1/144 admiral sheer s.c. scratch build

[russclark]

well it's time to build the catapult for sc .as catapults go it is a fairly easy looking build .the base is a pill bottle that i wraped with .30 mm styrene and then cut to length,the main body of the cat is brass strips and a piece of box beam soldered together.heres the start of it.lots more to add on still.

[Capit�o Norbert]

good job on metal Russ
i love your model

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Russ Good start on the catapult. Will you be building the platform in brass ?
Dave Wooley

[russclark]

thanks for the intrest dave and norberto,yes the whole catapult is brass and a little resin casting.i got some 1/144 photo-etch railings and ladders from toms model works and it will be the only photo-etch on the whole ship.nothing else around.here's the finished cat less paint ,plane and plane cradle.the cats on these ships must have been very powerfull as they are a lot shorter then on other counterys ships.

[Capit�o Norbert]

fine scratch built.
the catapults are very very good
i liki so much my friend

[richtea]

Your attention to detail and craftsmanship are second to none.
Regards
Richard

[russclark]

thanks richard and noberto.i am going to start on the cradle and arado 196.I scaned some pics and scaled them down to 1/144.this makes the plane about 3"wingspane and 2.8 from the front of the floats to the tip of the tail.not very big but about 30%bigger than 1/200.hopefully i can make a fairly detailed model.Going to be a challenge old eyes and clumsy fingers

[ARH]

Russ, Lots of good idea's, looking good, best of luck with the aircraft.

[Richard J OMalley]

Russ
Fine looking cat .Good luck on the Arodo -196.

[russclark]

here's the start of the arado 196,this is the rotery engine.i know it is a 9 cyl. engine but i had enough trouble trying to fit in 7.once it is mounted on the airframe it will be impossible to tell there are 2 missing

[Richard J OMalley]

Looking good Russ
I can almost smell the avation fuel .

[russclark]

well the engine is done.came out not to bad,the prop is made from styrene ,if i find one the right size somwhere i will use it.i am not sure on the size of the engine i think i'm close.i will have to be careful when i start the airframe it may have to be a little smaller or a little bigger to look correct ,but i mean very little.before i paint it i have to somhow lightly sand some spots that the glue got on.here's some pics.

[Dave Wooley]

Russ Your idea for the open engine cowl is a departure from the usual arrangement and a really interesting one. . I scratch build my own 196 for both Tirpitz and Blucher but I didn't dare try to go beyond building the airframe, floats etc. The only internal part I tried to replicate was cockpit interior. It had only a passing resemblance but at 1:128 is reasonable. I build up the fuselage, , flying surfaces and floats from styrene sheet .The canopy was made up from Litho strip and acetate sheet. But you are building at 1:144, a more difficult prospect. Your work on the Admiral Scheer is simply superb and presenting the 196 differently is a challenge. As a foot note to my original Arado built for Blucher .This was lost in a sailing accident whilst trying to come about and misjudging the amount of turning circle, ending up having a minor jolt with the side of the canal. All my hard work was "catapulted" off the model only to disappear into the murky depths. Now I make absolutely sure that any aircraft fitted are well anchored to the catapult /flight deck. I rebuilt a second Arado but I never had a chance to sail the model again. One of the really risky parts of the build was not so much the Arado but the launch trolley, getting that right was a bit of a balancing act. Great to see your build developing inspirational workmanship for sure and thanks for posting .
Dave Wooley

[russclark]

thanks dave for the insite.i am not quite sure how to tackle the fuselage and floats yet ,on my 1/200 planes i carved them out of wood,but this did not realy come out as i had hoped.i am going to try again with wood ,but skin it with styrene.this may not work as the thing is pretty small.i also my try all styrene,or cast them, if they are cast one can be fairly rough on the sanding and fidlling with the part as it would be tough.i think there is going to be a fair amount of scrape going into the trash bin

[russclark]

moving along on the 196,i desided to use balsa skinned with styrene for the floats and fusalage on the arado.here's some progress pics.

[Dave Wooley]

Russ this is great work . Scratch building at its best. I like the way you have provided for the seating , nice touch . Question how do you intend to build up the canopy?
Dave Wooley

[Capit�o Norbert]

Russ, nice work on ARADO'S
i have bought a book about Arado's 196 and have many types
nice book to understand the fabrication and mounting of ARADO 196.
the floatplane is a difficult piece to do.
you solve i easy
wonderfull job my friend

[russclark]

hello norberto,the arado is very challenging,but it is coming along.how is bismark doing,have not seen any updates for a while.Dave i have been following the hanger build with great intrest ,very nice lots of detail.As for the canopy i will make it from clear plastic bent to the correct shape,then i will add the bracing over the outside .i think i will show the canopy open at the front.this solves the problem of trying to match it to the front windscreen .

[Capit�o Norbert]

hello norberto,the arado is very challenging,but it is coming along.how is bismark doing,have not seen any updates for a while.Dave i have been following the hanger build with great intrest ,very nice lots of detail.As for the canopy i will make it from clear plastic bent to the correct shape,then i will add the bracing over the outside .i think i will show the canopy open at the front.this solves the problem of trying to match it to the front windscreen .

yes you are right about ARADO if need some reference please tell me about.
About Bismarck yes i am doing with no stop
i have made all arrays antennaes, i am working in the tower i have made many new things - thhe tower have new aspect full of details but still
need more. i need purchase some 0.5 brass rods too to restart new parts od railings
but i would liked to show with a coat of primer in the tower.
i have working in the hangers too i have made some good soldering work(i thank Woolley by his soldering fixing examples).
well soon i will show more(thanks for ask Russ).

[russclark]

a few more shots of the arado 196,she getting there