Crashing a Plane

[ChargeDog]

So I'm starting a terrain board where the centre piece is a downed C130. I've bought a 1:48 plastic model kit and I'm good to go.

However, I just want to check my planned process and make sure I'm not about to make a terrible mistake to a quite expensive bit of kit.

1. Assemble the model kit, painting up as a I go along so the interior and exterior are decorated as if it was still functional
2. Cut the aircraft into sections (Nose | central wing strut and part of wing | rest of wing | tail section)
3. Base aircraft onto MDF sections and then apply weathering/add additional interior structure using plasticard

Second, how best to cut the assembled model kit?

[Tom Reed]

I'd guess that a razor saw would be your best bet unless you could get the plane into a miter box.

[Johnnytodd]

yes to razor saw

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Have you seen these images?







Tony

[ChargeDog]

Wow, thanks for the images! Not quite sure it will be that good but the clutter will be something useful to work from

[SotF]

If you're planning on gaming with it, I would suggest that you skip the actual model one and look for one of the plastic toy ones and work with that since it would cut easier for you

[Mindenbrush]

That was the AC130H Spectre Gunship that crashed on landing in Iraq because part of the strip was being resurfaced, they did not see the trench because it was a night landing and no NOTAM issued previously.
http://gruntdoc.com/2005/01/iraq-c-130-crash-photos.html#sthash.OUeCXKtm.dpbs

[Hammers]

Have you seen these images?







Tony

Excellent!

[OSHIROmodels]

You might find a match or a lighter is a useful thing to have to get the bent 'metal' look right once it's cut.

cheers

James

[carlos marighela]

You might find a match or a lighter is a useful thing to have to get the bent 'metal' look right once it's cut.

cheers

James

You'll find a lit cigarette an even better heat source and one which is more controllable and subtle than a naked flame.  Combined with a cigarette holder clenched at a jaunty angle it has the side benefit of giving you a worldly wise and debonnaire air, so absent in most wargamers. We recommend Lucky Strike, it's toasted. 

Aluminium baking trays, preferably the thicker gauge aluminium ones, found cheaply in supermarkets, are your friend here. Dried spaghetti for ribbing can be a cheap substitute for plastic tubing. I've found that if you undercoat your model with an aluminium spray, you can abrade the top coat to get a nice distressed look. A simpler method is to get hold of one of the Tamiya weathering kits, the one that has the metallic pastels.

[Mindenbrush]

Working in the aerospace industry, you will find that fuselage frames are normally C section for strength an the stringers are Z section.
I would suggest cutting away the area you want as damaged and then adding a thicker foil to represent the skin.

[ChargeDog]

Hey everyone, thanks for the advice! I'm writing it down in my notebook and getting ready to implement it all.

As for progress I've started building the plane and then realised how big it is and got a little excited/terrified. So far I've assembled the flight deck (ready for painting) and started working out the best way to build the interior that will still let me paint it.



I'll try and keep this thread updated as I go along but there will be more updates on my blog and Facebook page

[ChargeDog]

I got a little delayed by other things but I've almost finished the construction side of the plane. 1:48 scale C130s are huge!

[OSHIROmodels]

What a beast 

cheers

James

[carlos marighela]

You could probably take in a lodger or use that as a granny flat. That's huge!