools:
- Finished the 3/16-inch chisel
- Made a 1/8-inch gouge; needs a handle
- Made a 3/32-inch chisel; needs a handle
- Made a tiny wooden try square
- Figured out how to make tool handles from copper pipe and sticks
- Reading lots of books on toolmaking
Workshop:
- Finished the lidded "cigar box" made from hardboard, including hinge
- Glued up part of a simpler "cigar box"
- Replaced some plastic cups that held sanding sticks and tweezers with a stout metal vase so they will stop spilling on the workbench
- Planning new workbench and storage shelves
- Planning additional model display shelves
- Still perfecting my magnetic adjustable airplane hanging scheme
Garet
Happy New Year to all !
I've been busily reorganizing my shop and finding all sorts of misplaced parts and tools along with a few aircraft parts ready to assemble to boot.
I even found my shop handbook given to me at Rohm & Haas in bristol, PA that has all sorts of information on how to fabricate acrylic with shop made tools.
One of the simple tools allows one to make the tooling to make clear acrylic hemisphere's in any diameter in less than a day. If anyone is interested, I'll share the information.
A couple of solid models I wish to make this year are that of the twelve engined DOX flying boat and the Italian catamaran that landed in New York harbor in the late 20's.
I also found a couple of wood turnings that will eventually become the rockets Flash Gordon flew.
;D Spider Web
Hi Spider,
Both interesting subjects for modeling. The catamaran that you mentioned I believe is nominated as one of the "models of the year" done by Gera. The DOX will be a challenge.
Cliff.
I guess it's my age or natural bent, but I've always liked "String Bags".
I'm facinated with what a craftsman with a few hand tools and limited resources could make.
Considering myself lucky to in essence be the last of this breed, connect with a model of any aircraft of this period.
And of course, was thrill and adventure of developing an aircraft from a plywood mockup to a production aircraft.
I was fortunate to have worked on the plywood mockups of the CH-46 Seaknight and CH-47 Chinook helicopters in the Morton Plant of Piasecki Helicopters. There were engineering models all over the place that were actually used as developmental shorthand. Models were not toys! There were no computers available at the time !
I remember one engineer using shirt cardboard cut outs pinned to a drawing board in developing swash plate controls for the rotor system !
So making a model of the DOX or similar aircraft is more than just a nice looking model, it allows me to appreciate what these people did.
When I reported in last month I said things were progressing well on the monster Hellcat. I proceeded to fall extremely sick for the month of December. To top that off I got sick again at the start of January. I am now finally getting back to life. Good thing I did not have to pay for that flu shot this year.
I am working on the prop and nose of the Hellcat. At 1/16 scale, that is a typical solid project all its own. I thought I had it licked then ruined a part for the prop hub.
I received a used copy of Detail & Scale F-102. The drawings do not have body sections on this poorly documented fighter. I will begin construction as soon as I can justify it or get fed up with my current projects.
I finally used my small hobby lathe by Proxxon that I bought for Christmas back in 2007. I fumbled around at first but quickly fell in love with it. I am sure it is not a good, proper lathe, but it is good enough for a dummy like me who knows no better. Not only will chips and sawdust fly but now shavings as well!
Ken Pugh
I search for the cross sections and came up empty handed also. I did get a pretty good drawing of the two seater version.
Lou
Not much new here modelingwise. Over the holidays I started a Lockheed 12 model from the old Popular Science Donald W. Clark plans, but it will be a very long time before it's finished-- too much of a back log in the paint booth.
The plan I used for the Lockheed 12 is conveniently on line now at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=dyYDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA76&dq=inauthor:Donald+inauthor:W+inauthor:Clark+date:1930-1939&lr=&as_brr=1&as_pt=MAGAZINES
Regarding F-102 drawings, if you could find the original source of the drawings from this site:
http://www.airwar.ru/other/draw2/f102_revi.html
you would be in luck. Cross sections are called out in the drawings, but unfortunately are not included in the on-line file. Probably from some Eastern European modeling magazine originally.
I believe the original source of the F-102 drawings on the Russian website is the Czech publication "Revi"; specifically issues 53 and 54 which apparently both featured articles on the F-102. More information can be found at http://www.revi.cz/en/revi/53_en.html (the web page indicates the issue includes 1/72nd drawings of the F/TF-102).
JeffH
We have F102 drawings in the gallery posted by Marsh;
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1592 (http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1592)
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1593 (http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1593)
Don't forget to click on them to enlarge them.
If anyone is interested in making solid models of rotary winged aircraft, here is a good source of info.
www.helicoptermuseum.org
The museum is located about two miles from me at the Brandywine Airport next door the world headquarters of QVC.
The HUP and the H-21 were some of the aircraft I actually worked on.
My friend, now deceased, worked on the Flying Jeep. The V-22, Osprey is one of the three prototypes that were built. One was destroyed in a crash, the second was used for destructive tests and the third sets outside the museum, enginless.
Enjoy the sight....................Spider
Ray, I down loaded the F-102A drawings. Those and the ones that Jeff indicated should prove to be quite useful.
Spider. Thanks for the site. I will be making an H-55 shortly.
Lou
JeffH, thanks for pointing out the Lockheed 12 model plans. I've been having fun with the Popular Science plans, though have only made it through 1930-1932 so far. The plans in the issue you pointed out (Jan 1937) are more detailed than the earlier ones.
I have been looking at some of their Preston (destroyer) ship plans. They have a neat article about a simplified model of a similar DD (the USS Leary) in the Jan 1932 issue, but there are some details missing. I finally turned up four sets of plans of this destroyer class (there is an Ideal Destroyer Preston plan, one from How to Build a Model Navy, the Preston for Popular Science, and the Leary from Popular Science). Of course, no two agree, and some are obviously wrong.
There is also a nice plan, at about 1:350 scale, of the USS Kearny in the April 1942 issue.
Garet
Speaking of the helicopter museum, check out that Princeton Air Scooter!
(http://www.helicoptermuseum.org/ImageLibrary/Princeton_GEM.JPG)
http://www.helicoptermuseum.org/AircraftDetails.asp?HelicopterID=32 (http://www.helicoptermuseum.org/AircraftDetails.asp?HelicopterID=32)
Glad you folks enjoyed the helicopter museum site.
The picture of the Kellett autogyro in the museum's header is being flown by George Townsend whom I worked with in the pubs department at Vertol.
George restored that bird to flyable condition in New Jersey.
In his younger years, a picture of him is shown of his alighting an autogyro on the roof of the 30th st Post Office building in Philly.
The Princeton test bed is a hovercraft while the Flying Jeep is meant to get out of ground effect.
This going to be an interesting modeling year for me !
The Spider
What is amazing to me whatt was accomplished with the materials at hand.
Transitioning from a beautiful concept on paper to the actual thing was the challenge.
Today, everything can be done on a computer before one component is made.
Boeing now uses a software program called "Configurator"
In short, from a concept in the mind to a finished prototype can be build and flown on a computer.
As a young man working on developing the helicopters of today is amazing given we had no computers available.
Anybody want to buy a "slip-stick?"
The Spider
Hi folks, I just joined. I also just finished my sister's Christmass present (oops), a 1/48th scale DC-2 like the one our grandfather used to fly when they were new. Photos are in the user gallery. I've been building plastic airplanes kits since I was a kid and I've been woodcarving sporadically for a few years. This is my first attempt at combining the two hobbies--that's my excuse for finishing a month late. I don't know what I,m doing next, maybe a Roland DII?
Hi Paul,
Welcome aboard. The DC-2 looks good and I guess the bug has bit. Just build something! I am wrapped up in complex projects and am regretting it. I'm a big believer in building several simpler projects to get your skill sets up to snuff. You'll get more efficient and confident and will later complete more complex projects quicker. It's also fun to get something done quickly, especially if you learned something on it.
The cookups are a good place to get ideas. Cookups never die here and those who've been there probably have plenty of drawings of the ideas they did not build while deciding on the one they did build. We just add to them as time goes on, no scheduled completion dates.
Since I started scratchbuilding a couple of years ago I just can't get back into the plastic puzzles. I love it when I ruin a part just build another from the same scrap laying around. No destroying expensive detail add-on parts when you make them all yourself.
Ken Pugh
When did you finish your DC-2 and what plans did you use?
Lou
Hi Lou,
I finished the DC-2 on the 31st of Jan and turned the stand the next day. For plans I used the Squadron book "C-47 Skytrain in Action". On page 10 there is a 3-view of the C-33 that I scanned and scaled up to 1/48th scale. I didn't know about it when I started, but 4+ Publications has a book "Douglas DC-2" that has much more detail and has 1/72nd scale plans with cross-sections included. If I were to do this project again I would use the 4+ plans instead.
I've been to see the DC-2 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. This plane is one of two (I think) that is still flyable.
http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/douglas-dc-2 (http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/douglas-dc-2)
It really is a beautiful bird. Most visitors I've overheard mistakenly think it is a DC-3.
Garet
Being finished in 2009, it will qualify for our model of the year next January.
Lou