kensar Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 (edited) I decided on a Thomas Morse for my next scratchbuild as there aren't any kits of one in this scale. I think its a significant plane since most American WW1 pilots had time in one. The idea was planted in my head when I came across some papers left behind by my Dad after he passed. Among them was a line drawing of the Tommy from a 1957 issue of Model Airplane News. I have put together the engine using a Vector kit, with the front of the crankcase machined from aluminum and some RB Motion bolts. Next, I machined out a cowl on my lathe. Then it was time to start the fuselage framing. The top longeron has quite a curve in it, which was created with three 0.020" strips laminated together to hold the curve. Then the cockpit bits. The Tommy has a simple cockpit. The ailerons are operated via torsion bars, like a Nieuport. Nearly completed cockpit bring me up to date here. The next challenge is rendering the bottom of the fuse and the turtledeck. They were longerons covered with the linen covering. Comments welcome. Edited December 15, 2019 by kensar Lothar, Out2gtcha, sandokan and 24 others 22 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daywalker Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 VERY impressive work, never saw anyone turn a 1/32 cowl before. I'll be watching this one! kensar, USMC Herc and sandokan 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorbenD Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Mightily accomplished so far Kensar Torben kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan_G Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 wow! so this is really different league of modelling Will follow with greatest interest jan kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trak-Tor Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Well, that's quite impressive. Juraj kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Wow, are you kidding me? Fantastic work! Kev kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Out2gtcha Posted December 15, 2019 Share Posted December 15, 2019 Wow that cowl is mind blowing! kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn M Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 holy crap.....nice work! kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lothar Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Every detail is simply spectacular - it's hard to wait for more !!! Lothar kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensar Posted December 16, 2019 Author Share Posted December 16, 2019 (edited) Thanks for the kind comments, everyone. I am going forward with a vacuum formed fuse bottom. After that experience (assuming success) I'll be doing the turtledeck. Guess I should post a picture of what the real one looks like. Edited December 16, 2019 by kensar Out2gtcha, USMC Herc and Lothar 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensar Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 An update - the pilot has a place to sit now. The seat cushion is from Milliput, the leather covering on the back and the seat belts are masking tape. thierry laurent, SapperSix, sandokan and 9 others 10 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 That seat is an absolute beauty, Ken Richard kensar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzas Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Holy smokes! Love that turned cowling... and everything else! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensar Posted January 22, 2020 Author Share Posted January 22, 2020 Just a brief update after a break for the holidays. Added longerons to the fuse bottom, as they are visible through the cockpit opening. Trak-Tor, Rockie Yarwood, TorbenD and 11 others 12 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kensar Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 Continuing with this build... Skinning the turtledeck with 0.010" styrene. Longerons are embossed into the skin. Tail surfaces made. Hinges are metal eyelets. A hinge rod will pass through the eyelets to assemble them together, as on the real thing. Attached the fuse bottom, which is vacuum formed. Fuse sides. That's one way to skin a Thomas. Shawn M, Rockie Yarwood, thierry laurent and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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