As for another thread to start motivating me, I plan to build a B-26 Marauder for my next solid model from the WWII ID plans. I browsed the website and didn't see any that have been made, and it's one of my favorite planes. Be on the lookout for that one to get started!
I have it on todo list as well.
Louis
I've to have the Marauder on the future list.
Cheers
Gordon
Sounds like a group build.
Louis
Note to Jordan: A group build is when more than one person makes a particular model. This allows us to compare notes as we build.
Quote from: lastvautour on December 03, 2024, 11:52:02 AMSounds like a group build.
Louis
Note to Jordan: A group build is when more than one person makes a particular model. This allows us to compare notes as we build.
I'm in!
I will open a topic in the Group build section. I will not be able to start until next year.
Lou
I was able to start getting part cut out earlier this week. I have the engine nacelles drawn onto the wood, just not cut out yet. I used my father-in-law's scroll saw and belt/disc sander this time. That really sped up the process.
(https://i.imgur.com/X2AbB85.jpeg)
With the holiday break, I was able to make some progress on my B-26 as well. I was able to get all the major components cut and rough-shaped. The weather will be turning cold here soon, so I wanted to get all the stuff done on the band saw and tabletop belt sander so the rest could be done indoors. I've since added guidelines to the fuselage, but haven't started carving yet.
(https://i.imgur.com/nWaaOme.jpeg)
I love your progress shots.
Louis
Quote from: lastvautour on January 03, 2025, 09:33:36 AMI love your progress shots.
Louis
Thank you. I'm a member of another forum centered around tubas (I'm a band teacher and tuba player). I've enjoyed watching others work to repair or modify their tubas and I very much enjoy the step-by-step photos that people provide. It gave me the confidence to try my hand at it, and now I am competent enough to do a lot of repairs and modifications to my own instruments. I've even built a tuba out of parts from several other tubas (we call them "Frankentubas" for fun).
This new endeavor of carving airplanes has combined my love for WWII planes (thanks to my dad, who was always an aviation aficionado, as well as a restoration volunteer at an air and space museum just 25 minutes from our house) with the enjoyment I get from working with my hands.
I've had the guide lines drawn on the fuselage and nacelles for several weeks now. I just haven't gotten around to carving as I've been focused on my C-119.
(https://i.imgur.com/B84xAs8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UtH8JOY.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/TQyT5mJ.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lWwfNKb.jpeg)
You can always come back to it when the spirit moves you.
Louis
I'm planning on doing the nacelles like you did on your Ventura tutorial, Lou, where (to me) it was a combination of the "carrot" and "clothespin" techniques. Would it be easier to cut the triangle shape out now before rounding things off? Or cut it after it's been shaped?
Either way. I have done both.
Louis
Thanks for the input, Lou. I think I'll go ahead and do like in the Ventura tutorial. I was able to get the upper fuselage carved and the leading edge of the wings. This is the first time I've done a symmetrical airfoil. I hope it turns out ok!
(https://i.imgur.com/L1fnW3A.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/px1qUwe.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WujySGI.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/UJ1lKla.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/004THJ9.jpeg)
Awesome, keep those progress shots coming.
Louis
You asked for it!
Last night I was able to complete the carving on the wings.Today we had a snow day, so I was able to get the notch cut for the wings as well as shape the bottom of the nacelles and start the top of them.
(https://i.imgur.com/YNMYm8e.jpeg)
The trailing edge doesn't quite line up with the template, but I'm pleased with how well the leading edge matches.
(https://i.imgur.com/MSiPVar.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/L1rt4Mt.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/BBExWDE.jpeg)
Wonderful.
Louis
I'm going to have to remake the nacelles. I carved them too small in the front by mistake. I carved them down to the size of the inner circle for the engine opening, not the outside of the cowling. Oops!
I do stuff like that al the time.
Louis
Quote from: lastvautour on February 17, 2025, 09:35:25 AMI do stuff like that al the time.
Louis
It's good to know I'm not alone! Unfortunately, we've got high temperatures in the single digits all week, so I probably won't be able to get outside and cut new ones for a while.
I was able to get new nacelles carved and rough-fitted to the wings. I still need to do more tweaking to get them situated correctly. One ended up being farther outboard than the other, and I still need to get them to sit parallel to each other. The tail pieces still need to be shaped, then the lower fuselage. I'm going to try drilling a hole for the upper turret to sit in. We'll see how that goes.
Here are the photos of my current progress:
(https://i.imgur.com/AWj3JXG.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZXukFrI.jpeg)
There be a Marauder on your bench. Coming along nicely.
Louis
Are you drilling a hole for the turret? The vintage model plan that I am using calls for shaping the bottom of the turret with a concave radius.
Quote from: Dave Tunison on March 16, 2025, 01:38:10 PMAre you drilling a hole for the turret? The vintage model plan that I am using calls for shaping the bottom of the turret with a concave radius.
That's my plan, yes. I just thought I'd try a different method.
I've made some progress over the past couple days. It helped that today we had a snowstorm blow through and cancelled school, so I got to work on it a bit more.
I carved a little too much off the left nacelle and it sat too high in the wing, so I added a 1mm piece of wood (basswood maybe?) I had from previous projects (it's about an inch wide and maybe 8 inches long) to get it back to the correct thickness. I used the same wood to add "patches" to the front of each nacelle where I took a little too much off. These were applied with superglue. We'll see how well I can blend it in for painting.
I was also able to get the tail surfaces shaped. I now need to carve out the spot for the horizontal stabilizer to sit, drill the hole for the turret, then I can carve the lower fuselage and start assembling it. I still need to add the air inlets on the front of the nacelles, as well. Here are the progress pictures:
(https://i.imgur.com/J5gox80.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/6abZTen.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/udqyrms.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9urn2Eb.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wxqrH1p.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CzsaFth.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4MKyDP6.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jpv8zHU.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/B13R4Z8.jpeg)
Excellent!
Louis
Nice. It is looking like a Marauder. Nacelles can be so complicated when dealing with the wing taper and the airfoil shape. Then on top of it all they have to be level and parallel to the fuselage.
Quote from: Dave Tunison on March 20, 2025, 07:06:19 PMNice. It is looking like a Marauder. Nacelles can be so complicated when dealing with the wing taper and the airfoil shape. Then on top of it all they have to be level and parallel to the fuselage.
Plus dihedral! No kidding! This is my second twin engine, after my C-119. That one required a lot of putty... :D
I was able to get the tail pieces in place on their own. They are not glued, just sitting in place. You can see that they're slightly tilted to the left in the picture. I'll do some more adjusting and maybe thin the vertical stabilizer a bit more. It looks a bit "overweight." I plan on securing them by drilling holes and using that piano wire I found to help strengthen the joints when it comes time to glue them. Still to do is drill the hole for the turret and finish the lower fuselage.
Pictures:
(https://i.imgur.com/KfaRegS.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/l4VSceY.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WAvIAhL.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3s2YBbP.jpeg)
I was able to get the hole drilled for the top turret tonight using a spade bit. I went ahead and made a turret as well. The pictured turret was my second attempt. I chucked a 1/2" dowel into my drill and used a sanding stick to shape it.
(https://i.imgur.com/U2gUbRr.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qkxaOiO.jpeg)
Nicely done turret.
Louis
I was able to get the lower fuselage carved and rough sanded. I'll still need to draw the parallel lines on it to check the shape. Next will be working on getting the nacelles finished up and glued to the wings, followed by the intakes and things.
(https://i.imgur.com/FT3ki0a.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/nInqLbZ.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/HEeIqL9.jpeg)
I drew on the canopy frames and nose just for fun:
(https://i.imgur.com/SEX75Qh.jpeg)
Looks great.
I agree with Dave.
Louis