Author Topic: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout  (Read 1136 times)

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« on: January 30, 2023, 04:19:34 PM »
Hi all,
Seven months ago I decided to scratchbuild a model of a Skycraft Scout microlight, inspired by Jonathan Mauchline's (chief flying instructor at my local aero club) resurrection of Mk.III ZK-RWW. When I saw how simple the real deal was I figured it wouldn't be that hard to build my own in scale...

ZK-RWW Whanganui 080522 Zac Yates by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I started with a three-view drawing from the internet, suitably scaled to 1/48 (chosen because I found a seat so scaled in my spares that looked about right) and printed off to act as an assembly guide. From there it was a matter of cutting strips from corrugated styrene sheet for the wing spars and ribs, and using a rectangular section of scrap styrene for the fuselage keel. I then hunted through 30yr of spare parts for various elements I couldn't make myself - wheels and prop chief among them - and other parts that could be combined for elements such as the distinctive tapered tuned exhaust.
1/48 scratchbuilt Skycraft Scout Mk.III by Zac Yates, on Flickr
1/48 scratchbuilt Skycraft Scout Mk.III by Zac Yates, on Flickr

For the wings and control surfaces I decided to roughly approximate the real deal by laying down a sheet of thin clear styrene, adding the spar and ribs, and then a top sheet of clear styrene. Originally I smothered the inside face of each wing sheet but this resulted in slight warping.
1/48 scratchbuilt Skycraft Scout Mk.III by Zac Yates, on Flickr
1/48 scratchbuilt Skycraft Scout Mk.III by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I tried to fix this with hot water and a couple of books but the result was an even more warped and shrunken pair of wings. Disheartened, I put the assembled fuselage with tail and other parts aside while I focused on other projects. I then replicated the original wing idea minus the excess glue, ie only applying glue to the ribs. This means a non-prototypical open trailing edge but a much nicer appearance. When rigging a 1/1 scale Scout someone of my height can just fit under the wingtips - it turns out Humbrol tinlets are perfect for the job in this scale!
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I reckon rigging RWW for flight takes about half as long as it did for this model. The elastic is overscale but I feel captures the look well. Add the prop (cut down from a Fokker Dr.I) and distinctive motorbike fuel tank (in this case a blister from...something. Fw190?) and voila! Mini-RWW!
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I was dropping off another commissioned model at the airport so figured there was no time like the present to reveal my secret project to an unsuspecting Jonny, who had been out Austering. He was floored and rather taken by the model, which was a very humbling reaction.
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

He has recently returned to the hobby himself and made a couple of display bases for 1/72 WW2 fighters, one of which he quickly evicted so it could be repurposed!
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Now to figure out a way to display the two ZK-RWWs together...and find a come-back for those smart alecks who immediately say "Well you have to build the other two he owns..."!!
« Last Edit: January 30, 2023, 04:47:45 PM by KiwiZac »
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2023, 01:16:28 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2023, 05:16:44 AM »
That is really well done  :smiley:

Offline apophenia

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2023, 05:50:00 AM »
Very nice build! And a great subject  :smiley:
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2023, 10:58:56 AM »
Great scratchbuild, Zac! It must be very rewarding to have the 1:1 owner like it so much. It reminds me of the Santos-Dumont Demoiselle:


Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2023, 07:27:59 AM »
The Scout is very Demoiselle - it even has wingwarping!!
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

Offline raafif

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2023, 07:43:53 AM »
Is wing-warping more effective than wing-flapping ? ???

Offline Dr. YoKai

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2023, 05:09:44 AM »
 What a little gem!

Offline John Howling Mouse

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Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #8 on: April 03, 2023, 10:54:22 AM »
You've taken your modeling skills to a whole new level! Amazing craftsmanship!
Saving the globe from plastic pollution one kitbashed model at a time.

Offline KiwiZac

  • The Modeller Formerly Known As K5054NZ
Re: Scratchbuilt 1/48 Skycraft Scout
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2023, 10:03:01 AM »
Thank you Baz! High praise indeed!
Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG"
https://linktr.ee/zacyates