An Old Walrus Coming to Life...Catapult Diorama

[rtfoe]

Hi,
This is where I start the diorama build for the Walrus. I have moved from the build of the Walrus to the catapult diorama here.

It all started with coming across this thread in the SeaWings - The Flying Boat Website. It had images of a 1/48 scratchbuilt catapult with a Walrus on it...

Images for reference only

And I said I was going to build it if I had the plans...

Images for reference only

Images for reference only

Low and behold it came with a set of plans and I set about trying to scale it.





Lucky for me they had a side profile plan of a Walrus on this same catapult. Using that and measuring it with the kit fuselage length I managed to scale it.


Before this I had never undertaken such a project. I checked against the Evergreen angled strips available and most matched which made it more easier.

The build begins on the next post. But if you have missed the Walrus build, it is here.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

With the plans I started working on the cradle. If my measurements were correct, it would fit the fuselage of the Walrus.



I was armed with a basic cutter, ruler, glue and forceps/tweezer.



Basic material used were a mixture of Plastruc and Evergreen strip and rod of different thickness and size.



I put it against the Walrus belly and it fit nicely and I was sure the rest would go smoothly...fingers crossed.

More later...I know some of you would like to see the Disco king again or the Village People doing the YMCA. :smiling5:

Cheers,
Richard

[Guest]

It is only just the start and I am already impressed :smiling3:.

[rtfoe]

Hi Ralph, thanks...you're not the only one impressed, even I was impressed with myself having undertaken such a task.

Next task was the main piston that worked the cables. I used different plastic tubing that scaled to the size that's why you see them in clear and standard plastic. Thin strips were used for the bands.



The cover at the end was a disc and two part putty shaped and sanded to a dome shape.



Lever handles fashioned with rod and strip and hexagon rod for a bolt head.



Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
I remember being impressed with this scratch built catapult. Most enjoyable to be able to see it again.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Thanks Jim, glad to share it again and to the new audience.

Next I concentrated on the wheel pulleys. Lucky for me they were all identical so I made up a master and cast the rest with a one sided mold...



I think there were a total of 24 needed and these were the ones that passed scrutiny. They weren't perfect with tiny pin bubbles that with a thick coat of paint would hide. Some came out as jelly or didn't harden a nd were like rubber. I lost that trusty rusty cutter in an event... miss it.



Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

I primed the piston and cradle and it looked better without the different colored materials before.



I worked on the arm extensions and fitted the pulley wheels...



I made two of them and they are slightly different in length. Following the plans they should fit inside the main section of the catapult because they were slided in on both sides when not in use for easy stowage.



The ends were a challenge to make the curve for the pulley guard.





The plans were vague in certain attachments so a little guess work was needed in fitting the piston to the base of the main catapult section.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

ok time to continue where I left off...

After the inner cage had set I worked on the outer main cage structure. Following the plans it was just making sure I had measurements right before cutting the supports...



The angle iron beam edges were snipped with a sharp sprue cutter...I wasn't going to waste time measuring each edge for the correct angle as this would be corrected with a swipe of w large file.



Using the inside structure I clamped the main structure for a tight fit. The middle length of angle strip acts as a slide guide.



On either side of the catapult were walkways for operators to work on the valves and switches of the cylinders.



I used fine mesh for the tread patterns on the walkways. I made three of them. Later railings were added.



I hope everyones following me so far 'cos its basically measure and cut...surprisingly not much sanding.

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi Richard
I think I would have found it difficult simply scaling the plans although I can see that once that is done the construction is not too difficult. Keeping everything neat and accurate would be hard though. Strange that the resin pulley wheels didn't harden. Old hardener or incorrect mixing?
How long is the catapult? Just interested to know how big the parts are.
Jim

[rtfoe]

Hi Jim,
You're in luck that it is sitting in front of me. It's roughly 16 inches across when fully extended.

Don't know about the resin hardener as it's from the same batch...I think it's the proportions that I may have erred. The hatches that I made later also suffered the same reactions for some of them.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

The catapult sits on a rotating carousel. I made mine from thick plastic card cut with a circular cutter, then I made the lip from gluing a thick strip around it. Using a file slowly filed the gear teeth. I wishe thetre was an easier way to do this but couldn't find one.



This circular geard disc sits on another larger disc.



Carefully measures spacing was done with a protractor and T strips glued as supports.



Then the side supports using thin plastic card was wrapped around the side and secured with strips on the top and bottom. I cut out angular frame supports from thick card.



Cheers,
Richard

[flyjoe180]

Superb work Richard. Looking forward to seeing the Walrus on its catapult

[rtfoe]

Thanks Joe, glad you like the construction so far.

Here are more images from other angles...here you see the skids for the launch end and the angle strip at the lower middle for the rollers on the extention arms to roll on.



I don't know what this is but it could be the tube that collects the compressed air to send the pulley the opposite direction after the launch much like a recuperator.



Below in the middle lies the huge compressor to drive the fly wheel that works the cable for the pulley's.



The walkway platform with the railings added from thin rod and strip.



The perforated side supports that will house the turn wheels. Next to it is the control platform with part of the control box fashioned form plastic strip. I have tested the cradle to see if it fits the top run of the catapult...I will be marking slots to attach the rollers that will be running on the inside of the rail beams.



Looks complicated but it doesn't really.

Cheers,
Richard

[Si Benson]

Very impressive stuff Richard, you make it look easy!

[JR]

A lot of us remember this well, seeing these photos brings back that magic build .
It really was one Richard.