New to site, how would i go about making this?

**tr0n** · 06-17-2012, 05:00 AM

Hello all, i have a question for you all. how would i go about making a blimp (a zeppelin)? im going to make it out of 6 pieces that will equal about 6" thick and around 11" wide by 6" tall. im doing it in 6 pieces so i can layer them on top of each other, sort of like a pyramid, having the middle pieces longer and the top pieces smaller to shape it . i have a general idea of how. since this is a complicated shape, i was thinking of making all the pieces all the same oval shape, then gradually carving it to shape. this make take a loooong ime doing ! keep in mind, i only have a jig saw, orbital sander and a rotozip. any ideas or tips?

**Woody.** · 06-17-2012, 07:06 AM

think of the completed Zeplin

Now in your mind make horizontal slices that are 3/4 inch thick

Each one of the slices will have the outer zeplin shape

You can go to Home Depot and get some 1x8 pine trim wood - not the painted stuff - just plain wood.

Draw the outer shape onto the wood for each slice and cut it with your jig saw.

Glue it all together.

Now - you can use a hand tool called a gouge with the Zeplin held in a vise to rough the shape in.

You can also use a pattern makers rasp (Nickelson is a goood one) to get the shape better.

Sandpaper at 40 grit or 60 grit will also help you shape the wood.

Once you get the shape close and "faired" you can switch to finer grits sandpaper and finish it up.

Yeah it's a lot of work.

What I described here is how marine modelers make "half hull" models of sail boats. Marine architechs did this years ago, but it is a dying art. If you can master this, you ave achieved something that not many can do.