AIRCRAFTS TABLETOP MOBILE DISPLAY

I just love to display my aircraft models in a mobile as it moves and gives the impression the planes are actually flying. For a better effect, the size of the models is importante and I usually hang models of scales 1:48 and 1:33.

This time, I had 6 little 1:144 plastic models and I had to find a way to do it as a Tabletop model. I was inspired by the Christmas Pyramid concept and this is the result.

To make this project you will need:

MATERIALS:

- Balsa stock, any size you may have in hand

- Balsa sheet

- Sheeshkebab wooden sticks

- A circular or oval wood plaque as a base for the display

- Toothpicks

- Thin Fishing Line transparent

TOOLS:

- Fine saw to cut the balsa stock

- Xacto knife to cut the balsa sheet

- Drill bits

- Cyanoacrilate glue (CA)

- Pa

I have always been fascinated with displaying my scale model aircraft with a mobile hanging from the ceiling. I have done many of them since I started to built my models from paper. This time, I wanted to display 6 tiny 1:144 plastic models but they are so small they could barely visible hanging from the ceiling.

So I thought to adapt the Cristmas Pyramid concept to my moblie. At first I though to use the hot air from a burning candle to move the mobile but it turned out to have too much friction. Thisis the result

I used balsa wood and toothpicks in the building bonding all toegether with CA. I started my built with the impeller and use it as a rotor in a Pelton turbine.

First cut the central piece of the impeller and insert the toothpicks. Glue them in place and drill the center hole. I used a drill bit movind it by hand as the balsa wood is very soft. I used 8 toothpicks so I could keep the ewight light.

Next cut the vanes to the desired size and glue them in place at an angle. I used aproximately a 45-60 degrees inclination. The size of my vanes was determined by the width of the wooden plaque I use for base.

Once every vane is in place, reinforce the centre piece with CA to avoid any cracks.

Note: My first impeller was built with lolipop sticks but it turned out to be too heavy.

I used an oval wood sign as a base...

Locate the center of the base and mark it. This is the point where your center pivot will rest.

Built a simple structure with balsa stock with a corresponding hole in the middle so you can insert the center pivot. Glue all together with CA.

Drill the holes the center pivot will go through with the apropiate drill bit. As balsa is a very soft wood, you can easily drill the holes by just roatitng the drill bit between your fingers.

Glue the central structure to the base using the pivot to locate it correctly.

Insert the pivot through the center of the impeller and then insert the pivot through the holes of the base.

I did try to have the impeller rotate just by the hot air of candles... but it did not work. After a little research I am convinced my pivot has to much friction and that is why it does not rotate. NO PROBLEM! The mobile does move by just gently blowing on the impeller.

Glue the main hanging sticks from the top of the pivot. As I have 6 models, I glued 3 sticks at aproximately 60 degrees. I then hung up a smaller stick on each one of the main ones to hang 2 models per branch.

I decided to paunt the base in light blue To simulate the sky and the impeller in white so it could be a cloud.

Your tabletop aircraft mobile is ready and now you must find a place to exhibit it. Enjoy the gentle movement of the planes as you lightly blow on the impeller. The finished size of my mobile is about 16 inches (40 cm) in diameter and 14 inches (35 cm) tall.

All ideas to complement or improve this mobile are welcomed!

I am thinking now of building another tabletop mobile for a series of 1:72 paper model airplanes using the same idea but maybe with a larger impeller.