Model making And wood work.

[ArtworksIII]

I'd have to say if you want to get odd looks from other guys tell them you make and carve model airplanes. I don't get the should have grown B/S any more as once a great wood worker views my work they are interested. These two aircraft hold a place in aviation history as they are designed By Burt Rutan. Since I cant find them in plastic I figured I'd build them from wood I get from my old place of work Hunt Wood Mfg. There are kits out in plastic but they are $50.00 as compared to $4.00 worth of materials. I also do brackets but model making is very fun then once your tired of the model you can sell them. Weather vanes and whirly gigs are a great diversion as well.

[phrog]

Great! What type of wood do you use?

[ArtworksIII]

Model making And wood work.

Great! What type of wood do you use?

These are pine ,but I've made from cherry oak, poplar, larch, white pine, Mahogany. Blades for helicopters are made from bamboo. Doesn't make much difference after their painted.

[phrog]

These are pine ,but I've made from cherry oak, poplar, larch, white pine, Mahogany. Blades for helicopters are made from bamboo. Doesn't make much difference after their painted.

Which do you believe to be the easiest to work with from the carving standpoint?

[atgcpaul]

Looking forward to your whirligig posts, too.

[leehljp]

I use carbide phrog then 40 grit open coat an finish with ever liter grits they're all fun to work.

I think he was asking which WOOD is easiest for you to work with. I was curious also on that point.

[ArtworksIII]

I think he was asking which WOOD is easiest for you to work with. I was curious also on that point.

They're all easy woods to work with in my opinion when one uses carbide tips on a motor tool.

[wardprobst]

Like them, cool!DP

[phrog]

I think he was asking which WOOD is easiest for you to work with. I was curious also on that point.

Yes, Hank, I was. But I think that it is intereesting that he uses 40 grit. Would never have thought of that.

[phrog]

These are pine ,but I've made from cherry oak, poplar, larch, white pine, Mahogany. Blades for helicopters are made from bamboo. Doesn't make much difference after their painted.

Why do you specify bamboo for the blades?

[ArtworksIII]

Why do you specify bamboo for the blades?

Not very easy to break Bamboo

[cwsmith]

I'd have to say if you want to get odd looks from other guys tell them you make and carve model airplanes. I don't get the should have grown B/S any more as once a great wood worker views my work they are interested.

I think you should disregard any such comments as there are snobs in almost every hobby, craft, or interest... there will always be those who think differently about what's superior.

I do like your models very much. I used to build plastic model airplanes when I was a kid and as I grew they got more detailed and simply better. In my teens I got into flying models, usually built from kits of balsa and pine and occasionally just built from plans. Unfortunately that all went away when I got married and no longer had the time or room. Much older now and sort have lost the interest, but not the appreciation.

Building model airplanes, especially as you do (IMHO) requires a real skill to keep the symmetric balance of the design. It's like having to do the shape perfect, and then also do the mirror image on the other half; a perfectly balanced scupture... aircraft are very special in that way.

As I said, I like your work!

Thanks for the post,

CWS

[Slik Geek]

I agree. Rectangles are easy relative to shaping curves and keeping them balanced. I wouldn't look down on this craft - I would be impressed!

[ArtworksIII]

[QUOTE=cwsmith;535648]I think you should disregard any such comments as there are snobs in almost every hobby, craft, or interest... there will always be those who think differently about what's superior.



Thanks for your kind words cwsmith. Although it hasn't happened to me in a long time, I found myself questioning the validity of prototyping wood aircraft display models. I always got the sense these adults grew up too fast. I think the majority of wood workers would like to give modeling a try. Her is a line drawing to enlarge.

[ArtworksIII]

[ATTACH]20038[/ATTACH]

[lrr]

I build models as well. First got hooked on model rockets growing up in the 60s. Vern Estes founded Estes Industries, and the company is still going strong 50 years later. I got involved with building huge rockets 20 years ago, but found I still preferred the smaller Estes stuff, and my own designs. I've taken a hiatus from model rockets to work on home remodeling, but still have well over 100 kits and thousands of parts for custom designs.

My grand daughters are old enough now to start building and flying them this summer. One thing that I've done in the shop that has greatly increased my ability to do custom builds is my lathe. Lots of possibilities for doing custom nose cones and other parts. I have access to a laser engraver, and have cut fins and other flat parts using cardstock, balsa and thin plywood.