Rolls Royce Merlin Engine for Spitfire by Dan Vadas - FINISHED - Alin Osarik design - 1/33 scale - Card

[Dan Vadas]

Hi all,

 

Here's a tricky build. It's a 1/33 scale attempt at a Rolls Royce Merlin engine to be displayed as a "stand-alone" model next to the Mk. IX Spitfire I built. It's a design by Alin Osarik and a downloadable copy of it can only be found on THIS SITE.

 

As far as I'm aware no-one has successfully managed to build one at this small a scale, and no wonder - some of the parts are TINY  . All other builds I have seen have been blown up to 1/16 scale. But I'll have a go  .

 

Here's a pic of the parts. They come on one page, but there are a further 34 pages of step-by-step rendered photo instructions :

 

One example of the size of the parts :

And this is what I've done so far. This is the start of the engine compartment framework that supports the engine. It's been designed to fit inside the Halinski Card Spitfire, which may be a future build for me as I have a 2nd model Spitfire that came with the original kit that I've already built.

 

Danny

[druxey]

Aiee! Quite the challenge, Danny. I'll look on from the balcony....

[popeye the sailor]

is the other spitfire the same scale as the engine?  are you planning to install it?

[Canute]

Kowabonga, those are some teeny parts. I'll join Druxey in the balcony and bring my binoculars.

[TOM G]

I don't know how you can do it....... were talking micro and working with paper......... But i do know you will take the build to the blue max.🙂

[maaaslo]

9 hours ago, Dan Vadas said:

 

 

As far as I'm aware no-one has successfully managed to build one at this small a scale, and no wonder - some of the parts are TINY...

well, I might ruin your day...

 

http://www.papirove-modely.cz/galerie/418

 

 

[pontiachedmark]

Gidday Danny.

I'm coming along for the ride.

My failing eyes preclude me from building anything on this scale.

I wish you all the best in your endeavours,

Mark.

[Kevin]

ooooooh , permission to follow Dan?

[maaaslo]

2 hours ago, pontiachedmark said:

Gidday Danny.

I'm coming along for the ride.

My failing eyes preclude me from building anything on this scale.

I wish you all the best in your endeavours,

Mark.

I dont think its to do with scale. Its to do with the actual size of the model... 

[Dan Vadas]

7 hours ago, maaaslo said:

well, I might ruin your day...

 

http://www.papirove-modely.cz/galerie/418

 

 

No Pav, it didn't  . Thanks for the link, but it's not actually the same one that I've downloaded even though it appears to be the same model engine and at 1/33 scale. That one looks like a scratchbuild, and a well done one at that. Just a pity that there weren't more pics.

 

And a welcome to all you guys as well  .

 

Danny

[maaaslo]

1 minute ago, Dan Vadas said:

No Pav, it didn't  . Thanks for the link, but it's not actually the same one that I've downloaded even though it appears to be the same model engine and at 1/33 scale. That one looks like a scratchbuild, and a well done one at that.

 

Danny

no Danny. those are Alin's engines... no scratch. Bernie is in a class of his own. same as Doris, he is well known for his mastery. maybe not in the Oz, but in Central Europe his name means quality work...

[Dan Vadas]

15 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

is the other spitfire the same scale as the engine?  are you planning to install it?

Yes it is Popeye. If I build the 2nd Spitfire I'll build another engine as well and install it. However it might be a while coming, as I already have the next kit to follow after this build. More details on that one will be coming when I finish this one  .

 

Danny

[Dan Vadas]

A welcome to all that are following this build  . I hope I can do it justice.

 

I reverse-printed a sheet of parts and laminated a backing piece to the firewall and side frame pieces. The firewall piece is not strictly accurate, but it's better than a simple white face. Cutting the holes out of the framing sections took a lot of care :

 

Next I detailed the firewall. The back side :

 

And the front. I used 0.2mm soft brass wire for the tubing :

 

Some of the bracing for the framework was really tiny. These pieces are only 0.4mm wide at the narrow points :

 

Gussets added :

 

Danny

 

[James H]

Outstanding 👍

[Dan Vadas]

After gluing the framing to the bulkead I painted all the brass and touched up the edges using Acrylic mixed on a pallette :

 

I almost forgot two lines. I'll touch them up next time I mix up this colour, as well as any small bits I missed. That will finish the framing part of the build. Here's a pic for size reference :

Next up I start the engine itself.

 

Danny

[Sea Hoss]

Just Wow!

[CDW]

The color of the paper parts is outstanding. Are the parts printed on a home printer or in a print shop?

[pontiachedmark]

Gidday Danny.

Beautiful work.

I am still amazed at the scale.

All the best,

Mark.

[Dan Vadas]

4 hours ago, CDW said:

The color of the paper parts is outstanding. Are the parts printed on a home printer or in a print shop?

Both, and there's no noticeable difference. I made a spare on my home printer.

 

Danny

[mtaylor]

Amazing work, Danny.  We don't (or at least I didn't) realize how tiny that is until you had it in your hand.

[vossiewulf]

The cool thing about the Merlin is how much more efficient it was than its German contemporaries. It only displaced ~27 liters, whereas the DB 601 was ~34 liters, DB603 ~45 liters, the DB 605 ~38 and the Jumo 213 ~ 35 liters. All of them weighed considerably more than the Merlin and in most cases were still at a slight HP disadvantage at most points in the war.

 

Good luck Danny, looks like you will need it

 

[Kevin]

WOW, my eyes hurt just thinking about it

 

[CDW]

45 minutes ago, Dan Vadas said:

Both, and there's no noticeable difference. I made a spare on my home printer.

 

Danny

Which model of home printer are you using Danny? Factory ink I presume?

[gjdale]

I see you found that giant fake hand again Danny! 😉

[amateur]

That is small.....

 

what is the thickness of cardstock you use? 

 

Jan

[Dan Vadas]

14 hours ago, CDW said:

Which model of home printer are you using Danny? Factory ink I presume?

Epson XP-520 with cheap aftermarket ink  .

 

8 hours ago, amateur said:

That is small.....

what is the thickness of cardstock you use? 

0.25mm Ultra Premium Matte Photo paper for the printed parts, the same for single laminations and up to 0.5mm and 1.0mm for thicker laminations depending on the part.

 

Danny

[CDW]

23 minutes ago, Dan Vadas said:

Epson XP-520 with cheap aftermarket ink  .

Wow, that is amazing Danny. I would'a never thunk it (the cheap aftermarket ink). What a pleasant surprise. The Epson printer is what I have, too. Never would have dreamed it could print so well as that.

[popeye the sailor]

look'in awesome ........the size is even more amazing!   very well done on the tubing........that looks great too  

[JohnB40]

Nice one Danny.

[Dan Vadas]

Thank you for all the comments and "Likes"  .

 

The first part of the engine in the instructions is the Supercharger. I've nearly completed it below :

 

These parts took me a while to cut. So far I've come across four similar ones, all turned out fine with no accidents despite some of them being only 0.35mm wide :

  

The supercharger finished :

 

I reinforced the engine block with some 0.5mm card :

 

Another tricky piece :

 

The cylinder heads took quite a bit of work due to the "bumps" on the sides :

 

The oil pan :

 

Danny