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Blackadder's Scratchbuilt Thunderhawk


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The plumbing installed, a lot of pipes for such a small area. I suppose fuel lines and tubes for air conditioning and pressurization. Too high for lavatory waste pipes.

 

The right side:

http://i.imgur.com/jz7xhl.jpg

And the left side:

http://i.imgur.com/eAvWrl.jpg

 

E. Blackadder

Enough resting on my laurels; there's nothing difficult about this detailing.

 

The thin pipe is actually made from old plastic flower pot hangers. you know the kind that have the hook moulded into them. I saved a bunch of them years ago and I'm soon going to be running out.

 

I used styrene rods for the bending and bent them with a pair of needlenose pliers. The trick is for more leverage to bend the rod before you cut it. Then over bent the angle and flex it back to the angle you want. Styrene fatigues quickly and should hold it's bend when glued in place.

 

Here's a short tutorial on pipe fitting.

 

The simplest is to just cut rings in the next size larger of the Evergreen telescoping tubing. Slide the ring onto the smaller rod or tube and glue in place with ProWeld thin cement. No need for pictures of this process, But.......

 

sometimes you want a really thin sleeve on your tubing.

 

First file or sand the smaller dia. tube to a tapered end:

http://i.imgur.com/3A5gul.jpg

 

Then with a thin pointed Xacto blade ream out the larger dia. tube:

http://i.imgur.com/QqVcal.jpg

 

to receive the previously tapered rod or tube:

http://i.imgur.com/tckqbl.jpg

 

Join the two tubes and cement and set aside to dry on a flat surface:

http://i.imgur.com/L6X5Gl.jpg

 

Next; Really thin bands on the tubing.

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E. Blackadder

Cutting out the hull was the hard part, another step backwards but it had to be done. A 2 mm bulkhead to strengthen the casement and

to provide a secure mount for the hinge assembly. the cutting out the hinge recesses which gives me this result and no significant damage.

 

http://i.imgur.com/CzIAgl.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cIdpXl.jpg

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E. Blackadder

Below is a composite image of the left side hinge showing the range of motion and the assembled components. Now all I have to do is reproduce it for the right side. I'll take pictures of the components seperately for the right side hinge; I didn't for the left because I wasn't sure the damned thing would work. :lol:

http://i.imgur.com/yPJ4Yl.jpg

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E. Blackadder

Seen so many 'Scratch Built' Thunderhawks and stormravens that are little more then a shoebox with wings. Your's however is truly a work of art!

 

It's all a question of what you are satisfied with. I am not satisfied unless I can outdo that which the talented artists at FW produced as that is original; mine is at best a copy. As with Lucie I have to make the effort to add something to the original. Some builders of scratch built T'hawks want a playing piece, not an overbuilt 'work of art'. Also I truly love the challenge of scratch building and am willing to devote an inordinate amount of time to that end.

 

I wouldn't have thought that such a seemingly simple moving device could have consumed so much time but at last it is done except for the door panels. I managed to sheath the lower hull and around the brake openings on both sides; not too far behind my expectations for the weekend in spite of having to work a bit.

 

Rather pleased at the symmetry and the very close match of the left side and right side structures:

http://i.imgur.com/JvtJYl.jpg

 

The open position, a tad larger than the 3D image but it's a moving part.

http://i.imgur.com/dUrZJl.jpg

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E. Blackadder

Holy Christ. You should be a sculptor.

 

 

BY definition he IS a sculptor, just not being paid for it...

 

Sterling work, loved every step. Inspiration to make my own super heavy tabk

 

Thanks for the compliments. As far as payment the accolades of my peers are remuneration enough.

 

Speaking of sculptor, I'm toying with the idea of making a Hierophant biotitan.

 

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/mediawiki/images/b/b2/NidTitan1.jpg

 

Now that would be sculpting in the literal sense. I've even figured how to make the joints movable; RC model aircraft control surface hinges.

 

http://www.horizonhobby.co.uk/aeroonline/e8flightline/e84links/e84im13.jpg

 

but first I have to complete all my other projects.

 

The too many irons in the fire as it is, Blackadder

I've been neglecting my public with some personal issues and dressing some of the top hamper that doesn't make for interesting updates. But now there is some progress on the underbelly where I am designing the landing pad wells.

 

First, the crude sketches:

 

http://i.imgur.com/4W3V4l.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/zOaxwl.jpg

The wing root mount plate and engine mount tab outboard with one piece temporarily tacked in place to demo the approximate position. I think it's too far forward but that is the beauty of modular construction for once they are assembled I can place them where ever they appear correct.

 

http://i.imgur.com/U9zxol.jpg

Thanks, carrying modularity a bit further:

 

The landing gear wells are coming along quite nicely. I've had a thought to build each wing separate from the hull and mount them with screws for easy disassembly for transport. This will be quite a large model and damage will occur if in one piece.

 

http://i.imgur.com/tpPDel.jpg

 

http://i.imgur.com/tpPDe.jpg

I've been following this on both warseer and B&C since its inception, and I thought it's finally time to say that your attetion to detail is surpassed by none and that I wish you the absolute best in this project, it's hard enough to scratchbuild a small tank, let alone a thunderhawk.
quick question, how to do u plan, if at all, to extend and retract the landing gear?

 

This model will not weigh as much as it's FW equivalent. I plan to use ball point pen springs or possibly stronger to deploy the gear encased in telescoping styrene tubing. I haven't worked out the details yet but I have this mechanism in my pocket. When the time comes I will expand on the concept.

 

I've been following this on both warseer and B&C since its inception, and I thought it's finally time to say that your attetion to detail is surpassed by none and that I wish you the absolute best in this project, it's hard enough to scratchbuild a small tank, let alone a thunderhawk.

 

I fail to see how the larger size of a model increases the difficulty. Actually to my mind the smaller model is more difficult and the value compared to the effort less rewarding as you will spend just as much time in a detailed model that may be worth $35 as a kit. A thunderhawk costs $600+ dollars a price very few are willing to fork over.

 

IMHO for what it's worth.

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