Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

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Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by MoFo »

Since I was asked about this elsewhere...

For the past ...few... years, my modelling has been derailed by a bunch of 1/144 airship projects. It started when I stumbled across a really comprehensive paper model set, and realized it wouldn't be too hard to convert to a plastic scratchbuild (ahem) and then kind of spiralled out of control. :lol:

The first is a WWI era Q-class ship, which was a mix of traditional styrene sheet scratchbuild, with CAD designed and 3D printed detail parts. Basic planning and layout for the balloon was done in CAD, then printed on a plotter, mounted on styrene sheet and cut from a 4 x 8' sheet of styrene sheet:
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The plastic skin was then wrapped around styrene bulkheads, to rough out the shape (note: small grey thing in the middle is a 1/144 plane - the type that eventually shot down this particular Zeppelin)
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Then a metric butt-load of filler, primer and sanding to smooth everything out:
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Gondolas designed in CAD, complete with interiors. These were eventually printed by Shapeways in FUD.
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Along with other detail parts - engines, guns, rudders, the gun platform on top of the Zeppelin, etc.
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Plus a bunch of micro soldering for detail parts - gondola supports, engine supports and handrails.
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Coat of paint. Sooooo much masking tape...
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Blended together with fabric effect.
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It's since been decalled, weathered and rigged (so much rigging line...) and final assembly is virtually finished, but I don't have any current pics. I should probably remedy that...
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by MoFo »

So THEN, as I was nearing completion on THIS multi-year project, I started reading about this new 3D printer called a CR-10 and realized, hey, I could print a Hindenburg with one of those, and it'd be even better than my first Zepp. So I kind of got distracted by the new shiny thing, and designed the (MUCH bigger) Zeppelin in CAD. It is 12" in diameter at its widest point, and 5'7" long in 1/144, and it's honestly kind of overwhelming.
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Even those tiiiiiny looking gondolas are actually pretty big when you print them out:
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I don't have any great pics of the prints at the moment, but for the 3D printing nerds: the balloon was done in sections, with a .8mm nozzle in spiral mode, so it's actually quite thin and light. Each section is mounted on a couple of printed bulkheads, which themselves slot over some 1" square aluminium tubing. So it's fairly lightweight, but nice and robust. And I slathered the skin in UV resin to smooth out the layer lines. Still needs a TON of sanding, but it's smoother and easier to sand than Bondo.

Unfortunately, after I'd printed it out, and realizing it would be a really cool, eye-catching model, I decided it would be neat if I added lights to highlight the passenger areas. Then I got the idea to add a sound module, with various audio clips related to the airship (yes, the humanity). And if it's going to make sound, I might as well make the engines spin... So, yeah, it's kind of been stuck in limbo for... a while... as things have spiralled out of control. Although conveniently, technology has progressed at the same time; with the new jumbo printers, I finally can get a resin printer big enough to print the tail fins!

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(seriously, if your model needs a wiring harness, things have gone badly off the rails!)
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by MoFo »

And in the meantime, I've been dabbling in other airships in CAD, because two massive, incomplete projects just isn't enough. I'm currently working on an early war M-Class Zeppelin, and I really want to do a pre-war civilian airship with all its weird, Venetian blind-looking control surfaces. And I've done a late-war R-Class Zeppelin, which will probably be my first print if/when I get a Phrozen Mighty 8K.

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Designed a few observation/barrage balloons:
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The latter is the famous WWI Drachenballoon, which makes for the most hilariously, unintentionally phallic thing I have ever seen:
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Dabbled in some of the British airships with a Sea Scout conversion for the Airfix BE2C (they hacked off the wings and used the fuselage as a gondola under the big balloon)
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by jorgeralvear »

Pretty imaginative work. I’d never have the patience but your work is excellent.
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by Icon_Modeler »

I was going to ask in the other thread for Pictures,,,, thanks!! Looks fantastic. Don't forget to add fire to the Hindenburg,,,, Joking!!!!
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by DiemenRacer »

Wow. That is nice work. I have gotten back into planes thanks to Wingnut Wings kits which has had me thinking about a observation balloon diorama. After seeing your amazing work I realize that would just be too big and too much work. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by sky1911 »

Awesome! And that is nuts, the positive kind :D. Due to all the conversion work on the measurements, and for obvious size reasons, I would have probably gone for 1/200. That would also work nicely with the large scale ships ;).
Those things are absolute monsters and really nicely done. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by Grypham »

Really nice. The photo with the fighter plane for scale is mind boggling! As per the previous post about pairing an observation balloon with a WNW kit in 1/32, I also considered that once, but now realize that it would just be almost too huge to display.
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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by CK »

The Q-class in 1/44 is about 49 in (1.24 m). The Hindenburg in 1/144 is 67 in (1.7 m) in length. They are massive. Other plastic models in similar size are the 1/72 Type VIIC u-boat (0.934 m) and the 1/48 B-1B Lancer length in 36.5 in (0.927 m) and wing span of 34.25 in (0.87 m).

I have seen both the u-boat and the B-1B. The B-1B is huge with its wings full forward.

The airship and u-boat are easier to display as they are not that wide.

There is a much smaller (1/720) Hindenburg from Revell in just 0.34 m (13.4 in).

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Re: Non-Auto modelling: Flipping massive Zeppelins

Post by MoFo »

Thanks all.

I went for 1/144 because it's a standard aircraft scale. And, happily, there was a kit of the plane that shot it down. Makes for an interesting 'dogfight double'. :lol: Although interestingly, it'd be interesting paired with a ship too - this particular airship was one of the last, err, 'vessels' to capture a sailing ship. :D
Grypham wrote: Wed Aug 25, 2021 11:44 am As per the previous post about pairing an observation balloon with a WNW kit in 1/32, I also considered that once, but now realize that it would just be almost too huge to display.
Did you buy your paint at a building supply store? (Kidding)
The Drachen would be ~ 2.5' (78cm) in 1/32. Big, for sure, but not crazy (smaller footprint than a Felixstowe, at least) The Zeppelins are an order of magnitude (or two) bigger. :)

And yes, I did buy my paint at a building supply store. :) Well, the base coat, anyway.

Oh, and a few more pics on the Hindenburg:

Next to the front door:
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Big of priming (that's a full size spray can in the picture). Finding space to work on the full thing is something of a challenge...
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Size comparison with the WWI Zeppelin. The Hindenburg was BIG:
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Very, VERY big:
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