Tomek

Thanks for your warm reception of my model. I'm really happy that I was able to "trick" some of you (I hope you are not trying to be just kind ). That's a proof for me that paper/card can be an equal medium to plastic. It just requires more effort to elevate it to your standards . I'm bit scared were it all leads... radial, funny how my attitude toward paper model genre has change during this build. Yup, I care less now what material I'm using as long as the majority of work is done in card. It may not pass as a paper model to some orthodox modelers, but I think it was really worthy to reach for diffrerent materials. You will see me doing it more often now.

I liked those signs as well. Kind of cool! The little fingers yes, but not the hamfisted judges .... just kidding ... Yup! I filled up my memory card pretty quickly in the museum part. The American Airpower Museum staff is very friendly and they more than happy to let crazies drool and take hundreds of walkaround photos of their aircrafts on display. I may share those bit later, when I get around sorting the photos out. My friends went home with some good deals (or at least that's what they say ...). I'm not the best person to judge such things, but based on overheard opinions it was OK. Not great, but decent.

I really don't have much experience to say if this show was good for LSPs or not. The numbers may tell you more: slightly over 100 modelers entered about 570 models. Among these there were 20 LSPs. I'm not counting my models, they were put in the separate category - "paper creations". I really like the conversion F4-G Phantom II (first photo). Very impressive to say the least. I missed two Fw-190s. There were entered into the contest later and were in a different place in my camera. I had really good time.

and few more to come ...

Hi folks, I thought some of you may be interested in some photos of large scale planes at the Noreastcon convention, which was held this weekend (May 5-6). Really nice show, held in a hangar of the American Air Power Museum in Farmingdale, New York. What better location for the model show?! More to come...

The cockpit looks great! Really nice work on the GEE box. I like it!

Marek, I'm really happy to hear that you are feeling better. Your return to the bench is perfect proof of that! I can't wait for more updates on your Tomcat. Take it slowly though.

Thanks Ron! The final gallery can be found in the RFI section.

This is a paper model of de Havilland's trainer for the Royal FIying Corps. It was quite unusual aircraft. It was the first airplane developed specifically for training purposes and that can be seen through out the construction. It was also aircraft very different from other de Havilland's designs of this period. His trademarks (like for example de Havilland's tail) were sacrificed to create an easily maintained, cheap and safe machine. The kit was published by Orlik (1/33 scale) and was enhanced by me with few scratchbuilt details. Those interested can find the build thread here. I'm really happy that I managed to complete my second LSP build thread. Yay!!! Thank you all for your comments, kind words and encouragement. I really appreciate it, although frankly I think you guys are spoiling me … It is really pretty modest model. This DH.6A build wouldn't be the same without this forum. I used during the construction a lot of new techniques I've learned from you. Seeing some of the works here expanded my horizons and I look at models differently now. Thank you for that! I experimented with the photo background a bit. Please let me know what do you think about it. The deep shadows which it creates may not go well with the presentation of the model. On the other hand I showed all the details in the build thread already. As always I struggled with getting the colors right ... sorry... More in a minute ...

The truck and the gun look great Taffy! I really like your weathering, and all the small added details. Very creative! The ammo box looks bit rough, I know it's your first attempt... I think you would be better off by just cutting the shape of the front (with the hole) in plastic sheet. You could use some wire for handles and strips of paper (or cardstock if some thickness is desired) for hinges. Moisten it and it will create really nice hinges (CA glue will bond both materials without any problem). Just a thought .

Thanks Taffy! Unfortunetly Chaffee got dropped from the current year project list. 2013 then, promise! He's a patient one and will wait for his turn ... I would love to do some work on it, but I have some other modeling comitments at this time . Thanks for looking in Brian. I think, at least partially my attitude toward finished models is based on the simple fact, that I don't have space for the display. There is another thing. After several accidents during playing soccer indoors with my son I learned not to get attached to my models. I think after these accidents I convinced myself that the process of making something is more important and joyfull than getting a ready for display model. My modeling buddy hearing my stories described it once as a zen-like modeling aproach. Sounds cool and I'm sticking to it!

Thanks Marek! I really appreciate your rooting for this project throuout the all these months. Dzięki! Glad I'm not alone . I definetly need couple day just to decompress, hahha. Then I'll clean up my bench. Can't stand the mess anymore. Funny that you said you don't really look at your model anymore. I don't really care much about them when they're done either. It's fun to make them, but I don't really take pleasure from watching my stuff. I don't even have any display space ... Models quickly retire or advance (!) to a status of my sons toys . Anyway I'm planning to do Piper L4-H ... I'll start soon probably ...

Thanks Martin. A compliment from you means a lot! Actually I'm done! I spent last couple of hours putting remaining elements together. Still can't believe it, hahaha. What I'm going to do now??? I really feel strange, it's been 13 months of thinking about this ..... thing ... I need to take some final photos and prepare them before the final gallery in the RFI section. Hopefully this weekend ... Below just a teaser

Looking good Kev! Nice detail on those struts.

It was pleasure to follow this build. I love it! Even to my inexperience eye I can see your mastery with an airbrush. Impressive!

I gave up complimenting you work Richard ... I run out of compliments .... my head is empty. Wait! I guess now I can use "Like it" button ... oh what a relieve!

Phil, Matt thanks! I really appreciate your compliments! Rich, I'm glad this thread was some help to you. I have no idea though how the circle cutter will work with other materials. I've never tried to use it for anything else than paper or cardboard. I hope it will work for you! Leif, thanks for looking in. I owe you! I'm really happy how the prop turned out and how easy it actually was to make it. I worried about skipping some layers, but I think it was compensated by cutting blades outside of your templates (effect of tracing them with thick pencil). Initially I made 9 layers - I used every second template, when I realized it will be too thick, I discarded the first and the last. Maybe it's not 100% accurate this way, but it works for me. Thanks for showing your other ideas! I'm about to install the engine now (I need to add some water, and fuel lines, etc.) and I may be able to call it done. I hope the next update will be the final gallery

Thanks guys, I'm glad you like it! There is not much to explain Frank . Soft pastels are very forgiving. The surface of my model has some grip, so they stick to it very well. I make powder out of pastel sticks (scrubbing it with a blade for example) and apply it with shaggy, shortly trimmed brush. I use the same brush to rub in the powder. Then additionally q-tip or even my finger to blend it more. That's all. In case of undercarriage I didn't even bother to seal it with fixative. I'm glad you like the results! Thanks!

Really, really nice! I love it. Great photography too! Pleasure to ogle. Thanks!

So I tried again, this time using a completely different approach. A friend, Leif Ohlsson, created while ago a template with a jig for making laminated prop out of cardstock. I've seen his props and they looked really good. I decided to use his method, but instead of cardstock I wanted to use mahogany veneer. The Curtiss prop was made out of one color wood, and I wanted to make it as much realistic as it gets. What beats mahogany to replicate a mahogany prop? Leif's method (I linked to a pdf with his template above) has two elements - the prop layers and a jig created from leftovers after cutting out each layers shape. I refer you to the pdf file with the template for the details how this exactly works (or maybe Leif will explain it with details later here - that would be great!). I photographed each step, so to some degree it they should be self-explanatory. First I retraced Leif' templates to veneer: After the shapes were traced, I cut out the prop layers. I used white glue (PVA) as an adhesive and petroleum jelly as a agent protecting edges of the jig from gluing to prop and other layers. Leif's method requires 18 layers of cardstock, because of the thickness of veneer I used initially 9, then only 7 - just to get the right prop thickness in the center. I worried about using fewer layers, but I figured extra material coming from my inaccuracies and final sanding will do the trick. After all the layers were build, everything was clamped overnight, and the jig layers were removed one by one (petroleum jelly help in that). This was ready for sanding, and you guys must admit it doesn't require much work. The basic shape it's already there. Leif created also parts for the hubs: After sanding and painting: This looks much better!

Thank you guys for your kind words! I really appreciate your encouragement. Thanks! Today only about the propeller. Again I worried that the kit's prop won't be accurate nor it will look reasonably realistic. I compared it to the Datafile drawing and it was too long. Scratchbuilding time again ... I'm getting tired of this, hahaah. Researching this topic hasn't turned up much information. Most likely DH.6 powered by Curtiss OX-5 engines had also Curtiss props - AD 453, made of american mahogany. At some point I've seen on the Internet a contemporary photo of it for sale (not too good though), I haven't saved it unfortunately. Looking at archival photos I thought that it looked like Sabre shaped prop. I went then in this direction. My first attempt was pretty straightforward. I got mahogany veneer, traced the shape of a prop on it, cut several layers and glue it together. After clamping it overnight it was sanded. It didn't look very good. First it was too thin - somehow it was difficult to control it's thickness, clamping compressed the layers a lot. Second, the shape wasn't quite right. I used nitrate dope as a protective coat. More in a minute...

It still amazes me how clean your work is! I love your detailing, Mark!

Very nice! Clean and crisp ... as usual in your case ....