Brandy Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 (edited) This one has been a must-do project for a while, having built it twice previously: once as a kid, with no additions, alterations, rigging, or anything else not supplied in the box, and once about 5 years ago when I got back into the hobby. That time I added some basic detail such as interior, rigging, and a little engine detail, but when I looked at it later on I realised it was nowhere near what it should be...Once I got hold of a Choroszy engine and Miniworld guns the project was all set to go! So, what was needed? Here's what went into this transformation: Choroszy resin engine Miniworld brass guns and Scarff ring Barracuda resin pilot's seat PE stitching, control horns, and seatbelts Aeroclub prop and wheels. Everything else was either scratchbuilt or corrected from the kit parts. The fuselage had the tip of the nose removed to bring it back about 1mm and I removed all hints of the "engine" and cooling air scoop. It was cut through the middle of the pilot's cockpit to shorten it, and again just aft of the gunner's cockpit, to both shorten it a little more and to raise the rear decking to the correct height. The underside was then sanded to give a straight line from the bottom of the tail to the rear wing spar (the kit fuselage slopes from the tail to about 1cm aft of the rear spar) - I had to add some plastic inside the fuselage just below the gunner's position to provide enough plastic for the change in the profile. These corrections gave me the straight line I needed for the upper longeron, all the way from the top of the tail to the nose, just below the front cabane strut - the upper line of stitching follows this longeron. The gunner's cockpit was then moved forward by about 2mm. The wings were thinned considerably, the span and tip shapes corrected, and the rib detail added with 0.5mm Jammy Dog masking tape - I won't use that method again as I feel it is still a little over done. especially towards the rear of the wing where it should be very subtle, if not invisible. The lower wing was cut into 5 sections: the centre section was attached to the fuselage once that had been completed, and blended in to be a part of the fuselage. The inner stub wings were drilled out and corrected for their shape, then added to the fuselage with brass pins for strength. The main wings were also pinned with brass rod. Wing struts are kit items, thinned, reshaped, and with brass pins added for secure fitting to the wings. The undercarriage is scratchbuilt from brass rod, with plastic card CA'd on for the fairings. All tail surfaces are from plastic card, including the little vertical fin on the underside. Rigging is 1.5lb test Gamakatsu monofilament fishing line of 0.06mm run across a silver paint pen to give it some colour. I'm not quite sure why I omitted to add any panel detail on the nose, it should certainly have some. It looks a little bare, but I'm not going to do it now! That, in a nutshell, is it....I hope you like her! Here are some comparison pics with the unaltered one I did a few years back.... Thanks for all the support and good wishes during this build! Ian Edited July 12, 2017 by limeypilot 39 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForestFan Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 That's quite wonderful, well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmarchal Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 nice upgrade, well done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polo1112 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 (edited) Hello limeypilot , Is your model really the very, very old Airfix kit from the fifties? I can remember that I built it, with help of my dad, perhaps in 1960 or 1961 (I was 9 or 10 years old). I found,as a child,that the build was rather boring, and I can remember how difficult it was to align both wings with all those struts! Of course rigging was not a theme. I can only congratulate for the superb work you did with this Airfix kit. :wow: BRAVO ! Polo. Edited August 29, 2016 by polo1112 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini78 Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 wow, great work, especially the rigging 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 That's a fine model.Magnificent rigging. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Its amazing what can be done with talent,patience and skill,unfortunately I have none of these but you have it in spades.Great work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Marvellous work on an otherwise old kit that is still around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristol boy Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Looks beautiful and convincing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vh-bob Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Are you sure that the old Airfix kit is lurking in there somewhere ?. It looks great. Well done, Trev. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filobeddowes Posted August 30, 2016 Share Posted August 30, 2016 This is why I don't build bi-planes, the rigging sends me running. This is an absolutely superb job. Love the prop too. Fantastic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winenut Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 Got me! I'm loving that. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted September 3, 2016 Author Share Posted September 3, 2016 Hello limeypilot , Is your model really the very, very old Airfix kit from the fifties? I can remember that I built it, with help of my dad, perhaps in 1960 or 1961 (I was 9 or 10 years old). I found,as a child,that the build was rather boring, and I can remember how difficult it was to align both wings with all those struts! Of course rigging was not a theme. I can only congratulate for the superb work you did with this Airfix kit. :wow: BRAVO ! Polo. Thanks, Polo, and yes, it really is that old clunker of a kit. I, too, built it as a kid, and it didn't look anything like this either! Are you sure that the old Airfix kit is lurking in there somewhere ?. It looks great. Well done, Trev. Yes. it's in there somewhere - or at least, most of it is...quite a bit was either cut out or sanded off! This is why I don't build bi-planes, the rigging sends me running. This is an absolutely superb job. Love the prop too. Fantastic Ahhh....that's why I do build them! The rigging is time consuming but just look at the effect it has on the finished article....I don't do weathering though, for the same reasons you state! Thanks! Got me! I'm loving that. Cheers Thanks! and thanks to those I didn't quote too, all very much appreciated! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 An absolute beauty Ian. Hugely enjoyable build thread and an impressive and inspiring result Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 An outstanding end result Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted September 3, 2016 Share Posted September 3, 2016 I really enjoyed the WIP on this Ian, its turned out beautifully. Impressive peice of work all round. Cheers John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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