fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 A build from 2 years ago: I have been using Williams Brothers products for decades now, through my successive incarnations as a Free-flight, radio control, and static modeler. Others, more informed and capable, perhaps could one day tell the long story of this company, that went through many avatars in these volatile and changing times. I thought I was quite familiar with their products, but recently I discovered that they had a prolific line of items that catered for the HO scale train community. Among those products are a couple of 1/87th scale planes, who knew. This build will make my friend Chrsitos Psarras of Woofland very happy; each one of those 87th fractions happy, more precisely, since I (almost) never build in other scale than 1/72 (while other heretics do, disturbing inconsistencies on the shelf, unsightly, gives me the shivers). I purchased the HO WB Pitcairn PCA-2 autogyro from Jeff and Liz in the Palm Desert area -even if it isn't (sacrilege!) in my beloved 1/72nd scale- so I could pose it in the background of my models' photos, like a prop, together with cars, fuel pumps and the like. Even for a prop, as it was intended for the train market -that is, not the main focus of attention- the detail is quite good, even if not as good as in their much larger 1/48th autogyro molds, of course. You get an interior that consists of two bulkheads-cum-seats, decent external detail and a set of decals. My decal set was flawed, but was promptly and very kindly substituted by Williams Bros, whose customer service, by the way, is really great and commendable. The kit I got was from an ancient issue, and had some minor flash and a bit of mismatched areas in a few parts, but all subsided with a sanding stick. There were a number of company "publicity" Pitcairns, and you can get decals for three -if I am correct-, a mil version, Champion spark plugs and the Detroit News. Resourceful modelers may create artwork for the many others: Beech-nut, Tiolene Oil, Puget Sound Airways (an Irregular Airway), Silverbrook, Pennzoil, British Consols and so forth. Even if the destiny of this model is to be in the background, I am planning on adding some detailing, little things here and there will be incorporated. I wish they were still around, milling about. One point to consider if you want to model Miss Champion or the Detroit News machines is that you will need to create patterns for the masks used for the outlines in wing, stab and vertical stab (the latter only for the DN machine). I traced the contours directly from the parts before assembly. I suggest you scan that pattern in case you mess-up cutting or need to re-do something. This HO kit comes with a very small and simplified building diagram, but the Williams Bros 1/48th scale kit version has very nice instructions, so my good Irregular friend James Schubert from Puget Sound provided a copy of those. Thanks, Jim, wherever you are now looking down on us. I am sure it will be a nice complement in the background of model photos, lending credibility to the "ambience". As said before, adventurous modelers with decal-making abilities can expand the range of possibilities greatly. There are liveries that do not need those outlines on the flying surfaces, or have a much easier -darker rather than lighter (which facilitates masking enormously) -outline. There are liveries with no outlines at all, that are still very appealing. The kit is nice as described although it needs a somewhat caring modeler with a modicum of experience. Thanks to Daniel Brett at Williams Brothers for his kind customer service and for keeping the line alive, and to James of the Puget, who facilitated access to the bigger drawings that come with the 1/48 kit's big brother. Autogyros are definitely charming machines, having a sort of merry-go-around nostalgic aura to them. 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 That's really lovely. I had no idea that Williams Bros had such things in their catalogue: I've only come across their 1/32 racing planes. Beautiful job, and I hope there's a model railway that it'll be gracing before long... best, M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 10 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said: I hope there's a model railway that it'll be gracing before long... It's more for my photos of other models, where sometimes I put animals, people or other objects. I do not have a railway set, and I think that if I get one I'll be instantly ostracized from the premises. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 An interesting subject and looks great, Do you have much trouble matching the paint to your decals, in this case the blade tips...colour matching and mixing is very much a dark art to me? Stuart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 I too have one of these , even though I knew I'd never build it. I also have a Corben Baby Ace. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 33 minutes ago, Courageous said: An interesting subject and looks great, Do you have much trouble matching the paint to your decals, in this case the blade tips...colour matching and mixing is very much a dark art to me? Stuart Dear Stuart In real life (what that makes my modeling life, unreal? a fantasy life?) I am an artist, a painter. Not so difficult, but occasionally it may take a few tries. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wlad Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Lovely scheme, nice build. Shame about the odd scale. Cheers, Wlad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 33 minutes ago, John Aero said: I too have one of these , even though I knew I'd never build it. I also have a Corben Baby Ace. John Hi John Nice! Corben Super Ace in 1/87! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 (edited) 18 hours ago, Wlad said: Lovely scheme, nice build. Shame about the odd scale. Cheers, Wlad I know, don't make me think too much about it Edited January 26, 2019 by Moa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 25, 2019 Author Share Posted January 25, 2019 51 minutes ago, Courageous said: Do you have much trouble matching the paint to your decals, in this case the blade tips.. In my next one I would cut off the red bit from the decal (leaving the black "V") and just paint the tip any suitable red. There was no need to match it, actually, even if I did, silly me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Fabulous job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Another little Gem, Moa. I like your use of clothes pegs to hold small parts etc. I must liberate some from their miserable life in the peg bag. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted January 26, 2019 Author Share Posted January 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Smudge said: Another little Gem, Moa. I like your use of clothes pegs to hold small parts etc. I must liberate some from their miserable life in the peg bag. Yeah! fight for them! redeem them from their obscure and so far boring destiny! My wife held on tight, but I managed to yank a few and run! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Beautiful Moa, just beautiful! I'd love one of those on my bench but I'm just as happy to see your photos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonners Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Never mind being a ‘background’ kit, yours deserves to be front-and-centre. Really nice. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pheonix Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Thanks for showing your model in your hand - it really demonstrates two things: the delicacy of the model and your skill in making it look so good. Another gem in your huge treasure box. P 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