RWD-5 bis ZTS Plastyk 1/72nd scale

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

What were you doing in 1985?

The Polish were making delightful kits.

Among them the one that concerns us today, a ZTS Plastyk rendition of the RWD-5 (and RWD-5 bis).

I love these old but sound kits, that with a little care can be turned into very nice models. I have built a number of ZTS kits, and all brought satisfaction and good entertainment, being very appealing subjects out of the beaten-to-exhaustion-path, nicely engineered and very affordable.

All that said, modelers can still improve quite a bit through some simple actions (otherwise called real modeling). The kit provides an interior that is convincing, including the additional fuel tank for the Atlantic crossing (RWD-5bis) in the rear position.

My plan is to build the machine that crossed the Atlantic (SP-AJU) and eventually reached Buenos Aires (the city where I was born). It's not particularly colorful, but with a few touches (open door, some refinements) it should be a nice little model.

My boxing is quite old, but the company is still alive and well:

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=http://www.modelarstwo.net.pl/&prev=search

 

 

 

So let's see what we got:

Very nice instructions in two colors and a sort of vintage box (old release, now they have pretty boxes):

 

 Contents:

 

Very nice transparencies:

 

Overdone fabric effect:

 

 

This is too much and is better toned down:

 

The wheels come integral with the pants, a blast from the past that won't do for me:

 

 The nose front, part of the fuselage sides, won't do for me either:

 

Nice detail is present, but again has to be subdued a bit:

 

Refreshing to see something that is not made in china:

 

Sanding the "fabric" a bit (leaving detail, but not too prominent). The nose (metal in the original) is masked to protect it:

 

The elevators are separated:

 

 

Now the surface is much more credible:

 

The nose tips are cut off and the exhaust (rendered as pips in the kit) are drilled:

 

Those naive wheels won't do:

 

The wheels are removed and cavities carved:

 

Small parts removed to be cleaned, there is some minor flash:

 

Wing central lower part glued:

 

A view of the parts (door has been cut open):

 

The tie down holes are drilled (only marked in the kit):

 

The decal sheet is well printed, and I got a double sheet. The carrier seems thin, but the color of the registrations could be wrong, as it seems that has been established that they were red:

 

The separated nose tips are glued together and the air intake, vent hole and prop location drilled as per photos:

 

[Wlad]

Taking a front seat on this one. Nice job converting the tree bark covering to something that looks more like fabric. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The fuselage has two handles depicted closer to the tail, good effort, but I sand them away and drilled holes to later install wire ones:

 

 Two half-wheels are prepared to be later glued to the pants:

[Courageous]

Glad to see you back at the bench.

I know nothing to very little of the subjects you build but you show what can be done with these older kids using this art called 'modelling' 

 

Stuart

[robertlundin]

Real modeling and good fun 👍👍

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

There are two aftermarket sets for this model, a Part photoetched set (the two-door version also has a set from Part):

 

 And a Model Maker corrected decal set:

 

There are also many other boxings of this kit, some are old and some are new:

 

 

 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The hole for the Venturi is filled, since it was too large>

 

Some structure is added:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

At this point a part of the cowling is excised, and a resin engine adapted to resemble the Cirrus-Hermes IIB:

 

After installed a bit of structure and detail will be added:

[Courageous]

Nice touch with exposing the engine. Still can't get used to the coloured plastic 

 

Stuart

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

46 minutes ago, Courageous said:

Nice touch with exposing the engine. Still can't get used to the coloured plastic 

 

Stuart

Hi Stuart

The idea came from looking at the parts at the photoetched set, which provides metal cheeks for the cowl, so one thing led to the next. One side of the model will show the door open and the other the open cowl, so it will be interesting -I hope- from every angle.

Regarding the color...I am a professional artist, and used to psychedelic hues 😉

 

 

 

 

[GrzeM]

Great build of beautiful airplane! If you need some references or photos I can provide them! Do you know this book? "Most famous Polish sport and raid airplanes"

One of the chapters is detailed reconstruction of the RWD 5bis with detailed drawings and photos!

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

49 minutes ago, GrzeM said:

Great build of beautiful airplane! If you need some references or photos I can provide them! Do you know this book? "Most famous Polish sport and raid airplanes"

One of the chapters is detailed reconstruction of the RWD 5bis with detailed drawings and photos!

Thanks GrzeM, I have enough information for this model, as I am just adding a few details.

But the book is very interesting, unfortunately not easily available here in the US, but can be purchased online in Poland. A nice addition to an aviation library.

Cheers

 

Update: I just got it from Amazon, used.

Edited October 31, 2018 by Moa

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The Pitot and Venturi are replaced:

 

Some components are airbrushed:

[Andwil]

Looking good Moa although it’s a shame to paint over that lovely turquoise plastic!

 

AW

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The prop is masked to paint the metal spinner. The cockpit pan is ready:

 

Firewall added, engine goes in and prop ready:

[Wlad]

I would have been tempted to tweak the Venturi, though you found a much nicer one. The original pitot, on the other hand, looks like a left over piece of sprue. Coming along nicely.

 

Wlad

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

3 minutes ago, Wlad said:

I would have been tempted to tweak the Venturi, though you found a much nicer one. The original pitot, on the other hand, looks like a left over piece of sprue. Coming along nicely.

 

Wlad

Waiting now -to able to proceed- for the photoetched set that comes from Poland, tapping my fingers on the building board. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap....I think the Polish postman stopped for beer and kielbasa somewhere

[Wlad]

That explains all your recent postings on RFI. Patience, patience...😑 Though as a Shaolin Modeling Monk you must have mastered this by now 🙂

 

This one will look good with the engine compartment open. That little engine is a gem. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The aftermarket decal sheet arrived.

Things look good, the sheet seems of good quality, and there is reference leaflet in color on glossy paper, but the manufacturer forgot that the oleo struts were red:

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

On 11/5/2018 at 7:23 PM, Wlad said:

That little engine is a gem. 

I didn't make that one, I just modified one of the superb engines Matias Hagen from Argentina makes:

http://72topia.blogspot.com/

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

And 15 days after I ordered an item that said it was in stock, it was finally sent to be in the mail by the vendor today.

Well, I guess now I will need a pillow until it arrives and I can proceed with the build.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..............

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Well, the PE finally arrived, after many, many weeks of waiting:

 

The fret will need priming and painting, since unfortunately the metal is not silvery, but brass.

The set includes a film and instructions. I won't use all the parts:

 

Now the build can proceed.

[John Masters]

I am looking forward to another fine example of the craft.

[GrzeM]

I can't wait to see your progress!!!

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

The interior is dressed with the P.E. parts:

 

The fuselage halves are joined and the nose tip, previously separated and detailed, is glued on:

 

 The landing gear part is glued: