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Archive for Progressive Model Build

Metal Stuff – Shaping Skin

by Gerald Voigt
March 2nd, 2012

Its a perfect evening to be working at the workbench, we had a snow storm earlier in the day and the movie The Right Stuff is on the television…so that’s my excuse and I’d sticking to it. ;0)

To get this project rolling I am going to start with a section of the fuselage to create a skin for it that will later be battle damaged. I start with a piece of thin aluminum, that from my valued stash of printers plating and anneal it using a candle, holding it with a pair of needle nose pliers. A good sooty smokey flame is best. It helps soften the metal to make it more pliable.

Once that is done, I start by taping it and the model in place. The metal to the fuselage and the fuselage to the workbench. Then I start to work the metal, stretching and shaping it to the fuselage half. Gentle rubbing, gradually working the metal to prevent it from tearing.

You can add a drop or two of soapy water to ease the friction. As you can see by this illustration, I am using a variety of tools. Crochet hook, knitting needle, clay sculpting tool and whatever else works. If you find the metal not conforming as easy as you like, carefully peel off the tape and metal and anneal it again. Tape it back in place and start working it some more.

Eventually with patience and persistence you’ll have a piece of metal that looks much like the side of the fuselage.

Any deep scratches in the metal can be eased with the use of a polishing stick. I recommend you do this while the piece is still taped in place on the fuselage. If you want to add rivet detail, this too is the best time to do it.

Once you’re satisfied, remember you are going to destroy this piece later on so cosmetics isn’t really important. Trip away the excess not necessary. The flash in this case around the window opening. If you look closely you can see the panel lines embossed in the metal.

 

With the part removed you can start to fabricate the other details necessary. Such as the interior structures…ribs, bulkheads and gussets.

 

 

 

You can make these by using strips of the same aluminum bent and shaped using the appropriate tools. I use my Xuron 9180ET Pro PE Scissors and my The Small Shop’s  Hold n Fold. Find what works best for you, but I highly recommend these tools!

Again remember don’t worry too much about how neat and fancy it is, its most likely going to be mangled and torn as part of the battle damage inflicted on the aircraft.

Well I have a lot of little fiddly bits to make and install so until next time listen to The Plastic Scale Modeling Hour on Warbird Radio and spend some quality time at your work bench. Stay tuned for more of this project!

Categories How-To, Progressive Model Build, Tips & Techniques
Comments (5)

Gonna Make It Home Mitchell

by Gerald Voigt
January 17th, 2012

Besides digging for reference material to accompany this build I need to pull out the kits and see what I have, then pick the one(s) I plan on using.

Digging through the stash I found a couple 1:48 B-25 kits I forgot I had. One was sitting in front of me on my in progress shelf…the other buried under some other stuff. The first being a Accurate Miniatures and the other a classic Aurora. The Aurora had an added surprise there was a B-29 in the box as well. Something I acquired from some other modeler who “got out” of the hobby. Its interesting to see the detail that was state of the art back in the day. Of course for some of you, you’ve never heard of or even seen this level of perfection of accuracy. ;0)

I also found some aftermarket accessories too! Given this aircraft is going to be damaged, I’m not so sure I want to use expensive aftermarket, but I have a little time to decide that, but not much.

Pondering over some of the possible scenarios that could be the cause of the “battle damage” could be one bomber dropping its “eggs” on another which was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Having a bomb embedded in the upper fuselage while another one clipped off a horizontal stab and rudder.

To that end I did some checking of the Spares Stash to see if I had any decent bombs to use should this be the scenario I use…I kinda like it so it has a good possibility.

Anybody got a good cutaway drawing of a B-25 they are willing to share and send me?

 

Categories History You Can Model, How-To, Progressive Model Build, Scale Modeling-Tools, Tips & Techniques
Comments (6)

PreBuild Preparation – Metal Resources

by Gerald Voigt
January 15th, 2012

Even before I slip the cover off the kit box I need to start gathering up the material and resources I need to accomplish the project. I’ll of course dig into my stash of thin sheet aluminum that were once used for printing plates before the arrival of the digital age. These plates are harder and harder to find and I only tap into my very limited supply for special projects…such as this one.

I’ll also have to have at my disposal some other extruded metal products such as those which Albion Alloys Precision Metals provides. Their products are my go-to source for metal tubing, rod and other metal stock. Given that I’ll be recreating interior structures that has to be mangled, twisted and torn to replicate battle damage I want the realism and durability that using soft metal provides.

It just so happens that this week on The Plastic Scale Modeling Hour, I have as my guest Matthew John, Product Manager at Albion Alloys. We’ll see what he recommends for this project.

Amongst the resources I have collected and added to my spares stash have been various foils and other soft metals. These have come from food container seals, such as those used under the lid of a peanut butter jar or beverage container. Thin foils such as chewing gum wrappers are also in my stash, not just for the minty scent they add to the box they are kept in, but for the ultra thin foil itself. This foil can be used to cover a panel or make thin retaining straps. One of the challenges to using this foil, removing the paper laminated to it. Trying to peel the two apart can be sometimes successful.

TIP: But have found that the easiest way is to lay the wrapper on a piece of glass, foil side down and set the paper on fire with a match or butane lighter. The paper will burn away leaving the foil behind.

Old Photo Etched pieces including the metal frets will also be examined to see if there is anything useful I can use. Since my Mitchell is going to have some engine damage, I’ll be looking for pieces and bits to replicate a damaged cylinder head. PE frets are ideal for cutting to make the air cooling fins from. Lets also not forget to take a peek at all of the wire and solder collected over the years as well.

The tools necessary too will be gathered up and staged on the bench. My selection of pliers, shears and scissors from Xuron and the bending tools from The Small Shop will be necessary for the sometimes delicate work at hand to recreate this infliction of damage and destruction.

Once I have seen what I have on hand for resources or will need to acquire I can start to plan on what damage and in what amount and detail I can reproduce. Since I plan to display this aircraft in flight…or as it were barely flying while on final approach I have to decide what type and level of damage would still plausibly let the aircraft return “Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer.”  As I am writing this post and making mental notes of the tasks to do for this project I am asking myself…“Is this damage the result of a midair collision as part of a training exercise gone wrong or as the result of a damage during a combats sortie?” What’s your thought? Again it is something that must be decide before construction and painting…to source the correct scheme and markings. Something else to add to the list!

REMINDER: Poor planning = Poor Results. Each step of a scale modeling project depends on the proper execution of the previous one to allow satisfactory progression with excellent results as the final outcome.

Categories Just For Fun!, Progressive Model Build, Scale Modeling-Tools, Tips & Techniques
Comments (2)
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