DFS Kranich 1/6 3m Wingspan

[TonyRay 1998]

Hi everyone, I'm Tony. This is my Kranich II, It's y new project recently. I start to build this glider on June,2022. It's 1/6 scale and 3 meters wingspan. I will show the complete build process in this topic

First is designing work, so many parts

Fuselage design, profili is SD7032

Instrument panel.

Let Start, In order to make these two parts easier to build, it does not use the process of bending metal pipe I found that laser-cut plywood are fine enough to achieve the desired results.

Thanks to the auxiliary bracket, the fuselage is accurately to make.

Cover the fuselage with 2mm balsa

Finished

 

[TonyRay 1998]

And the next is some details, to make the plane looks better The seat is designed to be quickly detachable and can be easily pulled up from the cabin (because some electronic equipment is hidden under the seat according to my design)

Surface is thin balsa (1mm)

Plywood sprayed with silver paint

I found a special fabric that is very soft and suitable for modeling Interestingly, it has a canvas texture on the front and a brown leather texture on the back. If you want the seat belt to look leather, you only need to install it backwards

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Instrument panel, From bottom to top: Balsa base, Paper with instrument pictures, Hollow Balsa, Transparent PVC, Frosted surface PVC, plywood instrument frame.

Perfectly matched 1/6 doll

Copper hinge. Of course, it can also be installed in a hidden way. I just think it looks more old-fashioned. (I'm still Dry fit in this step, because the surface of the fuselage has not been treated yet )

 

[rafparon]

Well Tony, that’s one hell of a lovely build. Seems as though your familiar with wooden construction as the quality shown in your pictures is outstanding. Keep on building I’ll follow closely. Grandioso

 

[pittss1s]

Wonderful Kranich!!!!
I had one with 450cm Span.10 Years ago.
Is a Kit available for this Kranich?
Greetings from Austria
Siegfried

 

[Jantar]

Beautiful build and great photos! Size is perfect too for taking it to the slope

 

[Stefan Siemens]

Well done indeed! Please keep us up to date,
Stefan

 

[TonyRay 1998]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/iVqb-Z1gOfw?wmode=opaque&start=0

Some videos here

 

[TonyRay 1998]

And this is video of hinges works

https://www.youtube.com/embed/5KOEIEkKa2M?wmode=opaque&start=0

 

[TonyRay 1998]

I will update air brakes module today Firstly using CAD design, bacause of Kranich airbrake located in the outer part of the wing structure. It is not a standard rectangle, but a special shape with one big side and a slightly smaller side(outer side), which causes its upper and lower parts to not the same. If the module located in the center section, will simplify the design.

Looks great

 

[TonyRay 1998]

It's hard to believe that these few simple parts make up such a sophisticated looking part, let's put it together and see how it works

Made of thin wood sheets(1.0mm birch and 1.5mm plywood)

Assembled

Pre-paint parts with water-based paint

Less than 30 grams, as expected

And this how it works, very smooth

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8d8kuo5Cejs?wmode=opaque&start=0

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Find a good piece of material for spar, A flat piece of pine with a nice grain.

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Keep working

 

[Chester]

Very Very Nice!!!!!!

 

[TonyRay 1998]

The other side finished

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Cover the wings using 1.5mm Balsa sheets

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Hi everyone, I'm coming I plan to bring the plane outdoor, dry fit it and got some photos before covering work.
Compared with DFS Weihe,

I think the glider size of the wingspan at 3 meters is relatively easy to carry，
But the wings had to be placed in the crew compartment.

My friend with Kranich. This photo show the size perfectly

I love this view

 

[TonyRay 1998]

And the fuselage still in the process of fiberglass covering.

 

[TonyRay 1998]

My friend help me handle the fuselage epoxy cover work. So before he finished, I plan to do think about painting method/scheme , I prefer to this one, but the difficulty is the"crane/Kranich"logo on the nose.

And there is hardly any material available on the website that can be processed in HD. I don't think I'm a painter, no matter how familiar my modelling is. (The logo is too small) There's no other way but to draw the Decals myself

 

[TonyRay 1998]

Let's start

Then export as image， very satisfied

Finally make them to the Decals which same with the decals in plastic static model