pheonix Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 In the mid/late 1960's Inpact produced kits of 6 pre-WW1 aircraft in 1/48 scale which had been constructed for the film "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines": I bought and built all of them. My favourite was the Avro Biplane which I found the most aesthetically pleasing although I do not know why. The kits have since been re-released under different labels and I understand can still be found with a bit of patience. Nowadays I only build in the Gentlemen's scale because I do not have too much space, so if I wanted a model of one of these machines the only option open to me was to build one myself. I had the original instruction sheet but this did not have drawings, so a trawl of the net was needed. I also found several photos which were very helpful including one of Roe standing by one of these machines at Shoreham. In 1911 A. V. Roe abandoned his earlier triplane design and instead started to build a biplane, the first of which flew for the first time on 1 April of that year. This was a two seat aircraft with a 35hp Green engine and a triangular tail, but the latter was quickly replaced with a square unit. The remainder of the machine was built following the same techniques as the earlier triplanes with a triangular shaped fuselage with only the front covered in fabric, and the radiator mounted in front of the pilot and obscuring his view rather badly. Wing warping was used to control the aircraft which was relatively stable and easy to fly. The first of these aircraft took part in the Brooklands - Shoreham air race of 6 May 1911. In June naval Commander Schwann bought it and had it transported to Barrow-in-Furness where he had the wheels removed and the skids mounted on floats. Following a series of trials on different designs of floats the aircraft unexpectedly lifted off the water to make the first take off from sea-water of any aircraft in Britain. Five other machines were built in late 1911 and early 1912 with small variations in the basic design, including sesquiplane wings, different engines and repositioning of the radiator to improve the view of the pilot. The sixth was a single seater. It is not known exactly how many type D biplanes were built at A. V. Roe's works at Manchester, but the second and two others were used in 1913 at the Avro Flying School at Shoreham. The records indicate that these were scrapped in early 1914. This was Roe's first successful design which gave him and his team invaluable data on flying characteristics of aircraft. This experience was used in later designs which ultimately resulted in the type 504: the rest, as they say, was history. The model was entirely sctatch built from card, Evergreen strip, rod, stretched sprue, clear acetate and rigged with rolled copper wire. The span is approximately 5 inches (12cm). Thanks for looking. P 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bughunter Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Scratch build? In 1/72? Great job! Thanks for showing, Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 That is gorgeous! Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 That's spectacular. It really shows the fragile nature of these early aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLurker Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Am I allowed to hate you even though we haven't ever met? That's brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russ c Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Awesome work there, esp` as it`s 72nd too`, great job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vulcanicity Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Spectacular! I am in awe of your skills (and patience!)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael51 Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 That takes model making to a new level. A wonderful piece of work! Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Now I really like that, Pheonix - wonderful model of a great looking pre WW1 aeroplane. How about building the Avro triplane next - I would love to see what you could do on that one. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTiger66 Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 That's absolutely lovely The rigging is amazing (as is everything else)! I remember the film, it was really quite funny and eccentric. Will you be building any more of the aircraft from the movie in 1/72? 'Works in progress' would be amazing. TonyT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 Simply outstanding model phoenix, all the more so for being in The One True Scale...!! Truly lovely work! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 That is a beauty indeed! Congrats J-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazey Posted May 25, 2017 Share Posted May 25, 2017 I take my hat off to you, phoenix. Wonderful model. Regards, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 I'm with all these chaps - that is just a wonderful bit of modelling, and in the 'one true scale ' as well. I tips my lid to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristol boy Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Great model, love the way the radiator blocks the pilots view! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcdonnell Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Hello,P - No matter what the scale is,this build is a masterclass in scale modelling. 😉👍 All the best,Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qn30jEkPz7 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Lovely bit of work. Well done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Ford Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Wow, that looks lovely. Love the colour of the wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted May 26, 2017 Author Share Posted May 26, 2017 Thank you everyone for the very kind remarks. TonyTiger: There is a build log on Airfix Tribute forum: scratch builds if you are interested. Epeeman: I have considered the Avro triplane but have not got around to it yet. I would also need some plans and am not sure (ie have not looked) of what is available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beard Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Now that's proper modelling, something an assembler of kits can only aspire to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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