FG Ju-87 Stuka

[willygoat]

I started the Stuka Friday night and made some progress. By Saturday night I had this
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7417.jpg

I decided to go ahead with the pain and do the detailed cockpit.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7418.jpg

There must be something about these old German planes that makes me want to torture myself with making the canopies (did the Ju-88 last summer).

I also finished up the landing gear with spats, and some engine detail on Saturday
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7421.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7420.jpg

I think I put the exhaust pipes on backwards. Doh!

[willygoat]

Tonight I got to it and did a lot of work. I built the outer wings Saturday and they turned out very nicely. The center section though was baaaad.

So, tonight I rebuilt it very carefully. It was tricky getting the angled parts to set and stay at the same angle. Once it had dried, I put it into the fuselage.I then stuffed tissue into the wing section to support it and give something to push on when attaching the wings

Using the lines on the cutting board to keep my wing supports in line, I added the outer wings to the plane
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7426.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7428.jpg

These shots really show how angled the wings really are
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7427.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7430.jpg

Once the wings had set I added the dive flaps to the bottom surface
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7431.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7437.jpg

I also put on the paper copy of the canopy, just to see what it should look like. I will be doing a clear plastic canopy for the final piece.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7435.jpg

The plastic work for the canopy has been something I've thought about long before I started this plane. I plan to make a mold and heat form the rear glass section. I built up a paper form and put the connecting strips on the outside to make a smooth inner surface
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7438.jpg

I then added glue to the inside to fill in any gaps between the tabs of the piece
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7439.jpg

Hopefully this will make a nice smooth glass piece.

[Getter 1]

Lookin Good :D One of the few FG planes that has stock cockpit parts. I've yet to build one myself but seeing how your's is turing out I may give it a go sometime ;)

Very nice and clean work.

You're on the right track on the canopy. I saw you asked me int he Draken thread about them. I am no expert on canopies in any way. The Draken canopy was only the 2nd time I ever succeded at making one, but I can give you tips from what I've learned.

Of course you got it right by making the canopy tabs out. You should make tha canopy all one piece though as it will be a lot easier that way. Once you are happy with the shape and fit fill it with something. Since I build small I found it best to fill it with 5 min. epoxy. Looks like you built the large version and though I imagine it would work it would take a lot of epoxy to fill that sucker :P The biggest advantage of epoxy was no need to seal it afterwards.

When the filler is fully dried toss the mold in water to start breaking down the paper. Mount it on a dowel or something (I tape it to golf tees in a wooden puzzle game). Heat a piece of plastic over a candel till it becomes soft and a little saggy in the center. Quickly pull it over the mold and let harden. trim off excess and you're good to go ;)

Where I had kept failing in the past was something so stoopid. I kept using plastic from evergreen. It turns out I think I was using the wrong plastic the whole time. It was too think and always melted in the center. I then tried plastic from a toy's packaging and it worked perfectly. That is probably the biggest tip I can provide you ;) Just like how wwe use ceral boxes and stuff for this hobby, blister packaging is another salvage item for it :)

Keep up the good work and I can't wait to see this bird with glass ;)

G1

[tekzo]

this one also my favorite, love to see on diorama setting....overall two thumbs up

[willygoat]

Thanks guys for the encouragement.
Getter- on the canopy, I'm building it in separate sections because I'm going to attempt to build it in a partially open configuration like this one

[Bomarc]

Another one of these guys who can take a basic FG model and turn it into a little jewel!

Looks great WG!

Please to continue (I think I'll make that my new sig line phrase!).

Mike

[Getter 1]

Willygoat,

You can make it all in one piece and then seperate it for open position. It is easier to pour one piece than 2 for shape reasons ;)

G1

[willygoat]

I think I'm going to go for the clay filler mold. Like you said Getter, it's pretty big for using epoxy. I have some, but not that much.

No progress tonight. the First day of swimming practice took it out of me. I'm the weird guy that gets in and swims with the kids to watch what they're doing wrong. Oh well, I get a workout too.

[willygoat]

Well, I did a bit more work today on the Stuka. Not enough to take more pics, but some. I did add the guns to the wings, and I worked on the canopy molds. I am using Sculpy as the mold agent. My question is, do I bake it with the paper still on, or do I try to remove the paper before I bake? I've never used Sculpy before. HELP!!!!!!

[Ron0909]

Willygoat, I'd leave the paper on. It's not really going to be in the oven long enough at a high enough temp. to worry about. I'd worry more about deforming the sculpy peeling the paper off before it was cooked.
Your Ju-87 is sweet! I can't wait to see the finished bird
Ron

[member_3]

I agree with Ron (naturally!) - leave the paper on. The 250-275 heat for 20-25 minutes may brown it but it should peel/sand off easily. You are correct about deforming the plug trying to get the paper off before hand.

[Retired_for_now]

Paper in the oven - Farenheit 451 (233 C) ...

Yogi

[birder]

Hey Willygoat! Looks nice. Sculpy is nice stuff for the plug you can sand it and smooth it after baking. It takes a while to cool and hardens while cooling, and when the plastic is warmed it doesn't show the sanding marks(disclaimer here):D

[willygoat]

Thanks guys. I was thinking that was the case, but since I've never used it before, I thought I should ask.

Yogi- your post brought back the memory of a book I read in high school- Fahrenheit 451. Good book. That book is why I figured the paper wouldn't be a fire problem.

Thanks again gents! :D

[cjwalas]

Glen's Sculpey filled canopies work great. I left the paper on mine and baked it no problem.
I found that mounting the Sculpey form on an elevated support allows fro more control well stretching the warm plastic over it.
I can't wait to see how our canopy turns out. I'm already tempted to go back and redo several of my FG Stukas!
Chris

[Phil]

That's a nice, clean build. Great job!!!

[willygoat]

Well, the bake was successful! I'm going to peel the paper off shortly. We'll se how this all turns out. I did each part of the canopy separate. That may, or may not have been a mistake. If it is, then I'll just print off another canopy and try again! Thanks for your help guys.

[30-06]

Willy Goat - Love the Stuka - you're doin a great job. I am progressing on the Spanish War Ju-52 and ME-109G - Both nice newer FG offerings. Wish they would re-draw-update some more of the WWI/II stuff. I checked in to the FG forum to find a really nice how to make props thread - the place is like a ghost town - any ideas on what's going on @ FG?
30-06

[willygoat]

It's still going there. I'm there pretty actively. Everyone's kinda been hit by things lately. This is the first build I've done in nearly 3 months. The active group of people there is much smaller, and always has been. A few of the folks have come over here (lepercan, bob martin, rockpaperscissor) and are pretty active.

As for the Stuka, I'm going to claim ingorance again and ask how one would polish a Sculpy mold? I made a new mold, and I think it is okay. I want to shine it up so I can mold a canopy in the next few days.

[birder]

Hey buddy, I don't think you have to ever polish the plug/mold, but I always have sanded out any irregularities in the shape and check against the model for potential problems. I rough sand it to shape if needed, then about 200 grit sandpaper is as far as I need to go, as the soft plastic I usually try to use doesn't take up the fine marks, just the shape-accurately on that. You'll have to make a few canopies like I do probably to get one you like, so have lots of extra plastic around..it's fun to do I think.:D Good luck with it Willygoat!

[Bomarc]

As for the Stuka, I'm going to claim ingorance again and ask how one would polish a Sculpy mold? I made a new mold, and I think it is okay. I want to shine it up so I can mold a canopy in the next few days.

WG

I'm close to making my own canopy plugs with Sculpey, and I will polish mine before I mold. For what it's worth, here's how I'm going to do it: On the back side of the mold, I'm going to drill a hole and super glue in a 1/4" dowel which I will then clamp in a vise. Then I'm going to take a strip of cloth, and using some automotive rubbing/polishing compound, start buffing it the same way a shoe shine guy would shine your shoes at the airport. Since it's a smash mold, it doesn't require a mirror finish; just smooth it down enough to get any glaring imperfections out.

Mike

[cjwalas]

Like Greg, I haven't had to polish my Sculpey forms at all. A simple sanding to an even surface is all that's necessary.
I find that rubbing compounds and even polishing compounds can leave scratches in the material, so if you're serious about a shiny finish, I would avoid compounds.
I've been using Sculpey and other polyclays since the mid-70s. The easiest way of getting a sheen on the material is to buff it on an old pair of denims. You'd be surprised at how good a gloss you can get his way. Buffing wheels work fantastically and you can get a glass like finish to a good polyclay, but you need to avoid using too much pressure as it can melt the surface.
But just to repeat, you don't need a satin finish to pull a canopy, just a smooth surface.
Chris

[lepercan]

If all else fails use the old stand-by, molding plaster.

[willygoat]

The Stuka is coming!!!!!!!!

I finished the Stuka tonight (technically last night- it's really late). I'll have pictures and a wrap up of work for you then. I'm off the bed :p

[willygoat]

First up, the Stuka has legs
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7440.jpg

I also scratched a tail wheel (I lost the provided one)
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7443.jpg

Here's the canopy mold prior to sanding. I used Sculpy to make the form. I like this method. It's pretty straight forward
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7445.jpg

I discovered that it was very difficult to get the entire canopy piece formed with the things I had. So, I made a mold for the center section as well
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7446.jpg

Here's my basic set-up. I used the wooden tower thing to elevate the mold so I could pull down on the form enough to get the plastic to cover the entire thing.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7452.jpg

Heating the plastic. I used some packaging from my son's new Cars toys
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7454.jpg

I ended up having to use the big mold to make separate pieces for the front and back glass. I couldn't get the plastic to take the shape of the entire mold

The center glass section after molding
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7458.jpg

The front glass section
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7459.jpg

The back glass section
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7460.jpg

[willygoat]

Here's the finished pieces. I used sticker paper to make the frames for the glass
Center
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7461.jpg

Front glass
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7463.jpg

Front sliding canopy
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7464.jpg

Rear glass
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7465.jpg

The whole canopy
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7466.jpg

[willygoat]

My next step was to make the rear machine gun. First I heated up a paper clip and poked the hole through the glass.

Then, I rolled some typing paper around the clip to make the body of the gun. It's not great by any means, but it's okay for me.
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7467.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7469.jpg

Gun installed
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7470.jpg

The bomb
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7448.jpg

Bomb rack
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7447.jpg

Completed rack w/ bomb
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7476.jpg

[willygoat]

Here's the finished plane. I added the props, canopy, and bomb

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7479.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7481.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7472.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7484.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7485.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7487.jpg
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k173/BDR7/IMG_7486.jpg

[cjwalas]

You did it! Here's to the completion of another Stuka model! The open canopy sure makes a huge difference on this model. Congratulations!
I should point out though, that the bomb release arm is misplaced. The two front ends of it should be in the two gray areas forward of the bomb and the "X" of the arm should be in front of the bomb so that the arms of the bomb wind up just forward of the center of the bomb. Because of the near vertical dive of the Stuka, the long release arm was needed to swing the bomb out and away from the plane to clear the props.
Other than that, it looks fantastic. I meant to ask you, your colors look much more accurate than the Kelly green mine turn out to be. Did you fiddle with the colors?
Chris

[airdave]

Thank you very much for the details on how you made the canopy parts!
That makes me want to try one myself!

[willygoat]

Thanks guys. Chris- I know the bomb rack is wrong, but at 11:45 last night, I really didn't care. :p I might go back and fix it, but it works for me. as for the color thing, This is unfiddled with (pun intended). The school's color laser tends to wash out the colors a bit.

[Wily]

Show off!

LOL!

It's perfect...:) Excellent workmanship!!

[lehcyfer]

The canopy makes the model look very realistic. Though the fact that it's unretouched takes a bit away from the realism feeling.

Very good model.

[ct ertz]

Wow, I want to try the hated plastic too. I like FG models and have a few, I can improve on them!
Thanks,
Corey

[willygoat]

Ct- DO IT!!!!!!!!!! This thing was down right fun :D The only really tricky part was setting the wings to get the same angle. The fit on the plane was right on.

As for the realism of the glass work, please keep in mind that this is only my 3rd "glass" canopy. I'm still learning quite a bit about the whole process. The sticker paper isn't perfect for some parts of the application, but it works for me, and that's what counts.

I really enjoyed this build. And, I really enjoyed the strange looks from the wife when I was baking airplane parts. She thought I for sure had gone off the deep end :p

[birder]

Good job Willygoat! It seems to me you have made complex shaped canopies...the p-51 will be a great one for you now...although be prepared for some trial and error right? That is funny about your wife wondering what you were cookin up:D

[redhorse]

Excellent job! I love your canopy and the heated paper clip technique sounds very useful.

[Barry]

It's a good looking canopy

[Getter 1]

Looks Good WG :D Glad to see the canopy turned out so well ;)

G1

[willygoat]

It seems to me you have made complex shaped canopies...the p-51 will be a great one for you now...

What are you saying Birder, that the Ju-88 canopy was complex?!?! :p That was actually easier to mold than this one though. It was quite small. I have been looking at doing another P-51. Hmmmmmm.

But right now, I'm shifting my focus to fake trees. They'll be used for a model I'm making for my mom. More on that later.