Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => "Automatons on Parade" Uninhabited/autonomous vehicles GB => Topic started by: robunos on January 07, 2023, 03:24:40 AM
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Okay . . .
For this Build, the 'What-If', is that that when the United Kingdom decide to build a ballistic missile to replace the V-Bombers, instead of effectively copying the US Atlas, a design based on Black Knight / Black Arrow technology is pursued . . .
More when it happens . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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:smiley:
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Okay . . .
So, to build this model I'll be using this kit,
(https://i.postimg.cc/9msxg96h/00-box.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I acquired it for another project that didn't go ahead, so let's see what we can make of it . . .
The main part of the kit are the two halves of the main body,
(https://i.postimg.cc/zqqxQ8cV/01-body-halves.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
there's a bit of warpage, so some strong glue and tape / clamping will be required. But first there is some internal structure to be added. These are the parts before being worked on,
(https://i.postimg.cc/JRKpVvfK/01-inside-bits.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
after 'modification',
(https://i.postimg.cc/8pf4v5jn/01-tail-ring.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/J12KtJ4k/01-tail-ring-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
and then after installation.
(https://i.postimg.cc/pRbGDDQQ/01-inside-body.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Then I glued the two body halves together, with strong glue and tape.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XWPDvMpz/01-body-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
While that was drying down, I worked on the nose cone. I was just going to glue it to the top of the rocket, but then I decided to make it removable, so I made a base from one of the many inside pieces left over(the original kit is designed to open, so you can see the internal structures).
(https://i.postimg.cc/W23X2SjV/01-nose-base.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This was then glued on to the nose cone.
(https://i.postimg.cc/QhQ6SHS2/01-nose-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Next I looked at the rocket nozzle. As it stood, I thought it was too big and needed reducing in size. So I marked it up,
(https://i.postimg.cc/Ykg8qvcv/02-nozzle-pre.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
before cutting it down, and sanding it to remove the shiny texture.
(https://i.postimg.cc/5JDnVwrc/02-nozzle-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Again using some of the internal parts, I made up an engine mount. I made turbopump exhausts from some Evergreen tube I had.
(https://i.postimg.cc/NGh4kcXG/02-engine-mount.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
When the body was completely dry, I added some plastic strip at top and bottom, this was to cover some gaps where the two body halves would have hinged together in the original kit . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/2mB9bHW8/01-body-rings.jpg) (https://postimages.org/),
Next step is to add some detail to the body . . .
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Nice work, so far! That's an ancient kit, too.
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Quality craftsmanship on display.
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Cool! I like it!
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Thanks for the praise, Gents, but it's just me sticking bits of plastic together . . . :-[
Anyway, I forgot to mention, the original kit has been Scale-O-Rama-ed to 1/72 which means the Black Baron works out to about the same size as a Redstone or Atlas . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Appreciate detailed coverage of build with Evergreen touches. :smiley:
Had sister kit Jupiter C which was warped sooo bad threw it out.
see attached
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Scale-o-rame is looking fab ... and good call on making the nose detachable :smiley:
... but it's just me sticking bits of plastic together ...
And it's just us getting vicarious thrills by watching ;)
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The various bits look good!
Bill - I had a reissue of the Hawk Jupiter-C when I was a kid and I remember it was an ill fitting kit back then.
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:smiley: :smiley:
The planned but unbuilt Black Knight II was to have had the body diameter increased to 4'6" (54") which,
as it happens, was the diameter of the 2nd stage of Black Arrow.
;)
Drawings:
From Sea to Air: The Heritage of Sam Saunders
A.E. Tagg & R.L. Wheeler, Crossprint 1989
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I have that book, and I consulted those drawings when planning this build.
In terms of the Back Story :-
"It was recognised from the start of the programme that the 'Black Baron' had the potential to be used as a satellite launcher, thus the nose of the vehicle was designed to be able to accommodate a satellite payload, as an alternative to a warhead."
cheers,
Robin.
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Looks like an interesting book - any reviews of it?
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Looks like an interesting book - any reviews of it?
The two books, From Sea to Air and From River to Sea combined are probably the
most complete history of Sam Saunders and the companies that bore his name yet
written, and most likely won't be superseded any time soon.
I recommend them, but be aware that the writing style is of the old school continuous
narrative type and the layout isn't particularly user friendly with the text not aligning
very well with the illustrated sections. Even though they were published in 1989 and
1993, respectively, they're not as clean as more modern books.
From Sea to Air
https://www.addall.com/SuperRare/UsedPage.html?id=230114133404144570 (https://www.addall.com/SuperRare/UsedPage.html?id=230114133404144570)
From River to Sea
https://www.addall.com/SuperRare/UsedPage.html?id=230114133141956438 (https://www.addall.com/SuperRare/UsedPage.html?id=230114133141956438)
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Ta
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Okay . . . another brief update, I've added some details to the model, nothing too excessive,
(https://i.postimg.cc/WN3tRgmd/02-details-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Now it's off to the Paint Shop . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Looks like an interesting book - any reviews of it?
Can't speak to 'From River to Sea', but I second the recommendation of 'From Sea to Air'. IMHO, it's better than the Putnam's book . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Okay . . .
Despite it's name, the 'Black Baron' is mostly white . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/hc6jJCDL/IMG-2652.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/18zLN6B1)
Next step is to sort out some decals, and finish off the engine.
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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nd we're done !
Black Baron IRBM, RAF, 'somewhere in England', 1964 . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZZNmNqSf/black-baron-01.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/3KW5x81F/black-baron-12.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/HpKGJqPD/black-baron-14.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
More images in the Gallery Thread.
That's All, Folks . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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That turned out very nicely! Well done!
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:smiley:
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Nice one ! :smiley: :smiley:
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Great result, especially considering the source kit.
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Concur! Very nice build :smiley:
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:smiley:
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Very neat. Nice work
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Looks great!
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Thanks, Gents . . . :-[
It wasn't a complicated Build, but I'm pleased with how it came out. The colours and markings are patterned after the Thor missiles that were operated by the RAF in the 1960s. The 'orange' inside the nozzle is supposed to be copper, but it's a funny colour in the jar. Also the RV wouldn't stay in place, so I've had to glue it on . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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A follow up development could be a road mobile version.
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I've been looking at developments and derivatives, but rather than buying kits, I'll be 3-D printing them . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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:smiley: