Topic: HMS Zulu build

[ship's doctor]

Looks really good Joe- I like the masked stencil numbers

[radio joe]

Thanks James.

Thought I'd have a go at the helicopter today, and have decided to do the scout which has the easier under carrage had to make the choice now as there is a slight difference in the body to a wasp, I had some balsa left over from the deck bearers so this was glued together to make a block, then the rough profiles were cut then came a lot of careful carving and sanding, and will have a few coats of sealer, as this is only the plug to make a mould I'm not too concerned about any slight grain marks etc.  these can be dealt with on the actual moulding, so far it's coming along quite well and I think a fair representation of a Westland Scout, and the scale looks about right to me, after the sealer is hardened I'll make up the silicon mould when this is cured the plug has to come out in one piece,

[radio joe]

a few more photos.. Joe.

[Tanzy]

Very good Joe, I think you will be getting some orders if your mould works out ok!! 

[colin]

she certainly looks the part....      ... i think i might know someone that would like a mould of this... 

[radio joe]

I should point out that it is not the 1:72 scale shown on the drawing it is not printed to any particular scale, I made it in 1/8 to the foot based on measurements from a Scout spec of just over 30 feet fuselage and any measurements I didn't have I did what I thought looked right,
added a bit of detailing loosly based on the drawing, and thought the cockpit windows would help in painting later,the window frames are a little over scale but this can be sanded down a bit on the actual casting, also put a base on the under side that will form the extraction hole this will naturally have to be sanded off the casting, then formed the mould box, and filled with silicon mould medium I will leave it 24 hours to cure then comes the ultimate test will it extract in one piece, the angle of the tail fin should help, if it was a 90 degree tail fin it would be difficult, the mould cures to be very flexable but doesn't lend its self to split moulding, if it comes out OK the next bit will be to try a resin fill this will also have to be done carefully and slowly the resin has to run down to the tail with out forming an air pocket or else the tail will be missing, if all goes well I'll turn my attention to scratch building the Nimbus 103 engine, that should be fun 

[radio joe]

Well it extracted from the mould but it wasn't easy , so I've decided to do a partial split in the mould along the under side from the cockpit to the end of the tail fin, that way I can open it slightly to remove the casting and it's held closed by a piece of plasticard, over estimated the mix and had enough over to fill the rest of my moulds it all adds to my stock,  while waiting for the resin to cure I made a start on the power plant, that was fiddly but from a distance it doesn't look too bad,.
Sorry David I've decided to use the white metal rotors as a pattern and make some from brass and plasticard I'll see how they come out

[Horatio123]

Hi Joe .
      Really good job you are doing there , very fiddly but seems to be moulding Ok .
      I am going to buy some moulding materials as I need to make some extra parts for my Hornet , for example there are not enough carley floats supplied and I am thinking of trying to make some aircraft using ones supplied in kit as a pattern , I have contacted Merit International in California and they are going to try and get me some more kit aircraft but I thought if I could mould my own they would be ok for hangar ? We will see how I get on !
       No problem with you using metal rotors for a pattern I suspect that as they are for a Lynx they are a little large anyway .

   

[Horatio123]

Hi Joe . Don't know if attached is of any help re rotor size etc , Photos of my 1/72 Wasp on my Leander HMS Phoebe which I built some 35+ years ago and is still going strong but she is 6ft long and a bit of a struggle to move around to exhibitions etc.

 

[radio joe]

Yes I know what you mean David, my work shop is up two flights of stairs and I struggle with the 4 footers.
Update on the moulding the casting came out OK so I did a second one just to make sure and that came out perfect ,well chuffed, and did a bit more on the power plant by making the rotor hub I am thinking of trying to make the blades folding I may be aiming a bit high there but we will see. Joe

[colin]

chapo...   

[swiftdoc]

Yes, indeed

[paul swainson]

Hi Joe,  have now caught up with your build, and its looks very nice indeed, and boy are you moving along with the moulding of your own bits.  Nice work and I am watching with interest on that.

[colin]

will you try and take a mould of the motor..??
would be an interesting challenge, i am sure Ron could give you some pointers about split mould..

[radio joe]

Hi Colin, already thought of it the engine is in a mould at this time waiting to set, then I'll try a resin one and find out tomorrow how it comes out, it was a very fiddle thing to make out of odds and ends so I thought it would be handy if it works out to make it easier when I need another helicopter. Joe