Edhamp

Pilot Naming Competition

Some pictures of a 1/4 scale action toy talking figure I picked up at a bargain price from a well known auction site. As it stands it is quite heavy but once the body replaced with foam and adaptation to Luftwaffe Africa campaign style uniforms and clothing (see pics below and also post 19)with insignia etc and it could make a nice pilot. The large size of this figure is just the right fit and scale.

Anybody recognise this figure? No prizes for guessing but does he remind you of a well known actor?

I plan to articulate the pilot as I did with my Dauntless. I am hoping he will open and close the large cockpit door if it works out, which I plan to operate with a small electric retract unit from a park flyer.

wphilb

My Feedback: (10)

Wild guess, Indiana Jones? No, ah Han Solo? No? I give up. 

Edhamp

First prize goes to Whit! Well done.
Check back in sometime in the future to see what Harrison Ford looks like as a Luftwaffe Storch pilot, perhaps with a new hair colour!

Ed

Edhamp

Get me out of here!

Back on the build. The cockpit door can be opened and closed using a small electric retract from DYNAM, This one is for the ME262 which I guess is also used on other some of their other models. You can buy it for very little money as a spare part and it just plugs in to the receiver.

It is quite a small unit and easily blends in to the upper cockpit area (attached to the wing root rib) and only the scale purists are likely to spot the fact that it is not meant to be there! Works very well as shown here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgcm4wrqgvQ

I used an arm from the retract to operate the door , which moves through 90 degrees. The arm slides in a tube attached to the door because of the non-linear relative movement as shown in the photo.

I hope to get Han Solo, or should that be Hans, the pilot to look as if he is opening and closing it.

Edhamp

Cockpit Electrical panel

This panel fits under the pilot's seat (photo 1,2)

Cockpit RHS

Looks like circuit breakers/ relays etc on this side, and othe boxes (photo 3,4)

All made from bits from scrap/spares box and chemiwood. I need to add some service markings to this panel using some dry rub transfers which I hope to get with the ones on order for the instrument panel from Flightline Graphics in the UK.

There is also a control arm mounted here on the tubular fuselage brace and a small tank just above the floor, not sure what it is all for, I think it is fuel related due to the yellow colouring (photo 5,6)

The linkages from the control column for the ailerons also run in this area, then up the windscreen frame to the wing root.

Edhamp

Rudder Pedals and control column linkages

The rudder pedals are typical Luftwaffe pattern, and shown in the picture before fitting to the bar. Not bad even if I say so myself..........................

OK- I confess I did not make the pedals [&o], no point really if you can buy them this good from Aerocockpit.com, or through your dealer in this great range of cockpit items.

The cockpit floor sections on the full size were removable wooden panels and these will eventually be fitted and appropriately made to look well worn from operational use in the harsh desert environment.

Edhamp

Cockpit LHS Throttle/Mixture and other controls


The throttle quadrant is mounted on the left on the tubular fuselage frame. It is quite simple and made up of controls sandwiched between three plates as shown in the schematic. I made some suitable parts from my scrap box.

There is an trim position indicator (at least that is what I think it is, seems to be connected to a large wheel that is either elevator trim or tail plane incidence control). I do not think it is the flaps as these are operated by a hand cranked gear and chain which you can just make out in the photo . The indicator is graduated and a large needle shows the current setting. Made up as shown in the photos with some 0.1 mm ali sheet.

This indicator is bolted to a diagonal tubular frame section by the pilots seat. This part of the frame needs to be added to the existing structure as unfortunately for whatever reason it is not included, I silver soldered a piece or brass tube as shown in the last photo.

All these bits of cockpit detail will be fitted permanently at a later date nearer to final assembly together with finishing touches including the various placards and other labels (and I just noticed I have the mixture handle on upside down, so that needs fixing ). It is important when the time comes to make sure everything will be well fixed with screws to the fuselage frame where possible or at least with hysol as too often these small items tend to come loose from vibration if you just glue them with superglue or fast epoxy. Zap goo or similar works well to as regards resisting vibration.

Edhamp

Flair cartridge box

This is mounted on the door (see above post for video of opening door) and appears to be metal construction with some prominent rivets which should help to break up the plain fabric covered fuselage. It will need final detailing and painting with service markings. I believe the box would hold flares of different colours to signal troops on the ground.

hrrcflyer

Hey Edhamp,

I know this may not be the model you want to build, but I thought I'd give you a little full size motivation for your build. Keep up the great work ! ! !

Take care,
David

Edhamp

Hi David, Thanks very much. Great pictures and actually you are not too far off what I am considering now so perfect timing! I am now leaning more towards the mottled look, more fun to paint for one thing and probably more interesting contrast to look at in the air and ground than an overall sand brown.

cheers
Ed

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Fantastic work Ed. Where did you find the tiny chain for the trim wheel in the cockpit? Everything looks amazing.

Edhamp

Hi Gary

You are too kind, it took me 5 months to machine those chain links individually

But in all honesty it is just an unintended trick of the picture [&o] which is in fact a photo behind the throttle quadrant which shows the flap actuating chain which runs up to the roof at the wing root. Believe it or not I have just been researching where to find some "1/4 scale" chain and sprockets so in answer to the question, I have found something called Delrin chain which seems to tbe popular with model railway people as drives for engines. The chain looks right and you can get a range of sprockets with different teeth. I found this on-line for me in the UK (see attachment) but no doubt same thing available where you are.

These are quite a few chain driven pulleys and trim wheels to add on this bird.

cheers
Ed

ram3500-RCU

My Feedback: (221)

Thanks Ed. Good info. The picture looks very convincing though. I appreciate your skills.

hrrcflyer

Hello Ed,

I have a couple dozen pictures of this Storch. Some of which are higher resolution so the file sizes are quite large. If you'd like, I can email them to you. On the other hand, the Storch is sitting in the Military Aviation Museum only about 45 minutes from where I live so I can get more pictures for you if you wish. It would give me a good excuse to visit the museum which is fine with me because I could live in the museum if they'd let me...................LOL

Take care,
David

Edhamp

Flare Box (cont.)

Here is the box with initial paint showing mounting frame detail and the door panelled out. I found that the door outline, in particular the bottom panel is not scale so the flare box is not as deep as it should.

Finally this week is the map holder which is fitted on the RHS of the passenger seat. A quick job with some thin ali sheet.

Edhamp

Thanks David, I'll pm you. There are a couple of nice restored examples in the UK which have been completed with the aim of being as authentic as possible and I've been trying to use pictures from these where possible and wartime references and technical manuals. It is a nightmare with an aircraft produced in several countries during and after the war with many post war examples being restored to look like wartime aircraft. When I first came face to face with a real live Storch, it did surprise me how large an aircraft it was for a such a small single engine!
Ed

Edhamp

Misc. cabin fittings

Some wartime pictures show that there is a box in the rear gunner/observer/passenger section mounted on the left side at the back. On the right side appears to be a map light with a control box and switch. To the left of the pilot is a trim wheel which has a wooden handle and a crank wheel for the flap chain drive (see earlier pics).

I am struggling to source the model chain delrin drive I mentioned in an earlier post for the flap actuating drive. Apparently the only company and machine manufacturing this stuff for this is in China and it is broken awaiting retooling and so far I have not managed to find anyone, in the UK or USA, who has any in stock[&o]. Anyone out there into model railroad engine building with a couple of feet to spare?

Edhamp

MG15

Now this is an interesting bit and what makes this a warbird! I sourced various bits of tube and rod, a spring and other bits to put together the basic gun. The barrel cooling holes are quite tricky and having a small milling machine helps.

I aim to cast some ammo magazines but first I need to make the master which I an doing using Chemiwood as the basis.

I need to make 3 or 4 identical magazines, which are mounted on the rear cabin wall. Also a collector for the spent cartridges which looks like a rugby ball, and other detail parts for the gun before it is complete, including a ball mount and grip.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Some more full size inspiration for you Ed, a recently restored Storch in Spain along with its stablemate. The video is worth watching, neat stuff!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCHaL...ature=youtu.be

Edhamp

Thanks Chad. Great post. Interesting Spanish civil war scheme, and I love the view out of the cockpit, really shows what this aeroplane was built to do, not to mention taking off in a matter of yards.
Ed

super puma

My Feedback: (6)

Hi, great kit !
In Norway we have a Storch beeing restored also : www.storch.no
I really like Severins kit's, have a Baby Ace ready for painting, used Cowerall and pink it tape with ribstitching simulated.
One day I will do the Bu 133 or Storch.
Bernt,

Edhamp

Thanks SuperPuma,

I found the same web site a few weeks ago by luck and was very glad as it has some of the best pictures for the cockpit under restoration which I have used extensively in making some of the detailed cockpit parts.

One day I too may build Severin's Bu133 with a nice radial. We can wish!
Ed

Edhamp

Passenger cabin rear bulkhead

Not much time spent building as the summer has been shaping up nicely this year for plenty of flying.

The rear bulkhead has quite a bit of detail. There are the four storage racks for the MG15 magazines, a cradle to support the gun when stowed, as well as a canvas flap which is zipped and buttoned for access to equipment and baggage compartment behind.

I replicated the zips using aluminium foil which I etched. The cradle is made from brass and plastic tube, and the other bits balsa etc.

Edhamp

Machine gun details



Some more pics showing the gun etc. I made some more magazines using a rubber mould from the chemi-wood master. Worked out OK.

Edhamp

Passenger/Gunners seat

There are several variations of seating for the Storch. The sources I used is from a German Storch technical manual so hopefully reasonably accurate and also matches some wartime pictures. The rear seat appears to fold and the attached stool would be for the gunner when facing to the rear.