*
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 06:26:24 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Donate

We Appreciate Your Support

Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 1686613
  • Total Topics: 118113
  • Online Today: 762
  • Online Ever: 2235
  • (October 29, 2023, 12:32:45 AM)
Users Online

Recent

Author Topic: VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Update 9/6/2017  (Read 8281 times)

Offline Captain Darling

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 904
    • Captain Darlings Miniatures Emporium
VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Update 9/6/2017
« on: January 07, 2017, 10:35:13 AM »
This is my take on on VSF Zeppelin/Airship Bomber, I have used Renaissance Miniatures Santos Dumont Airship #9 kit as a basis for it. I picked the kit up through a Kickstarter. The kit has saved me a lot of work as I was considering building something similar from scratch!

Here's the gondola I have to work on the balloon/envelope next  :)...



The kit itself is good but if I was actually building the Santos Dumont Airship #9 I would have to make some improvements as I can't help but dabble; i.e. Adding a base to the basket, using a bit of dowel for the fuel tank, make a one piece engine block with better details using the kit radiator etc. Anyway a good kit not cheap and in my opinion not for the feint hearted.

Renaissance Miniatures:
https://renaissanceminiatures.com/webstore/

Santos Dumont Airship Instructions:
https://renaissanceminiatures.com/wiki/index.php?title=Santos_Dumont_Airship_Instructions&printable=yes

All the details of my changes to the Renaissance Miniatures Gondola and more pictures are on my blog...
http://captaindarlingsminiaturesemporium.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/156-vsf-zeppelin-bomber-build-part-one.html

Cheers!
« Last Edit: June 09, 2017, 12:54:55 PM by Captain Darling »
"There's nothing cushy about life in the Women's Auxiliary Balloon Corps!"

http://captaindarlingsminiaturesemporium.blogspot.com.au
https://toysoldiersforoldgits.blogspot.com.au

Offline vodkafan

  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • Posts: 3510
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2017, 12:56:25 PM »
Can't wait to see more. I got a feeling this is going to be good.
I am going to build a wargames army, a big beautiful wargames army, and Mexico is going to pay for it.

2019 Painting Challenge :
figures bought: 500+
figures painted: 57
9 vehicles painted
4 terrain pieces scratchbuilt

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2017, 01:44:59 PM »
That's certainly different  8) 8)

cheers

James
cheers

James

https://www.oshiromodels.co.uk/

Twitter account -     @OSHIROmodels
Instagram account - oshiromodels

http://redplanetminiatures.blogspot.co.uk/
http://jimbibblyblog.blogspot.com/

Offline The_Beast

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Galactic Brain
  • *
  • Posts: 4917
  • As my grandchildren see me...
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2017, 01:15:22 PM »
That's certainly different  8) 8)


AND pretty. I almost said 'too pretty' then saw the result in the instructions. Allow me to second the

 8) 8)

Doug

Offline Captain Darling

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 904
    • Captain Darlings Miniatures Emporium
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2017, 08:44:47 PM »
Hey All!

Thanks for the comments!

I hope to regain the tissue & dope mojo of my youth to cover the balloon section! I picked up supplies for the task and will give it a go next weekend. Not really happy with the slack cloth look of the kit parts.

Also have made a template in paper to create two cones to add to each end to the balloon part to make it look 'neat', these will be 0.5mm styrene.

Here's the balloon skeleton with the gondola...



Cheers!

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #5 on: January 08, 2017, 09:10:04 PM »
Great  :)

How's the gondola going to support the balloon?

cheers

James

Offline Captain Darling

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 904
    • Captain Darlings Miniatures Emporium
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2017, 10:18:54 PM »
Hey James,

A very good question!

The designers include in the kit 'floral wire' to represent the gondola to balloon cables and they reckon that'll do the job. There'll be 10 bits from memory.

For me I think I'll place a piece of clear plastic rod extending from the gondola steam engine funnel up to the balloon, once that's in place I'll then add the cabling on as taut as possible.

I'll place a small hook in the top of the balloon so I can hang in from the ceiling for 'storage', for gaming I'll have to build a wire frame to support it (I think)...

Cheers!

Offline tin shed gamer

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Scatterbrained Genius
  • *
  • Posts: 3332
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2017, 02:14:43 AM »
I did something similar but disguised it as a cowling.
(sorry for adding a pic but it was just easier than explaining)
Mark.

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2017, 07:17:39 AM »
For me I think I'll place a piece of clear plastic rod extending from the gondola steam engine funnel up to the balloon, once that's in place I'll then add the cabling on as taut as possible.

Sounds good  :)

cheers

James

Offline The_Beast

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Galactic Brain
  • *
  • Posts: 4917
  • As my grandchildren see me...
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Part One
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2017, 01:58:43 PM »
Agreed; wire might be sufficient, but tricky to get well-balanced with the weight distribution.

Very much like Mark's suggestion. (Really, apologizing for such awesomeness???   ;D ) I do think the angled cowling does much to hide the stick.

Doug

Offline Captain Darling

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 904
    • Captain Darlings Miniatures Emporium
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Update
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2017, 05:57:56 AM »
Hi All,

A small update on this kit build. Since I knew I would not be able to tissue and dope the ends of the envelope/balloon neatly I decided to make caps (thought of buying r/c plane spinners for the ends even but to hard to find the right size).

I made a paper template then cut 0.5mm styrene sheet bits that I glued to the envelope/balloon fame, I finished the ends with Milliput. Its not perfectly round the ends meet at the bottom in a slight V which looks like a keel so is fine for me  :)...





I have had futher thoughts on this build. Seeing how well these caps look I wonder instead of going with a tissue and dope finish for the rest of the envelope/balloon I instead individually cut the required 64 segments to cover it in 0.5mm styrene glue each on, add rivets and paint with a steel like finish and have an armoured envelope/balloon???

Also have some more thoughts on suspending the gondola from the envelope/balloon...

Catch ya soon!

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Small Update 16/1/2017
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2017, 08:41:00 AM »
Interesting  :)

I think the styrene approach might be best as it will be easier to remove if it doesn't align up properly.

cheers

James

Offline Captain Darling

  • Mad Scientist
  • Posts: 904
    • Captain Darlings Miniatures Emporium
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Small Update 16/1/2017
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2017, 11:36:09 AM »
Thanks for the feedback James!

Will sit down with a fine bottle of red and contemplate my next move... :D

Offline OSHIROmodels

  • Supporting Adventurer
  • Elder God
  • *
  • Posts: 27708
  • Custom terrain a speciality.
    • Oshiro modelterrain
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Small Update 16/1/2017
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2017, 12:38:13 PM »
Will sit down with a fine bottle of red and contemplate my next move... :D

Possibly not the best idea  lol

cheers

James

Offline Blodwin

  • Scientist
  • Posts: 374
Re: 1/56 VSF 'Zeppelin' Bomber Build - Small Update 16/1/2017
« Reply #14 on: January 23, 2017, 08:45:28 PM »
Captain - just how big was that bottle of fine wine?  :D

I've been checking back here every day eager to see your progress

Hopefully the inspiration you received from the bottle was not shattered and blown away by cold sober reality

Blodwin

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
40 Replies
15964 Views
Last post October 30, 2010, 10:49:02 AM
by gamer Mac
470 Replies
43461 Views
Last post April 02, 2017, 08:59:39 AM
by OSHIROmodels
11 Replies
2368 Views
Last post January 24, 2017, 06:48:58 PM
by Silent Invader
14 Replies
6274 Views
Last post March 17, 2017, 09:56:46 AM
by von Lucky
25 Replies
11396 Views
Last post April 02, 2017, 08:59:04 AM
by OSHIROmodels