[WWI] Help needed re scale depiction of wing ribs

[John Huggins]

As mentioned, I only know of major rib rework when what is given is  
either grossly over done or noticeably wrong.  In most cases, we add  
to the cockpits because there is normally nothing there to start  
with.  The wings are a scale representation of the real airplane,  
right or wrong, it is already there.  If you are doing a 100 percent  
accurate model for a client, a museum that requires the accuracy or  
because that is what floats your boat, then great.  Most of us build  
to suit our own degree of insanity.  I don't try to convince every one  
to build as I do, nor do I want every one else to try and convince me  
to build to their standards.  This is a hobby, and it is supposed to  
be fun.  Most wings in 1/72 and 1/48 scale are fine out of the box  
with in some cases a little refinement in the trailing edges.

Turn buckles in those scales would be too small to model accurately.   
Some sort of representation is all that is needed.  Your minds eye  
will fill in the blanks when you look at the model.  Along time ago, I  
tried to accurately detail the cockpits and wheel wells of my models.   
What I ended up with was a pile of reference materials, a lot of bits  
and pieces and by the time I got the fuselage together, I had lost  
interest in the project, and nothing got finished for about 5 years.   
Part of this madness was because I was trying to build to some one  
else's standards and for contest judges, not for me.

About the end of this dry spell a national winning modeler I knew  
opened my eyes to a very real fact.  You can't duplicate every thing  
on a model airplane to scale.  To start with, if the exterior is to  
1/72 scale, the cockpit and wheel wells will have to be in a much  
smaller scale in order to fit. In addition, some things cannot be  
duplicated in scale, you have to represent them as best as you can.   
His advise to me was to go look in the cockpit of a real plane (or at  
a photograph) for 10 seconds.  Then only replicate what really stands  
out (the major parts).  The rest of it is made up of non discriminate  
bits, pieces and paint dots.  When it is finished, painted and  
installed, your minds eye will fill in the blanks, and it will look  
like there is very much more there than what is actually done.

Bottom line, build for you and have fun doing it.  If you see  
something some one else has done that you like, ask them how they did  
it, and then figure out how can achieve the same end result.  It may  
be by doing what they have done as they have done it, or by modifying  
their techniques to suit your style of building.  By all  means, learn  
from others.  That is what has been so great about this list for so  
long.  We all are willing to share what we do, and will pass on hints  
and tips to any who ask.  If they follow what we do to the letter,  
great.  If they change it up a bit, who cares.  Who knows, you may be  
exposed to a better way of doing what you did to start with.

JP

On Apr 2, 2008, at 5:48 PM, Jim Landon wrote:

> On the Flckr web site listed below I have posted photos that show my  
> research into how wing rib caps, fabric valleys, rib stitches and  
> rib tapes should be represented on wwi models.
>
> It seems to me that most wwi modelers attempt to make cockpit  
> details, engine details, gun details, props, paint schemes, markings  
> etc. as accurate as humanly possible, but tend to neglect wing  
> surface details.
>
> I submit that the same attention to detail should be applied to wing  
> surface detail.
>
> I'd like to know what you all think about this. You can easily post  
> comments on the Flickr site (and I'm anxious to see if I get the  
> promised emails from Flickr when people post comments). And of  
> course if you prefer you can post comments here on the list. Or both  
> places.
>
> There are also new photos of the lower wing of my 1:48 Eduard  
> Nieuport 11 where I am attempting to apply my research. I need help  
> to find a better way to depict the rib caps (not rib tapes).
>
> I am also experimenting with ways to make teeney-weeney stitches and  
> suggestions are VERY welcome.
>
> TIA
>
> Jim
>
> http://www.flickr.com/gp/14279793@N06/u2rE9W
>
> From: thegreatlandoni at hotmail.com
> To: wwi at wwi-models.org
> Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 21:29:31 +0000
> Subject: Re: [WWI] Attaching pix to posts (was: New models postes)
>
> <<Flickr is quite good as well.>>
>
> Thanks Diego old buddy old pal. When I went there to check it out I  
> found that I was already a member. !!?? Then I slowly remembered  
> that I had to sign up one time long ago when a classmate posted high  
> school reunion photos on Flickr.
>
> So I posted 11 OT photos and I'm now a Flickr fan.
>
> Everybody please try this link and let me know if you get in without  
> registering (I chose the "public" option).
>
> And please comment on the pix either there or here.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/gp/14279793@N06/u2rE9W
>
> Jim
>
>
> > From: dfernet0 at rosario.gov.ar
> > To: wwi at wwi-models.org
> > Date: Tue, 1 Apr 2008 14:47:07 -0300
> > Subject: Re: [WWI] Attaching pix to posts (was: New models postes)
> >
> > > I'll look into "shutterbug". I've heard of something called "photo
> > bucket".
> >
> > Flickr is quite good as well.
> > D.
> > unless you want to post filthy pictures.
> >
>

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