Army_Air_Force Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 We had a short window on Friday to get a little more done. This was basically painting the rest of the airframe red so that it had time to dry, and allow me to spray a clear coat so the next session tomorrow could be decalling. The tail, rudder, bottom of the fuselage where the wing joins and the wing struts all needed painting. The second picture shows it done, along side a Revell Fokker EIII of mine for an unrelated project. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Since the Dr.I will be flying, and chasing Snoopy, the engine needed to be running and so the prop turning. I don't like clear plastic discs for props, and I'm not a fan at all of the etched brass blurred blades, so decided to try something new. One of the things I don't like about clear discs is the lack of thickness, so for my experiment, I cut a lump of 3mm clear acrylic, which was then cut down to a bow tie shape. This was tapered towards the tips and tapered to the leading and trailing edges. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 After a fine wet sand, it was polished with 'T-Cut' car paint colour restorer, and then dipped in Future, dried and dipped again, then left to dry. I then sprayed wood brown along the prop, more heavily along the leading edges and at the root. Once dry, I then scraped through the paint in a radial pattern with a sharp scalpel. It just needs a washer adding for the washer on the hub. It's not a perfect solution to moving props, but as a first experiment, I'm quite pleased with it, and with some more practice and refining, it could work well. For the Triplane, it is fine and my daughter thinks it's great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 27, 2017 Author Share Posted March 27, 2017 Spraying the gloss clear coat ready for the decals. Another view of the prop, push fitted onto the engine/cowling which is yet to be attached. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 Further progress by my daughter on her diorama/picture. We got most of the decalling done after school today. I held the model still while she applied the decal and aligned it, particularly for those on the side of the fuselage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 While each decal was left to dry a little while, we made a start on Snoopy. I drew him out on modelboard and cut the outline on the bandsaw, then left my daughter to start sanding down to the outline. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 Back to the decalling, top side now. Next came the starboard side; and that is as far as the decalling got, as it was almost time to eat. I wanted that side to fully dry and harden before turning the model over. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 (edited) More sanding of Snoopy. We both took turns at sanding. It's a big job, and is her first real experience of scratch building. His head will need detaching for easier shaping of the head and body, but were cut as one to see the proportions looked right. Tail, arms, scarf and goggles will probably be made from Milliput. Edited March 28, 2017 by Army_Air_Force Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 This is how things looked by the end of the session. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted April 13, 2017 Author Share Posted April 13, 2017 School Easter holidays this week, and my daughter and I had some free time, so did some more of her Snoopy verses the Red Baron today. She attached the engine and cowl, then I jigged up the rather fiddly landing gear for her to glue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted April 13, 2017 Author Share Posted April 13, 2017 While that was drying, we cut Snoopy's head off to allow shaping of the head and body to be easier. I worked on his body and legs which required some use of the bandsaw, while she started sanding his head and nose round. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted April 13, 2017 Author Share Posted April 13, 2017 We only had an hour spare before we had a trip out, but managed to push the project on and see progress. The Triplane now only needs the wheels and prop adding, and Snoopy is taking shape nicely. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crazy Snap Captain Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 This is brilliant! Keep going guys!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted May 8, 2017 Author Share Posted May 8, 2017 Thanks. Sometimes we all get bogged down in details, so it's great to just have a little fun with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GW8345 Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 The way you did the prop is awesome, I'm going to have to steal that for one of my build. :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 It's been a while since an update, but we have been making progress. The wheels and prop being fitted. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 The wheels still need their centres painting, but we were in a rush for a photo shoot with two customer models, one of which was due to be shipped, so we made do with a mostly finished Triplane to get the Fokker Dri, Fokker DVII and Fokker EIII line up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 Work continued with Snoopy, with my daughter working on shaping Snoopy's head, following instructions I gave her in advance of each step. I worked on Snoopy's body, shaping his legs, feet and body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 We also made a start on his kennel. I cut some 1/4 ply parts, and left my daughter to sand and clean the parts up. The kennel was glued and clamped and left to dry. It will be clad with thin ply to give the outer finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 1/16 ply is to be used for the cladding. I cut a number of straight and tapered strips with a scalpel, as it took more strength than my daughter could have managed. The side pieces are tapered because the kennel has been made with false perspective. My daughter sanded the edges into a slight radius to allow the plank edges to show more clearly once assembled. After the front faces of the ply was also sanded, I mixed up a wash of white enamel for her to paint them with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted June 13, 2017 Author Share Posted June 13, 2017 The basic kennel structure and the white washed planks. The last job of today was to mix up some Milliput epoxy putty, and form the start of Snoopy's flying helmet and goggles. His helmet was first, and once that is cured and sanded, we'll do the same and sculpt his goggles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dnl42 Posted June 13, 2017 Share Posted June 13, 2017 That's fabulous! Your daughter is doing a wonderful job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie_superbug Posted June 16, 2017 Share Posted June 16, 2017 I have just stumbled upon this. WOW Incredible work so far! love the theme as well. Regards Brendon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 (edited) After a break for a couple of weeks, we got back to Snoopy after school today. The whitewashed planks prepared last time were glued on today, starting with the ends. The end of the kennel was painted in PVA glue, and each plank in turn stuck on. After both ends were done, they were lightly clamped and placed over a heater to force dry the glue quicker. Edited February 3, 2018 by Army_Air_Force Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Army_Air_Force Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 Once sufficiently dry, I sanded the excess length of planks, flush with the side of the kennel. This allowed the side planks to be attached next. While my daughter was doing that, I drilled a small hole in the end of Snoopy's head for a tiny screw. This formed a support for the Milliput nose to be formed around. That was left to cure and will be sanded to the final shape later. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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