“Long Term Relationships in Modeling”
(A.k.a. Scratch building the Albatross)

Kuklinski’s Natural Law of Modeling: Principle of Appearance: “A half built vacuum formed model impresses people with your skill; a completed vacuum form model looks just like another model.”

Friday, March 3, 2006
Delaware Valley Scale Modelers Clinic
By Joe Vattilana

(Downloadable WORD Version)

1. History
• Liked the Albatross.
• Hooked on scratch building by Fred Yarema and John Rucks.

2. Goal
• Build something impressive.
• Compete in the Nationals.

3. Contest focused
• Alignment, construction, finish (especially.)
• For Nat’s have to get everything right.
• Plan: something unusual, colorful, detailed, presentation.

4. References
• Books.
• NEAM – copy of tech manual and open cockpit day.
• 3 view (key!)
• STUDY THE SUBJECT. (Example, fuselage-keel joints.)
• Building strategy (sheet.)

5. Building the master
• Master – what to vacuum form, make from other things? (Tail spine.)
• Bondo (took 1+ years.)
• Sand and separate cross sections.

6. Kit from John Rucks
• Too thin – going to have problems.
• Re-done by Yarema.

7. Building strategy
• What’s first?
• Did a couple of little things to get into it.
• First focus – cut out parts.




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