A deployed parachute

Modeling Subjects Scratchbuilding
21

I have done this for a class project many years ago . This is the way we did it .Remember the ubiquitous “little green soldiers”? Well we had to use them.We took balloonsand blew them up.These were very small spheroid types and then, we did the chutes .We laid thin cotton (old "T " shirt material ) over the balloons and then coated it (soaked) the material in a very strong mixture of starch and flour till they looked right and then let them dry .When dry we removed the balloons and cut the edges to shape and using thread for the risers made our paratroopers. The reason ? Well , we were studying the WW2 invasions of EUROPE by the ALLIES and our teachers thought we would as students , let more sink in if we had models to look at . It worked too ! Imagine walking into a history classroom and seeing at least 200 little soldiers hanging in different levels from the ceiling ! WITH their C47 planes too ! tankerbuilder

22

Thanks tankerbuilder.

I have noticed a few posts that I think may have been intended for elsewhere.

I thought I would try to include some images of my progress, here goes.

Well that was a bust.

Sorry, it was not as easy as I thought it would be.

Is there a quick guide to adding images to a post?

Thanks

23

Are your images on a photo hosting site such as Photobucket? If so, move your cursor over the pic you wish to display here, a drop down menu will appear, select and copy the URL IMG code, then paste that code onto your post. The image should then appear when the post appears on the thread.

24

Use thin white styrene sheet as the process will ‘stretch’ it thinner.

Don’t fuss with texture in this scale, a drybrush of a slightly contrasting white will work to add realism.

Have you considered using hair for the lines? CA glue will not effect it, strong and available in many colors its best find the correct color. Do not paint if possible, magic markers work well to tint.

Good luck & post some pictures of the results!

25

This sounds like I cannot post pictures if I do not have my images hosted someplace, is that the only way to share images?

26

Thanks for the idea of using hair, I never would have thought of that.

The ring-slot chutes I want to make have an opening in the chute that goes all the way around, hence the ‘ring’. Some have 2 rings. So, I choose a clear styrene to try. I am not quite ready for a pull yet. I have painted the styrofoam blank I made to help protect it from the heat, but I am still concerned that will not be enough.

I am considering making a mold and then create a blank from something heavier and more heat resistant.

I wish I could share some images of my form but I do not host any of my images. It appears that is required to share the pics here.

Thanks

27

The only way to post pictures here is to use a photo-hosting site and upload them… PhotoBucket is the most popular, and it’s free…

28

I wanted to share my progress with my parachute mold.

Step 1 - create the indentations in the styrofoam ball a wire.

!(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa356/DMacPhotos/Model Pics/C-130 LAPES/Ring-Slot_Chute_Step_01.jpg)

Step 2 -Shape the indents to be more realistic, small at top, larger toward the middle of the ball.

!(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa356/DMacPhotos/Model Pics/C-130 LAPES/Ring-Slot_Chute_Step_02.jpg)

Step 3 -Cut some of the excess from the bottom of the ball.

!(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa356/DMacPhotos/Model Pics/C-130 LAPES/Ring-Slot_Chute_Step_03.jpg)

Step 4 - Paint the foam with 2 coats of an acrylic paint. This really shows up the imperfections in the foam.

!(http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa356/DMacPhotos/Model Pics/C-130 LAPES/Ring-Slot_Chute_Step_04.jpg)

Step 5 & 6 - Use this foam to make a RTV rubber mold, then use the mold to make about 3 blanks for vacuum-forming, still to come.

29

Outstanding… Keep it up!

30

Wow … and I thought I was going overboard in 1/700. This is going to be outstanding [Y]

31

Try this - When you get the chute figured out then try this .I use ,for very fine stuff Plastic sewing thread .It,s very fine And it can be painted .If the lines must be flat , well for that I am at a loss . tankerbuilder

32

Thanks tankerbuilder, I will get some to try out.

I have not posted any progress on my parachutes because of a small snag. My supply of RTV rubber for making molds has run out and the only supplier I know of, ACE Resins, does seem to be having difficulty filling an order. I will post the results of my molds as soon as I get some. Anybody know of a good supplier of the RTV rubber and Activator, preferably in Canada.

Thanks to everyone for your input, great not be alone in this.