Pete "Pig" Fleischmann

Not for everyone-I admit. But a single 35th scale ruler is $9.50! scale ruler! considering the fact that every single part I make for this has to be re-scaled, it's a bargain. Pig

Yeah-there's that too- I'm just telling folks so they can go download it for themselves Regards, Pig

Frank is one of my favorite modelers! One of the The things I like about this app is the fact that the device it runs on fits on my bench. I don't have room for a laptop or PC on the bench, and I don't want to run upstairs every time I need to do a calculation-with this I don't have to. I don't have an eye-phone either...just an eye-pod. It works with that too. Regards, Pig

Hey Gents, I've got a new tool I'm using on this project you might find interesting: ScaleConvert Pig

Hey Gents, I want to show you the coolest new tool I have. I was approached by an App developer to help with the development and testing of a new application for these devices. This application is a scale converter for scale modelers, and is really slick. As some of you may know from the "In Progress" thread, I am scratch building an AT-38 in 1/16th scale. To build this model I have multiple sources of drawings in multiple scales. Working with these drawings and converting dimensions off of them to 1/16th scale can be math intensive. Dealing with multiple scales has the potential for introdu

Thanks all you guys for chiming in with support- I appreciate that a lot..it helps to keep me going! Guy- I guarantee you have all the skills you need to do the same..and like me, what you don't know-somebody else does! Most of what I know, I've learned from my fellow modelers on these and other boards. I also recommend two books: Scratch built, by John Alcorn, and The Master Scratch Builders, also by John Alcorn. All the basic dance steps are in there, plus more techniques and tips than you'd ever need. If you can measure, cut, and glue (and I know you can!) anyone can do this stuff, I pro

Hey Bill- Yes you are correct-each bulkhead was adjusted for the .040 base. I'd suggest you give it a shot! I'm no rocket scientist, just stubborn. I know I don't have all of the answers yet for this build, but none of this stuff is really hard, (so far :D ) but the answers to issues / questions / problems are out there..plus, there is no timeline: just build as your skill and knowledge allow.. Regards, Pig

Well there you go! Simple and perfect- Regards, pig

Hello Again! Thanks guys for all of the kind words of support! This one will be an endurance test! I've got the left side of the master pattern set up. All of the bulkheads and formers that define the shape are in place. Now I'll do identical work to build up the right side- Here's a look: Thanks for looking! Pig

Hi Mike! Yeah! Its getting there huh?! The first time I did this, I used basswood in between the formers. This time, I'm going to try Timmy's! technique, where the spaces are filled with stacked sections of sheet balsa to within about 1/4 inch from the edge of the forms. That last 1/4 inch is filled with 2-part Bondo and sanded smooth to the formers. The balsa is just there to take up space under the Bondo. The wings and tail surfaces are so thin, that I'm going to try some different techniques with those as well-More to follow on that! Regards, Pig

Hey Gents- Slowly but surely making my way from nose to tail. When this side is done, then I do the other- The cockpit area of the master has a few things engineered into it, such as locating the cockpit bulkheads, cockpit floor, and side console locations: The windscreen and canopy were also engineered to be separated from the master. Here you can see how: At the base of the canopy and windscreen, between the forward canopy and windscreen, and between the aft end of the aft canopy and the fuselage-double bulkheads were installed to facilitate disassembly from the fuselage. The canopy and

Hey Bill No problem!...happy to answer your questions..PM inbound to you- Regards, Pig

Hey Gents, Thanks for all of the kind words and encouragement! Here's a bit more.. Keeping the assembly straight and true with 90 degree machinist angles: I won't bore you with all that, but you get the idea- Pig

OK gents, I've started building-up the skeleton for the master pattern. First, I glued the profiles down to a piece of glass. This will keep the assembly perfectly flat while assembly progresses. Just tack it down with tiny spots of super glue-This is just a tempered glass shelf..Home Depot $25.00 Then, the bulkheads are set in place. These are the smallest parts that I had cut. The fact that they fit perfectly is a testament to the incredibly accurate drawings that Timmy! did for me-This guy is an incredible talent. These are applied with a thin film of super glue, carefully set with 90 d

Hi Mike- Sorry for the confusion Mike..no not a template. These are the No-kidding bulkheads for the master pattern. The bulkheads at each station location were machine cut by Charles Huet for me. For this model, I believe we had about 100+ bulkheads and formers to build up both halves of the master-I just couldn't stomach cutting those by hand! Here they are-They just have not been separated from the sheet. These will be used on the .040 profile to build up the master. This is one of the sheets from Charles. Each bulkhead is still attached to the sheet, kinda like a big photoetch panel:

Ugh- There is no way I'm kitting-out this beast. I will build one for sure..and possibly two (Kristi will want one I bet) This thing is 3 feet long BTW! Kitting this would add so much time to the build..I really just want to get on with it. But, If you are so inclined, I would touch base with Timmy! These drawings can be manipulated in many ways. I bet you could create a conversion or just scratch one in whatever scale you like! Regards, pig

Wow Mike, That exhaust is a bear..You'll figure it out though-You always do. First look I thought of a circular collector ring with the individual pipes to the cylinders scabbed-on, then blend the whole mess with Miliput and cast a copy for #2.. Regardless I know you will come up with the perfect solution! Old school or new school, your work is always incredible. The CAD stuff does a great job of engineering out my inadequacies! Now I just have to build it- Keep going there Mike-You are kicking *** again- Regards, Pig

Thanks Guy-I appreciate the encouragement! I'm fortunate to have awesome reference material on the T-38 and AT-38B. There is always something you need that you don't have, but running those nuggets of knowledge down is half the fun, right? Think I'll wash this elephant down with copious amounts of beer- Regards, Pig

Hey Mike! Thanks for saving my bacon- Hey, those engine parts don't even look like the same parts anymore. Tedious I bet but well worth the effort! They look great. Sometimes I think the most important tool in your toolbox is a hefty dose of patience! Looking outstanding, as usual! Pig

OK..Lets get started- The bulkhead and former locations are transferred to the profile by scoring the drawing through to the plastic at the appropriate locations with a sharp blade. Once they are all marked in, I soaked off the profile drawing under the kitchen faucet. The scoring left raised ridges that I sanded flush, then I highlighted the score marks with a wash of thinned Tamiya green..Now I can see them again. Pig

OK Gents, Plastic is starting to stack up in my workshop. I had Charles Huet at CNC Models laser cut the bulkheads and formers that will make up the skeleton of the master pattern. Timmy! was kind enough to draw these for me and coordinate with Charles; ensuring the artwork was in the proper format for the cutting machine-Here's a link to Charles' website: http://www.cnc-models.com/ Here is the box of cut parts from Charles-This model will be B-I-G! 7 year old included for scale: Here are the sheets. There are 2 identical sheets of each (4 total) so I can build-up left and right halves

Sweet Mike! You "pimped" your shop!! Looks awesome! really super job Pig

OK. Pig

Probably because of threads like this. After reading some of the comments here-If I were John, I'd hang my hat somewhere else too. Regards, Pig

Yes- 86-314 has walkway markings. HTH Pig