Wilhelmshaven Coleoptere

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

This is a strange French flying thing. Aparently it did not fly very well. The instruction say it crash on its first flight!

It is another Wilhelmshavener download model for 3 Euros. You get parts on two page plus excellent instruction! The instruction, it is all in English (or German) with writing only and no diagram, but it is VERY clear. For example, when you make the sectiont parts for the body, it instruct you to carefully glue the tab edge in place and then when you make the double think former parts, they slide inside the body tube section until they fit against the tab edge inside. Some section, it has a wrapping in the middle so it will trap the former parts both in the front and back and fix them in place perfectly in alignment!

So here is the pieces and picture of the Coleoptere machine...

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Coleopter.jpg

There is a blemish one one part but I may fix with grey pencil or crayon?

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Part.jpg

The sections started

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Segments.jpg


And with the former template install inside.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Segment3.jpg

And put together. Some former parts, they are perhaps too large and I have too tight of a fit, resulting in segmentation. It is hard to judge becuase you have to glue the form in place before you can test fit the next section. It is deceptive, so far this has perhaps 20 parts with the tabs, forms, sections, etc.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Body.jpg

[ccoyle]

You're off to a fast start. Is it my imagination, or does that one part have the word 'front' transliterated into Cyrillic?

Cheers!

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Thank you. I work on this over two afternoon time. I make some note in ink with the former template parts. I take the paper part and glue to wood from a food package. But then it is thick, so I angle the wood with a bevel. I must then say okay this side it is the front so the angle it is correct when I put the segment of the body together. It is hard to explain.

[cdwheatley]

Explained and understood perfectly :).

[Wilfried]

You're off to a fast start. Is it my imagination, or does that one part have the word 'front' transliterated into Cyrillic?

Cheers!

... oh, I'm not the only one, who had late afternoon the same imagination ...

With lovely greetings
the Wilfried

PS: @ Lala,
normally the real printed models of that time fits very well - it was a brandmark of Wilhelmshavener - but nowadays, in time of downloading, some things differed ...

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Coleoptere2.jpg

Things from Wilhelmshavener they do fit well. I think my mistake in where I make my cut lines it is my fault. Actually, today I make anew every single segment, and glue all their tabs and linings in place for a second attempt. I can see the paper wrapping segments will fit perfectly but that when force the slightly large forms inside, then they do not fit. So, tomorrow or Monday, I will make a second Coleoptere body knowing now perhaps to make the forms just a mm smaller across.

The Messerschmitt, it was the same. The pieces they fit very well although my interpretation of some of the structure result in minor problem.

Interesting, for being old, it still fit better than the Marek LaGG which should fit better but do not.

[eatcrow2]

Things from Wilhelmshavener they do fit well. I think my mistake in where I make my cut lines it is my fault. Actually, today I make anew every single segment, and glue all their tabs and linings in place for a second attempt. I can see the paper wrapping segments will fit perfectly but that when force the slightly large forms inside, then they do not fit. So, tomorrow or Monday, I will make a second Coleoptere body knowing now perhaps to make the forms just a mm smaller across.


I like this one.. The stranger looking the better. I think you have the right idea on how your going to do the second attempt. What I do with forms like that, is coat the outside with CA/crazy glue then lightly sand it down to a shape where it fits without distorting..test fitting as you go. Also beveling the form so it adjusts to the angle of the piece. Also, on a solid form/bulkhead I usually cut a small hole in the center so it's easier to manipulate the piece.. Square/round, it doesn't matter.. Easier to do, then to write about..

[Wilfried]

Hello Lala,

your parts for glueing stands in one line; please reverse part 10 ...

With lovely greetings
the Wilfried

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Hello Lala,

your parts for glueing stands in one line; please reverse part 10 ...

With lovely greetings
the Wilfried

Thank you actually it is part 4. the "10" is where you glue part 10 later. But you can fix those band parts just one way when you go to fix each segment together. I just arrange them for the picture mostly to show ok I cut them all out again! :p

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

I like this one.. The stranger looking the better. I think you have the right idea on how your going to do the second attempt. What I do with forms like that, is coat the outside with CA/crazy glue then lightly sand it down to a shape where it fits without distorting..test fitting as you go. Also beveling the form so it adjusts to the angle of the piece. Also, on a solid form/bulkhead I usually cut a small hole in the center so it's easier to manipulate the piece.. Square/round, it doesn't matter.. Easier to do, then to write about..


Yes they say to fix the paper form to double it up to a second sheet. But I fix it to wood that is approx 1mm thick and very hard (it is from a large brie cheese box). If you see close in this picture again, they thoughtfully provide a tick mark to align with the seam on the bottom of the segment it fit inside of.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Segment3.jpg


I bevel the wood and paper with a finger nail board. I had just made these a very tight fit. I could coerce each one inside but then when I stick the pipes together, there is much tension and pressure on the edges. It is not so much the model's fault as my construction method. So I say ok I can make the new parts in 15 minutes...

I very much like the inside of some of the wrapping bands becuase you put not only the tab on the edge to join the segments, but a band inside that will hold the wood form in place. And the instructions, they are very explicit.

I see nicely that despite the flaw in the printing (it is like there was a faint spot on the original that was scan for the down load) it is on the inside of the large body ring not the outside.

Ok I go to work now... so i will finish this perhaps Monday.

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Ok so I have fix together the parts for the second Coleoptere body.

I make the segments again and sand down the template forms some what now. I have to use much less pressure to fix both the templates inside and the segment together...

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Segment.jpg

I am most proud of this piece

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Cone.jpg

And now I have two of this... The new model it is the one on the left/bottom. I think it is better especially if you see in person. In the picture it is not so different but there is much less tension on the parts. And I learn a lot...

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Body-1.jpg


It is possible I can make two of these only that I have print the kit twice and I have not ruin any extra part from the second kit yet.

[eatcrow2]

The fit seems a lot cleaner and tighter..

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

I think some reason I am not happy with the way the model looks is that the grey color it will fade or darken here and there, and with the dark edges to the part segments, it look more like they do not fit. But they fit fairly well, actually, considering this is very complicated.

So they have you make this tunnel along the body with five sections of wrap and some brace pieces inside. The instructions, they propose you make this off the model then fix it in place. But I decide that is not so smart...

I fix the front and back triangle shape parts first and also I added some extra forms from wood for the outer wrap to fix around.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Body-2.jpg


You can see also this model it is not as large as you may think... I use some of the Aleene's Paper Glaze to fill some small gaps. I will seal the model with spray Matte Varnish any way. If I want the windows to be shiney, I will use more Glaze.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Body2.jpg


The wring is not so hard so far. You make the inside first from one large part plus tabs and strips. Then you add the card board stiffener ring. I use the cardboard from a popcorn box here. It was not so easy to find the center of this ring for my circle cutter, so I cut it with a scissors on the outside and knife inside.

You can see the blemish spots inside the ring where the paper it is bleached. The download file come this way from the original.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/ring.jpg


I do not want to ruin this... I am not feeling like I want to make this all again if I make too many mistakes.

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Well this morning I have fix the main wing ring. The parts almost all fit very well, but I can see perhaps it is good to make one ring then make a second with what I learn. But i do not want to make this again ...:p

They have you to make the inside ring which is good... And then you make the rings for the outside.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/MoreRing.jpg

You see there is another segment wtih a cardboard ring inside. This cardboard it is more important than the cardboard I show yesterday attach to the inside ring. To be honest, I cut that card off with scissors today it is not needed. But this is important here.

Then it is easy to put the outside back to the outside middle

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/tworing.jpg


Then you apply glue in the rim of the tail of the wing and slide this over the inside parts. This is where the cardboard forms work. The instructions, they say to carefully refer to the diagram... but there is NO DIAGRAM... just very clear words.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Ringinring.jpg

Now things they get ugly... the yellow ring for the front it is too small but that is easier to fix. It is also too short. I think it is short (front to back) becuase when I cut the yellow ring for the inside, I make it just a mm long with where I decide to cut the lines or not.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Together.jpg


Because the ring it is short, I decide instead of making a complete band and to try to force it in place, I will wrap it around and add some extra card where another piece will cover the spot for the most part.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Fix.jpg

I will cover some of the edge with yellow paint. But I am disappointed here in my workmanship some. I learn things now I would make differently. I would make the inside ring lastly instead of the outside yellow ring. This way I can have a good joint mostly outside and then adjust on the inside.

The wing, if you are to cut it in half, it has an airfoil shape so it is not just a tube.

[eatcrow2]

I will cover some of the edge with yellow paint. But I am disappointed here in my workmanship some. I learn things now I would make differently. I would make the inside ring lastly instead of the outside yellow ring. This way I can have a good joint mostly outside and then adjust on the inside.

The wing, if you are to cut it in half, it has an airfoil shape so it is not just a tube.

Hi Lala.. Very good description with photos of what you are doing.. I think you're being to hard on yourself about the workmanship.. This IMO is a complex model even though there's not that many parts. And like you said, you learned as you built. This will carry over in future projects..

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Well I say I do not want to make this again, but I have already cut out half the rings for a second wing! It is not so hard really. The large inner ring it has no taper and can be cut with a ruler. The two grey outer rings are large. Even the two yellow front rings they are not so bad. Mostly I have to cut two more disc rings from card board.

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Ok I ruin the second ring. And I try to fix the first ring and ruin it also. So now I have no ring wing GAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Well it is done! I have made the wing finally after the third attempt. It is not the "best" in every aspect. But it is the only one that line up correctly! I was not in a good mood to have to make this again...

Each band is very close in fit and if you cut inside or outside the line incorrectly, things will not fit. Of course the parts they all fit until the very end when you have to add the yellow color ring around the outside front! But by then it is too late if you have made some minor mistake!

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Rings.jpg

On the finish wing, it is not the smoothest circle of the three. But it is aligned the best. Very tricky!

These are the arm wings that hold the body of the Coleoptere inside the big wing. I think it is going to be interesting to see if the arms are the right length or else the body it will not be center properly...

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Armwing.jpg

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Okay the end is in sight! I make the four wings and glue them in place inside the ring with Devcon Weldit cement. The instructions they say to mount the body in this fashion, so I follow them, but was afraid the body would not fit.

I use some Zap-A-Gap and glue just one wing at a time to the body. They fit well actually and to get the body and the wings mostly straight was not hard.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Coleoptere.jpg


So after this, I make up the parts for the propellers. There are three large and three small. Then I make the large box that go on the white area on the side of the ring. And lastly I make the four landing legs and two wings that fit to two of the legs. The model it is finish. But I have not yet put a varnish on it and take photos.

I know this is not the most interesting model for every one, but it was some thing unusual that I see and decide to build.

[jagolden01]

KGL,

It IS an interesting model and the unusual subject is a nice change from all the typical ones.

I think many of us on here like to see what others are interested in, and every on-line build has something to teach. How you solved the problems you encountered will come in handy for some of us, somewhere, sometime, on some model.

As a companion to this model, The Haggard has a model of a concept NASA Warp Test Ship based on a painting in the NASA offices.

Go here The Haggard?s FREE Papermodels (http://web.mac.com/michaelhaggard/ALBIONRISING/Free_P.M..html)
and scroll down. You can't miss it - it looks very similar to the Coleopter.

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Thank you actually a better model is this... Paper Model Store (http://www.papermodelstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=3834)

I read about these Hanneton Coleoptere VTOL ideas. I am not sure if the model I make was built in real live or not. The instructions for the model they say it crashed. But on line I find three photographs only of a wooden presentation model.

I think I do not want to make another Coleoptere right now yet!

I have put some paper glaze on the model now. It has made the ink darker but it looks very nice so far.

[Keds_Girl_Lala]

Well it is finish! This is not the most easy model despite it having not too many parts to make and no real small one. If you do not read the instruction you will have much difficulty that is certain.

I am happy with the model now for the most part. It is not my best work but it is hard to build also.

So, here is the Coleoptere sitting on its feet... It has fins just on the top two legs

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/Coleoptereright.jpg


This is the oppose side. There is a large trunk along the bottom that has what would be openings done in black ink.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/ColeoptereLeft.jpg

It would look like this in the air.


http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/ColeoptereSide.jpg



There is two large propellers on the bottom inside the ring.

http://i417.photobucket.com/albums/pp256/Carla_Lashelle/ColeoptereBottom.jpg

I am sorry this is not such an interesting model for people. But I think it is unique.

[member_3]

It looks much better than the one I built many years ago. Nice work, Lala!

[dansls1]

Nice model!

[redhorse]

That's pretty cool and you did a great job! What are you going to do next? You come up with the most unusual and interesting subjects.

[Zathros]

I agree. I like strange models also. Very nice.