'Stinson' finished.

Still a few bits of paintwork to touch up and varnishing, but that will take a few more days to complete fully and I thought it best to get this out now.

Initially finished and undercoated but I still wasn't happy about the exhausts (I think/assume that's what they are). Found a box of electrical connectors lying around, stuck a couple on the side and they seem to make pretty good exhausts. And it gets better - inherited the things from my Dad so they would also have been used somewhere around Norman's Riding as well... really milking the connections with this one.

As I said, milking the connection. My Dad won the Pools at one time - would have been a millionaire today, back then £300. Still, he bought his first car with it - a Morris Minor. Still remember the Registration Number - JNL 121.

Side view shows a couple of areas still needing a touch of paint - door and wheels.

Picture doesn't really give a good impression of the windscreen or cowling!

For the lettering I cheated a bit - used a Pentel permanent marker instead of paint.

And that's it. Finished. Personal view? Sure, it's rough, but for me it really does capture the 'feel' of the era - have to admit I'm really quite pleased with how it's turned out.

Stinson update

Construction basically finished.

Considering all the approximations, compromises and general bodging that went on in it's construction I have to admit I'm pretty pleased with it. It seems to have the 'feel' of an early passenger plane. Might have to rename it - Peabody RY-1?

With a stand, basic undercarriage added. Ignore the people in the background - that's for tomorrow.

Wheels and prop come from a cheapo Chinese thing - think they worked out at about 50p or so each.

Starting to get there - undercarriage completed, prop in place - going to need some remedial carving/sanding on that front though... Prop is 3 bladed rather than 2 and could have done with being a bit bigger - but does the job.

Like a lot of things here, the undercarriage is a compromise. I chose brass tubing that fit the wheel axle rather than something thinner and simply placing the axle over the struts instead of through them made life a lot easier.

The original Stinson has bits of engine sticking out of the fuselage. At first I worried about this but finally just stuck some paper around the fuselage and glued on some scrap left over from the 6mm tower blocks I had lying around (as in: never throw anything out, it'll come in useful someday.) I have carved the front down a bit more.

And here is the basic completed model. I might paint the door on behind the struts - the struts should have been a bit narrower and the back ones pushed a bit further forward but I went for strength here - didn't want them any narrower. I'll have to put some filling around the tail - it did fit, but as the glue set it pushed up a bit without me noticing.

So all that's left is to seal it a couple of times with PVA, paint it and add lettering. Quick look for decals didn't impress, so probably complete the hand-made look by painting markings as well!

Back to balsa - starting a Stinson(ish)

Some scenarios need aircraft - for example, visits to the Antarctic...

So decided to have a go at something that looks a bit like a Stinson. First question - why 'looks like' rather than do a Stinson. I'll get that one out of the way first - not very good at carving or cutting so don't know what it will finish up like, plus having to add bits that may not really look like the 'original' bits should. After this I would like to have a go at a slightly bigger generic 2 engined plane.

The initial blank I did ages ago - but just got back to the project a few days ago. One impetus was the release of the Reviresco paper Stinson - ordering a download and using the wings/fins as a template makes life a lot easier!

The first two pictures demonstrate quite clearly that I can't cut a straight line.

Wings added. I originally cut out thinnish wings, decided they wouldn't survive, so redid them a lot thicker.

Basic plane done. The tail has a bit of a gap between it and the fuselage - filler should do the job here!

Still to do wing struts, undercarriage and engine/prop assembly - could take me a few more days yet. The wheels and prop have been sourced from a very cheap Chinese Spitfire type - the Stinson should have a 2 blade prop, this version will have a slightly too small 3 blade one!