Messerschmitt Me-329

[Papermodder]

Greetings.
For this years BSC I have decided to build the Messerschmitt Me-329 Heavy Fighter / Bomber.
Only a plywood mockup and a glider version were ever built. Several variants were envisioned but never got past the drawing board.

I am using GreMir Models 1/33 kit for this project.





I may try my hand at vacuforming a canopy for this build. We'll see.

Good luck to all participants.

Jim

 

[THE NEW ONE]

very interesting

 

[Quaralane]

Should be a challenge, but I think you're up to it

 

[Papermodder]

Thank you Patrick.
I haven't built an aircraft in quite a while, so it is a little bit out of my comfort zone. But, have been itching to build one for a while now.
Always liked the concept aircraft, where imagination and creativity are allowed into the physical realm. I think this is the same bug for my love of sifi.

Jim

 

[Papermodder]

First update.
It doesn't seem like a lot, but first thing first.
The parts requiring reinforcing are laminated on to 1mm heavy card, and have to be let to dry for 24hrs in a press to keep them flat.





Cutting parts out of heavy card is a pain. I have a couple of ideas to try to see if it makes it easier. We'll have to see if it works, if not then it's back to cutting them out with a knife. :

Thank you for following.
Questions & comments are always welcome.

Jim

 

[Papermodder]

Hello.
Tonight's update.
I've started on the cockpit. This has to be built first and installed into the front end superstructure, then the rest of the craft is built around it.
Though it does not look like much, this is still several hours of construction. The IP is 2 layers of card laminated. The IP support wall is laminated to heavy 1mm card.



The assembled IP is then attached to the base interior.
The quadrant as shown in the kit was to be mounted straight vertical. Upon viewing actual pics of the real cockpit it was found that they were canted toward the inside of the cockpit, which makes them easier to handle. This required the sticks to be modified from stock. Being only a couple of mm in size these were a little touchy to handle and install. In-fact one of the small black ones flicked out of the tweezers never to be seen again, and had to be remade.
The control stick had no boot, so one was made.
This is where I am at tonight.





Tomorrow we will start on the seats and the rudder petals.

Thank you for following.
Questions and comments are welcome.

Jim

 

[Tailor]

Great Stuff!

 

[danb]

Very clever keep it coming

Dan B

 

[rookie]

Nice work

 

[Papermodder]

Thank you Guido, Dan and Rookie.

Jim

 

[Cave_Dweller]

Very cool. How do you print this stuff, on heavy stock on a laser printer or something? The joystick looks like it would have been a pain!

 

[Papermodder]

Hi Cave Dweller.
I print the templates what ever card I require from 20lb to 110lb. My printer is a HP D7260 6 ink inkjet.
The joystick was actually very simple. Just a piece of wire with a short piece of 20lb printer paper wrapped around the wire for the grip. The boot is just 3 paper circles punched out of 110lb card with different size punches. This is all glued together,painted, then glued in position.
Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[cargoman5126]

Looks awsome so far... nice subject..

 

[Papermodder]

Thank you Cargoman.

Jim

 

[JMac]

Great start. I love to see that Luft '46 stuff being built. Very cool.

 

[Quaralane]

Definitely a different building process to watch

 

[Papermodder]

Thank you JMac.
Welcome aboard Patrick.

Jim

 

[Papermodder]

Good evening.
Moving ahead on this build, I started working on the rudder petals.
The assembly drawing with this kit is a little vague on some of the assemblies and am glad I found the photos of the aircraft. They are a big help. Other points will have to go on educated guesses and imagination.
The pedals were assembled and the supports cut from wire.



Using a needle, punch the location for the pedals as you cannot easily but glue wire to card. A mounting hole is much easier and more secure.





Next up is the construction of the seats. Here you can see the main parts for the seats. There are a couple of parts that have to be folded and laminated before assembly can start.



The seats actually went together quite well. The most tedious part was cutting out all the belts, as well as the through slots in the back of the seats. Then glue them in place.





The completed seats were then glued into position. I found my small square helpful to hold the seats upright and in position to dry, as they were a little top heavy.
This is where I am at tonight.













This completes this stage of the build.
Next up is the construction of the front section of the fuselage.

Thank you for following.
Questions and comments are welcome.

Jim

 

[Quaralane]

Excellent work.
I like how you staggered the seats a bit.

 

[Papermodder]

Hi Patrick. Thank you.
From the photos I've seen of the real aircraft this is how ME layed it out.



Jim