Redshift Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Inspired by Bandsaw Steve's Avro 504K scratchbuild, I've decided to try hacking a plane out of a lump of wood. The subject is a Spitfire mk1, because Spitfires are awesome and the mk1 because when I'm out mountain biking in the south downs I pass the occasional poignant memorial to young pilots from the battle of Britain. Lumps of wood: 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted July 14, 2018 Author Share Posted July 14, 2018 The templates are the fuselage profiles at various points along the centreline Prop blades With Spinner More tomorrow... 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 I can carve a lump of wood from a block of wood, so this is great! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted July 14, 2018 Share Posted July 14, 2018 Nice work so far! Håkan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMC Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Well now you’ve done gone and started a nostalgia reverie. I seem to remember doing one or two like this those many years ago. No bandsaw and templates cut out and stuck to cardboard with mucilage glue. I think the vertical stab might have been glued on, crookedly no doubt, later, however. Cheers Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Wow, some old fashioned ' proper' modelling. I used to make solid balsa models from kits when I was a boy, a very very long time ago, so I'll be watching this closely. Good luck. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Brilliant job so far! I've done a couple of solids and the sense of achievement is huge, even if the outcome isn't Eduard accurate. You should visit the Solid Model Memories website - there are plenty of Spitfires in wood there and everybody's is somewhat different in approach. I am intrigued you have included the centre wing section and fillets in with the fuselage, I went for continuous wings and wood filler on my P-40e though that's only 1/72. But as one makes all the parts for the model oneself there can't be any wrong ways to do it...though I did make a few wrong parts that got binned on the way, and one fuselage our dog nicked off the table and chewed. Look forward to seeing how this progresses. Cheers Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairtrigger Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 Can't wait to see the finished result. I remember my dad telling me his brother would carve him Hurricanes and Spits and bring them home when on leave during the war. My uncle was in the RAF - Leading Aircraftman\Fitter. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted July 15, 2018 Author Share Posted July 15, 2018 Thanks for the kind words everyone. I have learned important lesson no. 1: make sure the drawings have the correct angular spacing for the blades! This will be mostly hand carved with modelling knives, I think the sense of achievement and satisfaction will be higher. Having said that I roughed out the wings and fuselage with a band saw and a bench sander to save a bit of time. No super detailing though, it will be an obscured cockpit. The plan is to leave it unpainted, just varnished, with the major markings scribed into the wood; that way I have permission to display it in the lounge rather than hide it away in the study. Should keep me out of mischief for a few weeks Nick 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Am loving this already! Naturally will be watching with the keenest interest. Best of luck with this project. I’m sure it’s going to be a ripper! Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Delicious progress. Fascinated to see how this develops. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 Can't miss a Spitfire build - I'll tag along if I may 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggu Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 When I carve a lump of wood, it does turn out to be a beautiful........................... lump of wood....... Like Ced, I love a Spitfire build and I also would like to tag along...... this looks great..... watching with great interest..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 2 hours ago, Biggu said: When I carve a lump of wood, it does turn out to be a beautiful........................... ......pile of shavings!! I'd like to tag along too this should be fun - & it already looks more like a Spitfire than a Starfix kit ever would! Keith 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted July 16, 2018 Author Share Posted July 16, 2018 (edited) Hope I can live up to expectation! Here is yesterdays progress, much sanding of the port side engine cowling and wing root while watching the tennis (the prop is just resting on the nose): For the wood spotters out there this is bass wood, or american lime Edited July 16, 2018 by Redshift 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 16, 2018 Share Posted July 16, 2018 3 hours ago, Redshift said: For the wood spotters out there this is bass wood, or american lime I was just about to ask - not that I'm a wood spotter you understand.....!! Keith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted July 17, 2018 Author Share Posted July 17, 2018 After 3 hours of weight loss surgery That's the bulk of the wood gone, apart from the fin and rudder and the canopy, tomorrow its hours of sanding with ever finer sandpaper. Going quicker than I thought it would, but I have noticed some wiggly bits that need straightening. Hand carving wheels and exhausts is going to be interesting. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 That's coming along very nicely! Was it Michelangelo who said that 'within every lump of wood there's a Spitfire....?!' Nice work Red! Keith 1 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 Wasn't it Michelangelo who first invented the Spitfire? I'm pretty sure he made some drawings... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted July 17, 2018 Share Posted July 17, 2018 33 minutes ago, Thom216 said: Wasn't it Michelangelo who first invented the Spitfire? I'm pretty sure he made some drawings... I don’t know about Michelangelo and Spitfires but these days Leonardo is building helicopters. 😆 Looking good Redshift. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Wow this is nice. What great work. I can just about carve a dried glue laden cocktail stick to a point and sometimes even cock that up. Keep up the good work. All the best Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redshift Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 Tonight's update: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Looks nice! Håkan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Looking good Redshift! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Crikey that's fantastic. I am in awe of you guys that can produce a beautiful model out of a block of wood. Great work. All the best Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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