Fat Man (F31) at 1/24

[Nando]

Hi to all.
As promised, a few months ago I started working on the Fat Man project.
Sorry for the delay in updating you about on the progresses i've made, but I already difficult to manage a thread, then two are beyond me.
Now that the project is near the completion, I can show You the main steps I did, while I was developing and making the model. Many more pictures are available at the web album.

 

[Nando]

Tail

First of all I worked on the tail.

This is the more complex part of the bomb with a bunch of strange structures over and inside it: a sort of hopper, reinforcements, fairings, etc.
First I designed them in Sketchup, then I developed them in Pepakura and finally I colorized and I added the details , mainly rivets, with Inkscape.

The I built a prototype.

 

[Nando]

The Bomb

In the same manner I designed, developed and prototyped the bomb's body.

 

[Nando]

Color pattern

With the shape of the bomb defined, i have to reproduce the particular color pattern with the sealing sprayed over the joints of the bomb's ellipse: a new challenge for my skill. I used Gimp for to overlap the layers of different colors, using a high level of definition for to ensure the same scalabilty of a vectorized graphic drawing.

The I started the beta test built of the model.

More to follow.
Best regards, Nando

 

[Nando]

The Trailer

In the mean time I was designing the trailer used at Tinian to transport the bomb from the assembly building to the load pit.

 

[Nando]

The wheels

The most challenging part to design in the trailer were the wheels.
After many attempts I choose the solution below.

Then I worked on the graphics to render the sculptures on the tire.

 

[niebla de fuego]

A nice design, and with your usual high quality. It is a pleasure to see your work!

 

[Nando]

The cradle

Thank you Ruben for Your appreciations.

The next was the bomb's cradle prototype.

 

[Nando]

The Chassis

In this case the most tricky part is the support of the forward steerable axis.

The tiller

The prototyping phase is complete. Then the Beta-test built.

 

[Nando]

Completing the Bomb

I can complete the final version of the bomb with details and tail.

The Jagi antennas

The tail

A jig for the tail hopper (the "California Parachute")

A preliminary version of the kit.

The beta test completed

 

[Nando]

Trailer Beta Test

Starting from the cradle I built the beta version of the trailer after some modification and the color applied.

Here a draft version of the sheet with an assembly diagram.

Then the flat section of the trailer.

A jig for mount the forward section of the trailer.

The rear supports for the wheels.

The forward support for the steerable axis.

The front sterable axis

The pivots.

The tiller.

Now the test build is complete and I have to edit the final version and the instructions.

Best regards, Nando

 

[treadhead1952]

Hi Nando,

That is some excellent workmanship in the layout and design of this project. Those tires and wheels look better than some car and truck model designs that I have paid money for.:thumb:

 

[niebla de fuego]

Nando:
seeing your design of the bombs is a good lesson. Not only in design but also in the precision of building.
The details you add are very good, and make beautiful models. Not only the bomb, but the cart too are impressive.

 

[Nando]

Thank You Jay & Ruben for your praises.
I'm busy right now on writing the instructions. Here an example of the assembly diagrams i'm working on.



Best, Nando :thumb:

 

[Zathros]

Nando, you model is incredible!! I love the detail ou gave us. You will be selling this through ECardmodels if I am correct?

 

[Nando]

Nando, you model is incredible!! I love the detail ou gave us. You will be selling this through ECardmodels if I am correct?

Thanks Zathros.
About the availability of the Fat Man model at Ecardmodels I have to tell you something of my previous design projects.
I gave for free all the models I designed before the Little Boy. You can find all of them at the Jonathan's site. They are the three missiles that are the components of the ABM Safeguard System: the Sprint, the Hibex and the Spartan. Another one also available at the same site is the Sopwith Swallow. The first two were designed using mathematics and drawing tools like Word. The Spartan and the Sopwith were designed using Sketchup, Pepakura, Inkscape, Paint.net, Gimp, etc. After a unsuccessful attempt to design the Galaxy, I started the design of the LB and it was a true "giant leap" for me and it ended in a final release that many of those who followed my project, assessed by professional. I never thought that my hobby could become a professional business, and so I think today, but the possibility to gain some money to pay at least in part ink, paper and books I used in my project seemed to me a good chance. So Little Boy now is available at ECardmodels and his pair, the Fat Man, will be also. I don't know if I'll design other models and if they'll be available for free or not, but i'm sure that this will never be a business for me and that I'll never extinguish the debt that i have toward those who have made so many models available for free.
I have some project suspended, and in the future may be i can complete someone of them. Can You recognize them?

 

[Nando]

Some other

 

[Zathros]

Yes, I can. Just to be fair, I should let you know that the A90 I have is almost done, the nose is extremely difficult. I would be interested to see what you come up with. My model unfolds perfectly, but you will soon find out that the difficulty with the nose will make this model extremely "trying". I have built it, but it will need a outer skin to decorate it as the fuselage needs alignment marks. I truly think it would be better served by being built, then spray painted.

As far as models go, I tend to go for and promote the free ones but I do buy some. Do what you need to do. The big problem is ECardmodels offers no protection, and once it is out, it will be lost, and that's not just ECardmodels, it is virtually everyone else. At least with Ecardmodels, you will get it out there. It is just a sad reality. I think GREMIR is the closest that anyone can get to protection but even then, unscrupulous people will do what they do, steal.

 

[Nando]

I noted that the structure of the trail is weak at the joint of the forward support and it tends to bend slightly under the weight of the bomb (sig!). May be we can think to modify the design or stiffen the bars with cardboard, or metallic wire, but it's to late.
I tought to sustain the forward part with a strut, but it was strange a support under the trailer. But why not a can of paint? It's better to hide the strut, showing it, in the shape of an object that is plausible.
Here some picture.

Best, Nando

 

[Zathros]

That is a superb can of paint. There was no guessing. I had to read why you made a can of paint!!