Back in the day

StephenLawson · 21 October 2009, 10:42 AM

While I am a large proponent of PE, there was a day not long ago (or at least I can still remember) when we did not have them. Much like Dr. Frankenstein's theorm: ". . .Make it bigger so its easier to work on . . .", so was the approach many modeler's used on certain aspects of WWI subjects. For instance does anyone still remember what was used to make fretted jackets on Spandau machine guns pre-PE?

First you lay down a strip of masking tape on glass. Cut the section of tape with a sharp Xacto #11 blade. When done you will have a fretted section removing all of the unwanted pieces. Spray it with a semi-flat black. When dry wrap it around a clear acrylic rod of appropriate diameter with a wire predrilled in to its backend to mount into a scale gun receiver / breech. Add a similar tape section for the end cap and attach a muzzle / flash supressor assembly. Model On!

Chock · 21 October 2009, 11:04 AM

Personally, I tend to reluctantly rely on PE for a model only if there is no way I can make a part myself, for example, I had about three cracks at making the propeller for a model of a Russian submarine I constructed, before finally deciding to buy some PE props, as the ones I made just weren't quite good enough. They were okay, but the blades were not perfectly uniform and I thought it let the model down as it is a prominent part on modern subs, being the only shiny metal part on them. Might sound a bit snobbish, but I think PE takes a lot of the skill and inventiveness out of modeling and I still feel like I copped out on that one LOL.

Al

Lufbery · 21 October 2009, 11:12 AM

That's a great tip, Stephen. Thanks!

GarrardA · 21 October 2009, 01:06 PM

Hi Stephen,

As modelers, we are inclined to "re-invent" the wheel. Most of my model "life", as a lone wolf, I came up with ways of doing things I found later, that others had been doinf for years.

My variation on the jackets was to use black electric tape rather than masking tape and clear sprue for the core.

karrart · 21 October 2009, 01:23 PM

For mg jackets, I made a long narrow cage with thin discs for the end pieces with very fine sprue for the "bars" of the cage. Then I filled in the spaces for the circumferential louvering with thinned white glue- little drops that dried nearly flat. Sprue longitudinals, glue circumferentials for the louvers. More difficult to describe than to do!
Robert Karr
humor me:
The Fine Art of Aviation/Robert Karr, Grant-Free Artist

Doug Baumann · 21 October 2009, 02:11 PM

I used plastic tube and drill the holes out one by one . i steal don't use pe i use a decal i made and put the decal over a clear plastic tube or clear sprew it work well for me

.......... Doug

modelhound · 21 October 2009, 03:53 PM

Back in the day, I made U-control WW-1 aeroplanes. For the Spandau jackets I always used aluminum hair curling bobbins I stole from my mom. Perfect with the oblong holes ready supplied.

mIKE

dedgerly · 21 October 2009, 06:18 PM

Steve,
Are you the Steve Lawson from the Rob Wolfe IMPS chapter who back in the early 90's tried to get me interested in WW1 aviation modeling?

I remember buying a couple for cottage industry 1/72d kits from you (Sold them at model shows) and I sprung for the Hasegawa DR-1 in 1/8th scale just before I moved to Texas. (The movers purloined that kit and my N-scale train layout.

)

Since I got into the real WW1 era aircraft, I joined this forum and found out about the Wingnut Wings 1/32d stuff and bought a couple. I'm going to start with the SE5a based on the inspiration from Sodium's build of his "Strip Down" scout expirimental.

I think I can safely stay building out of the box for a while unless there is a glaring error in the kit.

You might remember me and my son coming to meetings in Denver. Well, my son, is now a special ops captain and has served a combat tour with the 82d Airborne. Time surely flies.

Well, after all this, I hope you are that Steve Lawson

Dave Edgerly

dglewwe · 21 October 2009, 08:01 PM

back in the day... no insult intended to those who preceeded me...

...you made do with what you had.

This changes (obviously) with the times, but I think that there is a distinct delineation that can be made between those for who (whom?) the existence of the "tool shed" (or whatever it may have been called) and the wonderment of what such a thing may have been is the key to this discussion.

just my opinion...

StephenLawson · 21 October 2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dedgerly

Steve,
Are you the Steve Lawson from the Rob Wolfe IMPS chapter who back in the early 90's tried to get me interested in WWI aviation modeling? . . .I hope you are that Steve Lawson. Dave Edgerly

Hello Dave. its good to hear from you. It has been a long time. I remember the Hasegawa 1/8 Dr.I. You were doing it about the same time as M. McDaniels was doing his 1/72 Hawkeye kit. Glad to see you have found your way here. There are some good folks that drop by. Model on!