Avia B.534.17, I. series, "stripped": WIP
Comments
85 11 September 2018, 20:28
bughunterThank you very much for the detailed explanation! GREAT build 👍
You mentioned thinned Alclad, what do you used as thinner?
11 September 2018, 21:16
Alec KHey Bughunter! You are most welcome. And thanks again for kudos - coming from you, means a lot 😛
For thinning Allclad, I use generic lacquer thinner I buy in hardware store. I typically start with 1:1 ratio, but 1:2 (paint to thinner) is sometimes needed, especially if I want more translucent paint layers.
11 September 2018, 21:27
Bart GoesaertNice work, very glad you've shared this. Some nice tips and work arounds. Soldering isn't hard, but time consuming. Trick is to have clean surfaces, using a little solder, and sometimes presoldering. (Adding a bit of solder to the mating surfaces before fixing them together.) Have a basecourse in dutch, maybe time to translate.
12 September 2018, 04:51
Alec KThanks Bart. I have watched some videos, so I understand the basic principles. My issue is applying the correct amount of heat to the parts. I use a gun-style soldering gun, but the tip is as small as I dare to make it to still transfer heat effectively (still pretty big). Should I get a stick-type soldering tool with variable power source (to adjust heat)?
In the end, I am sure more practice will go a long way...
12 September 2018, 11:42
Bart GoesaertI have a soldering station, the cheapest of the cheapest: VTSSC50N (50-60€, adjustable temp, so in all, one less kit in a year) and the tips aren't expensive, I have a needle tip and a medium tip. Mostly I put it around 320°C, works good, on a glass surface or trespa. as a flux I have S39, works like a charm. My solder I squash it as flat as I can, and then cut tiny bits of it and use these to pre-tin or to solder. So I avoid most of the clean-up afterwards...
12 September 2018, 12:59
CuajeteAwesome work, Alec. I have no words. Fantastic, fabulous, amazing... the words fall short. Congrats!
12 September 2018, 17:49
Stefan SchachtHallo Alec, this is a very impressive model and explanation. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Stefan
12 September 2018, 18:42
Alec KMates, I appreciate your positive feedback. If anyone has any suggestions/recommendations, please don't hesitate to share (or smack me over the head with it 😄 )
Bart, thanks very much for the soldering info 👍
13 September 2018, 00:47
Greg BakerOk... so don't take this the wrong way Alec, but I hate you and I think you should be banned from posting any more pictures on Scalemates... I'm sure you understand. It's not personal, it's just better that way for the mental health and safety of all our mates...
13 September 2018, 03:16
Alec KGreg, message received. I shall don my concrete slippers and head for the pond 😄
13 September 2018, 12:00
Bart Goesaertbetter wrap yourself in heavy steel netting, or you'd might become a floater nonetheless (edition.cnn.com/2016..hoes-body/index.html)
13 September 2018, 12:30
Alec KHmm, good point. "Body weight to concrete shoes ratio calculator" anyone?
13 September 2018, 12:43
Greg BakerJust add 20grams of ball bearings up your nose... that always seems to be the advice...
Seriously though, unbelievable build. A whole other level.
13 September 2018, 15:23
Spanjaardwhat a fantastic build Alec.... amazing in every way. please do not use the shoes recommended. we want to see more like this 🙂
13 September 2018, 23:40
Greg BakerI just requested to be friends with Alec, both so I can bath in reflected glory... and keep an eye on him...
14 September 2018, 02:21
Alec KHi Alex and thanks for looking. Regarding 3D printing: HUGE topic. Start with scouring modeling forums and the interned to get basic understanding. If you have an opportunity to attend a seminar (modeling competitions often feature these), do it. There are two major skills (not to mention costs) associated with 3D printing: modeling objects in 3D software and using a 3D printer. Both have pretty steep learning curves. As for me, if I were to invest any time in this technology, I would focus on learning the software and leave printing to others. Hope this helps.
14 September 2018, 12:07
Łukasz GlińskiNot a fan of stripped planes, but this one looks very impressive Alec, considering how tiny it is in 72nd 👍
14 September 2018, 12:38
Greg BakerYep. That's my friend Alec... heck of a model builder... did I mention he's my friend?😉
14 September 2018, 15:15
Spanjaardhi Alec, in shapeways.com, you have lost of models ready to be purchased. you simply need to pay for the printing and shipping. they have shipping from different locations worldwide, to make it cheaper, and also to save you the trouble of import duties etc
14 September 2018, 15:38
Mike DanielsI have been using the free 3D application 'Blender' for a few years and would recommend it as a starting point. Do you know what file formats are required for 3D printing Alec K ?
blender.org/features/
14 September 2018, 15:43
CuajeteIt could be feasible to order to shapeways.com an 1/72 Antonov An-225?? 😄
Sorry for the off-topic 😛
14 September 2018, 17:56
Łukasz GlińskiAlec, what paint did you use to mimic the Czechoslovak pre-war khaki?
Is there a single agreed equivalent for all pre-war Czechoslovak planes or is it more complicated?
14 September 2018, 20:09
SpanjaardCuajete, you can ask the existing ones to be scaled to your desired size.... but i do not know if you will like the dettails.... or the price 😉
shapeways.com/produc..0&li=marketplace just needt o be scaled 10 times to be almost 1/72
14 September 2018, 22:41
Alec KThanks mates for looking and for the positive feedback. Very motivating 👍
@Mike D: well, you are further along that I. Per Shapeways website, they accept STL, Collada, OBJ, X3D(B) and VRML2 (shapeways.com/tutori..nu#faq-3dfileformats )
@Cuajete: Feasible? Perhaps. Likely? Not very... 🤔 😄 😄 😄
15 September 2018, 00:20
Alec KŁukasz: The Czech pre-war khaki, to my best understanding, came in two basic shades. A Czech company called Agama offers both versions in their alcohol paint line (they also have an acrylic line that is not as good IMHO). These are Light Khaki (Agama C4P, used by Avia), and Dark Khaki (Agama C5P, used by Letov and Aero). Here is their website: obchod.agama-model.c.._56583-0-poland.html They ship overseas at very reasonable cost (at least they did to US). Hope this helps 👍
15 September 2018, 00:37
Alexander Grivonev"It could be feasible to order to shapeways.com an 1/72 Antonov An-225?? "
Since you can 3D print a house by now so why the hell not 🤔 😄
15 September 2018, 09:23
Alec KMaybe somewhere, but on Shapeways, using the Fine Detail Plastic material, the largest object you can print is 284 × 184 × 203 mm (Smooth) 50 × 50 × 200 mm (Smoothest), So, to build An-225, you would need LOTS of small subassemblies. Bottom line, not very likely😉
15 September 2018, 13:20
Choppa Nuttaif you could hold of the cad file in question one could break it down into smaller components but you'd need to make a sub frame so you could piece it together afterwards so it is possible but there's a bunch work that one would need to do 🙂
One thought that does occur is to print the difficult to make compound curves like the nose, root fairings, wheels, wing tips etc. etc. and to scratch build the rest using a panel scriber for the panel lines, either way a lot of work but at 4 feet across it would be one impressive model !! 🙂
15 September 2018, 14:14
CuajeteThank you for your comments about the possible 3D printing of an Antonov An-225 at 1/72 scale.
Naturally it would be dividing into parts. If you get the model of a whole piece, I guess you could not call it modeling 😄.
As you say, the bad thing about all this is the high price and that I would have a lot of work, but it is the price that must be paid for having an exclusive model that manufacturers do not make at this scale.
16 September 2018, 11:41
Choppa Nuttaprice could be greatly reduced if you scratch build the non compound curves with sheet styrene 🙂
16 September 2018, 13:46
Daniel KlinkHow could i overlook that Gem?? FAntastic Work ALec. And your style of showing what has been done is fantastic too 👍
All thumps up for this 👍👍
5 January 2019, 13:05
Greg BakerMan... I NEVER get tired of looking at this baby... simply fantastic.
14 January 2019, 16:06
Peter HardyAlec, you have outdone yourself, and that is saying something! Fantastic!!!!!!!!! Kudos mate!
14 January 2019, 22:33
Alec KThanks very much guys. I have just accidentally knocked a project off my bench, erasing 10+ hours of modeling time, so this is a nice "shot in the arm" to get back into it 🙂
15 January 2019, 13:01
Nathan DempseyI'm always amazed when I quickly check out the album pictures, then I look up and realize this is 1:72. You must have the eyes of an eagle Alec!
15 January 2019, 13:13
Alec KThanks Nathan. I am blind as a bat, but optimizer and reader glasses work wonders... 🙂
15 January 2019, 18:53
Greg BakerI'm with you there brother. Sorry to hear about he bench mishap... we've all been there before, and we'll be there again. 😉
15 January 2019, 23:01
Alec KThanks Greg. Yes, modeling mishaps are a great practice for dealing with life's real problems... 😄
16 January 2019, 12:22
Jean Pierre CULIS-FERYC'est juste un travail fabuleux. Quand je pense que c'est au 72ème, je reste sans voix! Félicitation.
16 January 2019, 13:35
Maurizio PessinaAlec, is very very great work! I can't believe that is 1:72...
25 January 2019, 22:38
Slavo HazuchaMust be cool (and room-saving!!) to have the talent & skill to work 32-scale spec details into 1/72 models... 🙂
Excellent build and superb report, truly great job 👍🏻
20 April 2023, 14:00
Alec KI appreciate the kind words fellas, much appreciated. I had lots of fun and satisfaction with this build 👍
21 April 2023, 01:33
David R. MeizosoFantastic work, so multimedia both material and technique wise. Congrats!
21 April 2023, 16:37
Jennifer FranklinThis is remarkable; thank you for documenting all this—incredible work.
4 February, 02:35
Bernhard SchrockAlso 5 years later a great pleasure to look at the details. I take my hat off! 🙂
4 February, 07:11
Andrzej RygielAlec, I'm baffled by your creation, even more considering the 72th scale 😄 - terrific build!
4 February, 18:15
Greg BakerThis one, deservedly, keeps bubbling up to the top of the Scalemates news feed... loved it then.. still love it now. Awesome!
4 February, 19:46
Alec KLadies and gentlemen, you make me blush. I do appreciate the comments (Bernhard you are right - this is thing is 5+ years old. Ancient... 🙂 )
5 February, 01:51
Cuajete@Djordje Nikolic, Alec is building a fantastic P2V-7 among other things, 😉 :
SCM Newsfeed
5 February, 20:14
SkyhikerAlec, you're putting us all to shame again. Simply perfect build and a wonderful presentation. Amazing at 1:72. Respect!
8 February, 07:31
Album info
This kit is a joy to build. Before starting on this project, I build one of the kits from the dual combo OOB for practice (ref. my project here: 052: Avia B.534.81, I. series | Project by Pardubak (1:72) ). Specifically, I wanted to get a hang of biplane rigging which I have not done well with during my past two biplane builds. I also wanted to test other techniques before embarking on what looked to be a challenging project.
I was fortunate to find the most complicated parts for the "stripped" conversion, namely the internal fuselage structure, engine and fuel tank, available on Shapeways as a 3D print from CADfish models. These parts are very detailed and seem well researched. Although their relative cost is considerable (I spent $49 for all three in early 2018 ), it's a small price to pay compared to the hours it would have taken to scratch-build the said components. Although very fragile (at least the fuselage frame is) and with rough(ish) surface texture, the 3D prints have sharp detail and paint easily.
Hope you enjoy!
Here is the link to the completed model gallery: Avia B.534.17, I. series, "stripped": gallery | Album by Pardubak (1:72)
