Popular Post hendie Posted December 11, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted December 11, 2021 from a bottle of resin that is. That and my trusty Elegoo Mars printer. what a wonderful invention What follows is not for the faint hearted. This was yet another of those I had no idea what I had gotten myself into until it was too late builds. As some of you may be aware, I am slowly building my way through a collection of 28 Squadrons aircraft from a Camel to a Wessex. One of the aircraft which was proving a real challenge was the Westland Wapiti. It was a challenge as there just isn't a kit out there. I could probably have butchered an old Frog Wallace, but my chosen scale is 1:48 and there's nothing even close. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Therefore, if I really wanted a Wapiti I had no option but to scratch one. So I did. The twist to this story is that I scratched a Wapiti from a bottle of resin - I printed my own kit... eventually - I had to design it first, and that threw up a few challenges of its own. However, after wrestling with the software, and several gallons of coffee I had something approaching a Wapiti shaped flying machine The engine was fun to design though. The challenges didn't end there though. Printing such a large beast had it's own set of issues - with the sheer size and geometry of some of the parts there were issues in trying to control warp and shrinkage. The wings in particular put up a brave fight and it took me many, many goes before I got something I found acceptable - but learned a lot along the way. At times it was fun. At times frustrating, challenging, and at times soul destroying, but there were also times when it was very rewarding - particularly this evening when after 11 months of Wapiti-ing, I completed the build and it was added to the display cabinet. Enough rambling. Trials & tribulations WIP here... and shots of the finished article follow What? All this from a bottle of resin? (note: the roundels aren't as pale as they show up here... I have an old camera which doesn't really pick up the colors properly) Glad to be finished but also very glad to finally have a 1:48 Wapiti in my collection. Thanks for reading. Normal service shall resume shortly. 102 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergei Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 One word: gobsmacked. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 My gob has been well and truly smacked! Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janneman36 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 An A for effort😁 and a gold award for designing and building this lovely Wapiti… cheers , Jan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 A glimpse of the future. Superb, I applaud you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Very impressive! Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 That's insanely beautiful! What a masterpiece you have created 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 This is absolutely stunning in construction and as a finished model. I have followed this through the build with awe and admiration. Congratulations on a beautiful model. Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer matt Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 That really is superb. I hope you remembered to press 'save' on all the files as you may have started something here. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madmaks Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 😲 wow!!! Awesome build 👏👏👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Dyck Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Incredible what is possible today. I am absolutely impressed. A perfect scratch build! Fantastic! And as Jeaton01 said : a glimpse to the future. Cheers Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 😍 That’s superb! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Headroom Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Utter wow! Model of the year. Trevor (incidentally how much does it weigh?) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Absolutely fantastic in every respect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Absolutely incredible work and result Hendie! I love the Wapiti and to see your fantastic creation here really gladdens the heart. You should rightfully be very proud. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 What a magnificent ride we went on together Alan, the Wapiti is simply the best. Ars technologia. 15/10 and ⭐ 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Tremendous result Alan, and yet again a superb WIP for us to follow. I always learn much on your builds, and this one is certainly no exception. Thank you! Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remus389 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 This biplane was made with amazing precision. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Fabulous work, pointing the way to times when all serious modellers will own (or rent?) their resin printer and new 'kits' are 25MB downloads. Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSH Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Just have to echo the comments of others, plus, as someone who is wrestling with 3d modelling, printing and trying not to fall down the over-detailing rabbit hole...yours's is a stellar job on the Wapiti. utterly brilliant and inspirational and totally deserving of all the praise. Very well done. What's next? Mark. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEXANTOMCAT Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Most wonderful! TT 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic 315 Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Just astonishing - that must have been a very steep learning curve, well done. Bearing in mind the whole project, this has to be one of the models of the year! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Fantastic job, looks superb! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 Cor Mister, Wot a beauty! Truly a work of art that shows off your skills to perfection. It's been a long and very enjoyable ride. Don't turn off the engine when it's hot! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted December 11, 2021 Share Posted December 11, 2021 That is a simple masterpiece! Congrats. And the Wapiti was a perfect choice Regards J-W 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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