ArnoldAmbrose Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 14 hours ago, Bandsaw Steve said: Unfortunately due to some lax measurements I made more than a year ago, there were three vast gaps left on the underside. Gidday Steve, don't we all get measurements wrong sometimes. I have a morbid fear (read 'terror attack') when I start to cut a hull in half, that maybe I've measured wrong. Your repair job is very good. Smooth filling and sanding is not my forte. Good luck with the cockpit. 14 hours ago, Bandsaw Steve said: Maybe not inundated because my modelling time is still rudely interrupted by ‘life’ and ‘work’ and other such fripperies. Yeah, work is the bane of the modeling man. Oh well . . . Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Good progress, looking forward to the cockpit. John. 🇺🇦 PS: In my case it’s retirement that’s the bane of the modeller’s life, I spend a lot less time at the bench now than I did when I worked. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Lovely to see this back on the bench. I have to agree with you in that she is really looking the part! Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMc Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 I am certainly enjoying watching this evolve Steve. Looking unmistakably like a Mirage. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 25, 2022 Author Share Posted November 25, 2022 16 hours ago, ColonelKrypton said: Marvelous, simply marvelous. Litho plate is pretty tough stuff. I am not sure what type aluminium it is made from but it is pretty hard. Any particular reason litho plate over something like heavy weight aluminum foil food trays? This is a link to an interesting poster on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/ANKCreative/videos Scratch builds a wide variety of subjects from repurposed PVC pipe and he makes some of his own tools too. Inspirational and a bit humbling too. cheers, Graham Great suggestion on the foil food trays. I’ll give that a whirl as it might be very good on compound curves. As for the guy making stuff out of PVC I’ve seen his work before and it is really quite something. It’s the precision of the work, especially the fit of moving parts, that I find really impressive and very, very difficult to match. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 25, 2022 Author Share Posted November 25, 2022 59 minutes ago, Biggles87 said: Good progress, looking forward to the cockpit. John. 🇺🇦 PS: In my case it’s retirement that’s the bane of the modeller’s life, I spend a lot less time at the bench now than I did when I worked. That’s a worry! 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Yeah, I think @Biggles87 needs to re-assess his life's priorities. 😁 And I can highly recommend retirement. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 3 hours ago, Biggles87 said: Good progress, looking forward to the cockpit. John. 🇺🇦 PS: In my case it’s retirement that’s the bane of the modeller’s life, I spend a lot less time at the bench now than I did when I worked. As I've been finding out recently. The Mirage is looking a bit splendid Steve. Nice to see it on the go again. Steve. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 Magic work Steve. I'm so glad you're back posting this! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 FANTASTIQUE .. incredulous work Steve. You are doing a SPLENDID job. And your new shed looks the BIZ !! I hope you have it fully secured and alarmed too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 25, 2022 Author Share Posted November 25, 2022 On 26/11/2022 at 06:42, HOUSTON said: And your new shed looks the BIZ !! I hope you have it fully secured and alarmed too. Thanks @HOUSTON My security team has advised no comment on our extensive security arrangements but suffice to say, even if security layers 1 through 8 are breached , any intruder would still need to overcome Mrs Bandsaw and her rolling-pin. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 26, 2022 Author Share Posted November 26, 2022 Scale Weight Scale weight is the equivalent weight of the original subject if the original's mass was reduced in proportion to the reduction of dimensions. In the case of a 1/32 scale model (any 1/32 scale model) the mass of the original would need to be reduced to 'the original weight divided by 32 cubed' or which is equivalent to 'the original weight divided by 32768' If for some odd reason you want to delve into the logic behind this maths - it's all laid out here...(on page 9 of the Avro 504 thread) So - let's work out the 1/32 scale weight of a Mirage 3. According to Bill Gunston's 'Encyclopedia of World AirPower' an empty Mirage 3 weighs 7,400kg and one with a typical operational load of fuel and weapons would weigh 10,900kg That means that the 1/32 scale weight would be: Empty; 7,400 / 32768 = 0.226 kg Loaded; 10,900 / 32768 = 0.333 kg Now let's have a look at the weight (so far) of my Jarrah, Lead, MDF and Lithoplate creation: Zero The Scales Put some ancillary bits and pieces in the bowl and sit the airframe on top... and read the number. 0.645kg! 😱 So my model is almost exactly twice as heavy as it 'should be' even if it was represented in a typical mission configuration. Alas - even with full afterburner - I don't think she will ever leave the ground. ☹️ Bandsaw Steve. 5 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 Awesome work updates. And may I say the Mighty Rolling pin is a great deterrent indeed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Badger Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 Been silently lurking on this WIP for a while now... really enjoying an enthralling scratch build so far. Keep up the inspiring work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 2 hours ago, Bandsaw Steve said: So my model is almost exactly twice as heavy as it 'should be' even if it was represented in a typical mission configuration. And you've still got to add a pilot, ordnance and fuel (I hope that engine's not a wood burner). 🙂 Regards, Jeff. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 26, 2022 Author Share Posted November 26, 2022 2 minutes ago, ArnoldAmbrose said: (I hope that engine's not a wood burner). 🙂 Classic! 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 If the full size original were solid it would probably be close to your scale weight. You could always hollow it out if you really want accuracy of course. Ian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted November 26, 2022 Share Posted November 26, 2022 Weight is often taken as a measure of quality, well my watch fanatic friend gave me that impression. By that thinking your model is of the highest possible quality and that gains it even more respect from me! Another bonus is that should an intruder get past your security they would be confronted by Mrs Bandsaw wielding a rolling pin in one hand and a 1/32 Mirage in the other. Richie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 The Ventral Bits Oh-Er... Sounds a bit rude doesn't it... 'Ventral Bits'... Oh well here goes... At the end of the last post the Mirage was at this point (please note that the big step between the fuselage and the air intakes has subsequently been sanded away). The airframe is starting to look quite complete except for three areas: The cockpit walls The control surfaces The ventral area Focusing on the ventral area I cut out a small piece of paulonia wood and carved it into the correct size and shape to fit into the void behind the wing. I then further built up the underside contour using a thin slice of sappelli and then a contoured piece of MDF. There was no real reason behind the sandwich switching from moderately soft wood (Paulonia) to hard wood (Sappelli) and then back to soft MDF, it was just one of those trial-and-error things, but it seemed to work out OK. From here it's a familiar story... Sanding, Sanding, Sanding... Filling, Filling, Filling - followed by more sanding. Next the big ventral fuel tank had to go in place, but as you can see it no longer fitted onto the curved base of the fuselage. That's no problem, just grind out a hollow in the base of the tank so that it can nestle into the curve. I also cut some fine 'easing' slots into the fuel tank to help it bend slightly and conform closely with the lower fuselage. Here I'm bashing a small number of brads into place to hold it firmly in place while the blue glue dries. After wiping away the excess glue and leaving it to set overnight, we have this. A much more convincing Mirage profile I think. 🙂 And from beneath we see the full effect. Next up is the control surfaces. I expect they will be somewhat more challenging. Best Regards and Seasons Greetings to all. 🥳 Bandsaw Steve. 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 12 minutes ago, Bandsaw Steve said: Next the big ventral fuel tank had to go in place Gidday Steve, I didn't know it was a fuel tank. This has been quite educational. And I see you have such a delicate touch with the model - using a hammer! 😲 Oh well, what ever it takes. Another modeler here on Britmodeller used a chain saw! 😖 15 minutes ago, Bandsaw Steve said: A much more convincing Mirage profile I think. I have to agree, she certainly looks the part. But I'm hoping the pilot is a non-smoker. Trying to light a ciggy in that open cockpit at mach 2 would be quite a challenge. 😁 Regards, Jeff. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 27 minutes ago, ArnoldAmbrose said: Gidday Steve, I didn't know it was a fuel tank. This has been quite educational. Hi Jeff, I believe that on the earliest Mirage III marks this fairing housed a solid-fuel rocket to assist the jet in climbing to extreme altitude at extreme speed, but as the design matured into a more multi-role aircraft and as more powerful jets were fitted, the rocket was replaced with a fuel tank. I think the Swiss Air Force kept the rockets till the very end though. 🇨🇭 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 Really impressive, this is such an involved build. It's really looking the part. I've often been tempted to take a hammer to my projects but in a construction kind of way! Richie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted December 17, 2022 Author Share Posted December 17, 2022 Well, it was only a very small hammer. 😀 Yes this is a somewhat involved build, there are a few more challenges in a Mirage than first impressions might suggest. However, I still think it’s generally an easier subject than a WW1 biplane. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichieW Posted December 17, 2022 Share Posted December 17, 2022 2 hours ago, Bandsaw Steve said: However, I still think it’s generally an easier subject than a WW1 biplane. I'm not sure it is, the shape is so much more complicated than it looks at first. The wings especially!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted December 18, 2022 Share Posted December 18, 2022 10 hours ago, Bandsaw Steve said: Yes this is a somewhat involved build Two weeks left in it and we have the understatement of the year!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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