alancmlaird Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 In the stated interests of diversity, I decided this project might comply with the rules as these trainers are a conversion due to the addition of 'Qwik-Change' elastic laces. However, even though pretty worn, they are still about 75% complete - so this, and on the grounds of taste, should rule them out as contenders. Fortunately, I just noticed two Airfix Tiger Moth kits lurking in the background, and thought maybe they'd do instead? To someone whose previous Tiger Moth build was the original Airfix offering of 50-odd years ago, this new-tool version is a revel(no pun intended)ation. Despite the box-art, it is my intention to build more colourful subjects than the usual green/brown/yellow wartime fare. Nor in the present-day gaudy colours of the rich man's prestige toy/investment that gets a once-a-year outing at the local air show - these will be proper training aircraft from the late thirties re-training and re-armament programme Using a set of decals from Hannants, I will finish them as a No12 ERFTS (Prestwick) machine from 1935 and an 11 ERFTS (Perth) aircraft from a year later. Just one bit of research needed before I 'break ground' with these. I just read that, pre- war only the RAF Tigers had anti-spin strakes, the civies didn't. But the ERFTS aircraft were a bit of a grey area being RAF-feeder organisations. More digging needed - unless an expert member here has knowledge of this (John Aero........) 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 The anti-spin strakes came in around 1941 or so. The likely need was because of the extra clutter of anti-invasion bomb racks and then more added service equipment messing up airflow and/or weight distribution. So your prewar Tiger would have a “clean” fuselage. Postwar I think any Tigers doing aerobatics is supposed to have the strakes though there is a doubt around whether they’re still worthwhile without wartime clutter? Dutch Tigers has to have a different fin fitted for their CofA equivalent! Cheers Will 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 2, 2019 Share Posted March 2, 2019 I'm looking forward to seeing your two Scottish Tiger Moths take shape Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 3, 2019 Author Share Posted March 3, 2019 21 hours ago, Col. said: I'm looking forward to seeing your two Scottish Tiger Moths take shape Alan The new Aifix kit is lovely, Col, so it will be my fault if the final result is duff! The search still goes on for the decals I bought, so I might have to steal your 'lost' header picture.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Hi Alan Have you had any luck tracking down the missing decals, and as importantly have you managed to make a start on the moths yet ? cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 18, 2019 Author Share Posted March 18, 2019 On 3/17/2019 at 9:44 AM, JOCKNEY said: Hi Alan Have you had any luck tracking down the missing decals, and as importantly have you managed to make a start on the moths yet ? cheers Pat Ah-ha! Just found them! Now if I can just find the time...... 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 .....found started..... ..even added some laces to the trainers! Airfix have moulded in some seriously good (and almost entirely invisible when assembled) cockpit detailing, so it seemed incumbent on me to just take it a little further and add seat-back cushions (20thou card) and safety harnessess (Tamiya masking tape). Ham-fistedness or detail too fine? Either way, one each of the centre-section struts broke on removal from the sprue, so had to wait till the repair dried before assembling them. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 21, 2019 Author Share Posted March 21, 2019 (edited) While waiting for that lot to dry, I have to decide how to approach the next bit. Usually with biplanes I prefer to do the complete assembly first, because there is almost always so much messing about with strut alignment that paintwork can be damaged. However, Airfix have that removable strut-link system that - should! - keep the wing alignment right until the glue has set. But do I trust it? Edited March 25, 2019 by alancmlaird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 25, 2019 Author Share Posted March 25, 2019 (edited) Progress....some sticking of bits to some other bits times two..... Despite the super-accurate fit of most other components, the fuselage halves needed some filler and filing. Engine assembly not yet attached to second model - it is painted green and the fuselage white, so I'll keep it separated till its painted. Edited March 25, 2019 by alancmlaird 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted March 25, 2019 Share Posted March 25, 2019 Sticking bits together always makes for good progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted March 26, 2019 Author Share Posted March 26, 2019 On 3/25/2019 at 7:01 PM, Col. said: Sticking bits together always makes for good progress It sure does! The bigger the bits, the better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 Looking good so far! I have built three of these and would suggest that you leave off the inter plane struts, attach the wings onto the centre section only, then pop the struts in one by one after cutting them free of the links and cleaning them up. The centre section is braced and positively fitted so it provides good alignment. Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted March 30, 2019 Share Posted March 30, 2019 1/72 isn't my scale so I've only ever had a very quick look at the diminutive Airfix offering of the Tiger Moth, but I have a feeling these rear u/c struts have been left off?: Max 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 On 3/30/2019 at 10:02 AM, AdrianMF said: Looking good so far! I have built three of these and would suggest that you leave off the inter plane struts, attach the wings onto the centre section only, then pop the struts in one by one after cutting them free of the links and cleaning them up. The centre section is braced and positively fitted so it provides good alignment. Regards, Adrian That sounds like good advice - i should have read your post before i attached the struts!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 1, 2019 Author Share Posted April 1, 2019 My fave pastime - watching paint dry.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 On 3/30/2019 at 5:02 PM, galgos said: 1/72 isn't my scale so I've only ever had a very quick look at the diminutive Airfix offering of the Tiger Moth, but I have a feeling these rear u/c struts have been left off?: Max Great underside shot! I've never noticed these struts before nor those control wires and levers. and are those wires painted yellow!!!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 They are looking very pretty in their paint. and that underside shot is worth a thousand words - wish I’d seen it before I did my three! Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 The wires are the aileron control cables, I have other detail shots of Tiger Moths if you're interested. It's a Tiger Moth I have flown from Henstridge, 3 there fully restored to WW2 condition. Max 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 3, 2019 Author Share Posted April 3, 2019 2 minutes ago, galgos said: The wires are the aileron control cables, I have other detail shots of Tiger Moths if you're interested. It's a Tiger Moth I have flown from Henstridge, 3 there fully restored to WW2 condition. Max ...and look at those floor-strengthening frame-members! Yes please, more detail shots would be great, thanks- I have at least two more tiger Moths to build, and although trying to achieve Wingnuts 1/32 levels of detail in 1/72 is a short route to blindness and madness, its fun to at least try! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted April 3, 2019 Share Posted April 3, 2019 OK Alan, I'll put some shots in the Reference section just in case any other builders want them too. Max If you need any more of a specific area let me know, I'm off to work on my Harvard now! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 On 3/30/2019 at 10:02 AM, AdrianMF said: leave off the inter plane struts, attach the wings onto the centre section only... Adrian Yep. I deranged my attached interplane struts putting on the underwing lettering, so took them off and will do as Adrian suggests. Got them nearly fully assembled and painted, looking a bit cantilever-winged without the the interplane struts - then its just the *sigh* rigging to do. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zebra Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Your Tiger Moths look fantastic! Good luck with the struts and rigging 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 1 hour ago, zebra said: Your Tiger Moths look fantastic! Good luck with the struts and rigging They are looking pretty good so far! But that's down to Airfix and the decal manufacturer. I'm on record as being easily pleased, but that Airfix kit is superb at any price, let alone the bargain-basement tenner it costs. The decals are excellent and went on a treat - though I think the green on 'DOF is too light for the Air Service Training green - took the liberty of making a copy scan before I cut the sheet up, so if it bothers me I can make a new set slightly darker. The struts should be fine - it took Adrian to remind me of the best way to deal with biplanes! The rigging task doesn't bother me, just a bit tedious, but the final effect is always pleasing! 🤔 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
galgos Posted April 6, 2019 Share Posted April 6, 2019 Some delightful looking Moths Alan, but which comes first, the rigging or the interplane struts?! Does rigging include rudder and elevator control wires too? Max Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alancmlaird Posted April 6, 2019 Author Share Posted April 6, 2019 5 minutes ago, galgos said: Some delightful looking Moths Alan, but which comes first, the rigging or the interplane struts?! Does rigging include rudder and elevator control wires too? Max Struts first. I'm old school - paint on with a good-quality hairy stick, and rigging by streched sprue (I use old silver sprue from the kits of about 30 years ago - the generic pale grey of today's kits is no use at all), flying and landing wires, plus all exposed control cables. I just don't do the doubled-up flying wires or RAFwire proifile in 1/72 scale! I'll let the centre-section glue set nice'n'hard for a day or two before I start mucking about with the struts, then same again before I start on the rigging. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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