Need some help/advice - 'In flight' model.

[ij001]

Working my way through some 'future projects' and would like to try something that I've not done since I built my first 'Airfix' and 'Matchbox' kits in the early 1970's.

I'd like to display my 1:48 F/A-18F in a flying pose. Ideally I foresee using just a simple balsa or brass pole, maybe even an old wire coat-hanger, mounted into a pebble or stone... but I'd really appreciate any thoughts and/or ideas from anybody else.

That's it, folks, over to you...

Ian

 

[jknaus]

I think the ones I have seen on a clear plastic post are the nicest. Maybe with the a/c canted a little and climbing. Clear acrylic about 1/4 inch thick and maybe an inch wide in a rhombus maybe? That way you can bevel the top for the cant. Just my thoughts.
JAmes

 

[moon puppy]

I always thought the acrylic rod up the tail pipe looks best. I keep waiting to see someone make the supporting rod look like afterburner flame and contrail.

 

[Phil]

how do you intent to pose the F/A 18 Ian?

Think of the weight of the finished model, as James said the clear plastic one's are the nicest look, but it's still plastic which could break thus killing the model.

I would of liked to have used a clear rod for the Dambusters dio but that thing weighed a ton!

If you pose it in a tight bank for example, you can get some wire, like your coathanger,or piano wire, it's hard like spring steel, but beware, the thicker you go the tougher it gets to cut, fix it well into the wing and plant that into the base, then hide it with a largish bush clump or the like.

Another idea of mine is to use wire again bent in an L shape, through the wing, then run the other bend down one of those rail mode trees, so it appears the wing has just missed the tree.

You can paint the wire that runs through the tree and the tree trunk to hide it a bit.

Scales, HO= 1/87, OO= 1/76, O= 1/48 (USA) 1/43 in UK&France, 1/45 in Germany - don't know why.

While O scale is the closest to 1/48 - they are BIG! so look at HO/OO ones, you can get away with those.

You can get a pretty decent one which stands at 15CM tall, good enough for a 48th scale model.

HTH

 

[Adam Baker]

I'm with Bob, I've always liked it when people use acrylic rod in the engines. The ones I've liked the best are when the acrylic rod is bent into a bit of a question mark look.

Trying to find pictures of some of the ones I've seen, but so far not having much luck.

*edit*

Here are some displays I like

F-18's

http://www.arcair.com/Gal10/9601-9700/gal9625-F-18-Emren/00.shtm

http://www.arcair.com/Gal10/9801-9900/gal9865-F-18-Chen/00.shtm

Here's one using acrylic rod that looks really nice

http://www.arcair.com/Gal12/11001-11100/gal11046-F-18-Middleton/00.shtm

http://www.arcair.com/Gal12/11801-11900/gal11883-F-18-Breunig/00.shtm

F-16

http://www.arcair.com/Fea1/001-100/Fea042_tigermeetF16_Lindsay/00.shtm

F-15

http://www.arcair.com/Gal10/9301-9400/gal9399-F-15-Middleton/00.shtm

Here's an article with several images of different types of a/c displayed w/ acrylic rod, and how to form the rod for the display.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/tnt1/101-200/tnt161-bases-Middleton/00.shtm

 

[Bagge]

This is how i did it, maybe not the most discret one but for me it's good

just a metal thread in the wingtip and after i filled the top of the wing with resin.

Looking forward to see what you decide to do, the "acrylic rod in the tailpipe" is also a good one

//Mats

 

[ij001]

Great responses, thanks all. Adam, that's exactly what I needed - I do spend time over at ARC, but had no idea that Ken had done that article - just perfect.

I really favour the 'acrylic-rod-through-the-tailpipe' approach, however the problem then is a matter of geography. Where I live, no disrespect intended to our new home, but it's bl**dy difficult to get materials like acrylic rod here in New Zealand. I'd have to order it from the UK or USA.

Simply on an economic level I'll almost certainly have to go with brass rod or coat-hanger wire. But, a lot of the tips in the article will apply.

'ppreciate the replies folks. Please feel free to chime-in with more.

Ian

 

[Adam Baker]

Ah, yea. That sort of thing didn't occur to me, haha.

 

[moon puppy]

Simply on an economic level I'll almost certainly have to go with brass rod or coat-hanger wire. But, a lot of the tips in the article will apply.

'ppreciate the replies folks. Please feel free to chime-in with more.

Ian

In that case, I think I'd go with the brass rod, either polish it up or put a patina on it and I think that would class it up a bit.

 

[Prop Duster]

Aluminum [Aluminium for those so inclined] polished with very fine sanding sticks or buffing compound can be given a chrome like shine. A quick spray of lacquer to hold the shine.

Copper round tube (not the pipe) is soft and able to take a gentle bend /curve -if more support is needed due to weight insert a strong wire. Then polish or weather as needed.
:drinks CHEERS