Clarktor 6 Tow Tractor Scratchbuilt 1/33rd Scale

[Bomarc]

Hi Gang

 

While it's not a "large scale plane", it *is* aviation related, so thought this might be of interest (I hope!). As a companion piece to 1/33rd scale PBJ Mitchell I built (see the link below in my sig line), I scratched this paper Clarktor tug in the same scale over the Summer. Mostly paper, there is some copper wire and lots of paint. The markings and color are fictitious, and represents a generic Navy tug:

 

 

This shot should give you an idea of the size of the tug in this scale:

 

 

Here's what I was shooting for, an era photo from a 1940's Clark tug brochure together with my model (which is which?):

 

 

If there's interest, I can whip up a short build thread on how I got there.

 

Best,

Mike

[fam43]

Hi bomark,

Beautifull done replica Love it

Edited December 27, 2010 by fam43

[JRutman]

Wow!! That is excellent. I ,for one,would love to see how you got there.

J

[Kagemusha]

I'd love to see a build thread, is it from a kit?

[Barry]

 

I 2nd JR I too would love to see how you did it.

This would be perfect on any late 40s through 50s if not later flight Line.

 

Barry

[Allok]

That's one of the coolest things I've seen in a while.

So you just built it using a sketch?

No plans, no model?

 

[Bomarc]

Thanks guys, I guess there is some interest! I actually did a thread on another forum, but it was very long and protracted. Rather than point you there, give me some time to distill what I have down to the particulars with some fresh observations. Even though I used paper, I think some of the techniques will be useful in any medium.

 

I forgot to post a couple of images in my original post showing the tug in action:

 

 

So you just built it using a sketch?

No plans, no model?

 

LOL, no Keith, it wasn't that simple. My Internet travels for Clarktor references turned up some good stuff, including a 1948 drawing from yet another Clark brochure:

 

 

I imported the above into Auto-CAD, then drew up some plans, extrapolating them into the version of the tug I wanted to build (see the earlier pic above in my initial post):

 

 

From those base drawings I could draw up patterns for various parts as I needed when I needed them.

 

All will be revealed as I can put it out there. Hang loose, and I'll be back.....

 

Mike

[Daywalker]

Incredible work, even more so with it being made of paper! And that PBJ, WOWZA!!!

[Loic]

Very very nice indeed and what a great addition this would be to a diorama!

Cheers,

Loic

[Bomarc]

OK guys, I think I’m ready to post the first installment of how I built the little Clarktor. I’m trying to make it as concise as I can without glossing over anything, however if something doesn’t makes sense, please chime in. I’ll try to clarify…..

 

I started this project with the tires and rims since they seemed the most complicated. I figured if I can get past those, it would be down hill from there. First were the rear tires. In paper model construction, a common method to make wheels is to glue stacks of cardboard together to achieve the desired thickness. Through that stack is attached a nut, bolt and washers, then the whole assembly is mounted on a dremel tool and turned down using sandpaper:

 

 

A drop of CA glue in the center of the discs hardens the paper to drill a clean hole for the bolt. The tire tread was very distinct (and complicated):

 

 

It took a bit of noodling to figure out the pattern. Once I got it straight in my head, I drew up a pattern in CAD (you can see the finished wheel cores in this pic as well):

 

[Bomarc]

I had two approaches in mind to try to replicate this tread. My first approach was to glue a pattern onto thick card, cut it out and apply over the outer rim of the wheel core:

 

 

Strips of paper were used to “wrap” the tread down the sidewalls of the “tire”:

 

 

CA glue was used to harden everything up, a quick turn down on the dremel to smooth things over, and the result didn’t look so bad:

 

 

But a coat of paint revealed that the details were soft, the CA glue filled in some treads, overall, not very good:

 

 

Oh well! On to the second approach at tread making in the next installment.

Edited December 29, 2010 by Bomarc

[Bomarc]

So the second approach to create the treads was a sort of inverse of the first. The first step of this process was to laminate strips of card to the scale thickness of the treads width using Elmers glue, wax paper to keep things from sticking, and a ¼” steel bar as a press:

 

 

Two tools were created that work as templates to allow me to cut the tread parts repeatedly and consistently that I’ll need. These are nothing more that wood dowels and some heavy card CA glue together:

 

 

Next step is to punch a series of holes in the strips laminated earlier, then using the above tools, cut out the resquiste number of treads (there’s a “long” tread and a “short” one):

 

 

The punched used is a Tandy Leather punch found in any Michael’s or A.C. Moore art store chain. Next, the “treads” are glued to my pattern printed on plain 20lb printer paper in the correct sequence, creating an inverse version of the final product:

 

[Bomarc]

That “mat-o-treads” is then cut out and wrapped around the wheel core, the whole thing is then anchored/ glued in place with CA glue, being careful not to flood too much glue in the gaps:

 

 

The whole assembly is chucked up in the dremel and turned down to the final scale dimensions:

 

 

Viola! “More better” treads, equally space about the circumference (and the correct number of treads too) :

 

 

Here’ the two methods side by side:

 

 

Now I skipped over a lot of trial and error to get to the above final product. My CAD patterns needed adjusting/expanding to accommodate the various geometries of all those pieces coming together, but the point is at this stage everything is “dialed in” and I can now make duplicates. It’s useful to have building “systems” like this worked out in paper modeling for those assemblies that need to be reproduced (wheels, tank treads…ugh), for unlike plastic modeling, there’s no resin casting copies in paper.

[Bomarc]

So, with the “system” in place I could make three more identical “tires” in assembly line fashion:

 

 

Next is detailing the tires, and then the hubs (don’t want to miss that one….who-boy)

[LSP_Kevin]

Jeez Mike, I can't believe how much incredible work you put into just the tyres! This is amazing, and there's plenty here to take away, no matter what medium you model in.

 

Kev