Fiddler's Green Piper Grasshopper

**willygoat** · #1 03-24-2011, 08:58 AM

I've been missing a solid FG built for quite a while now. So, to take inspiration from Mr. Bob Martin, I decided to build this beauty. Since I plan on building some more detailed planes in the short future, I went all out on this one. Full glass and cockpit are in order!

I started by building the main fuselage and cockpit. I layered the window frames up to 2 layers on the main parts, and put another layer on the plastic sheet I used for the windows. So, 4 layers was reasonbly strong. I also cut out the doors to allow better viewing of the interior

I then turned my attention to figuring out the wings. I knew that puting glass in would cause the structure to be fairly weak. So, taking a que from Bob (I think it was him) I used some squewers as cross braces. I took the wing root parts, cut out the structure opening, and laminated to 4 layers of 1/2 mm cardboard. I then used my awesome drill to make some holes for the squewers to go through. After a lot of dry fitting, this is what I got.

Wings installed on top of fuselage. I put some O.D. strips on the inside edge of the wings to allow for gluing to the inside of the framework.

Next I cut out and mounted the wing top piece onto plastic sheet. I printed this out double so I could have the framework on the inside as well

The undercarriage was my next focus. I scratch built the suspension system out of toothpicks. I wrapped the sticks with paper to simulated the rubber tension packs

wheels came courtesy of Michaels craft store. They were the perfect size for this plane, so I used a Sharpie to color in the tires, and cut out a hubcap from some extra O.D. printed paper

For the prop, I cut apart the normal one, and built it up with a couple of strips of 1mm card in the blades, and layered the center hub with 5 layers if 1/2 mm card. All said and done, it's one of my best props i've ever done.

Once it was all assembled, this is what turned out

**jagolden01** · #2 03-24-2011, 09:04 AM

WOW, nicely done! Windows look great and opening the door really shows of the interior.

**ghshinn** · #3 03-24-2011, 09:13 AM

Beautiful job on the AH1. One of my favorite aircraft. Love what you did with the wings.

Garland

**Don Boose** · #4 03-24-2011, 09:20 AM

Spectacular build!

Don

**YankeeBoy** · #5 03-24-2011, 09:22 AM

Definitely above and beyond the call of duty. Well done!

**rockpaperscissor** · #6 03-24-2011, 09:37 AM

Inspiring job willygoat! That is certainly one to be proud of. The extra scratchbuilt details add so much. Just wonderful.

**willygoat** · #7 03-24-2011, 04:24 PM

Thanks gents! This was a fun build. Pretty quick too. It only took me a couple of days.

**LetterQ** · #8 03-24-2011, 04:28 PM

WOW!! You did an incredible job on that airplane

**Alcides** · #9 03-24-2011, 04:42 PM

Beautiful!!! Lindisimo!!!

One more time you show how to turn a simple model in great and detailed model.Congrats!!!

**Retired_for_now** · #10 03-26-2011, 07:33 PM

Adding to the chorus - beautiful job!

Yogi