pheonix Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Evening All, Following on from Moa and Horatio Gruntfuttock's superb models of early aviation types, here is another example. It was the first model that I built from scratch from plastic card and strip. It is rigged with rolled copper wire. There is a build log at https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=4228.0 I built this on a whim some years ago: I had just completed a kit and was looking for something a little different and perhaps more challenging, so I leafed through Munson's "Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft 1914 - 1918" and this was on the first page. When I was a teenager I had wanted to make one of these but there was no kit. Now I decided that I did not need a kit, I could make one of my own and this was the result. I have included a couple of in progress images. The Maurice Farman MF 7 Longhorn was adopted by the RFC and RNAS in 1911 where it was used for reconnaissance by 2, 4 and 6 squadrons (where it was known as the S7), and training during the years leading to the First World War. 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the outbreak of hostilities a few went to France where they were used for reconnaissance but they were quickly withdrawn and from then on only used for training. The French continued using the type for front line duties until mid-1915. No armament was carried by MF 7's. This was a successful design which in civilian guise held a number of records including one for distance of 350 miles in a closed circuit in 1910, and successive duration records between 1911 and 1913. Most machines were built in France and equipped with 70 hp Renault engines, but some built under license in Bradford 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 which survives in a museum in Oslo, and other machines are preserved in Paris and Brussels. Good photos of these machines can be found on wwi-models.org. These were invaluable as individual machines seemed to vary (there are notable differences in the preserved machines), but specific details are well shown in these photos. In particular the exhaust systems of the engines seemed to have differed, and some later aircraft had fold-down extensions of the upper main-planes, while others had narrow chord lower planes. It is said that RFC riggers used to comment that if they released a pigeon inside one of these machines and it could fly out then there was a wire missing.... [ [ Thanks for looking. P 30 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 (edited) I still think this is one of your best! Ian PS I just realised that my Bleriot build was hijacked by Photob**** so I've replaced the links and asked admin to bring it to this section! Edited September 7, 2018 by limeypilot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 The rigging alone puts you in line for an MBE (Master Britmodeller Engineer). And as for the whole thing: simply wonderful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Masterful. How long did it take to rig? Keith. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 RIGTASTIC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Wonderful! Cat's cradle! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JWM Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 Riging looks as work for spider not faor a man! That is perhaps the most complex riging ever made Great result indeed! J-W 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cngaero Posted September 7, 2018 Share Posted September 7, 2018 That is a work of art. You've done a fantastic job of the build and the rigging is exceptional. Thank you for sharing your stunning photos with us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire31 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Amazing feat of modelling. Talk about built-in headwind… Superb replica! Kind regards, Joachim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glatisant Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Gets my vote. Superb. "Wind in the Wires"!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silenoz Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Terrific job, not only the construction, but also the rigging... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Fantastic modelling! I was going crosseyed just looking at the rigging & trying to work out where it went, I wouldn't know where to start actually putting it on a model! Stunning work! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 I keep looking at this and getting more and more impressed - but I can't see any reference to scale. The Humbrol tin would suggest t1/72 perhaps... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Magnifique! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 37 minutes ago, BIG X said: I keep looking at this and getting more and more impressed - but I can't see any reference to scale. The Humbrol tin would suggest t1/72 perhaps... Have a look at the thread title; "1/72 Scratch built Maurice Farman MF 7 Longhorn 1912" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyGair Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Wow! 'Proper modelling' at its best. Davey. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG X Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 34 minutes ago, keefr22 said: Have a look at the thread title; "1/72 Scratch built Maurice Farman MF 7 Longhorn 1912" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 Thanks to all of you who have dropped by - your comments are greatly appreciated. Actually rigging the model took about a week of evening work: however some had to be done during construction because otherwise it would have been nearly impossible to get to. There are approximately 190 wires on this model but if the rigging is tackled systematically it is more time consuming than difficult... Yes really! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 31 minutes ago, pheonix said: tackled systematically This, of course, is the secret to rigging any biplane, especially a cat's cradle like the Farman--or Cauldron G3/4 or Voisin III. Rig what you can, when you can, so when it comes time for the final pieces, it is not nearly as daunting as it first might appear. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darby Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Ruddy 'ell! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horatio Gruntfuttock Posted September 9, 2018 Share Posted September 9, 2018 Oh Mr Phoenix, my gob is well and truly smacked! That is wonderful - although I looked in vain for the 1/72nd canary trapped inside the rigging!! It would never enter my head to try something as complicated as that model and I tips my lid to thee! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael louey Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) Wonderful build Phoenix. As others have said the rigging by itself is daunting as is replicating the delicate framework of these early birds. There's a nice AFC Shorthorn at Point Cook which I've seen and it gives a good idea of how complicated these planes are - https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/training_hang/shorthorn.htm Cheers Michael Edited September 10, 2018 by Michael louey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted September 10, 2018 Share Posted September 10, 2018 Astonishing! I rig one line from an aerial post to the tail and I think I'm doing well! Would never be able to get close to rigging like yours. Simply an awesome model! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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