1/144 Morane Saulnier AI- Belgium

[cgutzmer]

awwww what a cute little cockpit

[Rick Thomson]

Ray, anytime I see one of your models, it never fails to boggle what passes for my mind. Who makes your glasses anyhow? I may just buy stock in that firm.

Rick

[poppasmurf]

That is just unbelievable work, I struggle at times with MUCH larger scales. My hat goes off to your amazing skill.

[Yu Gyokubun]

Small scale model is one of my favorite subject. Not only cockpit detailed parts but fuselage sections are tightly fit. Inspirational!

[Texman]

For today, the engine is complete. I used a modification of the technique described by Leif here

Radial engines for small scales

of trying to layer the cylinders of the engine. I found a suitable engine, cut out and layered the cylinders, added the pushrods, and then the front of the crankcase. Total of about 7 parts. The pushrods were actually done in one piece.
For those who count, the engine is about 1.25cm, or 1/4 of an inch wide.



It does exactly what it needs to do in 1/144, look like an engine, as most of it will be hidden by the cowl anyway.

[Phil]

I'm getting nervous...

[Don Boose]

Amazing engine! Great application of the Ohlsson method at a microscopic level.

Don

[Leif Ohlsson]

Hey, Ray, good work (...he said making the understatement of the year)!

Counting: If one of your cutting mat squares is 1 cm, the engine indeed seems to be 1/4 inch, i.e. 6 mm (half of 1.25 cm).

If one of your cutting mat squares is 1 inch, the engine would be 1/2 inch, i.e. 12 mm.

Checking what's correct: My engine in 1/16 is about 55 mm. In 1/144 that would be 1/9 of that, which is 6 mm, i.e. 1/4 inch.

So your cutting mat squares are 1 cm, and your engine 1/4 inch, 6 mm.

I remember that one of my pushrods in 1/87 were 4 mm. You almost squeezed in a whole engine in that space.

Leif

[Texman]

An update..

The cowling is done. The cowling opening appears to closed in to me, but
after reviewing some pics and 3 views, it is just right.
Due to the scale it does give the appearance of being to closed in.



And the major portions completed, with final assembly hoping to be finished this weekend.
The flying surfaces came out really nice, you cannot see it here, but the trailing edges are super thin.
I used my diamond micro files to thin the edges, colored them, then glued them together.
While the glue was still wet, I gently used a fingernail to bring them together real tight.

Also, while it may not be evident in the picture, the main wing rib detail was
reverse embossed with my scoring tool, then the sagging fabric between the ribs
was simulated with another of my tools, with a rounded ball tip.



Hopefully, when I have the final pics, you will be able to see some of these effects more clearly.

Ray

[Don Boose]

Beautiful, Ray!

This tiny airplane is a Belgian gem (bijou Belgique?).

Don