CJP Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 (edited) RFI LINK - https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235049098-breguet-alize-the-gallic-gannet/ WIP FOLLOWS I have had this kit in my stash for a while - it is a limited run kit so requires a fair bit of work but is the only option I know of to get a 1/48 Alize - as well as the injection moulded parts there are a packs of white metal & resin castings plus an etched sheet. I have seen a couple of builds on other websites but it was not until I discovered a French website called MASTER194.COM with a very detailed build of the FM Alize that I decided it might be time to look at my kit again. http://www.master194.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=59400 (UNFORTUNATELY THIS LINK & BUILD IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE) The build is by French modeller GAUDART and has a load of photos of the aircraft as well as lots of photos of how he went about detailing his beautiful model step by step. As the website is in French I needed English text and one of my daughters said just put the url in Google Translate - miraculous, the whole webpage is translated into the language of your choice! - easy to follow once this is done - only the French text on drawings is not translated https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.master194.com%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D4%26t%3D59400%26sid%3D6e99c29913cd38cada8087ff2b939524%26start%3D1025&edit-text There are some useful photos on these links - http://aviapassionmaquette.free.fr/Aviapassion Maquette photoscope alize.html https://get.google.com/albumarchive/106400408485037094643/album/AF1QipMYtvSe8K4mXXTVnHYipFChMPtAnNcQZPelTYgD http://www.master194.com/photo_avion/alize/alize.htm http://spotaero.blogspot.com.au/2011/02/cockpit-du-breguet-alize.html I found plans hard to come by so am using some old Aviation News plans from about 30 years ago plus lots of reference to photos which are quite plentiful. I am compiling this WIP retrospectively so apologies if it is a bit disjointed but I was not going to post my build until I felt sure it was over the hump and stands a good chance of being completed. In addition to basically using his build as a guide I decided that - 1. I wanted the wings folded similar to GAUDART's model 2. Cabin doors to be open which required making a new canopy - I was not happy with the shape of the kit original so it had to be done - GAUDART's article has a lot of information on how he made canopies 3. It is quite noticeable that there is a gap between the trailing edge of the wing spar and the start of the flaps - I discovered that this is because the front of the flap has a slot - I therefore had to make a representation of this to capture that feature. 4. control surfaces to be separated - the underside of the ailerons have a similar look to the flaps. 5. make sure at an early stage I get the sit of the Alize correct as it has a tail down attitude on the ground - GAUDART was not happy with the sit on his model & had to very carefully remove the gear after he had completed it and correct the sit - a very delicate operation. 6.Colour scheme to be what I believe is called type A - which looks close enough to EDSG/Sky to me The sprues have lots of flash some construction sketches I made as I assembled the Alize Some extra detail was added to radar operators cabin but once it closed up I don't think you will see much as it is a bit of a black hole. The nose wheel bay, Bomb bay, radar bay and arrester hook bay all need care as they are not positively located and benefit from bits of scrap strip here and there to assist locating them the fuselage cross section at the rear of the cockpit opening looks a bit pinched so I added a 3mm insert at the top to make it look rounder similar to GAUDART'S technique - also added an extension to the instrument panel shroud as it looks a bit more pronounced in photos. Aerofoil rib sections and spars were added to the wings - I also added and additional aerofoil rib section after this picture was taken to the inside of the one at the break to give the hydraulic rams something to anchor on to when it gets to creating all of the wing fold detailing. Plastic tube was glued to the rounded front of the flap and microstrip added underneath to represent the slot on the front of the flap - I guesstimated the gap between the wing and flap to be about 1mm or so. wing fold aerofoil section fitted the slotted flap Making a representation of the slot at front of the flaps The main components and feeling like I was getting somewhere Cockpit panels painted and a selection of Airscale instrument decals added This is the canopy mould - the frames are from copperfoil tape and were an attempt to get an impression of the frames on the thermoformed canopy but I had problems with alignment so removed them and will add frames once in situ on the model there are a few issues with symmetry between the left and right fuselage halves but nothing a few bits of microstrip and filler can't fix plasticard strips were added to the elevators to keep the halves the right distance apart and help locate them A bit of extra detail was added with fuse wire and plastic scraps to represent various boxes & pipes - GAUDART really has done a lot of detail in these areas on his model Alize Where i'm up to today - the aileron and flap are just sitting in the wing not glued yet - the plastic over the rear of the cabin is to hopefully stop me pushing the rear windows in to the cabin CJP Edited January 12, 2019 by CJP RFI LINK 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massimo Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Very interesting build!!! I like all detailing work you've done and those ailerons and th wing folds will give her a dynamic sensation. Well done!!! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Amazing, and dare I say it, brave work! Great to see an Alize' get this sort of treatment 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacificmustang Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Fantastic work, FM kits are certainly not the easiest to build, will be watching your progress with interest. It’s great to see this kit being built bruce 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Lovely work! I was wondering who the other person was who thought it was a cunning plan to buy this kit! Martian 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted March 18, 2018 Author Share Posted March 18, 2018 8 hours ago, massimo said: Very interesting build!!! I like all detailing work you've done and those ailerons and th wing folds will give her a dynamic sensation. Well done!!! thanks Massimo - I'm a keen follower of your current Ark Royal aircraft builds 2 hours ago, 71chally said: Amazing, and dare I say it, brave work! Great to see an Alize' get this sort of treatment thanks 71chally - it has been full on work so far 1 hour ago, pacificmustang said: Fantastic work, FM kits are certainly not the easiest to build, will be watching your progress with interest. It’s great to see this kit being built bruce thanks Bruce - this is my first FM but what you say is correct but I think it will end up ok eventually 55 minutes ago, Martian Hale said: Lovely work! I was wondering who the other person was who thought it was a cunning plan to buy this kit! Martian thanks Martian - yes it was me - amazing how a cunning plan can unravel CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 Mine unravelled the moment I opened the box! what was really Baldrickesque about my plan was that I had already built an FM kit. One might have thought I had learnt my lesson. Mars' answer to Homer Simpson 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted March 18, 2018 Share Posted March 18, 2018 A lot of nice work gone into your model, looks challenging. As not a 48th builder never really come across FM kits, but they look like a 1/48th equivalent of Mach2 kits, only possibly not as good. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 19, 2018 Share Posted March 19, 2018 On 18/03/2018 at 12:42, Mr T said: . As not a 48th builder never really come across FM kits, And believe me, you don't want to! Cluck, cluck, gibber, gibber, my old man's a Martian mushroom. Traumatised of Mars 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted March 26, 2018 Author Share Posted March 26, 2018 (edited) I've got to a point in the build where you seem to be doing a lot of fiddly little jobs but not seeing much progress - continuing on I cut off the resin exhaust and fairing Added some micro strip and putty to the jet exhaust fairing side as it did not look curved enough to me compared to photos - also a glued strip at the rear edge of the fairing as per GAUDARTS article. Added a circle of plastic strip and inserted part 109 into it at fuselage rear - added Tamiya filler to fill any gaps - the fitting needed a touch with a file top and bottom so the clear cover will fit over it I made thin plastic card base for the fuel jettison outlet pipes & faired in with Tamiya putty Next I decided to try and dry fit the outer folding wing panels to see how the alignment looked starting by making the wing hinges from plastic card - grooves were cut into the inner wing panel to accept the hinges on the outer panels the first fitting of both wings was pretty disappointing looking at the alignment of each folded panel and led to a lengthy period of trying to work out how to correct the wings to make the folded panels even - a very frustrating process and I ended up removing one of the front wing hinges and repositioning it - I ended up averaging out the differences between each side until I got an acceptable result - real tear your hair out stuff - for now it's good enough to push on with the build - wing fold detailing will happen at a later stage. The nose intake cowing was fitted and the rear fuselage porthole window was repositioned further forward. Never thought I'd say it about the FM Alize Martian but I'm quite enjoying the build CJP Edited December 27, 2018 by CJP text 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 29 minutes ago, CJP said: Never thought I'd say it about the FM Alize Martian but I'm quite enjoying the build CJP There is certainly some epic work going on here! Right Guys, try not to let him get too excited while I go and find a shrink! Martian 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) A little update - flaps and ailerons were fitted to the wing using brass wire to help align them and then glued once I was happy with the alignment - the structure on the front edge of the inner flap was a spacer to get the flap to sit right .Jury struts were made from Albion Alloys slide fit pack SFT1 - the plastic collars were made from heat stretched tube and sanded to size using a toothpick - also used a couple of metal washers from an old left over etch Struts in place doing their job - wing angles will need tweeking later - navigation lights & flap hinges fitted weapons pylons dry fitted but still need the putty sanded Edited April 5, 2018 by CJP text 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I’d missed this; you’re doing wonderful stuff with a notorious “sow’s ear” of a kit. Nice to see the French Gannet equivalent get some love. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 Can anyone help with some photos or drawings of the front of pods that house the main landing gear on early Alize aircraft - they have a clear cover over the front of the port & starboard pods in front of what is the sonobuoy housing - I cannot get any clear photos but there seems to be internal panels with lights mounted in them - in most photos I have seen the clear Perspex is clouded & the internal detail is not visible clearly - modified aircraft have a solid front to these bays CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 On 3/26/2018 at 9:49 AM, Martian Hale said: There is certainly some epic work going on here! Right Guys, try not to let him get too excited while I go and find a shrink! Martian A Shrink, related to Fonderie kits ?? I already told it.... Mine has commited suicide.... Hi CJP, Welcome in the closed club of fonderie builder.... It is not necessary to be mad to do so, but it help !! My fonderie are a MB 152 and a HOS-3 Pierre is engulfed in a second Halifax and an Hampden... And I'm about to start a F9F-8 Oh and your right following the thread, DO NOT TRUST Fonderie Instruction sheet ! Not matter, for what they said, you better don't know.... Whatever, if you need any trand, PM me, I will help, because Google trad is ... Come On Dear Alien, It's an opportunity to start your Alize Are you going to rejoice Young Man, Fonderie is calling... Sincerely. Corsaircorp 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 48 minutes ago, corsaircorp said: A Shrink, related to Fonderie kits ?? I already told it.... Mine has commited suicide.... Hi CJP, Welcome in the closed club of fonderie builder.... It is not necessary to be mad to do so, but it help !! My fonderie are a MB 152 and a HOS-3 Pierre is engulfed in a second Halifax and an Hampden... And I'm about to start a F9F-8 Oh and your right following the thread, DO NOT TRUST Fonderie Instruction sheet ! Not matter, for what they said, you better don't know.... Whatever, if you need any trand, PM me, I will help, because Google trad is ... Come On Dear Alien, It's an opportunity to start your Alize Are you going to rejoice Young Man, Fonderie is calling... Sincerely. Corsaircorp Thank you Corsaircorp - I started the build knowing it was a limited run kit so expected to have to do some work on it - lots of scratch building but nothing impossible to do and quite satisfying to get a reasonable model as a result - I always liked to look of the Alize for some reason so this is the only 1/48 model at the moment although I guess it is hard to come by now - probably a few in peoples stashes still - as for shrinks mine comes in a bottle CJP 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 This won't help you much, but I believe that they are translucent/plastic aerodynamic covers which protect various sensors related to the the ASW task, they were later modified on the Aeronavale' aircraft with EW type sensors mounted on a solid nose to the pod. I believe the Indian aircraft didn't get the mod, so maybe worth Googling them for better images. Cracking work on your build, great stuff! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJP Posted April 5, 2018 Author Share Posted April 5, 2018 9 minutes ago, 71chally said: This won't help you much, but I believe that they are translucent/plastic aerodynamic covers which protect various sensors related to the the ASW task, they were later modified on the Aeronavale' aircraft with EW type sensors mounted on a solid nose to the pod. I believe the Indian aircraft didn't get the mod, so maybe worth Googling them for better images. Cracking work on your build, great stuff! Thanks for that information 71chally - I have been Googling furiously but no clear views found yet CJP 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 42 minutes ago, CJP said: Thank you Corsaircorp - I started the build knowing it was a limited run kit so expected to have to do some work on it - lots of scratch building but nothing impossible to do and quite satisfying to get a reasonable model as a result - I always liked to look of the Alize for some reason so this is the only 1/48 model at the moment although I guess it is hard to come by now - probably a few in peoples stashes still - as for shrinks mine comes in a bottle CJP Beautiful work. As for your shrinks, clearly the Australian booze industry won't be going into recession any time soon! Martian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 1 hour ago, corsaircorp said: Come On Dear Alien, It's an opportunity to start your Alize Are you going to rejoice Young Man, Fonderie is calling... Sincerely. Corsaircorp Will that man in the cheap seats behave himself please. This alien needs no assistance in getting himself into long and insanely complicated builds! Martian 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 1 minute ago, Martian Hale said: Will that man in the cheap seats behave himself please. This alien needs no assistance in getting himself into long and insanely complicated builds! Martian That's for sure !! CC 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 3 minutes ago, Martian Hale said: Will that man in the cheap seats behave himself please. This alien needs no assistance in getting himself into long and insanely complicated builds! Martian Can't say better myself oh wise Alien !! Rocs are also pretty fun...Seem that we have some common points.... Sincerely. CC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corsaircorp Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 Hello CJP, I'll look in my files if I have some more pics ! sincerely. CC 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salomon Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 (edited) keep the nice work, that's amazing because the original kit is very basic and your work is a masterpiece. Edited April 5, 2018 by salomon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heloman1 Posted April 5, 2018 Share Posted April 5, 2018 I was curious when i saw your build thread title. having built FM's H-21 some 15 years ago Iwas thinking things might have improved and you were going to have an 'easy ' build, it would seem not. Love the way you are tackling the beast. Colin 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now