Thunderbird 4
- Thread starter Sky Seeker
- Start date
Upper and Lower body portions being joined
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - first the long side tab glued on the lower body is attached to the upper body.
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - Next the Upper body right nacelle tab is joined to the rear
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - Then the Upper body left nacelle tab is joined to the rear, lastly the center tab is glued to the rear.
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - please note the upper body center nacelle. This is what it looks like after the center nacelle is glued to the body without the tabs. This is what I was referring to in an earlier post when attaching the center nacelle to the upper body. Note also the glue applied to the lower left nacelle on the right (with regards to the picture) to fill in gaps on the intake. Once the glue dries it is colored with a black marker. Also the long inside tab on the lower body is glued to the upper body on the left side of the model. This is held in place by taking a long stylus and entering the front of the model and pressing inwards along the length of the tab. There is another inside tab underneath the window that's also glued to the lower body. Once this is done the the upper and lower bodies are joined together.
Note also the glue applied to the lower right nacelle to fill in gaps on the intake. Once the glue dries it is colored with a black marker like the earlier nacelle.
That's it for now.
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - first the long side tab glued on the lower body is attached to the upper body.
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - Next the Upper body right nacelle tab is joined to the rear
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - Then the Upper body left nacelle tab is joined to the rear, lastly the center tab is glued to the rear.
Upper and Lower body portions being joined - please note the upper body center nacelle. This is what it looks like after the center nacelle is glued to the body without the tabs. This is what I was referring to in an earlier post when attaching the center nacelle to the upper body. Note also the glue applied to the lower left nacelle on the right (with regards to the picture) to fill in gaps on the intake. Once the glue dries it is colored with a black marker. Also the long inside tab on the lower body is glued to the upper body on the left side of the model. This is held in place by taking a long stylus and entering the front of the model and pressing inwards along the length of the tab. There is another inside tab underneath the window that's also glued to the lower body. Once this is done the the upper and lower bodies are joined together.
Note also the glue applied to the lower right nacelle to fill in gaps on the intake. Once the glue dries it is colored with a black marker like the earlier nacelle.That's it for now.
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- Apr 5, 2013
- 14,189
- 10,806
Well,this model definitely needs some design work. You built it as good as anyone could, given what you were given to work with. Nice thing about this model, if you had a little kid watching this show, and put this model in his hand, I know when I was little, when these shows were first being shown, I would have been so happy to actually have one in my hand while I was watching the show on T.V.. Simple models have their place. You don't have to worry about it getting sat on, and you could easily bang out another one for a few kids to play with.
This model has it's place giving it merit.
This model has it's place giving it merit.
So true! I see the merit in what you say. Bringing fiction to life for all ages.Well,this model definitely needs some design work. You built it as good as anyone could, given what you were given to work with. Nice thing about this model, if you had a little kid watching this show, and put this model in his hand, I know when I was little, when these shows were first being shown, I would have been so happy to actually have one in my hand while I was watching the show on T.V.. Simple models have their place. You don't have to worry about it getting sat on, and you could easily bang out another one for a few kids to play with.
This model has it's place giving it merit.
Front end Attachment - top view - the way the front was designed had a series of cuts at the corner to give a raised rounded shape at the corners.
Front end Attachment - back view - Some of the corners had tabs that were attachable and some didn't. Some of the corners that needed reinforcement has some scrap pieces attached to give greater strength in some areas as can be seen.
Front end Attachment - front panel attached at a lower tab.
Front panel attached.
This part was kind of tricky to attach as the front panel was folded up the tabs had to folded outward towards the front panel. The rest of the tabs had to be glued and joined to the front panel. It was required that the corners had to be pressed inwards which helped push the tabs outwards into the panel. One of those things that is simple in concept to do, but harder to implement. Please note that the bottom of the window is not yet glued to the lower body. It is only attached at the top and sides.
Front end Attachment - back view - Some of the corners had tabs that were attachable and some didn't. Some of the corners that needed reinforcement has some scrap pieces attached to give greater strength in some areas as can be seen.
Front end Attachment - front panel attached at a lower tab.
Front panel attached.
This part was kind of tricky to attach as the front panel was folded up the tabs had to folded outward towards the front panel. The rest of the tabs had to be glued and joined to the front panel. It was required that the corners had to be pressed inwards which helped push the tabs outwards into the panel. One of those things that is simple in concept to do, but harder to implement. Please note that the bottom of the window is not yet glued to the lower body. It is only attached at the top and sides.
Rear Thrusters - template pre cut - on the left the tabs were cut and at first I was thinking of keeping the bigger tabs
Rear Thrusters - The bigger tabs at the top were removed with the small tabs. These tabs are used to keep the thrusters attached when glued to the model. The side tab was removed and glued in place. The thrusters are pre rolled to give a curvature to the paper before joining the side edges together. Make sure to color the inside black before joining the sides together.
Rear Thrusters - the sides are joined to form a cylinder. As can be seen, removing the side tab allows the surface of the sides when joined to appear more flush with each other.
Rear Thrusters - end pieces are rolled and glued together. Like the thrusters above make sure to color the back side black.
Rear Thrusters - End pieces are placed on top of the red thrusters. At this point the end pieces were slid over and attached with the ends flush with the ends of the thruster.
Rear Thrusters - Thrusters joined with the model. In the picture it looks like the model is seriously mashed. However, in real life it doesn't look like that at all. This is the result of the illusion of a flash, shadowing, and a close up view. Please keep in mind that this model is only 5 inches long (approx 13 cm).
Rear Thrusters - another view. This view shows the internal coloring of the thrusters. This is why you color it black so that you can't see the white coloring of the paper.
Top nacelle (the area with the tail). When the center portion was finally joined, the gap that was there before disappeared and was made flush with the model without over gluing.
That's it for now - almost done.
Rear Thrusters - The bigger tabs at the top were removed with the small tabs. These tabs are used to keep the thrusters attached when glued to the model. The side tab was removed and glued in place. The thrusters are pre rolled to give a curvature to the paper before joining the side edges together. Make sure to color the inside black before joining the sides together.
Rear Thrusters - the sides are joined to form a cylinder. As can be seen, removing the side tab allows the surface of the sides when joined to appear more flush with each other.
Rear Thrusters - end pieces are rolled and glued together. Like the thrusters above make sure to color the back side black.
Rear Thrusters - End pieces are placed on top of the red thrusters. At this point the end pieces were slid over and attached with the ends flush with the ends of the thruster.
Rear Thrusters - Thrusters joined with the model. In the picture it looks like the model is seriously mashed. However, in real life it doesn't look like that at all. This is the result of the illusion of a flash, shadowing, and a close up view. Please keep in mind that this model is only 5 inches long (approx 13 cm).
Rear Thrusters - another view. This view shows the internal coloring of the thrusters. This is why you color it black so that you can't see the white coloring of the paper.
Top nacelle (the area with the tail). When the center portion was finally joined, the gap that was there before disappeared and was made flush with the model without over gluing.
That's it for now - almost done.
Final Piece - angled front light - side pieces before folding and gluing
Final Piece - angled front light - edges colored in black to remove glare
Final Piece - angled front light - sides folded over and glued. Please note that the inside of the "light assembly" colored with a silver marker.
Final Piece - angled front light - glued and attached to the front. It might look like that it could bend and break, but it's actually pretty solidly on there (also it does look like a bulldozer bucket). Undersea trawling?
Lower edge front window glued
Per the drawing I decided to pencil in the lines on the front window. I used pencil instead of a marker due to how the marker would bleed into the paper and go places that I didn't want it to go.
I hope that future builders will be able to have a bit more direction in how to assemble this model. Definitely not for a beginner. Areas that I think worked out well were the tail section on top of the top nacelle and the front bulldozer bucket oh I mean light.
Areas that were tough to assemble or need more work -
The side nacelles - fronts should be on the opposite sides so the nacelles don't twist. Maybe make a new template with the front intake and rear end attached already to the nacelle.
The front window - needs a redesign - instead of having a bunched up look like above maybe have three horizontal arc pieces attached to each other vertically.
Anyway, this is more of a proof of concept model. Perhaps I'll revisit this in the future with a new template.
Anyway onto the more detailed bigger model of the Thunderbird 4.
Final Piece - angled front light - edges colored in black to remove glare
Final Piece - angled front light - sides folded over and glued. Please note that the inside of the "light assembly" colored with a silver marker.
Final Piece - angled front light - glued and attached to the front. It might look like that it could bend and break, but it's actually pretty solidly on there (also it does look like a bulldozer bucket). Undersea trawling?
Lower edge front window glued
Per the drawing I decided to pencil in the lines on the front window. I used pencil instead of a marker due to how the marker would bleed into the paper and go places that I didn't want it to go.
I hope that future builders will be able to have a bit more direction in how to assemble this model. Definitely not for a beginner. Areas that I think worked out well were the tail section on top of the top nacelle and the front bulldozer bucket oh I mean light.
Areas that were tough to assemble or need more work -
The side nacelles - fronts should be on the opposite sides so the nacelles don't twist. Maybe make a new template with the front intake and rear end attached already to the nacelle.
The front window - needs a redesign - instead of having a bunched up look like above maybe have three horizontal arc pieces attached to each other vertically.
Anyway, this is more of a proof of concept model. Perhaps I'll revisit this in the future with a new template.
Anyway onto the more detailed bigger model of the Thunderbird 4.
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You have done a great job your model looks very 3c. And thank you for this tutorial..
- Apr 5, 2013
- 14,189
- 10,806
If you visit the model again, cut the windows into strips, and the whole assembly will fit better, without so much glue filler, which disappears under coloring, but the shape will improve. Well done!
Thanks MIJOB!! I always try to give some insights with models - especially when there's no directions.
Thanks for stopping on by!
Z - yes this model would be good for kids ( and grown kidsIf you visit the model again, cut the windows into strips, and the whole assembly will fit better, without so much glue filler, which disappears under coloring, but the shape will improve. Well done!
) with just a little TLC.Thanks for the expert advice!
This is one of those models that looks deceptively easy, then can throw up spanners!
An interesting rendition of TB4 - I look forward to seeing how the other one compares
An interesting rendition of TB4 - I look forward to seeing how the other one compares
While doing some research on Thunderbird 4 I found a plastic model making tutorial about Thunderbird 4. It's pretty detailed and shows a lot of good details on airbrushing and assembly as well as model details that are normally hard to spot. Will definitely need this when doing the interior.
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part One
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part Two
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part Three
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part Four
Sorry about not being able to do direct access. Just click on the link and it'll take you directly to the site. Monetizing issue I believe.
Enjoy!
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part One
AIP 1:48 Thunderbird 4 Model Build - Part Two
Sorry about not being able to do direct access. Just click on the link and it'll take you directly to the site. Monetizing issue I believe.
Enjoy!