Soviet Acrobats

Chap · July 06, 2008, 07:57:43 PM

Saturday and today were a little more hectic then I anticipated, so I will be starting tomorrow as I have the day off.

A small snippet of the backstory: A German built Type "Y" zeppelin (LZ120 "Bodensee") is handed over to Italy in 1921 as part of war reparations and renamed "Esperia", in 1925 a storm blows the "Esperia" off course and she crash lands in Soviet territory, she is rebuilt and impressed into military service as a maritime patrol ship and modified to launch and retrieve aircraft.

After drawing ideas from the USS Macon and Akron, Osprey's lovely book Zeppelins: German Airships 1900-40, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and "Crimson Skies" all the design work is now finished. The actual aircraft will be fairly straight forward; the daunting part will be the partial 1/72 zeppelin I plan on building for the diorama. So in true group build tradition, the customary pre-commencement photo.

~Steve

Chap · July 07, 2008, 10:23:33 AM

First Update:

Cockpit is finished and the fuselage is ready to be buttoned up.

A close up of Captain Vasilii Sgibnev with a somewhat bewildered look upon his face, probably wondering why he volunteered for this outfit.

~Steve

cthulhu77 · July 07, 2008, 11:08:28 AM

Dude...that photo alone makes the build worthwhile !!!

I love it !

sotoolslinger · July 07, 2008, 02:40:27 PM

Are aliens allowed on this site ,cause humans cannot paint that small

John Howling Mouse · July 07, 2008, 05:06:22 PM

Quote from: Chap on July 07, 2008, 10:23:33 AM
A close up of Captain Vasilii Sgibnev with a somewhat bewildered look upon his face, probably wondering why he volunteered for this outfit.

Probably wondering where the FRAK his lower legs went?!

Captain Canada · July 07, 2008, 05:34:03 PM

Nice work ! I think Vasilii looks bewildered 'cause he can't believe he just dropped that bottle of Vodka he had firmly clamped between his hands !

Chap · July 07, 2008, 07:19:15 PM

Thank you all for the kind words.

Quote from: John Howling Mouse on July 07, 2008, 05:06:22 PM
Quote from: Chap on July 07, 2008, 10:23:33 AM
A close up of Captain Vasilii Sgibnev with a somewhat bewildered look upon his face, probably wondering why he volunteered for this outfit.

Probably wondering where the FRAK his lower legs went?!

JHM, the pilot is from a long gone Heller P-38 and instead of having a correct cockpit; Heller decided to lop off the pilots legs.

Quote from: Captain Canada on July 07, 2008, 05:34:03 PM
Nice work ! I think Vasilii looks bewildered 'cause he can't believe he just dropped that bottle of Vodka he had firmly clamped between his hands !

Could very well be Cap'n!

End of Monday Update:

The side pieces to the main trapeze.

The partial zeppelin frame.

~Steve

cthulhu77 · July 07, 2008, 07:47:13 PM

two hands clapping down here in AZ !

Brian da Basher · July 08, 2008, 01:46:32 AM

Same here in PA! That's a wonderfully ambitious project, Chap and you know I'm watching with keen interest Excellent work! That little fighter is perfect to be launched from an airship!

Brian da Basher

nev · July 08, 2008, 04:21:27 AM

WHOA! Zeppellin Frame?

ZEPPELLIN FRAME?

??

*faints*

Weaver · July 08, 2008, 04:48:44 AM

Hell-fire: that's an original idea!

Gary · July 08, 2008, 04:51:52 AM

Looking at the pilot shot I was thinking he was regretting pulling those negative G's and was watching the roll of toilet paper float out of the cockpit. He has a kind of constipated look on his face.

But now when you say... Zeppelin. Talk about a Stairway to Heaven! Wowsers!

sotoolslinger · July 08, 2008, 02:28:56 PM

Continuing to be too cool.... man I wish I could scratchbuild

Chap · July 08, 2008, 07:08:44 PM

Thanks Gents!

End of Tuesday Update:

Not much progress today, but some.

I have simplified the trapeze setup.

~Steve

John Howling Mouse · July 08, 2008, 08:41:40 PM

All this and for a one-week GB?! That's pretty amazing. Looking very promising, Steve!