airscale Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 mojo noun informal a quality that makes you successful and full of energy: · He's definitely lost his mojo. · He needs to get his mojo working if he's going to finish that model Well, I lost mine over the last few months in a big way. For many reasons I just lost interest in my Fw190 and so it has been shelved for now. It's one of those inexplicable things, those that remember the 1/24 Tigercat maybe know I have form in this area .. Instead, I have found a new source of mojo which has seen me back at the bench, enjoying my modelling which is what it is all about right? This is new for me, I don’t think I have ever built a biplane, certainly not scratchbuilt so it will be a journey of discovery I hope to share The Hawker Fury needs no introduction from me, all I can do is show you the picture that set me thinking and ultimately on this path… ..look at that beautiful form, the polished metal nose panels, the state of the art in it’s day. I don’t know yet which airframe I will model, but likely it will be a Tangmere bird as that was but a few miles from my childhood home. I gained the confidence to take the plunge from John Alcorn’s books ‘Scratchbuilt’ where various masters show how they achieve the impossible in relation to fabric covered structures such as those shown below – if you don’t have the books, get them, they are superb.. Need fuselage stringers? A few methods are shown.. Wings? Just like the originals.. I started with the Westburg plans, four sheets sourced from a 1970’s RC Model magazine I found as a PDF that my printer scaled for me.. ..these are widely acknowledged as the most accurate out there.. ..and so onto building & making a start.. ..the first element I thought would be a rigid structure that supports both the landing gear and the cabane struts atop the fuselage. This would need to be very strong and so was made of brass parts.. The very first of which is here – the main gear mount.. ..then the transverse rods that link to the main gear trailing arms and the mounts for those mounted on the mainspar tube.. I used (badly) my new Proxxon mini milling machine for those.. ..all the parts were made up over the plans and ultimately soldered together, including spigots for the cabane strut mounts.. ..the firewall looking square is to add rigidity and the hole is the prop datum that will carry forwards into the nose.. ..more of the fuselage framework was constructed of carbon fibre rod – this stuff is super stiff and easy to work with – I used an RC modeller trick in pinning the rods to a scaled plan to get everything lined up.. ..soon I had both halves (at least the bits that can be seen) which will dovetail into the brass frontal assembly.. ..the real airframe is bolted together with some quite rudimentary brackets – that’s good, I can do rudimentary.. ..I should have made these from PE, but such was my renewed enthusiasm I made them by hand with the resultant rudimentary outcome.. ..the structures were primed and painted with black MRP enamel and the assembly plates added.. ..whilst I didn’t take any construction pictures, I did make up the seat based on the few pictures I have (that’s a problem I will come onto later..) …essentially I drew parts as templates and cut them from litho, annealing & shaping them and bordering with fine solder wire.. ..to finish up for now, the work to date dry fitted together… ..now for the appeal – I have zero drawings apart from the plans, I have the one Mushroom book I could find and that is 80% about the Nimrod, not the Fury and about 5 cockpit pictures all from the same angle from the internet.. I have written to both operators of existing Furies in the hope they have drawings they can share, but if anyone out there knows of any good reference, please let me know – drop links in here or PM me perhaps So that’s it – a change in direction, for me the main thing is being motivated to pull up to my bench and enjoy myself and that I am now doing :) ..hopefully this one will see a competition table in a few years TTFN Peter 55 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Oh my, he's started another one... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plasticbasher Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Stunning start... real quality and craftsmanship 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Crikey that’s good. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Oh my word, this looks amazing already, great start, what a gorgeous machine to choose too. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 'Tis a thing of beauty indeed. Welcome back, John, good to know you are back at the bench and ENJOYING YOURSELF. Yep, that is what it's all about and what will keep me eagerly heading out to the garage over the Winter. Good luck with your quest for knowledge. I'll be down at Dispersal, listening to the engine runs, but watching out for your posts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Animal Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Wow, I so hoped you would do a Fury next. This is going to be amazing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Seeing as I have an Interest in the type not to mention an Matchbox kit I’m going to follow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 A beautiful aeroplane, really looking forward to this. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geedubelyer Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Hi Peter, Smashing to see you've re-acquired your misplaced mojo. I shall follow along with keen interest. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marklo Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Love the Fury. Masterful work as usual. Will really enjoy watching this one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Fantastic choice Peter and amazing progress so far. I really like your work on the joining brackets. I'm glued to my seat with this one as I know it will be your best one yet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spookytooth Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Yet another masterpiece in scratch building coming along I see. I better stock up on biccies and coffee then. Simon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis95 Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 This feels like a Haynes manual would come in handy! Will take a seat and grab a beer. I'm looking forward to seeing this one progess! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 Hello Peter, Wonderful to see you commence another Epic build. Having followed your Tigercat build, I know this one will be absolutely STUPENDOUS! SUPERB start Peter. Comfy hammock found! and following with much enthusiasm! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted October 18, 2020 Share Posted October 18, 2020 9 minutes ago, HOUSTON said: Hello Peter, Wonderful to see you commence another Epic build. Having followed your Tigercat build, I know this one will be absolutely STUPENDOUS! SUPERB start Peter. Comfy hammock found! and following with much enthusiasm! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airscale Posted October 21, 2020 Author Share Posted October 21, 2020 Evening folks Thank you for all your kind comments – I will try and live up to them! ..got a little bit done since last time – added the seat height adjuster – an industrial sized lever indeed.. ..also used this and one other photo to try and make up the control column assembly in which the control stick itself goes through a casting which is itself mounted on a rod going fore & aft.. ..you can see the stick as the grey vertical rod in front of the seat, and the transverse black rod below it ..I made the parts from brass and these were just CA’d rather than soldered.. ..and with the torque tubes for the aileron controls (I think..).. whatever it is it mounts to brackets on the fuselage side frames to secure the whole thing.. ..for the control grip, I found a picture of a Fury one in the RAF archive, scaled it and traced it into coreldraw to get an idea of construction.. By this point I had added two small brass ferrules to a bit of thick wire and wrapped it in cotton.. I think it looks a bit overscale, but there were no better options I could think of.. ..the final part has quite a few tiny bits, which I hope captures it.. ..and in place – it still needs the cables from those two thumb controls.. ..and that’s it – still struggling with references so just seeing what I can do while I wait to see if I can climb all over a real one TTFN Peter 33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody37 Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 I think popcorn is going to become rarer than toilet role! I'm in, can't wait to see more, splendid start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthemodeller Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 This is starting out to be another epic build... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Great to see you back here @airscale and what a great subject you have chosen. A couple of questions if I may: What mark of Proxxon mini milling machine are you using?and would you recommend it for this kind of work? I think there may be Very small milling machine in my future but I know nothing about them. Also, do you have any tips on sticking bits of litho together (eg the seat). I’m very interested in litho but understand that it cannot be soldered without some very special gear or methods. any thoughts appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Model engineering at it's best. Just brilliant, Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Wow... Model engineering indeed! It was a good idea to photograph the stick grip assembly with that enormous oversized dressmaker's pin, Peter, but I'm not entirely convinced by your definition of 'rudimentary' regarding all those homemade frame brackets! All my own creations suddenly seem a bit naff - I'll definitely be following this epic build. Jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Oho !! That's a great start !! I'll tag along if you don't mind it !! Lots of Helpfull informations for my own Furies !! Many thanks Sir !! Sincerely CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 I think we are in for a treat! Ready for Scale Model World 2021 then? Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 22, 2020 Share Posted October 22, 2020 Seat adjuster and column look absolutely stunning fantastic stuff. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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