here are some pics of my Ziroli Zero. Will try to get the former outlines sometime this weekend... May spill into next week.

Jeff

a few more...

Man, that is a beautiful beautiful zero constuction...
The gun humps look really good.

I just wish i saw these pictures before i cutted all the fusalage formers...

Whay havent you cut some holes in the back formers as well ?

jmmodguy, nice work. That last pic, I assume you're building a plug to lay a fg cowling?

Thanks! The gun humps are 2 layers of 1/16th soft balsa to get the skin to follow the curves of the former. The forward inch or so is a shaved block. As for the lightening holes, I thought about it - but decided against it as I am using lite ply for aft formers. Thought they might be too fragile. As it turns out, it would probably be ok if you keep them reasonable in size. All you are trying to do is hold the outer shape. Just remember not to squeeze in that area!

Jeff

Thanks for the compliment! yes! I am jumping - somewhat slowly - into the glass layup arena. Don't want to do it twice. It will be "closer" to an A6M3/5 cowl that the one Mr Z offers. It will also have separate cowl flaps. Not sure yet if I want to go glass or thick ABS for the cowl flaps. I am also planning a scale (size and shape) glass spinner to go with the cowl. I have a huge hunk of maple that I will be using to make a a plug.
Jeff

Don't discount aircraft ply for your cowl flaps you can form 1/64 or 1/32 ply by wetting and forming with a hot covering iron.

I've had very good results using aluminum flashing from Home Cheapo for cowl flaps. Also K&S Brass sheet but the aluminum is much cheaper and not to mention, lighter..
I forget what the original purpose was but the aluminum I got was in the gutter and roof flashing area. They were cut into squares that had been bent into a corner piece. They cost less than a dollar apiece and were formed in a right angle from a piece that was roughly 6"x 6" square if I'm making myself clear. About 1/32" thick or maybe a bit thinner. Easy to form and very stiff so it keeps it's shape. . It can be cut with a pair of good utility scissors.

some images from my latest attempts at getting the gear in the right location. So far so good.... The gear leg and yoke are for modeling purposes only! I do not intend to use wood for the gear Retracts are Robart HD low profile 85 deg.

a couple more... Don't know if you can tell but the wheel should be completely enclosed and the wheel cover should be in the right location [8D]. Sometimes you get lucky!

Hi,

do you have a three blades aluminium spinner for sale ? ( for Zero .40 size frm Marutaka )

tks
Dan