Sopwith & Fokker Diorama

[airdave]

I got this great little Fokker DVII and a Sopwith Camel with my free account from FG and I'm gonna do something stupid!

I've also pulled the little FG "english" Barn out of the farm kit
and I am gonna try a little BiPlane Dogfight Diorama.

But I don't have too much room for a big model,
so I have printed out the planes a little less than 50% of the original print size...they fit on 4.5 x 7 cardstock!
(I downscaled the barn building too)

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/01-P3253763.jpg

For me...thats the stupid part!!
I'm not good with tiny models, but i figured you can't get much simpler than these little guys, so what the heck!

I started on the Sopwith tonight, and I'm already pulling my hair out!!
LOL

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/02-P3253764.jpg

yes...those are 1 inch squares on the mat!!!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/03-P3253766.jpg

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/04-P3253767.jpg

haha...the little machine guns are cute!
no big problems (other than the size!) up to now...fingers crossed.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/05-P3253770.jpg

[cMags]

Well damn, you beat me to it. I've got my Sopwith Camel and Fokker Dr.I printed out and the triplane half built. Was doing the same thing, tho I like the addition of the barn.

Maybe I'll just do a "classics series" since these are much older models with far inferior graphics, but have that quaintness we've come to love about FG models. I've had these on my harddrive(s) since '99.

[airdave]

Build 'em original size and enter in the Stock" category!

[cMags]

Nah, already printed and building at 1:72. I'm not in it to win it in this comp really.. Just showing my support for FG. And it's fun and relaxing to build these classics after the grueling Old Crow build lol.

[airdave]

The front cowl ring seems to be a little too large
(in my opinion...unless I have done something wrong?)
...anyway, a quick snip...take a milimetre or so off, and glue it back together
and now it fits the cowl.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/06-P3263771.jpg


Tail wings are on...sorry not shown here...but pretty straightforward.
Next was the wheels assembly.
At this scale, a little tricky for me!
The microscopic dabs of glue are bigger than the size of the supports!! lol

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/07-P3263774.jpg


Now, the wing supports are a whole other ....problem! (I'll be nice)
I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get all these supports in place, securely, and then line them all up with the second wing?!!
haha...this is an adventure, I will admit that!!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/08-P3263775.jpg

I have resorted to making small incisions in the wing surface,
dropping a dab of glue into the opening and fitting the strut into the the incision.

I figure this will make a stronger connection for when I have to play around attaching it to the second wing.
(I also still have to seal up the wing ends of this wing)
All the long struts are in, now to tackle the four smaller ones!

[dfarrell]

I have resorted to making small incisions in the wing surface,
dropping a dab of glue into the opening and fitting the strut into the the incision.


I build a lot of biplanes, and that is how I usually attach the struts.
One thing you'll need to be careful about with the Camel is that the lower wing has quite a bit of dihedral to it. If you don't have the dihedral, and you try to attach the top wing after you have glued all the struts to it, you may find the main struts are to short. You might want to attach to upper wing with only the main struts, bend the dihedral into the lower wing, and then install the inner struts. The Fokker has no dihedral so you won't have to worry about it. You will need to scratch build the inner struts for the Fokker, which is a bit of a pain. If you want, I have a file that I made in sketch-up for all the D-VII struts that I would be happy to share.

[neca12]

Do you fill wings with something?

[airdave]

I saw the note within the kit regarding the dihedral, but could see no way to lock the wing into shape.
...it was, however, very flexible in the middle.
With the lower wing glued to the fuselage, it still bends extremely easy.
I assumed that it would conform fairly easily when I assemble the second wing,
what else can I do?

[cgutzmer]

This is looking GREAT! :)
Chris

[cMags]

The gray block next to the tailplane on the parts kit is supposed to be glued to the top of the lower wing. It's slightly narrower than the space in the lower wing top so it should pull the wing's top together, locking in the dihedral (sort of). Seems like you may have missed attaching that part. So at this point the only thing you can do is make sure the upper wing is stiff enough to support itself and the dihedral of the lower wing, and when you attach the wing to the struts, ensure that the outer struts don't reach until you add dihedral to the lower wing. You may need some CA to get it to hold tight.

Or, you could engineer the model like the actual plane and set some rigging to hold the dihedral in place. :p

[airdave]

or I could just not worry too much about the dihedral, since the rest of the model has many physical inaccuracies?!
(thats if we wanted to get real technical! lol)





....hehehe I'll figure something out.

[Thomas Meek]

Hi, airdave;

Despite your difficulties with dihedral, the model is looking really good so far. This is on the way to being an amazing piece of work.

[airdave]

thanks MR Meek!

I like the idea of the rigging!!

I just looked up a diagram of the Camel rigging, and you could very easily run a fine needle and thread, and simulate all the rigging.
And the rigging will lock the dihedral too!

but...not at this scale!
sorry, but I think its just too small for my skill abilities.

So....I just went out to my Paint Shop and grabbed some stir sticks.
They fit quite nicely in the wing (good thing I haven't sealed the ends yet!)!
One of these should hold the upper wing straight while attaching it to the lower.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/09-P3273777.jpg

Then I will try to figure out how to get the fuselage struts in place.
(I think I will precut some slots for the struts)

[cMags]

Hey out of curiosity, since you're planning to do the dogfight scene, do you plan to make plastic spinning props and pilots, or are you going with a ghost fight (empty cockpits)? I'm trying to decide how I want to attack it. (No pun intended.) :p

[airdave]

The FG download came with two extra files...a seat and a 2D pilot.

They are pretty simple, low-res designs but I'm gonna give them a try.
Its a little too small for me to bother with anything else
and I hadn't preplanned a cockpit area, so it may be trouble enough to get a seat in to the hole now!

I have already assembled the Prop, just for fun, but I did have plans to use a simple clear disc.
If I don't like the look of the disc, I plan to use the static prop .

Even an empty cockpit is fine with me...it is, in reality, only a model!

[dfarrell]

Stiffening the upper wing is a good plan. That will hold that wing straight while you bend the dihedral in on the lower one. You should be able to get those inner struts in place with some tweezers without any trouble. Your Camel is looking good!

[airdave]

The "stick in the Wing" idea worked great!!
Although connecting all 8 struts was a real pain! mostly because of the small size
and partly because it was my first biplane.

Anyway, the plane is together ........with dihedral!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/10-P3283786.jpg


So, that means the Sopwith is done (I think)...only thing I deliberately did not do is the Tail Skid.
I believe FG recommends using a toothpick to make a little tail skid part,
but at this size, its just too small to bother with.

I have already assembled the FG Barn and Silo (from the Farm Buildings kit0)
and created a base for the entire diorama.
Heres a sneak peek at the Sopwith in place on the Diorama base.
I'll save the big reveal till the end!

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/11-P3293794.jpg

[airdave]

Now, on to the Fokker

Looks like a somewhat simpler kit...but I am confused right off the start! lol

Starting to assemble the fuselage...the rear upper fuselage part doesn't seem to match the shape of the fuselage...I hope I have done this right?
and the Instructs don't illustrate how the upper deck of the fuselage has to be curved and ridged,
especially to match the front grill/radiator part.


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/red01-P3283789.jpg

I got the little seat in there too...although everytime I try to work anymore, I keep knocking the seat out of place!

I am a little confused as to how the wing fits...
the instructs say to assemble the wing first and then into the fuselage
"before assembling the fuselage"...?

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/red02-P3283791.jpg

I have put everything together except for the lower fuselage strip.
Does it go outside the Wing?
or do I form the strip in the body, leaving a formed depression for the wing to sit against?
It seems odd for the wing to go "thru" the fuselage like this:

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/red03-P3283792.jpg

[cMags]

I've always put the wing in the fuselage exactly as you have it in that last picture, then finish forming the fuselage around the wing.

You can see that the landing gear strut mount points would be covered up if you left the wing outside.

[cdwheatley]

Chris is correct - the wing is glued to the fuselage first, exactly as in your last photo. The bottom strip is then glued over it and the fuselage closed up.

[JetAviator7]

If you like paper airplanes, you might enjoy the ones on my website at:

The Paper Airplane Company (http://www.thepaperairplanecompany.com/paper_model_airplanes.html)

Simple to build and fun too!

I fascinated by the Sopwith Camel, so I created this website:

Sopwith-Camel.com (http://sopwith-camel.com)

As a pilot I am always looking for airplane models, kits and projects to create. It sure helps pass the hours waiting for passengers!

John White (JetAviator7)

[airdave]

Fokker DVII got a whole bunch of work done last night!

I got the lower wing installed, as instructed...thanks for all the help on that one!

And the upper wing is ready for install

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/12-P3293795.jpg

The wings in this kit are very nicely formed...go together very easily.
Just add a little curve and they line up nice.
The added curved down ends are a good touch to close up the wings nicely...with a nicely curved and natural shape.
A little fiddly at this reduced size, but not too bad.

Tail components go on quite simply aswell...although I think the upper fuselage part needs to be trimmed slightly shorter (to move it forward a touch)
This will allow the tail to move forward also, for a better positioning and fit.

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/13-P3293798.jpg


Upper wing is not attached yet...just working on getting some struts and supports in place.
once again, reduced scale = fiddly little bits for the wing supports!

I glued the main wing struts to two layers of cardstock to beef them up!
...cut em out and coloured them red...since there are only the two main supports.

Wheel setup is simple, but nice...on the full size version, it would be very simple to install an "axle" and make rolling wheels!


Machine guns are on too!
Barrels are very small and difficult to roll (at this size) in cardstock! lol
The Gun bodies (second part at rear of the barrels) is even more difficult at this scale!!!
...but eventually I got something that sorta looks like machine guns.

And the prop is pretty straightforward...just added a straight pin for the mount, and a little spacer behind the prop to keep it away from the fuselage.



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/15-P3303802.jpg

as you can see, overall size is about a 2.5" wingspan
and the length of the plane is just over 2"

this is "micro" for me!!! maybe not for the rest of you "land of the Giant" builders!
but pretty frakkin' tiny for me!!

[rockpaperscissor]

This diorama is really shaping up nicely. The planes look terrific and the concept is genius.

Barrels are very small and difficult to roll (at this size) in cardstock! lol

I delaminate tiny parts that need to be rolled or folded before working with them. Cut the part out leaving a bit of "fat" all the way around. Use your scalpel to tease the paper apart in one of the corners, and then pull the paper apart. Viola! - a piece on approximately 1/2 cardstock thickness. Much easier to work with.

[airdave]

what? me...make it easier? hahahahahahaha

[airdave]

Here we go....


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/dioramaintro.jpg


Fiddlers Green Sopwith Camel, Fokker DVII, "English" Barn and Silo and custom made base.

All at approximately 1/88 scale

[mchale]

snoopy vs the bloody red barron from germany a scene from the song snoopy vs the red barron
sung by the royal guardsmen i like it looks good airdave

[spgifford]

Excellent :)

[cdwheatley]

Great, I love it! One small point though - it looks like you've neglected to fit the cabane struts on the Fokker ;).

[jobeaux]

Brilliant! :D

[airdave]

no...actually the struts that go against the fuselage are on the final model.
I shot a bunch a pictures a couple of days ago
and then some this morning (I finished everything last night)

...and out of all the pics I took, I ended up choosing about half a dozen of the best shots
and all the Fokker photos show the unfinished plane.
doh! my error

heres some shots that show those struts in place
(they were an absolute paint to deal with! I might add! at this scale, they were just too thin! With only a three inch wingspan, the struts really needed to be made from wire...but then there was the problem of fitting them inside the wings. So I cut them from some cardstock to make them a little stronger and a little thicker to handle...but they ended up looking pretty bulky And they weren't long enough to reach the wing, so I had to move back a little on the fuselage. I think I might try to redo them with some wire.)

http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/fokkerfinal02.jpg


http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t6/outlawzairbrushcom/hobby%20links/biplanes/fokkerfinal01.jpg

[2Kamser]

Ok if nobody says anything i will :eek:
that is one really good looking DOG fight :cool::cool: - (pun really intended)
couldn't resist that one :D
outstanding work airdave, really love the diorama

[cgutzmer]

Awesome work there buddy! Did a great job on putting it all together!
Chris

[peter taft]

Very nice diorama :)

[jimkrauzlis]

Excellent idea and wonderfully carried out!

I had the same problem with the inner struts on the Fokker, they seem a tab short for some reason, and I ended up making them from scratch to the correct lengths. Not sure how this happened but, well, that's just part of the "fun" in card modeling, discovering those problems and finding ways to correct them.

I'd say you succeeded in all areas, and I bet it was fun!

Thanks for sharing this build thread with us!

Cheers!
Jim

[airdave]

thanks guys!! I have to admit...even at this annoyingly small scale, it was fun!

[Eric Westfere]

wow! great looking planes, makes me want to print out my camel and d7, hmmmm,,, wife and the kids are going to be out of town for a few days, looks like painting the garage can wait for alittle bit!!!

[Darwin]

Very nice build....very nice.

[Alcides]

Applause !!! Very cool idea!!! I love your diorama.

[Tapcho]

I love this dio. Peanuts we're my favourite way back then. I lost all the comics I had sometime 80's and thats a shame. Schultz really captured something essential about the aces of the WW1 into Snoopy's character. Great work!

[ggdancer]

Excellent Diorama. Love the concept and the addition of Snoopy.

[redwolf28386]

Good job! I hope you don't mind if I borrow your idea!

[Paperwarrior]

Excellent diorama!!

[Wyvern]

Great job, Air Dave!

Wyvern

[blueeyedbear]

A word of warning about dioramas: I built a (plastic) P-38 and could not get the finish I wanted after several tries. One of them was OK, except for the tail. My wife said "Why not put it in a hanger?". Mistake!

It turned into a forced perspective hanger project (1/72 in front, HO {1/87} in back. By the time I said "It's finished" we had been in every hobby shop in North Central Texas and on down to Austin. Worked on it for more than a year!

BE CAREFUL!>

Bob, the blueeyed bear

[airdave]

the only forced perspective I will have to worry about is when it gets squished to one side to make room for the next model!