1/32 ERA-3B Skywarrior - 3D printed / scratchbuilt

[Kagemusha]

You really are spoiling us, amazing project, I might just follow along... 

[Marcin_Matejko]

A very interesting undertaking, I will follow the progress of work with great interest.

[Marcel111]

Ben, sad to hear about the plight of the MH-53 but very excited to to see this project! Do you ever do normal :-)?

 

Cheers,

Marcel

[airscale]

oh wow!

 

another astonishing project to spectate on Ben - I love the freedom of your imagination linked with your skills meaning absolutely anything is possible

 

Peter

[Starfighter]

As usual, progress is slow. I have to finish a 35th scale AH-1Z for a magazine... Of course I was not able to simply build it but had to play around with my 3D printer which resulted in more work than initially planned.

 

Anyway, a bit of drilling and cutting was required to add the remaining APU exhausts. Looks a bit rough, but noting to worry about: A friend of mine has already CNC milled the raised frames which will be added around them later on. 

 

 

 

 

Sadly, I have to cut and re-align the fuselage behind the wings again as it is not perfectly straight. That's the next thing to do. I'll keep you posted! 

 

Here's what's holding me back at the moment... not super happy about it, but I have to finish it! 

 

Edited November 29, 2019 by Starfighter

[John1]

I love the Whale.   Landing something close to the size of a 737 on a carrier, with those old, slow to spool up engines, no fancy fly-by wire or HUDs, at night, in bad weather, with no ejection seats....  Those crewmembers had brass ones....

 

Looking forward to this build! 

[scimitarf1]

Brave indeed

 

A3D - All 3 Dead according to contemporary nicknames

[CJP]

Hi Starfighter - I always liked the look of the ECM Skywarrior so watching this build with interest

CXP

[shark64]

Ben, I have started a petition around the world for you to get back to the CH 53, so far only one signature, mine. LOL

I wasn't familiar with the Skywarrior so I watched the video, big plane indeed. 

Your Cobra is stunning. What magazine is it going to?

Any more thought on the deck tractor?

 

Oliver

[Starfighter]

Thank you all!  

 

Oliver, the MH-53 is anything but forgotten. I'll order litho plate and start trials soon. The AH-1Z is for German model magazine ModellFan. I need t o push to get it done soon. 

The tractor will follow for sure - in 2020. 

[Timmy!]

8 hours ago, Starfighter said:

Thank you all!  

 

Oliver, the MH-53 is anything but forgotten. I'll order litho plate and start trials soon. The AH-1Z is for German model magazine ModellFan. I need t o push to get it done soon. 

The tractor will follow for sure - in 2020. 

Litho is not your only option.  I have good bit of experience with metal covering.  I have never used litho...never actually found a source.   I use tooling foil.  It’s aluminum sheet 36 gauge and I have found it cheap at amazon or any or the big craft stores in the US.  36 gauge is 0.005” or 0.127mm thick.   It’s soft easy to form and cut and works great for butt and step joint panels.  
 

Here’s a link as an example...Tooling Foil

 

Hope that helps!

 

Timmy!

[Out2gtcha]

Wow, might have to check some of that out.

Being 36 guage, I wonder if it will work on 32nd stuff like it works on 1/12th and up.

[Jack]

OOUCH, missed this one Ben, i'm AGAIN flabbergasted, that whale is looking very good already.

 

Jack.

[Marcel111]

The Z looks great from where I am standing!

[Starfighter]

17 hours ago, Timmy! said:

Litho is not your only option.  I have good bit of experience with metal covering.  I have never used litho...never actually found a source.   I use tooling foil.  It’s aluminum sheet 36 gauge and I have found it cheap at amazon or any or the big craft stores in the US.  36 gauge is 0.005” or 0.127mm thick.   It’s soft easy to form and cut and works great for butt and step joint panels.  
 

Here’s a link as an example...Tooling Foil

 

Hope that helps!

 

Timmy!

 

This helps a lot - I will definitely try to get some. Maybe I can find a source in Europe, this would make it easier. Anyway, thanks a lot for the link - much cheaper than litho plate as well. can't wait to give this a try!