'Dear readers, firstly I would like to thank you for your kind comments following the first part. Making the propeller was not easy. It is a massive four-blade airscrew made in one piece. I admire the woodworker's skills in those times. Fortunately I have previously made a smaller one and although it is not simple it can be done. I used thick 2.5mm plastic sheet and some careful sawing, filing, sanding and a lot of patience did the trick. I painted it in a light brown as undercoat and then used some felt ink- drawing pencils to create a wood finish.
Yes, now I had to do some RIGGING :-)! First I took the time to study all the photographs to figure out the rigging plan. To complicate matters, it has dual flying wires. After drilling a lot of holes through the wings, I first glued some stretched sprue between the struts and the upper part of the fuselage. Next followed the fishing line, which I glued with cyanoacrylate (CA - 'super glue').
After that big step I could paint the wings in silver over an undercoat of dark grey with the struts in black. By the way, I am still wondering how the pilot managed to get into the cockpit? I think through the big opening in the upper wing ?
So I arrived at another complicated chapter; how to fix both floats in the right place. I have done that before and it is plain difficult. I connected the floats together by the struts and after careful outlining and measuring, glued both floats as one piecce to the fuselage.
Well, after this tricky part, life turned more easy in Pt.3'
With very special thanks to John for sharing these images and details of his build here.
Image credits: All photos © 2023 John Haas
10 comments:
Very well done. Please keep us posted. Thanks.
John is a master of scratch-building. This is an incredibly good piece of work. Thanks for making these rare Japanese gems available to us, John and Nick. Carry on, we want to see it finished!
Some really interesting images here John. I'd be lost in tackling the rigging for this model. Enjoying your step by step photo documentary and text. Looking forward to the next batch of what is a unique and very well built subject. Thanks to Nick for another good looking presentation.
John, you will not be denied! Approaching the junction of the those float struts to that wing, I would have been first mystified, then discouraged, downhearted, then finally given up and watched TV. And that would have been if it was a *kit*!
Besides admiring your models, your attitude and confidence suggest that we could all do more than we give ourselves credit for. Thanks for sharing these things along with the lovely work that results.
Thanks, Nick, for another interesting post.
Thank you all for your kind comments, much appreciated !
Well the construction of all those struts, I have been there before...:-)
Shades of Fokker T.III and T.IV
The designers of those planes were not kind to us modellers.
John Haas
Incredible craftsmanship on display! Thanks for bringing these obscure planes to life.
Woody
An astounding achievement in every aspect!
Thanks to John & Nick
What a tour de force of scratch-building skill!
Warren
Amazing patience and skill involved here. My utmost respect for those of us who take on biplanes and rigging!
Dan
Struts and wires amd floats oh my! Amazing work. Nothing but admiration for the dedication and patience this specialized sort of building requires.
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