Hewy Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 On 07/07/2019 at 19:39, Badder said: I've had to make do with twizzling a pair of dividers to cut out circles in plasticard or FTINFBISS, or trying to cut biro bodies into perfect cross sections with nothing more than a small hacksaw or razor saw. A lot of filing and sanding was required Badder it was thinking like this that won us two world wars,well cobbled sir 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 12, 2019 Author Share Posted July 12, 2019 Progress report.... I've made 35 different versions of the pipes connecting the cooling fans to the engine, using 1m of copper wire, 1m of plastic rod, 1m of sprue, mostly to no avail. I've made 12 different versions of each of the dozen or so parts that squeeze between the engine and the hull's rear panel, using odds and ends from the spares box, bits of carved sprue, bits of carved plasticard,and wire, mostly to no avail. But I did get a few bits that were okay. Then I took those okay bits and test fitted the engine and those auxiliary parts in two dozen possible combinations, trying to get them 'looking 'most like the photo' It couldn't be done. Well, not to my satisfaction. Despite my best efforts, I just couldn't get my engine to 'fit'. I DID try my best, but whatever adjustments I made threw up new anomalies elsewhere I had based my engine on the period photo after all. My engine just wasn't compatible with the layout shown in the photos of the 1/6th scale scratch-built Tiger. . So, I've returned to the original plan and am back to scratching the engine/bay layout shown in the period photo. I've kept some of the parts I'd made for the alternative layout and these are now fitted under that rearmost panel, between the engine and the hull end panel, and I have at last fitted the cooling pipes. I still have the magnetos and some water pipes to add, but after that everything else is easy and I should have the engine bay completed by tomorrow. TFL Badder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 13, 2019 Author Share Posted July 13, 2019 (edited) I made the cooling pipes from thick gauge copper wire, referring to the period photo for form. As my engine cannot be fitted yet and its exact location hasn't been decided, I figured that the pipes were best made and fitted to the firewalls with their other ends left floating. They do not actually need to be joined with their counterparts on the engine itself as this area will be hidden from view. I've fixed some components to the underide of the panel on the left of photo, but they can only really be seen when looking from over the turret. With the pipes fitted, I now have a datum point around which the engine, the air filter trio and the magnetos can be positioned. But first I had to make the magnetos. I made them from sprue, filed and sanded to shape. With my numb and nerve damaged fingers, they were way too small for me to handle in such a way that I could add more detail, so I've ended up having to settle for a very simple form - but still slightly better than that offered by the Academy version. Having said that, now that they are fixed in place on the engine, I can hold the engine comfortably and so I may be able to add some finer details to the magnetos. The magnetos are the cylindrical objects left and right of,the air filters. These will be painted chrome, (and the cooling pipes grey) but for now everything has been given a wash with black ink. There's a fair bit of tidying up to do before I can move on. BTW, for those who don't know my method for portraying 'heavily weathered winter camo', a part of that is to let the model weather 'naturally' at all stages throughout the build. So, all of the worn-away Dunkelgelb, the scratches, dirty fingerprints, plastic dust, etc are agents of the weathering process. Together with the mud I added earlier, these will affect the paint finish, will aid chipping, or become part of the chipping process, or will in some way help to create some realistic effects. TFL Badder Edited July 13, 2019 by Badder 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 Good work there B, I was concerned earlier when even copper wire was proving difficult, but this is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 6 minutes ago, Robert Stuart said: Good work there B, I was concerned earlier when even copper wire was proving difficult, but this is much better. Hi Robert, Thanks. I did make the pipes from plastic rod, but once bent to shape the stuff had a habit of straightening out slightly over time. Yes, I did try over-bending it, to compensate, but then that meant that the pipes and engine wouldn't connect for a few days! Heating the sprue and fixing it permanently by rapid cooling was a bit hit and miss because the rod sometimes 'ballooned' with the heat and thickened up in some places, (due to the release of internal gasses) And it was very hard to heat such small parts several times in order to get the bends right. So copper wire was the easier option. Luckily, I have a large supply of the stuff, so I could afford to waste some on the 'aborted' second version of the pipes. Rearguards, Badder. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 I'm nearly there with the engine. The dimples in the air filters are being tidied up with repeated drops of black ink, each drop being allowed to dry before the next being added. Hopefully, they'll all level out evenly. I have yet to make the crenulated pipe that runs across the back of the (this end) of the compartment. The two copper cooling pipes will get a grey coat whilst their fittings at the firewalls will get a chrome coat. There's a it of tidying up to do in these areas. I'm fairly happy with the magnetos. I'm going to continue adding drops of ink to the dimples. Meanwhile, I'm going to start on the wiring/junction boxes on the firewalls. TFL Badder 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 (edited) Well, that was the most remarkable game of cricket I've ever seen. Well done England, deepest sympathies to New Zealand. Edited July 14, 2019 by Badder 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Got to agree about the cricket. I'm not a cricket fan but I did enjoy yesterday's game! The engine and it's pipework looks to be progressing forwards nicely at the moment.........I'll leave it there for now....... 🤞 Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 (edited) 7 hours ago, PlaStix said: Got to agree about the cricket. I'm not a cricket fan but I did enjoy yesterday's game! The engine and it's pipework looks to be progressing forwards nicely at the moment.........I'll leave it there for now....... 🤞 Kind regards, Stix Hi Stix, The catch that would have meant defeat but ended up being a six, and Stokes 'hitting' the same ball with his bat twice to score a 2 and 4 bys was unbelievable luck. Someone up there was playing silly beggars. It's just a disgrace that it'll be going back to pay-for-view. As for my engine, I can assure you that it isn't going to change in any way now, except for in the painting/weathering. Rearguards, Badder Edited July 15, 2019 by Badder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 I've nearly finished the engine bay - having added details to the forward transverse firewall, water cooling pipes either side of the engine, and the 'sticky-up' engine oil filler pipe. I confess that I've used a bit of artistic licence on all of them. The details on the firewall were hard to pin down: with a total lack of period photos of the junction boxes/wiring, and only model company interpretations of what they actually were. The water pipe in the photo above is rather over-scale when compared to the one in the period photo, and maybe there is no water pipe on the left hand side. I'm assuming that there is one on the left, but because the engine is asymmetrical it is deeper down in the bay. Also, the oil filler pipe should be coming up from between the side firewall and the water pipe, and not the pipe and the air filters. I could rectify this,, but I think it looks more natural where it is now. I will add the twist-off cap/dipstick arrangement later. It appears that I DID move the oil filler pipe - but I don't remember doing it! The ink in the air filter dimples cracked up when it dried, so I will have to clean them out and repaint them - with paint this time! And the final photo for now - taken roughly from the same viewpoint of the period photo. Whilst I've not reproduced the engine precisely, or indeed tidily, it looks okay to me. There are plenty of electrical wires/cables to add to all of the firewalls. Other than that, there is just the 'crenulated' water pipe to add. TFL Badder 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted July 17, 2019 Share Posted July 17, 2019 Looks good to me B, very nice. 8 hours ago, Badder said: just the 'crenulated' water pipe to add. 'Just' - the most dangerous word in project management! Those crenelated pipes look vulnerable in period photos - wish you luck there 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 17, 2019 Author Share Posted July 17, 2019 8 hours ago, Robert Stuart said: Looks good to me B, very nice. 'Just' - the most dangerous word in project management! Those crenelated pipes look vulnerable in period photos - wish you luck there Hi Stuart, I had several practice runs at making that pipe using florists' wire and PE bending tools, but that was before the layout of the engine had been settled on, so they weren't accurate in scale. I am not sure what that pipe did, but it connects across the two thicker pipes that come from the cooling fans. It does look rather fragile and exposed. If I fail to do a neat and tidy job, I could make a damaged one - one that was damaged by the explosion, or one that was damaged by a size 10 Nazi boot. Rearguards, Badder 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted July 19, 2019 Share Posted July 19, 2019 Looking Convincingly busy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 5:33 AM, Hewy said: Looking Convincingly busy Thanks Glynn. Hopefully the engine and its bay will be totally finished in the next few hours. Rearguards, Badder 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 (edited) The transverse and longitudinal firewalls are finished, barring some tidying up and painting/weathering. As I couldn't find definitive period photos of the HL210 engine bay (minus the engine) they're pretty much works of fiction,, but they captures the spirit of the things. I could have added wiring made from actual wire, but I preferred the look of the over-scale plastic rod. TFL Badder Edited July 20, 2019 by Badder 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Looking amazing - I bet it will make a proper racket when you fuel it up and hit the ignition. #LOOKS REAL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted July 20, 2019 Share Posted July 20, 2019 Quote I could have added wiring made from actual wire, but I preferred the look of the over-scale plastic rod At least some of those of us will be able to see your work B, without the aid of a magnifying glass. 🔍 Agree with Steve, that does look good. I can't wait to see the rest of the tank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, BIG X said: Looking amazing - I bet it will make a proper racket when you fuel it up and hit the ignition. #LOOKS REAL 1 hour ago, Robert Stuart said: At least some of those of us will be able to see your work B, without the aid of a magnifying glass. 🔍 Agree with Steve, that does look good. I can't wait to see the rest of the tank Hi chaps, I won't do my usual thing of pointing out how wrong it is, because I knew from the start that it was going to be an 'artist's impression', but I will say thanks for liking it. Steve, I don't think the engine will start. That's why one of the crew will be whacking it with a sledgehammer. Robert, if you need a magnifying glass to see my photos you really must be blind. I think I can see some dust on the leg hairs of a dust mite sitting on the middle air filter. Rearguards, Badder Edited July 20, 2019 by Badder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 20, 2019 Author Share Posted July 20, 2019 This morning, I thought I'd have this engine and bay finished in a few hours. Well, it depends on my definition of 'a few', I suppose. It's not finished, but I have made the very last component - the 'crenulated' pipe. Here it is during a test fit: The wire is a bit too thin, but I couldn't find my fuse wire. If I find it, I'll use that instead. The alternative is to thicken the current wire with paint/varnish. Whatever, the engine and bay will definitely be finished tomorrow. Then I will seal the whole thing up and start on the cooling fans. TFL Badder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 (edited) I'm afraid life got in the way today. Unfunnily enough, it DID involve an engine. My car's engine. I had suspected a blown head gasket, leaking water from somewhere behind the cam shaft pulley casing, so spent 30 quid on gasket sealant for a quick, hassle free and cheap fix. But that only made the leak worse. FAR worse. Still, it did reveal the true source of the leak - not a leaking gasket at all, but lower down and from the dogamn water pump itself! And it was leaking so much that instead of being lifted by the belt to wet and drip down from the cam pulleys, it just gushed from the pump and onto the driveway. So, it's going to be an expensive fix..... and more pertinently, a few days travelling home from work as a passenger in my mother's car. I will be risking life and limb! I will probably fall asleep now - it's been a long day - but I hope to have a few hours this evening during which I WILL have the engine all sorted! The Tiger's engine, not my car's engine! TFL. Badder ps Fairford Air Tattoo has been very disappointing this year, with only the Red Arrows and one of those great big turbo prop transporter planes and half a dozen stunt plane escorts flying over our house. Edited July 21, 2019 by Badder 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 21, 2019 Author Share Posted July 21, 2019 Update on the planes that took a detour from the Air Tattoo at Fairford today and flew over my house.... I assumed that the A400M and stunt planes that passed over my house were simply getting in to formation prior to flying to, or back to Fairford (although that's about 10 miles away) I managed to grab a couple of poor quality photos: Passing over my house: Heading back to or for Fairford: Heading back/to Fairford.. There were 6 stunt planes, but I couldn't get them all in frame. Anyway, my landlady was in the nearby town of Royal Wootton Bassett just as the planes made their turn over her head. By pure chance, she had her top-notch camera with her, and managed to snap a few pics. It turns out that the display was to celebrate 50 yrs of Airbus, but I'm pretty sure they visited Royal Wootton Bassett as a 'thank you' to the town for it's part in the honoring of 'the fallen' who were repatriated to the nearby RAF Lyneham. All looking 'normal' until you realise what's happening here: From these photos, I suspect that planes from 'The Blades' acrobatic team may have ridden piggy-back once over Fairford. I wonder if anyone can confirm that? Badder PS, I'm just putting the finishing touches to the engine and preparing to fix it in place..... pics later. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 22, 2019 Share Posted July 22, 2019 Hi Badder, Hope you are keeping well. Looks like you have been making rather good progress with your impressive scratch-build engine. I hope you do manage to get it finished soon - still a bit to do on the rest of your Tiger and there's not long left in this STGB!! We don't want any Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 22, 2019 Author Share Posted July 22, 2019 9 hours ago, PlaStix said: Hi Badder, Hope you are keeping well. Looks like you have been making rather good progress with your impressive scratch-build engine. I hope you do manage to get it finished soon - still a bit to do on the rest of your Tiger and there's not long left in this STGB!! We don't want any Kind regards, Stix Hi Stix, I'm fair to middling thanks. The engine is finished and will be fitted by the end of this evening. I will then move on to the cooling fans. I reckon those will take me a week, leaving me a couple of weeks for the last few parts to be added and the painting and weathering. I don't plan on making the figures - but you never know, I might surprise myself and everyone else! Rearguards. Badder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badder Posted July 22, 2019 Author Share Posted July 22, 2019 Here's the engine in it's bay, all finished apart from some filling, the oil filler pipe, a varnish and final washes. All auxiliary components beyond the grey cooling pipes (in the photo below) were glued to the underside of the engine cover plate. A late addition to these is a transverse water (coolant) pipe which I added this evening. In reality, the pipe was deeper in the bay, but bent upwards and over the 'gubbins' at that end of the engine and back down again on the other side. My pipe is straight and glued to the gubbins under the engine cover plate. I wrapped some wire around each end just to add some interest. funny how the red oil caps look very bright here: Filling required where the grey cooling pipe enters the firewall: Looking from the rear towards the turret: I've been toying with the idea of adding the butterfly nuts in the centres of the air filters, but their tiny size is an issue. They may just look messy - as if things aren't messy anyway! Tomorrow I'm going to make a start on the cooling fan compartment. TFL Badder 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted July 23, 2019 Share Posted July 23, 2019 Looking very nice Badder, a fantastic edition to your build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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