On another forum I frequent, someone said they like to start topics in order to motivate them to get going on projects. In that spirit, I'll be starting a few topics to get me going in my plans for next projects.
This thread will be dedicated to my upcoming C-119 build for the next pinewood derby race in a few months. I plan to make the whole wing and tail section removable so only the fuselage pod will race. We'll see how it goes!
Novel idea. I look forward to it.
Louis
Good idea.
Gordon
I've had the drawings printed off for a while. They're printed on 11x17 paper from an office supply store. I scaled it so that the fuselage would be 1.75" wide to match the width of the standard pinewood derby cars. The wingspan will be 16.75", it's 13.25" from nose to tail, and fuselage itself is about 9.25" long. That puts the scale at about 1/78.
I think I'll try the trick I've seen several people do where two pieces of wood are laminated together with a piece of colored paper in the middle as a centerline for the fuselage.
(https://i.imgur.com/eVwW2Po.jpeg)
The coloured paper has worked for me.
(https://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/DSCF2768.JPG)
Louis
I found some wood in my garage to use. I was looking for something that would be thick enough that when I laminated two pieces together, I could get it cut down to 1.75" wide (my table saw is out of commission, otherwise I would just rip down some 2x4s or something). I think what I found is poplar, but each piece is 1" thick. I should have enough left on the board to do the wings and tail booms. If it proves too hard to work with, I can find a table saw to use and cut down something else.
(https://i.imgur.com/QWb3Z66.jpeg)
I ended up switching to pine for this one. I used pieces of 2-by-somethings cut down with a table saw for the fuselage and 1x4s for the wings and booms. I think I finally got the hang of using the contour gauges to make the guidelines when carving.
(https://i.imgur.com/BzZFVAa.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YzGBKbK.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WkImSDG.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J2tcDMn.jpeg)
Now it's back to work tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be able to keep the momentum going. Happy New Year, everyone!
Excellent carving Jordon. You have a natural talent. Doing those derby vehicles has served you well.
Louis
More progress on the C-119 that will be my derby car for this year. I got the wings shaped, the booms rough carved, and the windscreen carved and drawn on (just for fun).
(https://i.imgur.com/tX4Abs8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DWdlj9R.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rgzcwgs.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2stDVnk.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SCaoT2a.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/P5puivC.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zsiSMNn.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sGjUkDE.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/x5PJzXG.jpeg)
After looking at the drawings and things, I realized I made the top of the fuselage too round. It should have been more square-ish. Oh well. It's just for a derby car. No one else will know!
It looks awesome.
Louis
Thanks, Lou. Your encouragement and compliments are always appreciated.
I got the booms rounded and sanded last night. Next up will be notching out the fuselage to fit the wings, and notching out the wings to fit the booms. I'll need to make the tail pieces at some point, too.
(https://i.imgur.com/SIuINU0.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4c2NnAu.jpeg)
Here's a fun rubber band mock up. This feels like a much bigger model than my PBY or Hercules, even though the wingspans are all about the same. I think it's the big, fat fuselage and wide tail section that makes it feel larger than the others. It's about 1/78 scale.
(https://i.imgur.com/rTqDCXY.jpeg)
I'm realizing I should have only done the upper portion of the booms like I did on my fuselage. That would have made them more stable to work with while measuring and cutting the notches. Now I'll remember that for next time!
I frequently have to go back and redo some things.
Louyis
Here's a comparison photo between my C-119 and my Hercules and PBY derby "cars."
(https://i.imgur.com/KqomxZf.jpeg)
Thye Boxcar is bigger and more scale-like.
Louis
I've been working the last couple days to get the wing fitted to the fuselage. Just a reminder that this will be my derby car for our church event, so I'm keeping the wings removable for now. The fuselage will race without the wings and tail section attached.
Here you can see where I've planned to cut the notch in the wings and fuselage:
(https://i.imgur.com/wVP1WR8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fH4I5H9.jpeg)
Here I've got it clamped into my vise for the vertical cuts. I made covers for the metal vise by taping and supergluing large popsicle sticks together. They simply rest on the jaws of the vise. I considered making something where I routed out a groove on a piece of wood to fit over them, but this was much easier and less time-consuming.
(https://i.imgur.com/Guq6uAi.jpeg)
I bought a set of hobby blades from a chain hardware store. I thought this one would work to at least start the cut for the horizontal section of the notch. It worked so easily, that I was able to get the "plug" out with it in no time. With some firm but gently rocking back and forth, it easily cut straight in on both sides to remove the plug. I'll be using this blade for that procedure in the future!
(https://i.imgur.com/fI53ugi.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/H3mLfDi.jpeg)
As I trimmed the wings to fit, I came to a point where I couldn't easily see what was needing to be trimmed in order to get a closer fit. I could feel that it was something on the upper curve of the right side of the fuselage, so I "colored" on the fuselage with a pencil, then pressed the wing back in, and the graphite rubbed off on the part of the wing that needed to be trimmed. I repeated the process until the fit was much closer.
(https://i.imgur.com/v75PMAZ.jpeg)
By the end of the night, I was satisfied with the wings. They sat evenly in the notch with no rocking to either side. I began trimming down the top of the wing "spar" so that I could use a bit more of the fuselage "plug" that was cut out. I might fiddle with the bottom of the spar to see if I can get the wing to sit just a little lower, but for now, I'm happy with it. I plan on drilling a hole for a dowel to go between the wing spar and the fuselage for strength and stability.
(https://i.imgur.com/yOSTvX9.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nGnDDs5.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/zwBWsMz.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NHqmc3p.jpeg)
Now I just need to repeat that two more times to get the booms fit!
Nicely done.
Louis
No school today means I got some work done on my C-119. I added a dowel to go between the wings and fuselage for added strength and stability, and to better hold it in place since it won't be glued until after the race.
(https://i.imgur.com/UOXymQt.jpeg)
I was able to get the other boom fitted to the notch as well as cut out the remaining tail pieces.
(https://i.imgur.com/q9m37hD.jpeg)
I was feeling ambitious, so I went ahead and started gluing. I drilled and added toothpicks to go between the wings and the booms. I didn't quite get the centerline on the booms vertical. Oh well.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ga2kCpu.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/p63YnaM.jpeg)
School was canceled tomorrow due to weather, so I might get more done. Still to do:
- Shape underside of the fusleage
- Shape and glue tail pieces
- Trim and attach "plugs" to the notched fuselage and booms
- Putty
- Prime/sand/putty/etc.
- Paint
- Props or discs
Excellent progress on you Boxcar.
Louis
I'm impressed. Excellent work.
Gordon
Thanks, guys. I'm having a lot of fun trying new things. Yesterday I was able to get the tail pieces worked out. I used the same wire as I did for the guns on my P-47 to strengthen the joints on the tail. I also used them to connect it to the boom itself. I drilled each hole by hand using a pin vise. Most of the angles lines up. :D I also drilled into the horizontal stabilizer from the outside of each boom and added a wire on both sides to help secure it as well.
(https://i.imgur.com/FbhXbTg.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NwzoOu6.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pBjpQR4.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4fWRYtI.jpeg)
Each of the plugs I cut out split down the paper in the middle, so those are currently being glued together so they can be cut down and then fitted to fill in the notches. Thanks for your kind words and encouragement!
Excellent progress shots.
Louis
I got the plugs cut, fitted and glued in place last night. Once I carve the lower fuselage, I can begin sanding, putty, sanding, putty....I also still need to glue the tail pieces in place. They are just being held by the pins at the moment.
(https://i.imgur.com/dwNREz1.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ioUEqLH.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/i7nUrX8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aw2ukpv.jpeg)
It is a beautiful accomplishment.
Louis
I finished the carving last night on the lower fuselage. I got it rough sanded as well. I still need to draw the parallel lines to check the curvature. Then it will be on to puttying and sanding.
(https://i.imgur.com/druPN8G.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jKolPQx.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DQS789r.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/H0XU3RR.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/K9DjtgR.jpeg)
You did a fantastic job on your Boxcar.
Louis
First coat of primer is on. I can see I'll need a fair amount of putty on the tail section. The fuselage is pretty good.
(https://i.imgur.com/49AcZiT.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/g5QbGPa.jpeg)
Excellent joints on the tail booms.
Louis
Quote from: lastvautour on February 02, 2025, 11:40:48 AMExcellent joints on the tail booms.
Louis
Thanks! It took a fair amount of putty, but I'm glad I was able to get the upward sweep of the booms worked out.
It was (sort of) warm enough outside yesterday to get a base layer of tan paint on here. I'm painting it like a Vietnam gunship. I'm just using "rattle can" paints from Menards (large chain hardware store).
(https://i.imgur.com/fcoP0Mz.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ydzLYMT.jpeg)
Looking great. Paint looks very smooth!
It finally warmed up enough to get more painting done. The pinewood derby race is Saturday, March 1st, so I've got to get this done before then! On Saturday I painted the light green, today will be dark green, black tomorrow, windows on Wednesday, then a couple of days for details.
(https://i.imgur.com/SHJ4nGn.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/OVIKw2Q.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lvgLSIn.jpeg)
I got the dark green on last night. I just used rattle-can colors I could find at the hardware store. They're not exactly right, but they're pretty close. I wish I could have found a dark green that was a little more brown, but oh well.
(https://i.imgur.com/EW1VJCH.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7E3sXv3.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PWCM8Y3.jpeg)
Black should go on tonight!
You are doing well with limited colors available.
Louis
I got all the tape off of the camo. The black is also on, but didn't get it photographed. I also got the windows masked. Due to the time crunch, I left off the upper windows and the "cheek" windows. I probably also won't get decals on before Saturday's race. I'll do those after. I might even go back and add the upper and cheek windows.
(https://i.imgur.com/OE9TA0l.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Syk3UXi.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/O4FGvaV.jpeg)
Side note: This happens to be my 100th post! Thanks for letting me be a part of this great community of builders!
The masks are all off and I was able to get the prop discs made last night as well. I made a little spacer piece to go behind the prop disc to set it out in front of the engine nacelle. I used the same piano wire for the hub assembly that I did for the guns on my P-47. That stuff has come in really handy! I'll certainly be buying more of it for future use.
I just need to paint the propeller hubs and put the wheels on and it will be ready for the race tomorrow. Decals and other details will have to wait until later.
(https://i.imgur.com/054i0LB.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9YrUMq1.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nd0hpZO.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/dAcoVrH.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LbM8szg.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WUfoWrn.jpeg)
Absolutely Brilliant Jordan ! Well Done!
Gordon
Quote from: Boomerang on February 28, 2025, 08:19:31 PMAbsolutely Brilliant Jordan ! Well Done!
Gordon
Thank you, Gordon! That's very kind.
Outstanding results.
Louis
Thank you! Unfortunately it didn't get to race today. Some stray super glue got between one wheel and the axel, so it wouldn't turn. I had it out on display, though. I got lots of comments on it, for sure.
I decided to forgo decals since this was simply a pinewood derby racer. It's hard to tell in the photos, but I did paint the crankcase as well as the prop hubs. Other than that, it looks about like it did in the other photos, but I went ahead and took some "finished" photos. This was an enjoyable build, especially the camouflage paint job.
(https://i.imgur.com/0XhfOHF.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/AxRttqL.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kESTqXZ.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wp2rcDt.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0DdubiA.jpeg)
Nice looking model. It looks like an actual concept for a troop carrier that converts from an aircraft to land vehicle.
Thanks, Dave. They actually built an experimental version (the XC-120) where the fuselage was essentially a shipping container:
(https://www.flyingmag.com/uploads/2025/01/XC-120-Pod-Loading-US-Air-Force.jpg?auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=3840)
You can read the full article HERE. (https://www.flyingmag.com/historys-unique-aircraft/fairchild-xc-120-packplane-became-an-intermodal-hope-that-fell-flat/)
Model turned out wonderful! The paint colours and masking look great. I couldn't quite imagine how the plane would look as a pinewood derby model. But now that it's finished, I think you picked a the right plane to use for a pinewood entry. The fuselage is sufficiently chunky to approximate a vehicle. And the wheels add to the robustness.
Great job - ken
Thanks, Ken! If only I hadn't accidentally glued the wheel the axle, it might have had a chance in the race! Maybe I'll pull it out next year and see if I can get ready to roll. For now, it's on with the next model.