Scratchbuilt Zepplin Stakken in 1/144 - I must be nuts

[Marklo]

So I’ve comes a 1/72 Vac form Zepplin Stakken since the seventies and although I’d love to build it I simply don’t have the desire ace to display it. However in 1/144 it has a wingspan or 235 mm and is altogether a more feasible proposition. This will still be one of the biggest models in my collection. 

 

So let the madness commence….

[Illusive]

1 hour ago, Marklo said:

However in 1/144 it has a wingspan or 235 mm and is altogether a more feasible proposition. This will still be one of the biggest models in my collection.

What's the 1/72 size then?

[Marklo]

470mm which is pretty big.

[CarLos]

Following!

[AdrianMF]

FWIW Wikipedia has the full size span of R.IV - R.VII at 42.2m (138ft 5in) which gives a span of 586mm in 1/72 and 293mm in 1/144. The R.VIII was even larger!

 

So I think that's a couple more inches added to your 1/144 span, now just short of a foot...

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Marklo]

3 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

So I think that's a couple more inches added to your 1/144 span, now just short of a foot...

Never say no to a couple more inches.  My definitive plan is in Scale models so it’ll be whatever size that is 😀

[Marklo]

Broke out my copy of scale models photocopied the plans snd ready for some woodwork.

 

Wing blanks and fuselage cut. I’m going to use lined .25mm styrene over bss as USA cores for the wings d AC bc vac form the fuselage from the buck.

 

 Between this and my Foxmoth I’ve spent the day old school modelling and have thoroughly enjoyed it !

 

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Well definitely going to follow this one. 

[Magpie22]

Ah! Brings back memories, (very ancient), of carving up lumps of wood. I'm going to enjoy this build.

Peter M

 

[Marklo]

Fuselage. Needs a bit more filler.

 

Side view.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Looks good. 

[Marklo]

Working on shaping the wing cores. 

[Marklo]

Started the n the fuselage. This will all make sense in a few more photos 😀

[Marklo]

 

Tape removed and quite a bit of fiddling and fettling and we gave something not entirely unlike a fuselage. Going to let the glue set properly then round the corners and cut out any windows or doors next. 

[Marklo]

So the trickiest part of this build I’ll be the lozenge camouflage. No at least it’s not the printed fabric version but a large random pattern in the same colours but achieving the end result is definitely going to stretch the limits of my painting skills.

 

Scale model supplied a template for the pattern I’m going to use the same one for  all four wing surfaces although I may mirror image the pattern for upper and lower wings.

 

So the next step is to use the template to draw up three make for the lozenges ( base colour and three others) then scale them and print them out with my new (well second hand but new to me) silhouette cameo 3… 

 

Actually need to check if the pattern is four or five colours. 

 

 

 

[Marklo]

Checked my scale models and I shall follow on from Ray Rimmelksvbuild and go with five colours so it’ll be base colour plus four.

[Marklo]

I
Doing this somewhat backwards came across this while searching for camo patterns and I managed to order a copy fir €11.18 including the postage.

[Marklo]

Progress on the masks

 

And the wing panels.

[Marklo]

A bit more work on the wings. Need to get the trailing edges thin then trim the two upper wing panels to fit the centre section.

[Marklo]

Tail feathers completed 

[Marklo]

Final trim in the wings but those trailing badges are way too thick. I need to split the rear of the wings trying outcome of the balsa then re glue them. I also need to set the diehedral on the lower wings.

[Marklo]

Tail attached and partially assembled. Need to drill for the rigging and struts. I also need to score and bend the wing panels, got some brass rod through the fuselage and wings and drill out the fuselage windows next.
 

 

[Marklo]

Not 100% atm so not getting to the bench. However I’m pressing on with the masks, this is the first one. I’ll reverse it for the lower wing and use them for the undersides too. Only three more to go plus the tail planes kuscthr fuselage…

[ajmm]

This is incredibly impressive modelling. Thoroughly enjoying seeing this come together. 

[Marklo]

 Two down two to go tedious but getting there. Once I’ve done all four I’ll make a mirror image set then split them for the lower wings then make a duplicate set for the undersides. Then a set for the fuselage and the tailplanes.  32 masks in total, sounds worse than it is ( I think) as most of the masks will be transforms of the basic set of four.