Several years ago, FSM did an article on reproducing the ‘ripple’ effect on aluminum skin aircraft. I’m attempting to do this with an old 1.48 Arii/Otaki Ki-45 kit. I’ve started a bit but if anyone still has that article (or if it can be posted on this site, Mr. Boyer [:)]) I would apprciate if it could be scanned-emailed or photocopied-snail-mailed to me. I’d pay any incurred expense or postage.
Or even if anybody has any advice I’d be glad to here it.
Thanks.
Hideho neighbor!
I couldn’t find my copy of the article, but i used the technique on a Hasegawa F4U-4 i still have yet to finish.
If you can find a small-blade curved disposable surgical scalpel, use that to scrape shallow groves along areas where panels are riveted or spot-welded to fuselage and wing structural members. Use photos, molded-one riveting or cutaway drawings to establish locations for these scrapes.
Then go over them with, ultra-fine steel wool, 800 or 1,000-grit wet-or-dry sandpaper or sanding film and then plastic polish to smooth out the scrape marks and make them a little more subtle. After painting and weathering, the differences in the skin panels will make things stand out.
Hope this helps,
Mike Still
Wahoo! a response! Thanks, Mike. I’ll give it a try. I may have to use a curved x-acto blade if I don’t find a source for the disposable scalpels.
Yeah, the curved woodcarving blade for the No. 11 handle should work okay. Just don’t scrape too deep with it. We’re talking in the 1/64th inch or shallower category here lol.
WOW! blast from the past, I know, but I just found this post (I was bored) and I too would like to know more about this subject. anyone got any other ideas?
Try this. http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/stressedskineffectkh_1.htm I think it looks very good.
HA that was the link i was looking for over at LSP.
I just happend to stumble across it this week. Im still new to this, so I am soaking up alot of stuff. I think that effect looks really good. I would not mind trying it.
That was the Feb. 1994 issue of FSM. I have it in my little glue soaked hands, Pm me with your email addy and I will scan and send it to you.
Frank
Aurora-7:
You may find this link of interest:
http://www.kitparade.com/gallery01/a20jg_1.htm
This is the A-20A done by Mr. Jaroslav Galler and is the nicest stressed skin job I have seen. A few years back I sent an e-mail to Mr. Galler and he kindly sent me his step by step procedure. He is a very nice person and exemplifies what a “role model” (no pun intended) in this hobby is. I am sure if you sent him an e-mail, he would be happy to share his knowledge with you, too.
I’ve got to master this, I need it for my B-52. The sides behind the flight deck have quite a few heavy ripples.