Another take on “can-do” modeling

We never know what can turn up in our reader mail. The same can be said for FineScale Modeler’s Final Details page, where “modeling out of the box” takes on a new meaning as we feature the unusual, humorous, poignant, remarkable, inspiring, or just plain amazing.

But when Jose Carlos Canjura sent these pictures from Santa Tecla, El Salvador, we knew you would be seeing them, too. The models cracked us up, but we were also impressed by the skill Jose showed in making the planes look as if they had been painted in the livery of his chosen beverages. And as we learned his technique of transferring paper-model forms to cardboard templates he used to cut and form metal parts, we saw an inventive modeler at work.

Furthermore, as an aeronautical structure engineer, he got the shapes right. What started as a desire to create a more-durable form of origami (another hobby of his) led him to folding malleable metal in the same way. A co-worker admiring a geometric “origami” bauble on Jose’s desk said it would look even better if it were an airplane. That put the idea in Jose’s mind — and, like a true modeler, once he became enamored of the idea, he had to build it.

In Final Details of the July 2017 FSM, we featured Jose’s 1/48 scale MGD Macchi C.202 Folgore. Now, here’s a closer look at some of his ongoing creations, providing insight into his unusual techniques. Enjoy!

1/32 scale Bf 109F-2 with Aires resin cockpit. Note paper patterns on cardboard and styrene card. Jose says, “The whole model uses paper patterns, but just for internal structure. When it comes to external details such as antennas, propellers, and skin, they are replaced with aluminum. When doing this I always try to depict the design of the beverage in a clever way, showing the logo, the letters. On this model I plan to add an engine and internal lights.”

An A-10 Thunderbolt II takes shape in 1/32 scale. Jose says, “This is my first modern plane. It has eaten a lot of cans at this moment: nine small cans, six large ones (those are being used for wings).”

The Corsair was plenty peppy, but it’s Monster Energy for this 1/32 scale F4U Corsair. “This was the first one that bears the technique I am currently using,” says Jose.

Polished aluminum and Pepsi livery make Jose’s 1/32 scale Mustang come alive. He says this was a developmental project for a Red Bull Mustang he wanted to build, just to see how it would go together.

Here’s a 1/32 scale Red Bull P-51 with an extra kick — watch it in action!

Jose credits his friend and colleague Salvador Marquez for the electronics. Jose says, “A recording of a real M2 Browning machine gun is sequenced with LEDs that flash at the same interval as the shots. I downloaded the sound and passed it to Salvador, who created an interrupted shoot track in MP3 format. He calculated the time between each shot and programmed the circuit to turn on the LEDs and sound with a push button; the circuit needs an MP3 player and a couple of speakers for the sound output. The small engine is connected directly to the power source.”

Salvador provided an electronic breakdown: “Lights are 2.5-volt 130mW amber LEDs. A 5-volt power source is regulated through an LM7805 integrated circuit; the voltage input was obtained from a 14-volt laptop charger.

“Sound is provided from an MP3 with a recording of a Mustang firing test. To isolate the main controller signal from the MP3, a 5-volt relay was used with a parallel diode to limit the coil’s voltage.”

There’s more, but unless you know what a PIC 16f877A is you will be in the same predicament as we are — in this case, our how-to advice is to defer to the experts.

As Jose says, “The final result is the P-51 flying and firing at your will.”