Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Given my current profession is that of a 3D modeller/draftsman, I thought it might be time to really challenge myself. This may get somewhere, it may get nowhere, so we'll see.. Anyhow, I kind of like the BN-2 Islander....don't ask me why, I just do. So I've decided to try my hand at designing a kit in 1/32 - it's a fairly boxy shape, so shouldn't give me too much difficulty. Originally, it was going to be 1/48, but somebody else is doing one... I've had a 3D printer for a while now, and recently found a material that suits really well - HIPS, or High Impact Polystyrene. The test pieces I've printed sand well, cut well, and glue just the same as kit plastic, so it seems to me to be a logical choice. So far, all I've done are some sketches, and I'm using an Airfix 1/72 example to assist. Unfortunately, there aren't a whole lot of drawings of the BN-2 online, but I *did* find a Trislander with some dimensions (not all, but I think enough to make a start..), and have been using this as the basis for my kit. The first thing I noticed about the Trislander drawings is that it is not scaled correctly, ie, scaling it so the Y-dimensions are "perfect" means that it needs to be stretched in the X direction to make those dimensions fit. However, this was easily overcome, so I started to trace the drawing. I've now got to the point of almost having the fuselage profile done, and once a couple of edumacated guesses were made, it just needs a little tweaking. The only thing left to do is the nose and windscreen. I've been doing the tracing in Autocad, with the idea of getting it mostly right there, then importing it into Inventor to do the 3D stuff. Inventor is parametric, so it's a very simple matter to apply a scale parameter to all the dimensions.....I'll be able to make it any scale I wish. Here's a photo of the Airfix fuselage lined up with the sketch....as you can see, it's an almost perfect fit. Alain Gadbois, D.B. Andrus, Kagemusha and 6 others 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrfan Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 (edited) I'll be watching this closely as making an Islander in 1/32 or 1/35 is on my 'one day' list. Like you I have gathered drawings off the net and an unassembled Airfix kit. I want to build an Islander to make an Rhodesian Air Force aircraft. Edited June 24, 2018 by dcrfan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericg Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Excellent mate. Look forward to seeing this come together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 23, 2018 Author Share Posted June 23, 2018 Here's an image of where I'm at so far....just running some tests at the moment, however.. It's the first fuselage section - given my printer only has a 220 x 220 bed, I'll have to do the fuselage in 3 sections, I think! LSP_Kevin, Alain Gadbois and Anthony in NZ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Fantastic project, built the Airfix kit many moons ago. There's some Defender plans available, which should help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted June 23, 2018 Share Posted June 23, 2018 Great project! You have my admiration sir! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 Thanks gents... Having a look at the CAD model this morning, I noticed something was wrong. Turns out I'd misread my verniers when I measured the Airfix kit, and so the fuselage was too wide. And the windows are wrong. Still, it was just a test, so it doesn't really matter. I also did a google search for Britten-Norman (I thought Pilatus had taken them over or something, but they have their own website) and found a brochure for the Islander complete with a dimensioned 3-view. Again, not all dimensions are present, but I can work with them. I also emailed their design department asking for more info....we'll see how that goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrfan Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 (edited) These are the best drawings I can find on the net. See https://www.the-blueprints.com/search/islander/ britten-norman-bn-4-islander by tankienz, on Flickr Edited June 24, 2018 by dcrfan KiwiZac and Anthony in NZ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcrfan Posted June 24, 2018 Share Posted June 24, 2018 This Islander restoration organisation may be worth contacting for drawings. http://www.ivanberrymandirect.com/BNAPS_Images/BNAPS_News-May_2016.pdf I found it by googling 'bitten norman islander maintenance' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 This Islander restoration organisation may be worth contacting for drawings. http://www.ivanberrymandirect.com/BNAPS_Images/BNAPS_News-May_2016.pdf I found it by googling 'bitten norman islander maintenance' Thanks for that dcrfan. I've emailed them now.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiZac Posted June 26, 2018 Share Posted June 26, 2018 Islanders are cool. I've always had a soft spot for them and I've no idea why! I'm very excited to see this come together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 After a bit more faffing around, I've got to the point where I kind of know what I'm doing... The [incomplete] front section of the BN-2 (It's 1/32 scale, but you can't really tell..) KiwiZac, TorbenD and LSP_Kevin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap'n Wannabe Posted June 29, 2018 Author Share Posted June 29, 2018 Now with wings.. KiwiZac, TorbenD, Alain Gadbois and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanKB Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Wow - this is impressive stuff, good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alain Gadbois Posted June 29, 2018 Share Posted June 29, 2018 Great start for an impressive project! The Islander is a great subject choice! Alain KiwiZac 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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