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Balls yes, brains not bloody likely.

The_Blackadder wrote:I cannot come up with a way to make a store bought hinge work in the manner displayed on the 3D model. I also seriously doubt that the hinge as shown can be made without some sort of hydraulic repositioning. I have come up with a plan that if my thought experiment bears fruit will approximate the shown image. It necessitates cutting drastically into the hull.

Pictures to follow

I have no doubt your engineering prowess will overcome any design flaws of the original model.

Cutting out the hull was the hard part, another step backwards but it had to be done. A 2 mm bulkhead to strengthen the casement and
to provide a secure mount for the hinge assembly. the cutting out the hinge recesses which gives me this result and no significant damage. Nice to see you back Jabba, how's that Reaver progressing? I'm looking forward to an assembly thread.

Impressive progress, mate!

Lets hear it for how bad mechanical pencil erasers suck!! lol

Below is a composite image of the left side hinge showing the range of motion and the assembled components. Now all I have to do is reproduce it for the right side. I'll take pictures of the components seperately for the right side hinge; I didn't for the left because I wasn't sure the damned thing would work.

--
E. Blackadder

WOW!

That is an ingenious little bit of fabrication. Have you tested it out and everything?

Well it seems to move and offer the range of motion I require. The durability is in question as with anything made of plastic but as a purely demo piece I'd say it's good for a go.

More to come when I actually attach a door to it.

Fingers crossed,

Blackadder

Wow, that is skill.

The hinge installed shown in the closed position:


The hinge in the open position:


Sink me, it works!

I'll be finishing skinning the fuselage this weekend.

Thats some funky engineering, great addition Blackadder, though this kind of detail is something ive come to expect from you!

You've raised your own bar now Blackadder! But what we all REALLY want to know is...how good is the sale on the basic Big Roll 12 Pk of toilet paper?

You've raised your own bar now Blackadder! But what we all REALLY want to know is...how good is the sale on the basic Big Roll 12 Pk of paper towels?

You know, I was watching this awesomeness thinking I really need to get things in order to start copying what you're building.

But that might be a bit too ambitious for me at this stage (new job, moving & school are always on my list), I probably should just focus on something easy like the Reaver. Next trip home I'm picking up my modeling supplies and starting assembly. Will keep you posted. Your need for specific data (measurements and angles) is something I will factor into the project, hopefully make it easier for the scratchers to build it as accurately as possible.

I'm curious to see how you finish those air brakes, specifically that hole that allows for the movement.

Another stunning design featire from the esteemed forgeworld of BlackAdder!

jabbakahut wrote:....................... Your need for specific data (measurements and angles) is something I will factor into the project, hopefully make it easier for the scratchers to build it as accurately as possible.

Are you requesting measurements? All the measurements I have are gleaned from the 3D images. Scaling them up on my photo editor. Actually I thought the aft end of the hull was a bit too long and I loped off a few CM.

I'm curious to see how you finish those air brakes, specifically that hole that allows for the movement.

Done see the images below.

I wouldn't have thought that such a seemingly simple moving device could have consumed so much time but at last it is done except for the door panels. I managed to sheath the lower hull and around the brake openings on both sides; not too far behind my expectations for the weekend in spite of having to work a bit.

Rather pleased at the symmetry and the very close match of the left side and right side structures:


The open position, a tad larger than the 3D image but it's a moving part.

--
E. Blackadder

Such precision in styrene! Very cool man.

First time I've seen this thread - Blackadder - your attention to detail has really impressed me and your other gallery images are amazing - subscribed.

Yeah, looks great. No reason to suspect it would otherwise.

Come, come, Jabba I value your objectivity surely you must have a reservation or two?

How did the gluing of the flat parts of the hinge to the tubing go? I tried to mock one of these up to see how it worked maybe for other applications. I ended up gluing the whole thing into position. 'Course my accuracy with the glue has always been poor.

I don't like Thunderhawks but find myself hooked to this thread! AMAZING work mate!

mxwllmdr wrote:How did the gluing of the flat parts of the hinge to the tubing go? I tried to mock one of these up to see how it worked maybe for other applications. I ended up gluing the whole thing into position. 'Course my accuracy with the glue has always been poor.

I had no problem gluing the hinges. I used Ambroid Pro Weld and perhaps the trick is to keep the hinge moving until the glue is set. Just in case an errant drop of glue seizes your work.

Red Corsair wrote:I don't like Thunderhawks but find myself hooked to this thread! AMAZING work mate!

God I also think the T'hawk is a hideously ugly misconception of an aircraft and until I found the 3D version would not have bothered with such a travesty. The 3D version lent an certain appeal and an almost viable reality to the construct until then I thought the T'hawk too grotesque to replicate. Once it became a rational vehicle to me I couldn't help but attempt to make a model of that version. Although since the initial effort was in foam poster board it did set me back as far as construction. I would not recommend starting as I did.

I further believe that the 'concept' T'hawk may have been a more realistic vehicle but production considerations abridged it into the very unsatisfying FW effort.

I've been neglecting my public with some personal issues and dressing some of the top hamper that doesn't make for interesting updates. But now there is some progress on the underbelly where I am designing the landing pad wells.

First, the crude sketches:

Oh Boy! Surgery! Yay!

Nothing you do could be considered crude Blackadder.

Oh it's pretty crude alright

The wing root mount plate and engine mount tab outboard with one piece temporarily tacked in place to demo the approximate position. I think it's too far forward but that is the beauty of modular construction for once they are assembled I can place them where ever they appear correct.

The landing gear wells are coming along quite nicely. I've had a thought to build each wing separate from the hull and mount them with screws for easy disassembly for transport. This will be quite a large model and damage will occur if in one piece.



http://i.imgur.com/tpPDe.jpg

Your precision is amazing. Are you using some sort of CAD drawing for measurements?

dsteingass wrote:..............Are you using some sort of CAD drawing for measurements?

Early in this thread I posted an outstanding 3D set of images that I found on Deviant Art. Those renderings are all I have to go by. Right now I am using the image that exposes the bottom of the hull and wings/engines but unfortunately they are in perspective which makes my measurements less precise. What I am doing is expanding the image on my photo editing program (Photo Impact ver.10)on the screen to the actual size of the model and taking what measurements I need and employing a fudge factor to allow for the perspective.