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Bell 47 H-1 |
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Fuselage pattern |
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This section illustrates the process required to
fabricate the canopy pattern and is arguably the most time consuming. The process starts with the profiles that were used in an earlier stage. Soft balsa wood is then carved and sanded to shape with interleaving thin plates of plastic card. On the first half these were made so that the plastic card could be removed. Having completed one side these plates are then removed and a second set made for the other side. Then the whole assembly can be glued together with confidence that the two halves will be symmetrical. |
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The interleaving plastic card can clearly be seen in this picture. Soft balsa wood and clean PermaGrit tools are used to ease the carving process. |
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The same process is applied to the fake fuel tanks and the side fairings. Having completed the carving process the wood is then treated to several coats of epoxy to achieve a nice smooth hard surface. In this example epoxy from West System was used. |
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Another view of the wooden fuselage pattern. The profile of this back section will be used in the next stage when the profile of the front of the tail section is required. |
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The pattern is spray painted a base colour of white to highlight any imperfections with the shape. The side fairings have been discarded because at this stage it is unknown whether or not an exhaust can be fabricated to fit within the fairing and not overheat or melt the fairing. This variant of the Bell 47 often flew without side fairing to allow convenient access to the mechanics anyway. |
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Small indents (circled in the picture) are maintained in the middle of the canopy to act as reference points in subsequent stages of assembly. |
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The pattern is painted different colours to reaffirm that the shape is indeed symmetrical and a faithful representation of the full-size. The added benefit is that the extra layers of paint will be moulded in the next stage which will make it easy to mask the canopy when painted for real. |
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Webmaster: John Neasham |
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