Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Hello ... after some time back. I was scrolling through photos of the designs and assemblies I did since I started with the idea of making my own kits 18 months ago. It is very interesting to see the "evolution" not only of the idea itself (starting with a foam board puzzle done with students, but then still laughing when I see the first attempt of a puzzle in mount board), but especially of how the manual skill of assembling improves. Everybody will say now: "well, obvious, seriously what are you talking about?", but then I was not expecting to see it that obvious in the assembled kits. Meanwhile, also interesting fact, it becomes a matter of the quality of photography and other levels of finishing. Here the very first attempts :
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 After several other trials and car designs, ... here the Ford Roadster of 1930 in Balsa. First design and assembly:
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 Second trial ... eliminating mistakes in the design and improving details. I was thinking: wow, that is really good!
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 23, 2016 Author Posted February 23, 2016 (edited) Some days ago, I finished my thrid trial of the Ford Roadster 1930. I changed mainly attitude towards the kit. While in the beginning I was concentrating on the fact that the kit can be assembled as it is (as if you buy it in the shop and you don't need anything else than a glue), I took more time, sandpaper and started to assemble carefully using even a new glue. The result is astonishing (to me at least), but now I see that I need to treat the wood and work on photography skills. Designed from scratch in scale 1:20 based on photographies and blueprint, ca 165 single pieces assembled, all in 1mm Balsawood. I hope you don't mind if I pass the borders of plastic and metal and go back to the old 40ies and 50ies of Hudson Miniatures and others ... Edited February 24, 2016 by Balsa Manufaktur
Dandydan Posted February 23, 2016 Posted February 23, 2016 Definitely a venture into a seldom thought of area anymore-nice job with it.
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 Thanks Let's see what's next.
1930fordpickup Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 I like it. The last one is a coupe, not a roadster. You can definitely see the improvement you are making through your pictures. Keep up the progress.
Speedfreak Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 That's very cool Andreas, that middle shot of the side/front is really nice, shows your work well. I bet it's a fun medium to work with.
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) I like it. The last one is a coupe, not a roadster. You can definitely see the improvement you are making through your pictures. Keep up the progress. Ups you are right... coupe. ... Thanks for encouraging ! Edited February 24, 2016 by Balsa Manufaktur
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 (edited) That's very cool Andreas, that middle shot of the side/front is really nice, shows your work well. I bet it's a fun medium to work with. Yes it is fun. Meanwhile I could not imagine to do a ready made kit. I would need to go over it heavily with customization as you guys often are doing. I have "ready to build" a Ford Model T 1908 (170 pieces) and a Ford Roadster De Luxe 1936 (200 pieces). This last one is from a different kind, feel almost a little carpenter ... I hope I can show them in some days . Edited February 24, 2016 by Balsa Manufaktur
Ace-Garageguy Posted February 24, 2016 Posted February 24, 2016 The balsa coupe is most impressive, and I'd be proud of it had I built it myself. It's remarkable what you've achieved using materials that aren't really well suited to doing this kind of work, materials and techniques that were all the modelers in the 1940s and early '50s had, as you note.So many builders today complain if their pre-molded parts don't fit perfectly, or if they have to remove a little molding flash; it's good to be reminded what can be done with nothing other than flat pieces of wood as a starting point.
Balsa Manufaktur Posted February 24, 2016 Author Posted February 24, 2016 The balsa coupe is most impressive, and I'd be proud of it had I built it myself. It's remarkable what you've achieved using materials that aren't really well suited to doing this kind of work, materials and techniques that were all the modelers in the 1940s and early '50s had, as you note.So many builders today complain if their pre-molded parts don't fit perfectly, or if they have to remove a little molding flash; it's good to be reminded what can be done with nothing other than flat pieces of wood as a starting point.Hi Bill ... your words are amazingly encouraging. Thanks !!
Modelbuilder Mark Posted February 26, 2016 Posted February 26, 2016 Very unique, and a pleasure to see. Very cool work.
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