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How Many Blades?

After viewing a number of intake fan assemblies of Thunderhawks I have decided on 16 blades; the reason being expediency.

Were I to go more and readily divide the fan by 4 the next logical number of blades would not be 20 but 24. 20 is out because of the necessity of dividing each quarter of the disk into five blades. Since the disk is only 25 mm in diameter the chances increase having different width blades regardless how sharp your pencil/ scribe may be. 24 blades though easier to calculate also increases the margin for error.

If memory serves an L1011 Rolls Royce engine has around 32 blades but those blades are close to a meter long (From the center of the hub) and that is a much larger aircraft than the Thunderhawk is purported to be.

Fan Manufacture an Easier Way for Larger Fans

16 blades seems the best for while easy to fit accurately on a disk it is busy enough to simulate an intake fan especially if the cuts are made on an angle to augment the illusion of a fan.

For that reason I have selected styrene 1,0 MM thick.

I began by dividing the disc into quarters:

http://i.imgur.com/0X8BhzN.jpg


and then into 16 segments the ends of the blades coincidentally worked out to 5,0 mm wide.

I then glued a small hub to the center of the disc to act as a guide for the inner end of the cut (To prevent the blades from being cut off completely.):

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


Employing my chisel blade I cut into each segment at approximately a 45° angle so the edges of the blades appear to overlap.

http://i.imgur.com/CruF7Ux.jpg


After all the cuts were made I glued a small disc to the back of the fan to reinforce the axis point and with needle nose pliers twisted the blades to give a fan like appearance.

http://i.imgur.com/C2Fk1a6.jpg

Ooh, really nice idea on the fan blades. This is another area where I've been unsure how to progress, but I will most likely now follow this route when I find time to resurrect my T-hawk scratchbuild. Thanks for sharing Mr B.

A Mélange of Ideas

There are so many different styles of nose cowls for this model most of them wrong but some good points to most as well.

I am picking and choosing that which takes my fancy from each.

The image below shows some interesting features and an out right wrong namely the fan too close to the front of the cowl.

http://i.imgur.com/cbp0I6R.jpg


What purpose the flaps are on the outer circumference of the cowl is unknown but they are an interesting feature and therefor included.

http://i.imgur.com/99f2s6f.jpg

Blades and intake look boss.

The Model I Love to Hate

It's no secret I am not enamoured with the Thunderhawk but when I see this engine 10 inches /250 MM long I have to admit it's growing on me. The nose cowl is roughed in and mounted and the overall look is pure sex. I can't wait to start detailing these engines...............

http://i.imgur.com/4s6Rfiu.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/Fv5oQ3T.jpg


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


http://i.imgur.com/KldKt1B.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/6ZDBR90.jpg


I know my model is a bit larger than the FW original but out of curiosity what is the length of the FW wing engine nose and exhaust cowls included?

The More I Watch the Avengers the More it Seems Absurd

Watched 'The Avengers' for the third time last night using it as a backdrop for the tedious snaking of the afterburner piping on the three exhaust cones.

Honestly I can't see how this movie got the critical acclaim it almost universally received.

Anyway I am very close to finishing that task; mebbe I'll watch the equally ludicrous Thor tonight and finish it up tonight.

http://i.imgur.com/dl3flKg.jpg


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


The beauty of watching such a movie in the process of performing mindless endeavours is both tasks being equally boring the two activities cancel each other out and before I knew it was bedtime. HA!

Exhaust Mounted

Yeah everyone is tired of the same beaten horse but I wanted to see what the engines looked like attached to the fusilage.

http://i.imgur.com/5cUIYeH.jpg


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


http://i.imgur.com/brPibM6.jpg


Not bad for gov'ment work.............

Never bored with your scratchbuild Mr B. The more photos and explanation of each stage the better if truth be told... I love how these cowls have turned out, really looking the part now, amazing detailing as always.

Thanks I sometime feel I post too many pictures of the same thing.........

The Fearful Symmetry

I forgot the front view and side view which displays the symmetry of this monster but truth be know regarding length and wingspan this vehicle is about the same size as the smallest passenger jets say a DC9-30 or a three holer B727 100 series.

http://www.aviastar.org/pictures/usa/mcdonnel_dc-9_1.gif

Even my version which would be designated a "stretch" is no bigger than a B727 200 series.

http://www.aviationexplorer.com/Various_Aircraft/Boeing_727_3_View_Schematic_Chart.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Ky07wvp.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/0sEAALF.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/7DDNhZx.jpg

This is still one of the coolest builds I've seen progress on, right up there with some guy building a titan . What kills me though is when you said that you would "start" detailing the engines , you already had more detail on them Han I put into a whole project keep up the inspiring work. Between you, max, and klaus, I pick up so many little techniques I never would of thought about in scratch building. I know I appreciate all the photos, so keep them coming.

 Theophony wrote:
........................What kills me though is when you said that you would "start" detailing the engines ,................

Well ya hafta admit the rest of the engine looks pretty bland compared to the exhaust system, right?

The_Blackadder wrote:The Model I Love to Hate

It's no secret I am not enamoured with the Thunderhawk but when I see this engine 10 inches /250 MM long I have to admit it's growing on me. The nose cowl is roughed in and mounted and the overall look is pure sex. I can't wait to start detailing these engines...............

http://i.imgur.com/4s6Rfiu.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/Fv5oQ3T.jpg


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


http://i.imgur.com/KldKt1B.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/6ZDBR90.jpg


I know my model is a bit larger than the FW original but out of curiosity what is the length of the FW wing engine nose and exhaust cowls included?

The_Blackadder wrote:

 Theophony wrote:
........................What kills me though is when you said that you would "start" detailing the engines ,................

Well ya hafta admit the rest of the engine looks pretty bland compared to the exhaust system, right?

Less detailed yes, but bland . The engine has great details, but seeing your other work, I can understand you wanting to do MORE then again I enjoyed he avengers movie, not as a quality movie mind you, but as a special effects porn movie. That and the hulk/Loki rag doll scene is still the best I was big into comics growing up, but never an avengers fan, but the movies are enjoyable just for laughs. What's your take on the iron man series? I haven't gotten to see number three yet, but do you enjoy them? Also if you haven't seen man of steel yet.....DON'T!!!

 Theophony wrote:

The_Blackadder wrote:The Model I Love to Hate

It's no secret I am not enamoured with the Thunderhawk but when I see this engine 10 inches /250 MM long I have to admit it's growing on me. The nose cowl is roughed in and mounted and the overall look is pure sex. I can't wait to start detailing these engines...............
/quote]

The_Blackadder wrote:Well ya hafta admit the rest of the engine looks pretty bland compared to the exhaust system, right?

Less detailed yes, but bland . The engine has great details, but seeing your other work, I can understand you wanting to do MORE then again I enjoyed he avengers movie, not as a quality movie mind you, but as a special effects porn movie. That and the hulk/Loki rag doll scene is still the best I was big into comics growing up, but never an avengers fan, but the movies are enjoyable just for laughs. What's your take on the iron man series? I haven't gotten to see number three yet, but do you enjoy them? Also if you haven't seen man of steel yet.....DON'T!!!

'Superman' Yawn, not ever a big fan.

'Ironman' Perfect RDJr/Gwyneth Paltrow vehicle. No other actors could have pulled it off better. Haven't seen IM3 yet.

Always was put off by superhero teams: Justice League, Avengers, Xmen, in comics (funny I liked FF but then mainly because of Doc Doom. (Was Darth Vader a DD wannabe?).

Since you are a comic fan answer me this: In the old Marvel 'Mighty Thor comics; Thor vs Hulk' didn't Hulk manage to get Thor's hammer off the ground?

Now for the meat, The nose cowl lacks all the cosmetic detail and the engine housing lacks all the conduit and harnesses. Only the ducting and accessories are installed. I probably won't install an accessory gearbox though.

I don't think hulk ever got to pick up thor's hammer. I hated the idea of having "gods" in the marvel universe and stayed away from thor with a passion. also really disliked the vampires and magic mumbojumbo. I was an xmen fanboi. Hated the cartoons and the movies, I had my own imagination of what the characters would sound like in my head.

That's the problem with most adaptions from books / comics. As a reader you have to imagine either how the characters talk or look so invariably many people end up disappointed - especially if the Hollywood treatment changes the base story too much. Having said that, I think the IM films have been masterful and I did really enjoy Thor and Captain America. Not a huge comic reader, apart from 2000AD, but I loved the Nolan Batman trilogy and thought Whedons Avengers was pretty good on the whole...

Anywho, did some research and found this...

Apparently, Thor petitioned Odin to allow him to fight Hulk without his hammer having any magical properties fro five minutes... During the fight Thor drops the hammer and Hulk is then able to pick it up. No idea how it ends, but no doubt the hammer regains it's magical properties and Hulk is unable to keep hold of it, just a guess?

The real question though, can Magneto use his powers to move / pick-up the hammer???

Rivets Gaah!

Rivets, the bane of scratch building but it has to be done so heres my relatively painless method of applying rivets.

I chose 0.035 inch/0,88 mm styrene rod for my cowl rivets and securing the rivets with Ambroid PROWELD thin liquid cement.

All the tools necessary are visible in the image below and I cannot stress too much to use a NEW # 11 blade in your 1/4 inch Xacto handle.

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


After you have scribed a pencil line on the work Use your chisel blade to cut a supply of rivet disk (usually 10 or 15 pieces)

Using the tip of the # 11 blade pick up the rivet and while holding the ready rivet take your cement brush and put a dot of cement on the work piece and slightly press the rivet disk to the work holding it in place for a few seconds.

Continue procedure ad nauseam.

After the glue is dried use the steel emery board to dress the rivets to the required height.

Vertical Stabilizer At Last

A bit of departure from my usual building technique; I could conceive of no reason to make the tail as a separate modular assembly I probably won't be removing it for any reason and it is a simple assembly.

I'm starting from a light weight but sturdy framework slightly modifying where it attaches to the engine exhaust due to my taking what I consider the best ideas of the two 3D versions I am working from.

Although I intend to add a movable rudder (not present in the background wallpaper) and taper the control surface to the trailing edge. but the first order is to get the proportion correct.

http://i.imgur.com/jmisk1V.jpg

Awesome stuff BA, fascinating.

Vertical Stabilizer Interior

This seems like a good way to build a rudder system. At any rate its rather strong and with the exo-armour should withstand regular usage.

The extra long rod is the rudder hinge axis and the cut out forward of the rod will house the counterweight hinge extensions.

http://i.imgur.com/7ivZ50x.jpg


The rear angle looks good but the front appears to be more extreme

http://i.imgur.com/KKlcXA2.jpg

Great looking tail section adder I did just come from nerdfest's blog so I apologize for that . The angle o the rudder is looking great, and can't wait to see the way you tackle the moving parts.

Who?

Vertical Stabilizer Sheeted

I sheeted the vertical stabilizer with 0.030 inch styrene because I want to add an airfoil to the surface. The notches are cut out and framed and the rudder axis threaded through the bushings.

http://i.imgur.com/2Hrrb7t.jpg


Next I cut out the superfluous material I used for a trueness guide to insure the slots were parallel and would not bind when the rudder went through its travel extremes:

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


The final step of the sheathing and dressing the slots for homogeneity and I was ready to build the rudder core

http://i.imgur.com/oR1XPKE.jpg

 The_Blackadder wrote:
Who?


]

Nerdfest09, here on the p&m section. He has recently been doing a lot of slaanesh inspired work, which has been brilliant, but the innuendos have been flying. If he was here the comment I made would have been taken the wrong way .

The Rudder Core

The vertical stabilizer and the rudder are heavily armoured for some reason which predisposes the need for counterweights I suppose.

Therefor to make the rudder not appear too bulky requires a thin and strong internal structure.

I opted for a center 5/32 inch tube for the rudder axis with a 0.080 inch rod for the axle. This gave me a strong hinge point to build on. I reinforced the axis with a styrene "I" beam and affixed a 0.250 X 0.060 inch strip for the basic structure.

I then sheathed the ruder with 0.030 inch styrene for the < shape and overall rudder lateral length.

So the entire rudder core is only 5/32 inch thick and extremely strong for the base material.

I did pretty much the same for the leading edge counterweight extensions and clamped them so they all were on the same parallel to the rudder core.

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

I hope one day they give you your own adeptus research planet to be regent of

The Rudder Fitting

So as you can see the rudder is very thin at this point and once the armour sheathing is installed there will be the core sandwiched between layers of external skin elimating weak glue joints in critical axle areas........ (I hope)

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


Once dried the rudder is mounted for fit and the tolerances are very tight through the extreme movement of the rudder travel.

http://i.imgur.com/lcnNb7f.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/6d0Jroq.jpg

Wow, this is an amzing build, just your attetion to detail is staggering.
Will keep an eye on this thread, as i cant wait to see how this turns out .

Thanks,

Armour Detail on Tail:

about half done on the vertical stabilizer detail. Things are starting to shape up. The rudder has about fifteen to twenty degrees of arc left stop to right stop so that should be adequate. I hope to be installing the rear vents and panels tomorrow.

http://i.imgur.com/O6bUR5C.jpg


In this above view you may be able to discern that the stabilizer tapers slightly towards the leading edge.

http://i.imgur.com/BHEUfQ1.jpg

Vertical Stabilizer Assembly

Is pretty much done. Rivets are outsized yeah I know it but they go with the clunky motif of the model.

In the foreground of the image below is the rudder assembly that shows the multiple layers of construction:

http://i.imgur.com/WJBeC0j.jpg


Rudder mounted and at full right rudder position:

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

The Interminable Thunderhawk Vents

Its not that I have forgotten the Thunderhawk but the tedium of making the vent grills is wearing me down and I needed the Reaver diversion to keep intact what little sanity is left to me.

http://i.imgur.com/REu0C7Z.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/qU5rbLL.jpg


Bibblebibblebibblebibblebibble........................