Zeppelin (airship) study model

star-art · 20 February 2006, 11:46 PM

Greetings!

This may be technically OT since it is pre-WWI, but where else would you post something like this? If there is no interest here, I apologize. . .

I just completed (for the most part) a study model of the LZ-1, the very first Zeppelin and predecessor to the airships that flew during the Great War. I collected every photo I could find and one very small (tiny) drawing and managed to figure it out. This model was built in the computer which helps me figure out where things should go. I'll turn this into construction patterns later when time permits.

I have scoured the Web and found no sites devoted to modeling Zeppelins. If anyone reading this knows any good links, please let me know. Due to the lack of good sites out there, I may be starting my own site soon once I get a few more ship types built and ready for display. . .

Brad · 21 February 2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star-art

Greetings!

This may be technically OT since it is pre-WWI, but where else would you post something like this? If there is no interest here, I apologize. . .

I just completed (for the most part) a study model of the LZ-1, the very first Zeppelin and predecessor to the airships that flew during the Great War. I collected every photo I could find and one very small (tiny) drawing and managed to figure it out. This model was built in the computer which helps me figure out where things should go. I'll turn this into construction patterns later when time permits.

I have scoured the Web and found no sites devoted to modeling Zeppelins. If anyone reading this knows any good links, please let me know. Due to the lack of good sites out there, I may be starting my own site soon once I get a few more ship types built and ready for display. . .

Nice job on the computer model!

star-art · 21 February 2006, 11:25 AM

Thanks! This model is somewhat "quick and dirty" but I managed to work out most of the proportions and details satisfactorily. The gondola has rounded edges but not on this model since I will use it to extract drawings and that will be much easier without filleted edges. The renders are also crude since this program is not really designed for rendering and lighting, just modeling.

I even recreated the transmission the Count used to get power from the engine mounted in the gondola up to the propellers. This arrangement was used all the way through the WWI models as well.

StephenLawson · 21 February 2006, 01:03 PM

These people sell photoetch frets for building the Graf Zeppelin and other "gas bags."

http://www.aerobase.jp/

Brad · 22 February 2006, 08:30 AM

I want to see a finished one... in 1/48 scale!

star-art · 22 February 2006, 10:57 AM

Ha! 1/72 scale is more like it.

I tried to move on and start drawing LZ-2. I got the hull done but there is not enough info on the details of the Gondola to move much farther at this time. I'm having a lot of trouble finding clear, close-up shots of the underside of the early Zeps. I'll have to wait until I have more books in my collection and hope some better pics turn up. . .

I did find one really good photo of the LZ-4 gondola, but it was in stereo and so useless to me. I wish such photos could be converted back to 2D but I have not seen any way to do that.

Brad · 22 February 2006, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star-art

Ha! 1/72 scale is more like it.

I tried to move on and start drawing LZ-2. I got the hull done but there is not enough info on the details of the Gondola to move much farther at this time. I'm having a lot of trouble finding clear, close-up shots of the underside of the early Zeps. I'll have to wait until I have more books in my collection and hope some better pics turn up. . .

I did find one really good photo of the LZ-4 gondola, but it was in stereo and so useless to me. I wish such photos could be converted back to 2D but I have not seen any way to do that.

But just think how impressive it would be in 1/48!

(If you have a room big enough to display it in!)

Beto · 23 February 2006, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star-art

Ha! 1/72 scale is more like it.

I tried to move on and start drawing LZ-2. I got the hull done but there is not enough info on the details of the Gondola to move much farther at this time. I'm having a lot of trouble finding clear, close-up shots of the underside of the early Zeps. I'll have to wait until I have more books in my collection and hope some better pics turn up. . .

I did find one really good photo of the LZ-4 gondola, but it was in stereo and so useless to me. I wish such photos could be converted back to 2D but I have not seen any way to do that.

Stereo pictures are easy to convert to mono. Usually old stereo pictures came printed in pairs and needed a viewer, but I suppose you have a stereo picture converted for red/blue glasses. Once scanned, it's easy to substract one of the channels (red, green or blue) and get only one of the views of the stereo pair.

Lufbery · 23 February 2006, 07:27 AM

An issue of Fine Scale Modeler featured a 1/72 scale WWI Zeppelin. It was NINE FEET LONG!

Pretty impressive; especially when displayed next to a Spad 13 in the same scale.

In any event, I like the computer model. Did you model the rigid structural elements as well?

Regards,

23 February 2006, 07:52 AM

Wouldn't a 1/144th scale be easier to get out the door? That scale in printer's measure would be 6 points equals one foot. So your airship would be half that of a pica (1/72nd scale.) I have 1/144th scale models of the giant clippers and other airliners and they're still pretty big in that scale.