Aircraft stands

[homechild]

Does anyone know if it's possible to buy those clear plastic aircraft stands on their own (you know the things I mean, they probably have a really technical name like a flagimgabar or something). I have an idea for a future plane build with the plane in flight and wondered if these can be bought separately or if it's a case of buying a kit and hoping for the best.

[Gern]

I've seen them crop up on ebay occasionally Drew but I think they're leftovers from old kits. There have also been a few threads here showing some home-made stands made from clear perspex. It was quite a while ago but you might be able to find them.

Gern

[AlanG]

Drew. It's easier to buy some clear acrylic/perspex rod and make your own. I've seen them go for far too much money on evilbay

[Guest]

Italeria make a set of 2 for £5, just google it and you should find them, i know model hobbies sell them.

[stona]

Here's what I do. Acrylic rod fits into a plastic tube in the model. I use a clear acrylic base as my models sit on glass shelves but it can be anything really.

Cheers

Steve

[homechild]

Thanks for all of your replies, I think I'll go with getting the clear acrylic rods and doing it myself rather than pay over the odds for something.

Quick question though, Steve, how did you get the rod bent like that?

[stona]

Simply heat it up in a pan of boilng water and gently bend it. Take your time and don't try to bend it as it cools or you will definitely break it! I keep one end in the boiling water and push gently against the side of the pan. I hold the other (cold) end in a pair of long nose pliers as there is a definite potential of a scolding in the steam. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the angles as you want but you can keep reheating and bending as much as you need to. You can set the angles to suit.

Here's a bad photo of a diving and turning Bf109. Same type of stand.

Cheers

Steve

Theuns that's Xtracrylix RLM78 on the lower surfaces.

[Guest]

They're very neat Steve. Do you just omit the blades? It looks very effective

[Guest]

Going totally back to basics here - where would you actually *get* the rods (and bases for that matter) from generally? They look great, would love to have a go at making one. Cheers!

[stona]

Going totally back to basics here - where would you actually *get* the rods (and bases for that matter) from generally? They look great, would love to have a go at making one. Cheers!

The rods are available from model shops (online and bricks and mortar) as are the plastic tube that form the insert in the fuselage. Very inexpensive,less than a fiver for several stands. Those bases are actually from picture frames found in poundland or similar. I've none left so I'm looking for something similar (and cheap) too!

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

They're very neat Steve. Do you just omit the blades? It looks very effective

Oops,nearly missed this one Andy. Yes I leave the blades off. I fill the spinner with Milliput,which doesn't shrink,and finish it off with some fine putty and sanding. There are alternatives for spinning blades,a company called "Propblur" makes some very effective ones. Other solutions involve acrylic discs and even motorised propellers,all very good and all involving a lot of hard work! Maybe I'm just lazy LOL.

Having watched aircraft screaming past at various air shows I find the propeller disc to be virtually invisible. I don't think that static blades look good on a model posed in flight.

My next "inflight" model,some way down the line, will be an Me262,the only jet I ever build. No need to worry with that one.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Yes agree about the invisible prop thing, cheers, food for thought

[Guest]

just had a look at the propblur website and they look very effective,dont imagine it would be very hard to make your own though.