pheonix Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Maurice Farman was one of two brothers who each established aviation companies in France in the first decade of the 20th century and who went on to become important pioneers in the years immediately before 1914. Maurice designed a number of machines before the successful pusher layout with a front elevator was adopted. Looking a little like the Wright brothers "Flyer" and its derivatives, Farman followed an idea that was fashionable at the time that connected front and rear elevators helped with horizontal stability. This was M. Farman's first truly successful design which gained a number of records including a distance record of 350 miles in a closed circuit in 1910, and successive duration records between 1911 and 1913. (The Bristol Boxkite was a copy of this design, built by the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company from 1910 until 1914). Following the outbreak of hostilities a few went to France where they were used for reconnaissance but they were quickly withdrawn and from then on only used for training. However at least one machine found its way to the middle east where it was used for reconnaissance in the campaign in Mesopotamia against the Turks which eventually led to the siege of Kut in 1916. It was a robust, reliable machine which was relatively easy to fly and this, combined with its flying record meant that it was entered for the British Military aircraft trials held on Salisbury Plain in 1911. Following success in these trials a number of machines were ordered for the RFC and RNAS in 1911, and it was used for reconnaissance by 2, 4 and 6 squadrons RFC (where it was known as the S7), and training in the years leading to the First World War. Most MF 7's served in the UK as primary trainers until 1916. The French continued to use the type for reconnaissance on the western front until mid-1915 when they too withdrew it from front line duties and used it for training purposes. Most machines were built in France and equipped with 70 hp Renault engines, but some were built under licence in Bradford which were powered by 100 hp Sunbeams, and 47 others built in the UK were powered by 75 hp Rolls Royce Hawks. One aircraft was sold to Norway and this survives in a museum in Oslo: other machines are preserved in Paris and Brussels. Individual aircraft varied from each other as these were hand built, so the exhaust systems of the engines varied, and some later aircraft had fold-down extensions of the upper main-planes, while others had narrow chord lower planes. I have seen photographs of RFC machines with rudder stripes but have not found any with other markings except for the number 12 applied in chalk or white paint on the rudders of the machine at the trials in 1911. I assume that serial numbers were carried on RFC and RNAS machines as was customary prior to August 1914 and possibly Union Jacks were carried on the underside of the lower wings on machines sent to France. However I have tried to represent a machine in early 1914 and because I could not find a photo of one with a serial I have omitted the latter detail. The model represents a "standard" RFC machine with a 70hp Renault engine with one of at least two exhaust systems for this engine. No armament was carried by MF 7's unless the pilot or observer took up a personal weapon. I am not sure where the name "Longhorn" comes from, but it could be the pilot's control column which had two long arms at the top which vaguely remind one of the long horns on highland cattle. It is said that aircraft riggers at the time used to release a pigeon inside the aircraft to see if it could escape - if it could there was a wire missing. There are approximately 200 wires on this model, but if anyone has a 1/72 scale flying pigeon please could I borrow it to check if I have left any off? There is a build log on Airfix Tribute Forum - scratch builds. Thanks for looking. P 33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuro Nezumi Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Very nice! A real spider web of a plane! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristol boy Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 wow amazing, so much rigging! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spruecutter Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Wow, that is a real work of art! Fantastic modelling skills and I liked the snippet about the pigeon! Well done and thanks for posting such an unusual subject. Regards Richard C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Phoenix, What a lovely model, I saw the WIP on ATF. As to your query: "I am not sure where the name "Longhorn" comes from, but it could be the pilot's control column which had two long arms at the top which vaguely remind one of the long horns on highland cattle." I think its a "longhorn" to differentiate it from a MF11 "shorthorn" which was a Farman type without the front elevator - more obviously the front frame extensions look more like horns on the "shorthorn". But most of the RFC memoirs I've read usually seem to refer to a Farman as a "Rumpety" anyway! Cheers Will 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cduckworth Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Beautiful model, at first I thought it was 1/48 scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 WOW, thats a lovely build, the rigging looks fanstastic, cannot believe it is 1/72. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goon Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 That's just marvellous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basuroy Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 WOW !!! That demands incredible patience . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Epeeman Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Superb! Outstanding skills resulting in a beautiful model - I admire your patience as well, Pheonix. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Brilliant - now that's how to scratchbuild. I've contemplated trying to build exactly this subject in this scale myself, but for now I'm sticking to simpler models! Some questions: 1. Did you use some kind of jig when assembling the main parts? 2. What did you use to make the frames - plastic rod? 3. What did you use for the rigging (other than enormous amounts of patience and persistence)? Love it. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 That is a thing of beauty, Sir. Excellent work. That is one of my favorite old aroplanes. Kudos on mentioning its use in Mesopotamia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 That is superb.Absolutely magnificent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrzeM Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Wow! Very impressive!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Simply fabulous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 That is something else. A superb display of craftsmanship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Marvellous. Something which is certainly beyond my lack lustre rigging attempts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Amazing skills indeed. Bravo. And informative post, too. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Amazing model! I diubt that even a 1:144th pigeon could escape from that web och built-in headwind. The background story enhances this masterpiece even further. Top marks for modelling skills and for pure perseverance! Kind regards, Joachim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted January 27, 2017 Author Share Posted January 27, 2017 12 hours ago, Jonners said: Brilliant - now that's how to scratchbuild. I've contemplated trying to build exactly this subject in this scale myself, but for now I'm sticking to simpler models! Some questions: 1. Did you use some kind of jig when assembling the main parts? 2. What did you use to make the frames - plastic rod? 3. What did you use for the rigging (other than enormous amounts of patience and persistence)? Love it. Jon Jon, Rather than try to answer all of your questions in full here is the link to the build log - I should have provided this before: http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=79&t=44053 In short I did not use a jig: I did/do use books, pots of paint, or any other suitable object on my desk/in the room where I model, and I sometimes use graph paper to get alignments, as in this case. I do show my supports in my build logs when I use them. I am aware that my methods are a little unconventional but they work for me, but I know that others do use jigs because they work well for them. The struts were made from Evergreen strip - 20 x 30 thou - filed to a streamline section. The booms from the wings to tail-plane are florist's wire. The undercarriage skids and elevator support are 30 x 40 strip bent in hot water. I rig most of my models with rolled 40 SWG copper wire held with superglue. Trying to rig pushers with thread in this scale presents problems which tests my patience a bit too far. Many thanks to all of you who have left such positive comments - I really appreciate them. P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 Thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huvut76g7gbbui7 Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 What a beautiful model you have there Phoenix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niles Posted January 27, 2017 Share Posted January 27, 2017 That's really impressive. And when I saw that it was 1/72 it became even more impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted January 28, 2017 Share Posted January 28, 2017 Outstanding work museum quality finished project,love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cellarfrog Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 well done. with your obvious passion for rigging I would have expected to find you work in the marine section - do you have a spanish galleon on the bench? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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