Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => VSF Adventures => Topic started by: Captain Darling on January 07, 2017, 10:35:13 AM
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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 :)...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Gondola%207_zpsijmd3gwp.jpg)
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/ (https://renaissanceminiatures.com/webstore/)
Santos Dumont Airship Instructions:
https://renaissanceminiatures.com/wiki/index.php?title=Santos_Dumont_Airship_Instructions&printable=yes (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 (http://captaindarlingsminiaturesemporium.blogspot.com.au/2017/01/156-vsf-zeppelin-bomber-build-part-one.html)
Cheers!
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Can't wait to see more. I got a feeling this is going to be good.
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That's certainly different 8) 8)
cheers
James
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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
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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...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Gondola%20with%20Uncovered%20Balloon_zpshnrim87v.jpg)
Cheers!
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Great :)
How's the gondola going to support the balloon?
cheers
James
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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!
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I did something similar but disguised it as a cowling.
(sorry for adding a pic but it was just easier than explaining)
Mark.
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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
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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
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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 :)...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Nose%20Cone%203_zpse7hwe19z.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Nose%20Cone%201_zps5xhtmi2t.jpg)
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!
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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
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Thanks for the feedback James!
Will sit down with a fine bottle of red and contemplate my next move... :D
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Will sit down with a fine bottle of red and contemplate my next move... :D
Possibly not the best idea lol
cheers
James
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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
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Hey Blodwin,
Thanks for the follow up!
Since the last post I have actually had several bottles of red but only one while contemplating this projcect...honestly this was it...
(https://www.crackawines.com.au/Images/ImageGalleryPortraitNoWaterMark/2014_Zeppelin_Big_Bertha_Barossa_Valley_Shiraz-20150424102626.png)
Pic thanks to 'crackawines'
Lovely drop mine was a 2012 though, I bought a dozen a while back. The Barossa Valley district is only half an hour from my house ;D...
Ah back to the model...I'll post an update with a picture tomorrow...
Cheers (Literally!)
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I was going to say, an eight year old Shiraz?!?! :o
I know, had I enjoyed the bottle, I'd have steamed off the label. 8)
Doug
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Well I decided to cover the balloon/envlope with individual armoured panels...curse that bottle of red! Even though this is easier to do panel by panel than going down the tissue and dope route it takes forever! The most panels I've done in a day is 4 and there's 64 required!
Where I'm up to...a quarter done...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Balloon%20Panels%201_zps4yhmqm2y.jpg)
How each panel is added, they each need to be secured while the glue sets to conform with the curve...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Balloon%20Panels%202_zpsjfboblgv.jpg)
Catch you with the finished result in a year or two :D...
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looks very good ! Well worth doing it this way. :-*
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:o
Looks great! I'd have gone for doped tissue as it's faster but your solution looks far better!
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I applaud your dedication 8). The individual panels really are distinctive :-*
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Glad to see you have sobered up and focused again o_o lol
The look of the individual panels is impressive, nice clean lines.
The time spent is well worth it, a true labour of love.
Keep glueing
Blodwin
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Hold back on your excitement but important news...some more armoured panels added to the balloon/envelope ;)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Balloon%20Panels%204_zpsltga0gix.jpg)
Next step when I finally get to it is adding rivets to the armoured panels; now at least 6 rivets a panel and 64 panels...AW MAN!!!!!
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Hold back on your excitement but important news...some more armoured panels added to the balloon/envelope ;)
Nonsense! I will hold my hand over the naked side and have the thrills! ;D
Next step when I finally get to it is adding rivets to the armoured panels; now at least 6 rivets a panel and 64 panels...AW MAN!!!!!
As a member of the loyal and honorable society of do-nothing lurkers, I must voice myself. "Quit slacking!"
Doug
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:-* :-* :-*great build
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Loving this build, your blog is great too!
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Thanks for all the comments everyone!
Did someone say rivets!
Okay completed balloon got a spray coat of black so I could see where to clean up excess glue and 'grout' from the panels then after that the adding of rivets began.
Now I was thinking 6 rivets a panel oh no that was way to few here's the breakdown:
32 panels of 10 rivets
16 panels of 7 rivets
16 panels of 5 rivets
512 rivets ;D
I'll say it again...Awww man!
Current rivet progress...where's Rosie when you need her!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Balloon%20Panels%205_zps0yrzmep1.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Balloon%20Panels%206_zpsf1uxwu0u.jpg)
Cheers!
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Bags of character.
Does put in mind of the armoured airships in the Mortal engine books.
Look forward to seeing it progress.( its amazing how quick a rivet count mounts ,when you just add a few here and a few here.)
Mark.
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Bags of character.
Or did you mean 'airbags of character' lol
Thanks for the comment TS!
I actually think it would makes a good VSF submarine hull too! Split it and you'd get two waterline subs hmmm...
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I looked at the images before the words and thought it was a metal airship :D
Great progress. Riveting progress. ;)
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Looking splendid. ;D
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Hi All,
Some progress the balloon is virtually done, next step joining the gondola to the it!
Balloon all masked up for painting the black sections...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/image_zpshpzmlbci.jpeg)
Balloon ready to join to the gondola, I was going to go with a steel finish but I've used that on my Martian Tripods so that was out of the question, I used grey like my other VSF flyers for the base colour...grey the colour of Victorian cities...oh and Captain Smith has appeared again!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/image_zpsk9jim4cw.jpeg)
Catch you all soon!
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Looking good.
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Okay gondola meets balloon...instead of going with a 'fake support' I have substituted coat hanger wire for what should be 'cables'....
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/image_zpss8djsdjl.jpeg)
There'll be some more rigging to do yet, pus some 'fabric' on the rudder and then it needs a base...hmmm suggestions welcome...my current thought is a couple of upturned plastic Martini glasses on a large base and the stems will run up through the gondola frame????
Cheers!
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A bit of 'ribbing' at angle might sell the cables more, but it's the kind of effort I perceive, not pursue.
Are the cocktail glasses the kind with separate 'feet'? I tried cutting away to the place where the glass fits in, to add a small connector to my vehicle. Alas, the plastic is so damnably brittle, cracks just spread...
Doug
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Personally I'm not a fan of clear supports on flying bases for larger models as they tend to loose that ' invisible ' feel as you compensate for the weight and need for stability . With either a larger diameter supports or sheet form.
So I use tent pegs( as on the card Ether flyer I'm plodding on with.) There dirt cheep this time of year you can pick up packs of ten in pound shops,and similar place. They can give you quite a reasonable height of the table ( the flyer is still 6" off the table after the pegs are fitted into the model.)
Mark.
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This ship is developing into an absolutely splendid project. I specifically admire your dauntless method of zeppelin building. That must have required quite some Sanity checks.....
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Personally I'm not a fan of clear supports on flying bases for larger models as they tend to loose that ' invisible ' feel as you compensate for the weight and need for stability...
I've seen some with moderately thick clear dowels and flat bases that looked quite good, but still not perfect. Had the idea of a ceiling grid with attached lines, but, hardly portable, and I am a very silly person.
Doug
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Okay I've been distracted from my VSF interests recently by some Napoleonic and WW II projects but after a call from my local plastics supplier that they had finally got some 10mm clear plastic rod in stock i'm back to my core interest!
I tried to use a single piece of rod to secure the Airship but the models weight distribution soon led me to using two rods (in a very slight 'V' shape) on a substantial base plate...but I think it's come out alright...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/With%20Stand%20WIP%201_zpsekhmjxeq.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/With%20Stand%20WIP%202_zpshe211wmx.jpg)
I can now finish detailing the airship and 'texture' the base!
This thing dwarfs the rest of my VSF flying machines!
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/With%20Stand%20WIP%204_zpspruojdsy.jpg)
A final update soon!
Cheers All!
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That's seems to work fine :)
cheers
James
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Looks great
What is the Base made out of?
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That's a really nice flying machine, Captain! CONGRATULATIONS!!! :-*
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Very nice work indeed
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What is the Base made out of?
He's previously mentioned re-purposing a flight stand that was 'laser cut.' I assumed this is perspex, but... ???
"...any ideas dear reader as to which country it might be?"
Ah, finally we see Ruritania take it's rightful place. That is the Grand Water Tower of the capital, no? lol
Doug
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Thanks for the comments gentlemen!
GamerMac The Beast is on the right track, the black parts of the base are 4mm ABS plastic off cuts from a laser cut 1/6 Sdkfz 251 kit I have, sheets of it are readily available its really useful for odd jobs! The white parts are 1mm styrene sheeting all held together with AllFix glue.
You been on the blog again Doug? :) :) :)
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Did I say a final update coming up? Well it still is but not quite yet...
I was going to add fabric/tissue paper to the steering tail fin but had a thought that I could use this to attach nationality markings...below you can see the Imperial German fin skin Blu-Tacked into place, I have made up British, Russian and French fin skins too, also included in this picture is the addition of the ballast sandbags these still need a bit of paint work...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Almost%20Complete%204_zpssdhencwe.jpg)
Here's how the whole thing currently looks...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Almost%20Complete%203_zpsc8d7vsez.jpg)
A couple of close ups of the base (a bit washed out looking for some reason?)...
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Almost%20Complete%201_zpsysla9x24.jpg)
(http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/Captain_Darling/VSF/Almost%20Complete%202_zpscxlvaqja.jpg)
Almost there!
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Looking pretty darn 'done' to me.
One question, though: were you considering diverting the stack heat? I know when talk was of a 'cowling', I thought that was how it would be accomplished.
Mind, a few wisps of cotton wool drifting off would prolly hush me up.
Doug
Edit: Just reread answer to my previous post
You been on the blog again Doug? :) :) :)
almost as 'grog again, Doug?' and have to say, yes, rather intoxicating. lol
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Excellent - wonderful build - what's next?
Blodwin