Fram's airliner - model choice?

[FramFramson]

Right, I've babbled on about building a trimotor in roughly 1/60 of some kind for a while now. Might not work out to build it during the contest's time frame, but we'll give it a go and it'll hopefully get me started anyway.

So the first question to solve is which of three choices? Any of which will do really.

First option is the slightly older Fokker F.VII:





Next is the very similar competing Ford Trimotor:





Third is the DGAD option, which stands for "Don't Give A Damn", and will indiscriminately make something that rather looks like both planes without being either.

I suspect that no matter what I build there will be some DGAD aspects to it, perhaps taking one of the real planes and modifying it as necessary. The Fokker has nicer lines, but the Ford's stubbier nature makes for a more tabletop-friendly model and the corrugation seems a must. Both have a comically thick wing which I will probably thin down a bit (the wing will also be kept separate rather than being glued on permanently, possibly affixed by magnets, so as to make storage easier). It's possible the question will be answered by whichever plans I can get copies of.

The engines will be one of the few premade parts, being Double Wasp engines from a 1:48 B-24 Liberator upgrade packet, which I am hoping I can cut in half to make fake older Wasps with (if I can't I'll just have to use them as-is). 

It also belatedly occurs to me that I know what callsign will be painted on the plane: D-GAD

[marianas_gamer]

Nice project, love the call sign. I've always liked the tri-enginr Fokker. I didn't realize Ford produced one as well.
LB

[Johnnytodd]

Good choices!  Looking forward to your treatment of corrugated metal skin - I've never quite figured out how to simulate it accurately

[Damas]

I'd go for the Fokker,  it has a slight advantage in elegance.

[OSHIROmodels]

I'd go for the Fokker as well 

Looking forward to it which ever one you do.

cheers

James

[AKULA]

Very atmospheric. Personally I'd go with the Fokker, but either will look great, once you are done....can just imagine peppered with headhunter blow darts/arrows

 

[carlos marighela]

Fokkers all the way.

[tin shed gamer]

It's about time you did.

I'd love to see the Ford simply for the wind shield.But the top wing joint will be a pig.And eat clay if you back fill.
So with the time frame I'd go Fokker.
After all its your fault I've one.

Mark.

[Vanvlak]

Do one for the BSC and the other later, of course.

[FramFramson]

Well either way it's going to have corrugated skin in large areas like the Ford. I have some some corrugate plasticard (kindly donated by Jim), and I'm not going to pass up the chance to use it!

I don't think the bit of roof over the Ford windshield will be that hard if I can find a suitable bit of plastic to build it with.

[FramFramson]

I wouldn't be getting to that part for at least a couple weeks, so it probably wouldn't arrive in time for the contest. I'm sure I can cut up a jug or something, or else try a different approach.

I'm thinking more and more this is going to be more-or-less based on the Ford, but be DGAD in practical terms.

[tin shed gamer]

Matt,
Not to throw a spanner in the works.
I came across a useful book yesterday,it might be worth looking for.The Bush Pilots.The epic of flight/Time Life Books.ISBN 0-8094-3312-5.
It was also published in Canada so it shouldn't be that hard to get hold of your side of the pond.
It brought up some slightly smaller planes that would still tick all the right boxes( corrugated metal body work.) only difference being single engines,
The Fokker Universal ,or the super universal which looks in build terms just like the tri motor with out the wing engines.(if time and parts become an issue).
Or the Junkers W34. Very pulp used from Canada to South America,Africa,and New Guinea.(and would fit in with all things German in your other projects).

It's inspired me to look a some smaller planes for my own stuff.(As this love piece of daftness we've got ourselves into means no more big builds for a while.)
Mark.

[Etranger]

I once had the pleasure of a long conversation with an old bush pilot who flew in New Guinea before the war, mostly flying Ju W34's before moving on to the larger Junkers G-31 tri-motor. Eye opening stuff. For example he once helped fly a gold dredge up to Mt Hagen. To get it into the plane they simply unbolted the fuselage roof & loaded it in. No need to put the roof back on...

Some shots of a ANG W34 here http://www.adf-messageboard.com.au/invboard/index.php?showtopic=2179 & https://eamonh.wordpress.com/2013/01/20/two-little-dickie-birds-how-new-guinea-pioneered-modern-aviation/ including details of the gold dredge operation.

[FramFramson]

Interesting suggestions there lads. I will say I want the plane to be a goodly-sized transport, so three engines it is. A smaller single engine bird is a project for another time (there's model kits for those at least).

Too much nonsense the past two weeks to get any work done (and I have some miniatures to paint still before I can get on this), but then I did guess from the start that I probably wouldn't be able to get this done... not going to withdraw though, might as well see what can be done.