Converting the Red Barron to the Black Knight

[Pete J.]

One very good reason to photograph your models as you build them. I was looking at the last photo and I noticed that it somewhere along the way, I lost one of the push rod tubes. If you look at the jug directly under the left side prop blade you can see it is missing. I just replaces it.

[pappabear1973]

Awesome thread. Love it

[Jeremy Jon]

Wow! Your metal work is incredible, and that radial engine for Zero is amazing, looking forward to seeing the Black knight completed!!

[Nitro Neil]

Wow, this is wicked pissa!

[lanesteele240]

Awesome work. Not so sure it is safe to mill and take pics at the same time. O.o

[Pete J.]

Awesome work. Not so sure it is safe to mill and take pics at the same time. O.o

One has to have three hands to do so.

[lower99]

Only an idea:

[Art Laski]

Good to see you and this engine last Saturday, Pete. The engine is a thing of beauty!

-Art

[Pete J.]

Art

Same here. Great get-together at Kurt's place. Wish you could make it to the San Diego club a little more often.

[Pete J.]

Ok, I have been modeling since last month and making some decent progress. Most of us think of a mill and lathe as something to make parts for our models. However, lately, I have found myself making a lot of tools to make things. In this case, I needed a round screen to fit over the oil cooler. I tried cutting it free hand but it just didn't come out symmetric which really stood out. I have a set of punch and dies but it didn't include one large enough, so I decided to make my own. After three tries I got one that worked well.

Edited January 10, 2014 by Pete J.

[crazyrichard]

ooow cool stuff !!!!!

[GoatGuy]

Amazing work. The Baron is coming along great. Also love the desk upgrade. I need to partition my drawer in my drafting table the way you did. Great idea.

[Daddyfink]

That is a really cool tool, Pete!

[Pete J.]

So it is time to update the Zero again. I have made some major progress and I am happy with my aviation side at this point but am also looking forward to getting back to the hotrod. Hope to have this beast done soon.

What has been done here was to set this up to display it as a cutaway style model. The problem was how to do the cowl and the cowl flaps. The cowls on the real deal are a top and bottom clamshell design. I wanted a left side/right side display. So I soldered the top and bottom pieces together(they are white metal) and then cut down the centerline with my jewelers saw. I replaced the kit cowl flaps which are closed, with a set in the open position and made of individual plates soldered together. Here you see the right side painted a semi-gloss black and mounted with the open flaps. The metal finish piece is the original cowl with the closed flaps. I think the open flaps is a much nicer looking piece.

This shot shows the open side. I left the cowl flaps in their natural polished brass to highlight the work. They have a clear coat over them to prevent tarnish. I decided to open the flaps because in the kits closed position the exhaust was fully covered and I really like to heat discoloration that I did. It came out well.

The rest are just different views.

[David G.]

Wow! Amazing detail.

David G.

[car-man666]

this is a nice way to push modelism to a next level,, i'm realy amazed