1/32 GeeBee Z

[GEEBEE Z]

This is my first WIP,So please be gentle.

Got this kit off SWMBO for my birthday, and although I've built both versions of this aircraft,they were both built OOB.So for this one I've decided to go to town and show what can be done with these kits.......................................hopefully

First,the obligatory sprue and box shot....

Next,close up sprue shot.

And finally,some reference material

(some very good reading to be had there).

Will post pics of the build as soon as I can.

[Iain Ogilvie]

Excellent choice Sir!

Iain

[bigbadbadge]

This looks interesting, nice unusual subject, good luck in your build, will watch with interest.

All the best

Chris

[AndyC]

Go for it!

[shelfspace]

Oh yes indeed. Have the Zee and the R and the Wedell-Williams and the Seversky and the Flivver and the Corben Super Ace and and and.... - well, you get the picture. Figure these will be my pension plan (to build, not sell, natch.) Got the Kia-ora and the popcorn on this one... fantastic! Always wondered why Williams bros. kits don't get a better exposure - they're brilliant!

[Barneydhc82]

I recently finished this one and other than trying, without success, to get the red trim on the black/yellow demarcation line, it was a breeze. Once the bubble canopy is in place all of the detail inside could not be seen. I used stainless steel wire for the rigging and it is strong!

Barney

[GEEBEE Z]

I recently finished this one and other than trying, without success, to get the red trim on the black/yellow demarcation line, it was a breeze. Once the bubble canopy is in place all of the detail inside could not be seen. I used stainless steel wire for the rigging and it is strong!

Barney

Like the Gee Bee Barney.

I know what you mean,I tried that too,but gave up.I saw just how thin the real coachline was on a photo,ant to be honest,I found it ok without it.I'll be making mine with the access canopy off,so you can see the detail inside.I have a plan of action to do this,and just hope its going to look ok.

Edited April 17, 2012 by GEEBEE Z

[GEEBEE Z]

Oh yes indeed. Have the Zee and the R and the Wedell-Williams and the Seversky and the Flivver and the Corben Super Ace and and and.... - well, you get the picture. Figure these will be my pension plan (to build, not sell, natch.) Got the Kia-ora and the popcorn on this one... fantastic! Always wondered why Williams bros. kits don't get a better exposure - they're brilliant!

I love 'em too.I got my first one at a local IPMS show,then hit Ebay for the rest.The kits themselves are a little primitive by todays standards,and fit of parts can be a bit of a pain,but i find theres something about them I really like,it may be because the subject is so different from the norm. The hardest I personally found was the Bulldog racer........what a bugger,but it redeemed itself when it won best in class at my IPMS show.I usually brush pain mine,but I'm getting a comp and airbrush,so will be doing this build in a new way for me.................................

[Madam I'm Adam]

Hey, I ken your builds, and I look forward to seeing you pull out the stops on this one.

Adam

[jimbuna]

Hey, I ken your builds, and I look forward to seeing you pull out the stops on this one.

Adam

Ditto.

[GEEBEE Z]

Good evening fellow modellers,not much done due to various probs with camera,and an 8 stone german shepherd(she's not been well).

Had a go at making a new seat,but decided the kits was in fact close enough,there was a slim seat pad on the original,lip service to pilot comfort methinks,and made the seat belt from scratch.Apologies for pic quality,but camera is playing up a little.

This is the attempt at making a new seat,from a tea light,not too pleased with it.

.

Seat before belts added.

And with scratch belts.

Have added the logerons to the fuselage and cut out the access hatch,which makes the plane look a little odd,but the canopy was tiny.

Logerons on one side only,to show wht you get in the basic kit.

Access panel cut out.

Hopefully,will get more done over the W/E.

Ta for looking.

[GEEBEE Z]

Good evening folks,a bit of work managed of late,interior finished and fitted into the airframe.I tried to take pics of the bare interior,but I think me camera has seen better days.Anyhows,this is how she looks at the mo.Hardly big modelling strides made,and have got to make a model for my sisters birthday,and,as its not to far off,this will have to fit in as and when.I was hoping to get the Gee Bee done for my local show in June,but dont think it will.

Hope you like it so far.

The mods to the interior were a new throttle quadrant,as the kits was in the wrong place,seat belts,made from a very fine fabric,and a tea light,seat pad from milliput,scatch built rudder pedals and bar.the instrument panel is the kits,but,as you cant see it too well on the pics,the dials had thin lenses fitted.

[GEEBEE Z]

A little bit of an update,not as much done as I would like,but,hey ho.Wings and tailplane on,spats and prop cleaned up ready for painting.I've built a couple of these,and they normally put up a fight,but so far and fingers crossed,this one has gone together really well.The biggest job really with these,is the engine,a lot of cleaning up to be done,but with a bit of tlc,they make into a lovely little unit.

Cheers for now.

[Madam I'm Adam]

It looks really weird from these views pre-engine.

Don't you think?

Now get to bed...you were up far to late last night...posting after midnight...tut tut

Adam

[shelfspace]

as if any Gee Bees ever looked anything close to normal! Lovely progress - looking forward to the next update!

[GEEBEE Z]

It looks really weird from these views pre-engine.

Don't you think?

Now get to bed...you were up far to late last night...posting after midnight...tut tut

Adam

I know I needs me beauty sleep,but I'd need to be rip van winkle to get me rugged good looks back now,besides,SWMBO is at work,he he.

as if any Gee Bees ever looked anything close to normal! Lovely progress - looking forward to the next update!

I agree wholeheartedly,thats why I love 'em.

[GEEBEE Z]

Good day chaps,just a brief update.Have started on what is probably the most difficult part of the build,the motor.As you may be able to see from the pic,it isn't a one piece unit like most,but each cylinder is separate.Usually there is a fair amount of flash on these,but am beginning to think that this may have been one of the first realeases of this kit,as there was very little,which is VERY unusual.Touch wood,so far this Gee Bee has come together very nicely indeed,and I speak from experience here.The cylinders have been painted in Humbrol gun metal metallic,which polishes up great,and is very close to the original colour.the crankcase has been done in a medium grey.The one problem unique to this particular model,is the the original had been fiited with two engines,and as I'm building the first of these,it was fitted with the smaller of the two powerplants,which means,smaller crankcases,and cowling.Williams supply parts and decals for both,however the problem lies in the fact that the only give you one part for the front of the crank,which means that doing the early version means that the crank fron is over size.Fortunately,I've found that this can be hidden to some degree,by the HT collect ring,that was fitted around the front of the powerplant.So thats all for now,as SWMBO insists on going to look for a new fridgefreezer

You will notice two strips on the cocpit sides,when I check on the pics the framework was not visible with the canopy off,and Williams mould the canopy exactly,which means it's slightly larger on the outside due to it having a lip,so a little trimming is required on the canopy itself.The glazing is not fixed yet,an only put on for the pic.

Closer shot of the unit,with the too large crank front.This cant be altered,as the push rod base would be lost.

Thats all for now.TTFN

[GEEBEE Z]

Just a quick update,cylinders fitted,collecter ring added,and leads and plugs fitted.Plugs were from 0.5 mm brass tube,ignition leads are stripped from cable.Crank is painted in Hu 127 satin,and cylinders are Hu gunmetal metallic,which is perfect for these.What I need to do now,is fit the pushrods.I remove the kit ones,as they are too heavy,and will fit piano wire,which looks better too.

Thats all for now,SWMBO needs jobs doing.

[Iain Ogilvie]

Ace progress - get those chores done quickly so we can see more!

Iain

[GEEBEE Z]

Ace progress - get those chores done quickly so we can see more!

Iain

Cheers Iain,she's got them listed,as was a naughty boy and got a Hall's Bulldog at the W/E,the worlds most expensive Williams Bros kit,as it cost nearly 300 quid,well,20 for the kit,and another 250 for a new fridge freezer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited April 30, 2012 by GEEBEE Z

[woody37]

Brilliant. This is such an iconic aeroplane

[merlin3945]

I simply love the GEEBEE's they are unique.

I love the story of the replica paint job and how from b/w photos they thought the pinstripe was one colour but were then told by a family friend of the original pilot it was actually another.

[GEEBEE Z]

I simply love the GEEBEE's they are unique.

I love the story of the replica paint job and how from b/w photos they thought the pinstripe was one colour but were then told by a family friend of the original pilot it was actually another.

Wiiliams suggest red for the Z,but it was so fine on the original,that they say the pinstripe is in the region of 1/64,even at that width,it would look to thick,so I leave it off,and it doesn't really detract.

[GEEBEE Z]

Quicky update,metal pushrods fitted,motor now finished,back to chores.

The rods are steel,I think a couple are reflecting light from something.

Hope to get more done later.

[AndyC]

Great work...I have done the 1/72 AModel and have the Testors 1/48 and am going to bookmark this for when I get my hands on a Williams Bros kit - love it (and the 'plane)