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Here is this model -made in 2013- for a friend, from a prehistoric kit: This is another vintage classic, depicting once more an early bird of the Pioneer Era. The only way to reasonably build this one is just (Beatle-style) letting it be. A sort of general clunkiness permeates the model but redeeming factors are the old age of the kit and its character of a Golden Oldie; so let’s just do another “homage building”. The resulting replica will be enough for it to be recognized and occupy its place in a collection aiming to give a visual account of aviation history. Those who are familiar with the obscure origins of this hobby and the Paleoplastic period of manufacturers will know that Entex also offered several other models of Pioneer aircraft. Other brands like Pyro, Renwal, and the French Brifaut* (thanks Diego Fernetti for enlightening me on that one), also produced examples of Early Birds. The kit itself: accompanying the sprues are the instructions, this time fortunately in English and a sheet of very thick paper meant to be covering material. I’ll take with a pinch of salt the recommendation of using that paper, thick and rough, and especially the suggestion of applying aeronautic dope to it to improve its surface and eliminate wrinkles, as one would do with a flying model. I wouldn’t bet on the chemical compatibility of the kit’s plastic and the dope. The instructions contain small illustrations, are kind of vague (surprise!) and omit clear rigging diagrams. Allow me to emphasize that: the instructions are horrible, in many ways that will be revealed as you advance with the construction groping your way. The box, though, shows small 3 views that provide some orientation in that matter, beware, though, that that 3 view contains many mistakes too, among the most flagrant an incorrect power-plant and therefore a bogus linkage system to the props. Look at some photos if you feel so inclined. I have scratchbuilt a good number of these old machines, and frankly I consider it is the way to go if you want a good replica, that said I welcome the opportunity to build these naive vintage kits, which is fun and has a certain je ne sais quoi. Before even starting construction I committed a mistake: I looked at references.The Flight magazine online archives have some pages that describe the plane, include images and a good plan of it. You may feel tempted to tweak here and there in order to provide for a more realistic outcome. Tired of looking at the stupidly small graphics on the plan, I scanned it and referred to them in the comfort of the magnified image on my monitor. *Brifaut also produced a model of the Ader Eole that seems quite cute -although also unavoidably clunky- according to photos. For what I can see on the Net collector’s items like that go these days for prices that are way, way beyond what the kit has really to offer, not considering its historic value of course. A photo of the kit's ridiculously small pilot alongside the kit's radiator and Manolo Schubertus Nakamurakara Kierkegaard, The Hieratic, my test pilot (whose stature is normal): Well, that was really beyond acceptable, so I broke my "let it be" philosophy aimed to this particular kit and scratchbuilt another engine following photos and diagrams of the real thing. Oh, my, I told you not to look at references.... The accurization of the engine led unavoidably to revise the linkage to props and ancillaries, which are all wrongly depicted and incorrectly positioned in the kit, of course (didn't I tell you not to look at references...) A trial covering begins, NOT using the kit's paper which is a disgrace: The aft stabilizer has a notch which allows it to be glued to the fuselage end. In another example of bad engineering and poor judgment you would have to cut through the paper after covering to expose the contact area, marring the finish since the adjacent bays have a wall missing: The area is consequently boxed-in, to allow the paper to glue to something -this flying modelers will understand easily-. The styrene added pieces will later be sanded flush with the general contour: The stab correction already sanded and radiator thinned and painted: The covering trial in process: The flying surfaces are misted with an off-white color, to enhance realism: The different struts are glued angled to the lower wing, to allow later on for the right incidence. There are three types of struts, so be careful: The wing is glued to the fuselage frame. Needless to say, nothing coincides with nothing, and you have to fiddle your way until you position the wing correctly (and not as the the kit has it) thanks to the re-carving of the notches on the back pair of struts where they touch the fuselage longerons. Patience and a keen eye are required at this stage (and with this kit, at every stage): The LG in place, a very fiddly assembly. I can say, at this point, without a shadow of doubt, that this is one of the most poorly engineered kits I ever built.