The first bit of solid model building in months,after getting my strength back again following the poisons that they prescribed me and gritted determination it was time to start creating something as the sun was shining and I could work outside,thus are evolving a brace of Fairey Albacore's which are being built from an 'Hobbies Weekly' period drawing as supplied with the magazine,the model's are being built as is as historic replicas honouring these wonderful old plans.
I used to get the 'Hobbies Weekly' every week building the various pipe racks and ornate fretted picture frames from the patterns within,then the odd sailing ship and vintage car would appear,I could not afford the wood packs that you could purchase so raided the geeen grocery shops for thin wood that came with the strawberry cartons,tedious removal of the staples provided me with the necessary laths of wood,also local woodworkers employed by the council would discard timber into skips,I raided them and took the wood home for projects,my tools were simple a fretwork set which came as a Christmas present,an archemedian drill and a discarded tenon saw that my father had used and seen better days,but there were enough teeth in it for me to hack away with !
My modern day model is being built from packing case timber which I season outside in my wood storage racks,it gets the rain and snow,the heat from the sun and eventually a well weathered piece gets selected and used as in this case,its fun building from scrap as most of my models are,and so I spent a pleasant afternoon cutting,whittling and shaping.
Barry.
http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/ALBACORE_CARVE_1.JPG
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Glad to see you back at it.
Lou
The engine cowls were made up and fitted today on the brace of Fairey Albacore's,also the oil cooler and spinners were fabricated.
Barry.
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Looking great Barry, glad to hear your'e up and running again.I always fancied having a go at wood turning,but I don't have the room really.Keep up the good work.Regards Paul J.
Thanks Paul,for years now I have been turning parts with a Black & Decker drill,this is fine but it is so restricted,as there are so many round bits and pieces on our models I thought that a small lathe would be the answer,unfortunately the small lathe did not last long as the motor burnt out after three tries and after returning it to the manufacturers they said that it could not be repaired ! in fact they had a warehouse full of similar faulty lathes,so the supplier fixed me up with another lathe but this was far from a small bench one,you can turn complete chair legs on it ! so you just have to whittle down from a large block to the smaller size that you need.
Space is normally the problem but as I work from an old airfield fire station it makes for a super workshop,but you do need space for equipment.
Next task is to attempt to make some small wheels,not sure how I am going to tackle them but I will find a way.
Barry.
The undercarriage on the full sized aircraft is a massive affair and needs careful consideration as it is part of the inboard leading edge of the lower wing where it is positioned,so because of this it needs fitting now at this stage so that the wing fixing can be worked out,the legs are bent up from dural which was epoxied to the lower fuselage,next balsa fairings were added and shaped to streamlined section.
The tail parts have been made and carefully fitted,some upper tail fairings need making up,also the alloy tailwheel forks were cut from scrap and formed into shape.
Barry.
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Very nice work. I like the cowlings.
Lou
When you build biplanes you need wings,and lots of them ! so todays concentrated efforts revolved around these,firstly I needed some quarter inch timber from which to fabricae them and nothing stood out in my wood stash,so a trip to the local DIY store produced a bundle of pine floorboards at a bargain price,the only problem was there had to be a gamble on knots as they were plastic wrapped and out of the ten panels only two proved of real use on inspection later,so avoiding the knots on areas like the leading and trailing edges I carefully used my card template to select the best working areas,the other wood will not be wasted as it can be used on smaller projects.
The wings were cut out and fettled,then the job of aerofoiling them took some concentration,the wings are bi-convex on the Albacore so firstly I worked on the upper camber which is more pronounced then bringing the lower surfaces of the wings in line,what knots were there did not give me any problems but just for good measure I flooded these areas with thin cyno effectively locking the small knots so no surprises at a later date,in effect an advanced knotting technique.
A final sand sitting outside in the sun sipping a can of Red Bull proved a pleasant way to enjoy the lovely weather we are having and finally a pair of wings were ready.
As the more suitable materials are difficult to get these days I always try to use what is available locally in the way of commercial products,sometimes I use car fillers but today I decided to see what the local old fashioned hardware store had in the way of stopping,the one that I always used to use was called 'Brummer stopping' the lady behind the counter said sorry we do not stock this because there are so many similar materials on the market and we do not wish to duplicate things,that was fair comment in these times of economy so I was open to suggestion ? she pointed out a similar stopper at some extortionate price but despite this I went for it,now this is where there is an interesting twist to this story,some years ago a product called plastic wood was popular,it consisted of fine wod dust soaked in cellulose solution,to my dismay when I purchased a tube last year it had changed formulae ? instead of being cellulose based it was an admixture of fine dust and polyvinyl acetate,the outcome being that it would not sand properly like the older product did,so imagine my pleasant surprise on opening the new tin of stopper it was cellulose with that wonderful smell associated with these products that Europe is trying to ban all of them,a quick test showed that yes it does sand well and is more akin to the good old plastic wood mentioned previously.
Another good thing about this product sold for antique furniture renovation is that it sticks well,something that PVA based products do not do well.
Next job is to work out the complex lower wing fixing that goes through the undercarriage fairing at the front,we have the technology and it will be done.
Barry.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_ALBACORE_WINGS_1.JPG)
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Always a pleasure to watch your progress with a project Barry.
Cheers
Gordon
Thank you Gordon for your kind comments,I think it also helps others see how our models evolve from the ground up as the raw pieces of wood get shaped and fashioned into what we want,there is so much hidden into a complex shaped model once it is assembled and I like to explain things as I go along,it is the natural teaching instinct in me ! after all it is a step by step record of what goes on.
Barry.
Finding materiel can be an adventure these days. My regular supplier of pine board no longer stocks them due to lack of sales for the more expensive clear cuts. A good looking project. Keep them photos coming.
Lou
Better buy up some of that stuff before the bureaucrats realize a product escaped their attention.
Ken Pugh
The solution to the upper and lower wing attachment was found by way of compromise,the lower wing slots in the usual way into the fuselage with a cut out to clear the undercarriage fairing,the void will be faired in with balsa block suitably shaped to fair in with the undercarriage legs,I have not encountered this set up like this on any aeroplane that I have made previously ? the upper wings are bolted fullsize to the cabin frame former in a similar fashion to the Westland Lysander,to replicate this I removed a centre portion of the upper wing leaving a membrane of wood that slots into a suitable slot on top of the cockpit cabin,I did this because not being keen to simply glue the individual wing panels on a ledge by way of very little support,by keeping the wing in one piece it is more manageable,the logistics of problem solving with a model subject is half the battle to make for ease of assembly and realism.
The essential dihedral breaks were first pre cut with a fine saw then the joint was eased apart and wedges glued into place and allowed to dry before a good clean up with abrasive paper.
The tailwheel brackets were fabricated from thin dural then suitably formed and epoxied into place following being roughened with abrasive paper to ensure a good joint.
The belt and braces look of the Albacore is coming through nicely in the model,remember the Albacore was intended as a replacement for the venerable Swordfish but in fact the Swordfish outlived it in service !
Finally today I spun up some low pressure tyre type wheels learning how to do this myself with the useful lathe,these can be cut apart and suitable card hub discs added.
Barry.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_UPPER_WING_DIHEDRAL.JPG)
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After a good sanding the initial primer coat was added to show up any flaws that need attention,the upper wing has not been attached yet so that it will make it easier to sand.
The picture shows my first attempt at making wheels on the lathe,I am quite pleased with the result and thinking of ways to improve them.
Barry.
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Thanks for the updates. This is a nice project.
Lou
Today the models of the Fairey Albacore's received lots of detail rubbing down,filling and making up and carving the small three bladed propellers,one model will be fully painted in period FAA colours and the other kept as a ID type,the latter has had the upper wing attached whilst the other one still has to be fitted to assist the cockpit work as the upper wing will obstruct painting.
The main wheels were mounted onto wire v-struts threaded through the dural undercarriage legs and tailweels have been fitted onto the brackets that were also fabricated,the material for the wing struts was cut from stock wood and then was sanded and pre-primed ready for cutting into lengths.
The Ocre coloured primer is a fairly new product it works really well on wood and fills minor blemishes which is ideal,it is sold as a 'high build' primer for vehicles,high build primers are excellent for use on many woods especially balsa where they excel as they self level and once cured can be sanded easily,if the abrasive paper clogs simply slap it against the workbench,a good tip also is to alternate between different coloured primers that way good coverage is achieved.
Barry.
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The workshop doors open today with the Tawney Owl project just visible,everything fits into place and to hand,I prefer to work in the open especially with the large amount of dust but if the weather is bad then the up and over door stays shut.
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Barry,
It's fun to see other modelers workshops! My son noticed that there appears to be part of a 1:1 scale airplane in your workshop, is this true?
Garet
Yes I wondered about that too, also that your lathe appears to be a table top version which I have not seen before! very interesting!. Your Albacores are looking good Barry.Regards Paul J.
Thank you Garet and Paul for your observations,yes the real aeroplane is the worlds one and only Thurston Aviation Tawney Owl G-APWU which I have been giving my tender loving care to,I built the fuselage as it was missing and used the parts that I had to get dimensions and many photographs that were sent to me,it is a unique machine because it was one of the last 'Private venture' British aircraft made,all in a days work and over the years I have rebuilt many vintage aircraft.
The lathe is a bench top type and I am very pleased with it,originally I had a small one delivered but the motor lasted only for about an hour of use,when it was sent back to the factory they informed me it was beyond repair like the warehouse full they also had ! these lathes are part of the new generation economy machines very affordable.
Yes I too love seeing other peoples workshops as well,so perhaps it is now time to just take a picture of your bench exactly as it is now ! no tidying up,just as it is,lets see the dust and all.
Barry.
Good work on those Albacores and I appreciate the photo of your work area.
Lou
Not much progress to report today on the Albacore's except made up the wing struts for one model,the way that I do this is to first measure up the distance between the wings with a pair of internal calipers,then I add a few thou to the total length,next I point the ends of the struts and mark a dimple where they go,the struts then push into place with a little bit of springiness,this allows you to adjust the struts by carefully easing them one way or the other.
Once you are happy then a zap with thin cyno will firmly fix them for good.
Todays task was to make a side panel/windbreak for my outside workbench,I love working in the fresh air and let the dust and shavings go away,they are eagerly re-cycled by the birds for their nests they especially love balsa shavings which are nice and light to shuttle back and forward to their nests,the outside bench has a roof on it slanted backwards,today I re-felted the roof as well after the ravages of the winter months,it also serves as a sun shade in the summer months nothing nicer than working with the sun shining down.
Barry.
Would you mind if I asked what make and model your lathe was Barry, I did a bit of Googling but there are a few out there, and there's nothing like a review from a user. Regards Paul J.
Imported by a company called 'Sealey' however they probably come under another name,made in Germany I believe and described as 1000 mm,highly recommended,price was around the £178 mark.
Barry.
Thanks Barry, I,ll do some Googling.Regards Paul.
I do not normally fit bombs or armament to my models but the Albacore seemed to be crying out for one of those whopping great torpedo's that hung underneath 1940's fleet shadower's,anyway it was another excuse to play with the lathe and learn a few new tricks so I soon mounted a blank of wood between the jaws to get weaving or should I say turning ! it proved very theraputic to spin up this item and soon it was ready for the fins,these were fabricated from 1=64th Miralyte ply,a wonderful material that can be cut with a pair of scissors,two slits and a slight push into place followed with a dab of thin cyno to leach into the joint,job done ! the torpedo sits with the nose just underneath the rear of the cowling terminating aft at a point just where the cockpit ends,when that thing was released it must have lightened the controls and the nose went up when free of the torpedo.
Small bombs could also be carried underneath the wings but I opted to leave those as the torpedo was enough I feel.
Barry.
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Here you can see the stages of construction,as the item will be a bit vulnerable it can be removed via two pins that simply push into the underside.
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The propeller spinner was dished out slightly and a pin pushed through the hub,a bit of gorilla adhesive did the job.
The weather was damp today but I managed to get another coat of the ocre filler before the heavens let loose.
Barry.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10005/normal_TORPEDO_12.JPG)
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Looking good Barry, I like the torpedo. There's no stopping you on the lathe now!. I think I have found the one you bought, the Sealey SM1308 1000mm, for £157.40p delivered, but it doesn't have the faceplate with it, you have to buy it seperate for £17. Regards Paul J.
Thats a good price even without the faceplate,the faceplate is something that I need to learn more about and how to use it ? after making round bits for years by hand I wish that I had known the joys of these lathes then.
Barry.
Beautiful workmanship, barry. You're an artist!
Thank you Fingers for your kind comments.
Barry.
Well after five glorious days the British weather has taken a turn for the worse,today it is sleet and snow and its cold with it as well ! in view of this and a need to catch up on other domestic work no workshop today especially as I want to do paintwork which is impossible in such conditions as the finish just blooms.
Barry.
Although it does not look like it here to get to this stage in the masking and start of the camo paint took three hours of tedious work especially with the masking,next stage the demarcaction and rest of the camouflage paint,I managed to catch a few hours of glorious sunshine to assist in hardening the paint,what you cannot see here is the underneath scheme which is the nearest paint that I could get to the blue/green shade,there used to be an old Hillman shade but alas it has been withdrawn many years ago,it was ideal for duck egg,the scheme is representative and suits me,there were so any variations of Fleet Air Arm combinations that would fill a book,and the Albacore is no exception !
Tomorrow I hope to continue with the painting and Frisk film the rest of the scheme,then its down to hand painting all of the markings,it will be OK on the night honest.
Barry.
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The Albacore in its camouflage,the strut positions have been pre-marked and indents drilled all ready to take the struts
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Barry,
You are a Master Craftsman.
Peter
The roundals were added today on the Albacore thus completing the model,the rings were first cut with an Olfa cutter utilising Frisk film as the stencil for the outer ring,the paint was then dry brushed within the ring and the mask removed immediately,there is a golden rule with masking tapes and any type of tacky masking film and that is to either remove when the paint is fully dry or straight away before any creep starts to take place.
The inner colours to the roundals were first marked utilising card discs held into place with a finger then hand filled with colour.
The paint used was my favourite Citadel,it has plenty of body to it and covers in one,you can also paint light over dark something many paints will not allow,the perfect one for the copper cowl ring was 'Tin bitz' they all have daft names to them but once you work out the actual colours then you are away.
The serial and codes were hand painted with a 000 brush.
The struts have also been added,these were pre-measured and slot into the idents drilled into the wings,a touch of thin cyno locks them solid,the inboard jury strut was to allow the wings to be folded,the strut unlocks and is positioned to keep the flying and landind wires in tension when the front toggle bolt is removed to allow the wing folding operation.
As you can see it was a tough and rugged machine and flew very well,unfortunately it was withdrawn from service while the aircraft it was intended to replace the Swordfish was still in service after its demise.
The one at the Fleet Air Arm museum was built from various parts by the late Viv Bellamy and is the sole surviving aircraft of its type.
Barry.
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