Need help with making a Zeppelin

[rob_alderman]

Hey guys

I need to make a ruddy huge Dirigable. I am thinking of carving with styrofoam, but I'm not sure what to cover it with. I want it to look 'finished'.

Oh and I am avoiding drinks bottles, too small and too obvious! 

[njetkulturny]

What about a big ballon from the kids birthday party and make something like that:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Papier_mache.jpg

The balloon is too small there but I remember you can get up to 1.0 metre ones. After drying you have a big hull, my wife has made some easter eggs this year.....

Its bigger than any bottle you can get......

[Lupus]

You could coat the styrofoam with glued on fabric mate that would look very zepplin like..


Or pasltic sheet the old OHP sheets would work.

[Spong]

There are a number of companies on the web who make polystyrene in useful shapes such as tubing, domes and balls which you could use to get the right shape.

Alternatively, it might make the project take a bit longer but you could build a skeleton out of balsa wood or plastic rod and then wrap it in fabric - kind of like the real thing.

Like this:



But obviously it doesn't need to be that accurate or complex to get a good result.

[Dewbakuk]

When I have the space I have all the pieces to make a huge Zep. The main balloon section is from this Ikea floor lamp.



It's a series of rings held together by the paper shade. It'll need something to smooth it out, which may be fabric or similar laid over the top but add a nose and tail sections and it's good to go. Oh, and it's big!

[Alfrik]

Er how Long of a dirigable do you plan on?

[dampfpanzerwagon]

The guys at Parabellum once made one from white polystyrene ceiling tiles and cvered in tissue paper.  It was nearly six foot long!

From memory - the main structure was polystyrene discs with a central strengthening pole, the area between the discs was first covered with card and then tissue paper.

Anyone who visited Parabellum, Birmingham Jewelery Quarter must remember the huge structure hanging from the roof of the shop.

Tony
http://dampfpanzerwagon.blogspot.com/

[rob_alderman]

Okay, maybe not THAT big...

Like, 2 foot? Not really sure.

I've got a massive chunk of polystyrene from the Car Design workshops (an 'offcut' they call it!) at Uni in Coventry! Just need to whittle it down into shape I think.

Lupus, yeah that was my initial plan. Cover it in fabric, I'm just seeing what other ideas are 'up there' (pun totally intended). 

[Alfrik]

2 2 liter bottles, put a wood dowel into the top, stick the other on, bridge the gap with some masking tape to help hold the 2 together, maybe use duct tape for more strenth. Some styrofoam cones on the ends, cover it all in diluted pva paper towels.... String wrap when dry for basic ballon that can withstand being dropped? Just a thought for a lonter Ballon that won't shout single 2 liter bottle...

[OSHIROmodels]

Rob, do you have a metal lathe at work and do you (or could you get someone to) use it to make the basic shape. It'd be a mess but very much worth it.

cheers

James

[rob_alderman]

Yeah, there's all sorts of tools at uni.

Believe me, the wood workshop is always filled with Car Design students hacking at polystyrene! 

[Fuzzywuzzieswiflasers]

I built a zeppelin for 1/72nd WWI dogfighting. Here are some construction pictures if you want some tips. You will probably have to join the group to see them.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eaglesmax/photos/album/281651639/pic/list

Cheers

Fuzzy.

[starkadder]

There is an even easier way. Chicken or rodent mesh with one centimetre square spacing. It is relatively cheap and can be curved easily. If you are cunning and handy with snips use the "squares" diagonally which duplicates the inner frame reasonably well. Secure dowel to the exterior curve which then provides the those major spinal framelines. You can then cover it with silver fabric. Seriously

In case you're wondering, I'm working on a travelling version which just does the upper half. The lower half will be played on a separate table.

I'm working on it to be about five metres long. No pictures yet as I want the thing to be posted as a whole work.
 

[Lupus]

Lupus, yeah that was my initial plan. Cover it in fabric, I'm just seeing what other ideas are 'up there' (pun totally intended). 

You mean you wanted to see if people here are as mad asyour thinking we are

[rob_alderman]

Yup, true dat!