Blown Engine...

What a misadventure this has been.  I trimmed some bits of wound guitar string to use as the valve springs on the engine.  I had strings that were 1.1mm and 0.92mm.  I used the larger first but they were too big and very tough to grind down to size with the dremel (several were sent flying off to feed the carpet monster).   After three trys I gave up and went to the smaller size.  This looks better and I was able to mostly grind them down to size without too many flying away.  (This time it only took two trys.)  I did do some damage to the cylinder head as well but it is all repairable.


Here are a couple shots.  The second has the rocker arm dry fit.  I think a little more grinding is required then I will have to repaint everything.  Another method I have read about is to make my own wrapped wire by covering a 24 gauge (0.5mm) core with a 30 gauge (0.25mm) wire.  By using something softer like my NiChrome or Copper it should be much easier to get to size.  Also I can mount it with a 0.5mm hole instead of filling the cylinder head with 1mm holes that weaken the structure.

On a lighter note; here are some final shots of my Nieuport 17 all dirtied up.




Here are some shots of the weathering.


Here she is in her final display above my son's bed.  I figure a dozen more planes and their ceiling will be full >grin< but by that time some of these early attempts may very well 'disapear'.

First Group Build Pfalz D.IIIa

So as part of my adventures on the Great War in the Air Forum I have joined my first ever group build.  The build started on Sept 1st and can include any Pfalz aircraft.  http://www.greatwaraviation.com/forum/index.php?topic=621.0

I am diving into my first Wingnut Wings kit for this project and am pretty excited.



Here is my "open box" shot with the plastic still on the sprues.  I plan on doing this scheme Han Muller Jasta 18.  If Rowan at Phaeon Models gets his Jasta 30 sheets out I may change but I like the colors of this bird.

I washed the sprues and primed a couple.  I had some old XF22 Sky lying around so that primed the cockpit pieces.  I primed the engine sprue black since it is all metal.


Here is the engine block after a test fit.

 
Another idea from Des.  I got an old guitar string and cut it into little pieces.  These became the rocker springs on the cylinder head.


I still need to grind these down to size and it would have helped if I had a better pair of cutting pliers.  The effect is very nice and it was supper easy to drill out some holes and CA the 'springs' into place.


The last thing I did today was make a couple guides for the plug wires.  These will be primed and painted.  I thought I could get farther on the engine but I need brass tubing to make sparkplugs.  I am going slow but really enjoying this build so far.