Airplane Building Questions

[jwander]

First I would like to thank Garet and Lou for the info they shared with me.  However, I do have a few more building questions.  When building a solid model airplane I am sure you carve propellers but how do you make wheels?  I know how to make other accessories but I have always used the wheels provided in the kit.  Where do you obtain documentation to get the correct color to paint the plane and other identifications?  How do you make decals?  Also if anyone could suggest a procedure for making a canopy it would be most helpful.  I am a wood carver and an experienced model builder but have avoided making a canopy's because I didn't know how it was done and most of the planes i have built had a canopy included in the kit.  As I get further along in the process of carving I know I will have more questions so be patient with me.

[Oceaneer99]

I've put together some links to some of the information already on the forum (look under the Tips and Technique section of the forum).

We had discussion on the old site (now gone -- Microsoft pulled the plug on all their forum sites) of plunge-molding canopies, but I don't think we have information here yet.

Some of us (me) usually avoid the canopy issue by carving them as part of the fuselage and then painting them a different color, but I did make a clear Spitfire XXI canopy using a plunge-mold technique, which requires less equipment than vacuum-forming.  I have some links to web sites with discussions of the techniques, but I'll need to look them up.

JeffH on wheel making:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-1642

Some decal discussion is here:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?board=9.0

[jwander]

You are truly a wealth of information and have been a tremendous help which will save me a  lot of time.  I haven't learned how to navigate the web site but am working on it.  I think your idea of painting the canopy is probably the best way to go.  If you don't use decals how do you make the insignias and numbers for a model.  The tip on how to make wheels is along the line I was thinking but this idea is very simple.  Do you have a source for scale documentation?

Thanks again Garet.

Jim

[Oceaneer99]

As to decals, you have a number of options:

1.  The old kits had printed paper decals, which were glued down to the model.  I have tried this for some profile "simple scale" models.  See the "Garet Scale" gallery for examples made by a number of members, which were decorated with paper decals:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/thumbnails.php?album=90

2.  I have seen models with all hand-painted insignia, and there are a few members here who do that.  It's an amazing technique for modelers who are skilled enough to pull it off.

3.  Stealing decals from your collection of plastic model kits, or using the spare decals in those kits.

4.  Homemade ink-jet decals using decal paper.  White is always the difficult color.  See the discussion in:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?topic=94.0

5.  Sending patterns to a custom decal house.  Lou has done this a few times.  It isn't inexpensive, but they can do the white parts properly.

6.  Or build a true all-black ID model and avoid the decal issue altogether.  I've only done this once, but Dave T. has built dozens of beautiful models, all finished in a solid color.

I'll copy this to the Tips section.

[Oceaneer99]

As to scale information, in addition to the drawings we have in the galley, there are lots of reference images available on-line.  Do an image search for the model you are interested in and you should be able to find photos and maybe even detailed paint schemes.  Searching for something like "Hawker Hurricane profile" should give you paint information.

Other searches can give you 3-view drawings, some with cross-sections.

Check out the link section in the forum, which includes some sites that have excellent color information:

http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?board=13.0

Some of the most complete are in Russian language, but are very good references.  It doesn't take too long before you'll recognize the word "aircraft" in Russian!

Or send the web url through an on-line translator:

http://translate.google.com/translate_t?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en#

If you can't find scale information for a plane you have in mind, you can ask here.  All of us are somewhat compulsive about keeping scale references around. 

Garet

[dave_t]

I think there is an example of plunge molding in this video I watched some time ago. I am on a dial-up connection at the moment and can't verify it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZQpUNJG4E

Thanks for all those links Garet.

[lastvautour]

Thanks for the canopy site. Even without a language translator (which I have) it is easy to see what the process is.

Lou

[cliff strachan]

With respect to moulding canopies, Ray may have something on an alternative method.

Cliff

[R.F.Bennett]

I can't argue with greatness. The simplicity, the results, speak for themselves. I'm sure you could use opaque plastics too.
Short of having your own vac forming device, this is a good way to go. Let's see some Experiments!   
Don't burn yeselves. . . 

[Oceaneer99]

I tried an experiment last night, using my new butane pencil torch (which I bought to solder together a tail wheel for my Spitfire model -- details later) to heat up a plastic blister pack from some plumbing parts I used to fix a leak.  After it was nice and flexible, I looked for something to pull it over (mental note: next time, have form ready), which turned out to be a bottle of white glue.  I found that you have to heat a large enough area of the plastic; otherwise it will get too thin since only a small area is stretching.  On my third try, I got a very nice pull over the glue nozzle.

You do have to be careful not to get the plastic too hot or set it aflame, and it would be easier with a larger burner surface (like that big round one the Japanese modeler used on youtube).  Maybe you could put the plastic (in a frame?) in a toaster oven.  That way there would not be a flame, so less of a chance to set the plastic on fire!  Our old kitchen one has a bad switch -- maybe I could install a toggle switch and use it for model applications such as this.

Garet

[lastvautour]

I recall an article on using your oven and a vacuum cleaner hose to suck the plastic down on to the mold. Need a box etc etc and a frame to hold the plastic. i guess it was a sub for the mattel vac machine. Much to complicated for me. If anyone is interested I can search my magazine pile to see if i can find the story.

Lou

[Oceaneer99]

I recall an article on using your oven and a vacuum cleaner hose to suck the plastic down on to the mold. Need a box etc etc and a frame to hold the plastic. i guess it was a sub for the mattel vac machine. Much to complicated for me. If anyone is interested I can search my magazine pile to see if i can find the story.

Lou

I have a magazine article about that as well as some internet sites saved away.  I'll look for them.

Garet

[scottzepher]

I think there is an example of plunge molding in this video I watched some time ago. I am on a dial-up connection at the moment and can't verify it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZQpUNJG4E

Thanks for all those links Garet.

Thanks for the link, Dave-it does indeed show a very good plunge molding example, as well as a really cool way to photograph models "in flight."  It's hard to tell, though, if the modeller's spouse is truly understanding or merely being polite.
Greetings and Welcome to all our newest members. 

Tom

[Ken Pugh]

This guy makes some beautiful free flight models and has several good plans on his site.  Here is his page on making canopies.

Ken Pugh

http://www.ffscale.co.uk/page4f.htm

[R.F.Bennett]

Mike's is a great site to spend a day exploring, Here is another method he uses for canopy forming.

http://www.ffscale.co.uk/page4g.htm

Maybe we should ask some of these Gents if they would like to be honorary members.