Patrik

Thanks a lot for the hint. I completely ignored the drawings in "On Silver Wings". The reason is that I have both the book and the original Aeroplane Monthly article, which I scanned and use it in my tablet during the build. And the article does not contain said drawings. I am happy you proved me wrong. The fuselage is indeed not too long as I thought. I am going to modify the tail anyway in order to represent better the real thing below,

In the chat, Alfred Riedl said, quoting loosely: "we will release minimum one this year, originally wanted to do "sixteen" first, but after Airfix, I think we will do rather some fighter, like "thirty" or such".

Well, without wanting to bring in politics, used to be easier😉. The wheels made it through the customs today, so I hope I get them soon.

Replacement wheels from Tony @TeeELL take a break at customs, so this is where we are now. Starting with decals.

I would have expected someone importing the GasPatch stuff to UK. I usually buy here from https://www.mn-modelar.com/, but this time I had to order directly from Greece, as MN did not have some of the items on my list. I admit the PE set was not easy to locate, especially as I wanted more than just one. I suppose it can be easily 25 years old. However, then I succeeded here: https://www.jadarhobby.pl/part-s72075-172-sopwith-7f1-snipe-toko-p-383.html?language=en. They list the item as "available", but it took them almost two months to deliver anyway. And they're "right around the corner" for me (compared to you).

The fuselage halves were rather divergent, but nothing a nice hot bath won't fix. What cannot be fixed by hot bath is the excessive length of the fuselage. Both according to scale drawings and according to published dimension, the fuselage is about one foot = just under four millimeters in 1/72 longer than in should be. Fortunately, the extra length is in the area behind the cockpit, so fixing it will not be that complicated.

Since my previous bird is almost finished, I think it is safe to present new project from my ongoing water fowl period. While researching for the Grebe build, I came across this article showing (among other things) Snipe E7538 in intriguing markings of 19 Squadron, before they were changed to the famous blue and white checkerboard. Then I remembered how I actually found the article. It was listed in the sources from the Wings of Silver book, later accompanied by beautiful decals, these are Part One of two. So I dug the Eastern Express kit out of my stash, … … purchased a few extras, … … and my modelling future – as far as the next few weeks were concerned – was given. The Snipe, being of Great War origin, has been fortunately covered well by references, including the wonderful Windsock Datafile with a lot of inspiring information.

Fantastic project. I wish you good luck! Please have a look here and in the associated links for inspiration. Some parts have been repeatedly represented incorrectly by drawings and kits, I hope you can avoid repeating the errors.

Previously I considered this area quite populated, and now it seems to be rather crowded.

Not that easy. New fuselage, interior, fin and rudder, correction set for the sweptback wings. Almost new kit.

Biplane in making.

Nice Grebe. PM sent.

Thank you! I am going to send you PM later today.

You are right, Tony. The engine and the cowling are giving me hard times and the wheels are, to put it mildly, rather asymmetric. I can live with the white metal engine, but frankly said, I would enjoy your replacement wheels. Would you be willing to print a few for me eventually?

I am so happy you built the kit, Jon. The result is excellent. I can say that, because I once held the raw material in my own hands😉.

Great work on the kit! I have Genet Moth behind me, two more Amodel Moths planned, so I am able to appreciate the efforts. All the best in 2024 to all of you.

The area in front of the cockpit is starting to look quite populated.

Great work, congratulations Marcel!

Appreciated. I also have one, no wait, two planes in my collection that are at least partly camouflaged.😁

Careful studying of reference material seldom brings less work.😉 I added downward identification light, manufactured the upward one and supplemented the air inlets. The fuel tanks were represented in their later form. Understandably, because it allowed Aeroclub to recycle the wings for their Gamecock kit. J7361 has the early types, so modification was needed here as well.

Lovely work!

Test fit of the guns. So far so good, I would say. The guns are once again combination of modified GasPatch Vickers gun bodies and and Mini World barrels.

The engine did not disappoint me, it was hard work. But I'm all done, including the pipework. It seems that the white metal engine has a kind of a plastic core, I have never noticed it before.

Lovely work! I like the way you captured the second-hand spirit of the RNZAF Gordons.

I agree with you that 3D print is the future of our hobby at least as detail parts and accessories are concerned, and that it will eventually replace resin casting in the same way resin replaced white metal in the same role some 20 years ago. I am not ashamed to use the results of the 3D print process offered by various manufacturers or our various able colleagues. However, as I am a photogrammetrist by profession, and my working world is overcrowded with computers, image matching techniques, stereoscopic observations, point clouds, 3D meshes, 3D models and such, I try to keep my modelling as much “analogue” as possible in order to compensate for my virtual working world. Therefore I like using the old-fashioned scratch-building techniques, do not use powered instruments and paint with brush. And I like my models without rigging.😉