Tintin in the Congo (Udet U-12 "Flamingo")

Greg Baker
And now... for something COMPLETELY different. Without the use of a safety net, I'm going to attempt to scratchbuild a Udet U-12 Flamingo out of polystyrene using a paper model sheet as my guide. What could go wrong?!

Tim Heimer
Let me count the ways...….

Peter Hardy
CB! I thought you had disappeared. But it was just a dream!

Greg, I have heard of a wing and a prayer but isn't this pushing the envelope a little too hard????? How the f#@k do you come up with this stuff????

Tim Heimer
I'm still lurking around here, just don't get to work on models while going through this crap. in which during this time I've lost 3 models and 1 display case and nothings been transported yet!! This sucks!

Peter Hardy
Take a teaspoon of cement and harden up!

Greg Baker
LMAO. Peter I tried out the paper to plastic model technique on my Tintin rocket project (Destination Moon (XFLR-6 Test Rocket) | Album by strobez (1:72) ), so I knew it had potential. The main difficulty with the rocket was getting the plastic to behave like paper and maintain an even round curve. So I figured shapes that were more box-like would probably work better - something I've already done without even a paper model to use as a guide for my Tintin armoured car project (The Blue Lotus (Wolseley Armoured Car) | Album by strobez (1:72) j.

The Flamingo is a pretty boxy shape and there's only one hard-to-get and expensive resin kit in 1/72 scale, so it seemed like a good test subject. I also have plans to build a Citroen 2CV using this technique. Getting plans for a paper model is quite easy (and they can be quite complex actually), so it was just a matter of doing some math, scaling down to 1/72 from 1/50 and simplifying the design. Cemented plastic holds together better than glued paper, so you don't need as many reinforcements. Also, since I plan to paint it, I don't need to worry about the designs... just the shapes.

Alec K
Very cool idea Greg. This will be interesting 👍

Greg Baker
I think I'm going to ban anyone with a ruler (or any other measuring device) from within 2 meters of this build. After drying the fuselage warped a bit on me and the side panels sank a bit, but I think this might actually work...

Spanjaard
tintin build and experimental on top.... how can i not follow this one?

Dave Flitton
Watching! I like this idea!

Uwe Kaeding
Wow Greg - great idea and a great start. Might have to steal the idea from you as that Flamingo kit is so rare. Where did you find the 1/50 plans?

Greg Baker
Steal away. I wash thinking about you when I started this one actually. 😉 The big question I'm considering right now is do I try to build an authentic U-12 Flamingo (albeit with spats) or go with the much simple-looking plane (especially around the engine) as depicted in "Tintin in the Congo".

You can find plans in 1/33 and 1/50 here - papercraftsquare.com..-model-download.html but if you PM your email address I can send you the images already scaled to 1/72.

Uwe Kaeding
Thanks Greg - found the plans, but wow are there a lot of dodgy adds on that site! Mt anti-virus software was going nuts. Anyway even if I'd found the 1/72 kit I was going to try to graft on a new nose, probably from a Curtiss Jenny kit (I think I've got an old one around somewhere. AnywayI'll send you details in a PM. Thanks.

Greg Baker
Hmmm... I haven't had a problem, but my antiVirus is usually pretty good and I use an ad blocker, so it hasn't harassed me. Anyway, I've sent you the plans and look forward to seeing what use they are in the hands of someone who knows what he's doing.😉

Greg Baker
Spent some time on the wings. I cut the shapes out of the thickest styrene I had and then glued some strips along the leading edge and started sanding sanding sanding. I also reskinned the fuselage with some paper thin styrene and add a bit of CA glue to fill in the gaps created by the low spots. It also strengthened the fuselage without adding much thickness.

John Thomas
Hey Greg, how many stories are there of Tin Tin and were can I find them.

Greg Baker
Heh. Second time in the last few days I've had that question posed. My attempts at converting the mostly-washed masses seems to be working. 😉

If you're looking for digital, all 23 Tintin albums are available on both the Apple and Google app stores. My preference is reading them on my iPad but if that doesn't work for you, they should be available for viewing on a desktop as well.

If you prefer actual books, then either a local bookstore will most likely have them in the comics or children's section. You can probably find them on Amazon, eBay, etc. As well.

Of course, there's always the animated tv show on Youtube Video too. It's a distilled version, but will give you a taste for sure.

John Thomas
Greg, Thanks much, I will check it out

Greg Baker
After a million rounds of sanding, I'm finally happy enough with the shape. Now to start adding some details... first up, some ribbing on the wings...

Alec K
This is looking really great Greg. Looks like a lot of work, but it will be a one-of 👍

Spanjaard
a one of a kind 🙂

Peter Hardy
Greg, I could almost give up modelling and just enjoy watching what you do!

Greg Baker
I dunno... one-of-a-thumb has a certain poetic ring to it too...😉

Thanks for the generous compliment, but sanding, swearing and glueing my fingers together is of limited entertainment value.😉 Although watching me flap my arms while frantically trying to find some part of the plastic paper that wasn't covered with CA glue while managing to get successive fingers glued to it might've been good for a laugh... I almost ran out of fingers and had to start using toes.

I had so much glue on my fingers that my keyboard at work made a weird clicking noise for two days...

Spanjaard
LOL that is why i use globes... that and to avoid leaving my greasy pawn marks everywhere 😛

Greg Baker
Thanks guys. After plenty of sanding, the wings are almost done... although I'm starting to get hypnotized by the swirls of plastic, putty and glue... 🙂 I'm still thinking about how best to tackle the cockpit, but I think I will build it in place and the enclose it afterwards.

Greg Baker
Hmmm... this is actually starting to look like a plane...

Spanjaard
and a nice one

Peter Hardy
with wings and everything

Tim Heimer
Wow Greg! looking good so far!

Daniel Klink
Fascinating skills and imagination paired with the ability to describe what you do accompanied by agood sense of humor... 🙂 Great artwork (s) shown here Greg.
Cheers Daniel

Martin Oostrom
Will you paint it pink to match it's name? 😛

John Thomas
Just more great work

Mike Daniels
Thats looking really good Greg. Where did you get those rather nice drawings from ? Thats a real challenge. I must have a look at the TinTin story this comes from..Nice one.

Peter Hardy
Don't fall into the rabbit hole Mike! The rest of us are trapped down here!!! We are all waiting for "Tin Tin down the rabbit hole" so we can escape from Greg's vortex!

Tim Heimer
Too funny Peter!

Ben M
This is amazing, I love tintin. It would be possible to build the Destination Moon rocket kit from the movie like the rocket in the tintin book of the same name, they look a lot alike.

Martin Oostrom
Ben, Greg is way ahead of you: Destination Moon (XFLR-6 Test Rocket) | Album by strobez (1:72)

Alec K
How is this coming along Greg?

Greg Baker
It's stalled out a bit on the sanding and then I had to put it aside for a bit... it's not forgotten though. Glad to see someome's paying attention though. I'm almost done a couple of projects, so this one will get back in the rotation soon,

Alec K
Good to hear it's not dead. I admire your ability to have several projects going at the same time (multitasking is not my strong-suit...)

Greg Baker
Alright... while I wait for some paint to dry on my Tintin tanker car... time to revive the Flamingo. Added the tail... now where was I...?

Greg Baker
Yeah... alive... in a zombie apocalypse sort of way so far!😉

Martin Oostrom
Paint it pink!

Greg Baker
It'll be yellow... with a red duck on the side. But thanks for that helpful suggestion~

Peter Hardy
I can't think of anything smart to say.......

Alec K
Glad to see this project back on the bench 👍 👍 👍

Greg Baker
Thanks Alec. I got the tail assembly sanded down and was able to add the struts and get the top wing in place. It's a bit of a cheat from a real world Udet Flamingo U-12, but the Tintin plane is a much simpler design. I cheated a bit by just using wire instead of the more triangular shaped struts that should hold up the wing from the fuselage, but the wire was a lot more forgiving in regards to the placement. That was important because, as a 100% scratchbuilt plane, the dimensions are less than perfect.

Martin Oostrom
A yellow flamingo with a red duck tattoo 😄
On a serious note, you cheat really well. I like this little biplane 👍

Uwe Kaeding
Looking good Greg!

Greg Baker
Thanks Uwe. What do you think... rigging or no rigging? 🙂

Spanjaard
rigging of course

Greg Baker
Somehow I knew someone would give me that helpful advice... so I got some new lycra rigging thread for just this occasion.😉

Spanjaard
great 🙂

bughunter
Greg, it is always a great pleasure to follow all kind of your comic projects 👍 Real craftsmanship!

Greg Baker
Hey guys, did you hear that? BUGHUNTER said my builds are as good as his! At least that's the way I heard it...

And yes... it was a rhetorical question.😉

Peter Hardy
That's a very long string on the kite you just flew Greg but, why not! 😉

Martin Oostrom
You need to tune your hearing aid Greg. I read he is in awe of your skills, will stop building himself as he is depressed now by his own lack of skills. 😄

Congrats by the way. It's Tintin's birthday!

Greg Baker
Yay! he's looking pretty spry for a 90 year old! To celebrate I've got a couple of fun little builds I've been planning. Stay tuned!

Spanjaard
indeed 🙂

bughunter
Greg, I have to say if someone starts projects like this with a huge amount of imagination and creativity, then is even a not existing kit a limit - you just do it from scratch or by converting other things 👍
That is, what I like!

Greg Baker
Well said, bughunter! With a bit of two part epoxy putty, and some overly sticky fingers, this Udet Tlamingo now has two huge, juicy spats over the wheels (which I scrounged from a 1/144 B-1 bomber... go figure). They'll Ned to be sanded to shape, so I was a bit over generous with the putty I think...

Dave Flitton
Looking good! You make it look easy, I am sure there is a lot you are not telling us.

Tim Heimer
Nice work Greg!! Awesome

Greg Baker
Thanks guys. I really only skip over the tedium... like sanding down the epoxy spats. I was only able to get one done last night before my mental strength ran out and I switched projects. It looks a bit funny with one giant foot and one normal foot right now. 😛

Peter Hardy
There are a hundred one liners to respond to that Greg but, I am going to demonstrate my new-found maturity by withholding all of them!

Greg Baker
I'm struggling between trying to goad you into breaking your vow of maturity, and applauding it...

Peter Hardy
Rise above it Greg, rise above it.

Alec K
Awesome job Greg. The amount of patient sanding time on this baby must be considerable. The results will be worth it 👍

Greg Baker
Speaking of sanding... a bit more on the spats. But besides the propeller, that's the las of the major components that needed crafting. Once they're smooth, then the plane should be ready for some paint.... finally.

Greg Baker
Ok, first coat of yellow is now on. It'll take a few coats to even it out I think, but I'm not going to make the same mistake I did with the Loch Lomond tanker and rush things and end up with a thicker, spongy layer of paint in a couple of touch up areas. Slow and steady will win this race I think.

Alec K
I agree. Looking great 👍

bughunter
Greg, there is a book for you:
Book: A supplement to the Scale Modeller's Guide to Aircraft from the Adventures of Tintin (by Richard Humberstone)

Daniel Klink
Thats the way Greg 👍

Greg Baker
Thanks guys. I looked at it again this morning and found a few flaws in the paint job. Normally I probably would've said "good enough", but now that I know I've got builders of such high quality looking over my shoulder... well, good enough suddenly wasn't good enough.😉

Anyway, a bit more putty and a few sanding touch ups and we'll be back at the paint.

Btw, thanks for the link to the book bughunter! I don't have that one since it's just supplemental and details minor or incidental planes that appear in the background, or alternate colour schemes. I do have the first two books though and have studied them in detail.😉

Greg Baker
After endless coats of yellow paint, we're into the home stretch now...

Peter Hardy
Well, it is definitely yellow!

Alec K
Looking great 👍

Greg Baker
The end. less light coats of paint really sapped my strength, so I decided to quit while I wasn't too far behind. There are still several flaws, but for a "kit" that started as a piece of paper, I don't think I can complain much. I kinda copped out on the propeller too. After breaking two wooden ones from scratch, I just went with one from the spares box instead. All that's left now is the decals for the red duck logo, scratch up a couple of windscreens, and glue on the rope ladder (which I repurposed from the Loch Lomond whisky tanker build).

Greg Baker
I also added a new pic 1 to show what I'm trying to achieve here...

Donald Dickson II
Wow! Great job! Scratch built...talent!

Alec K
Greg, you have done a fine job on this one. I have yet to try a scratch-build project, but this got me thinking. Very inspiring indeed 👍 👍 👍

Chris Greathouse
Love it!

Spanjaard
superb job Greg

Jay Dubya
Not that I would ever tell you what to do Greg, but you please crop the current teaser photo (say, bottom 1/3) so we can better see your final product on the 'social pages'?

Martin Oostrom
What's next? A yellow submarine?

Greg Baker
Thanks guys. I have to admit, turning a paper model into a plastic one was a challenge I wasn't sure would work, but I'm pretty happy with the end result. I got the decals on and they look better than I expected, so a couple of windscreens and I'm calling this one done.

@J W - not sure I follow you. Are you talking about centring the plane more in my latest pic so that less of the cutting matt is visible? And what do you mean about the "social pages"? Do you mean the main newsfeed timeline? I'll probably finish it off tonight and get some final pics added shortly after that.

As for what's next... I dunno... the steam engine is on its way, but should I do the Moon Tank? One of the cars? A plane? Any opinions? Here's the list to choose from - strobez.ca/wp/index.php/tintin/

bughunter
A little yellow beauty 👍 As next project a Steam Locomotive would be nice!

Greg Baker
Thanks. Kind words from the master.😉. I think I'll wait out the steam locomotive's arrival and revive a couple of projects that have been shelved for a while...

Greg Baker
Some final pics updated now.

bughunter
One day you will need a giant-size pack Tintin figures😉

Chris Greathouse
I vote for another Studio Ghibli build 🙂

Greg Baker
I already need that giant-size pack...😉

Chris - your wish has been granted. The project I decided to resurrect was the Ohm from Nausicaa one, that's been staring at me with all 14 eyes for a while now. It's got some relatively complex electronics components, so now I have to figure out where I left off.😉

Daniel Klink
Very well done Greg!!! Fascinating Implementation of a difficult subject 👍 Congrats
What a yellow btw.. rather a Canary than a Flamingo😉

Donald Dickson II
Finished up nicely indeed!

I was gonna suggest the Zephyr. 😄 I thought you had finished that bug project.

Greg Baker
Thanks guys! Several of the Tintin planes are bright yellow, so I think I need to take a break in between those builds.

Don, I finished up the internal wiring for the bugs and painting the bugs themselves, but there's still a lot of work to be done to get them settled properly on a base. I stalled out while trying to get the capacitive touch sensor to work while waiting for the "sand" I applied to the base to dry... but I think 10 months is probably long enough...😉

Nils Steyaert
looks great, realy like how this one turned out 👍

Stephan Ryll
very nice work and dio 👍

Jozef Goos
verry nice

Uwe Kaeding
That turned out fantastic Greg - really great work!

Spanjaard
excellent job Greg

Mid Franconian
Billions and billions of blue blistering barnacles! Nice job on a very cool subject!

Spanjaard
And now the 3D printed version, right Greg?

Finn
Brilliant, well done!

Neuling
Nice little fella !

Greg Baker
You got it Spanjaard! Another victim of the shelf disaster gives me another chance to improve my 3D model building (and another chance to complain about the quality of my printer). Starting with the armoured car, given how box-shaped it is, was a good way to get my feet wet, but an Udet Flamingo is a whole 'another challenge. Besides a more intricate shape, I had to figure out how best to slice it up for printing. I tried to minimize where the support marks would be. One thing that's frustrating is that despite how exact I made the model, the printed parts don't quite fit together. The sizing seems strangely off, and I'm not sure why. Is it my imprecise low-end printer? Or is it an error in file management (going from design in Blender to export and slicing in Chitubox)? It's a learning experience. 🙂

Alex K
Why am I not surprised of the fact that, instead of going for the Kora kit that appeared after you 1st Flamingo, you once again went for a do-it-yourself approach? I have much enjoyed the scratched-based-on-a-paper-model one, I will follow with interest the 3D-printed "take two"...

Alec K
Greg, reading your 3D notes: one idea is to have your design printed on someone else's printer or by a service. This could narrow down the source of the fit issues. Just a thought.

Matthew A
I think both of Greg's efforts look better than the Kora kit

Greg Baker
Thanks Matthew. I've been working out a few of the kinks in my design... I think the walls might be a bit too thin at the 1/72 scale, so I'm considering a reprint. Once I sort out the details a bit, I'll post up my 3D files for anyone who wants to use them~

Greg Baker
I also did a little research and printing for high degree of accuracy and fit. There are several reasons why parts might be slightly out of whack... light seepage, and resin contraction. If you want to spend a while doing some math (and some tests) you can (apparently) figure it out. But I'm more partial to brute force and sandpaper. 🙂

Ben M
I use the putty and sand putty and sand putty and sand putty and sand approach.

I don't think it's easy to calculate because I've noticed parts get a little stretched in the resin printer in the direction of the z axis. Since parts are normally printed at an angle, good luck.

Greg Baker
I'm not sure I'd say it's easy... but I've seen a website where the guy a) prepared a special object to print that would give you the numbers you need to calculate your own specific variance and then explains the ways in which you need to adjust the model (i.e. basically stretching it slightly in some direction) so that the final printed object would off-set the variance and leave you with a highly accurate model.

Greg Baker
Now... that's a lot of work... but one thing I've tried, which I think helps, is to make sure that the various pieces are all printed in the same orientation. It's not perfect, but at least they all stretch in the same direction. 😉

Ben M
Interesting. Seems like something that should be incorporated in a slicer. Along with island detection.

Matthew A
Sounds a bit like me printing scale plans on a laser printer. But just imagine Arthur Bentley back in the day having to redraw his plans by hand to accommodate the distortion of photocopiers.

Greg Baker
Yeah, it should be incorporated into a slicer. Actually not sure why it wouldn't be... seems like one of the more important functions actually. Here's one of the pages I did some reading up on the issues - blog.honzamrazek.cz/..d-exposure-bleeding/

I've been using some hand-drawn plans for 3D model building, and I'm always a little surprised at how they must've compensated for the margin of error ever from the thickness of a pencil!

Spanjaard
That link is pretty interesting!

bughunter
What kind of yellow do you use on top of the pink? Looks good.

Greg Baker
I only use Tamiya acrylics. So the pink was X-15 and the yellow was a combo of X-8 and XF-3 (after I ran out of X-8) 😉

I heard about the pink undercoat a few years ago and was incredulous until I tried it. It does give the yellow a bit more of a warm orange hue to it, but If you do 2-3 coats of lemon yellow that will lessen the effect. The nicest thing is that it usually takes 2 coats of pink to cover even the most stubborn issues (putty/dark paint/etc.) and then 1 coat of yellow. Yellow alone (even over a white background) usually takes 5-6 coats to cover things properly.

Robert Podkoński
Confirmed! Works also for red 🙂

Greg Baker
And the accompanying video... now with propellor action!

Youtube Video

Greg Baker
It's hard to get good video of the propellors. Sometimes the spin is almost the same as the video framerate and you get a weird slow-down effect.

Matthew A
FANTASTIC!?!

Spanjaard
fabulous!

Greg Baker
Thanks guys! I don't want to spam Scalemates TOO badly, so I'll dole out my rescued/refurbished/upgraded build in a few batches. As for this one... I really did like my scratchbuilt first attempt, but after building a 3D model off the same plans and then printing it... well, now I REALLY love it. 🙂

Greg Baker
In case anyone is interested, I uploaded my 3D files for the Udet Flamingo to cults3d.com (cults3d.com/en/3d-model/game/udet-u12-flamingo). There's a small fee, but it gets even smaller if you visit my blog and find the 50% off coupon code. 🙂