Bruyere C-1, Scratchbuilt 1/72

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

These are all old builds, and in retrospect should have been posted at the beginning of these series. They often represent the first, hesitant steps on scratchbuilding.

Here is another from 2007, 12 years ago (original text as posted then):

 

The 1917 Bruyere C-1 is one of those French planes that you can’t resist. Not for its fighting qualities, precisely, but for its futuristic lines and configuration.

The fuselage was covered in metal and the optimistically denominated “flying surfaces” were traditional canvas-covered structures.

The engine was located aft of the pilot and via a shaft moved a pusher propeller. A truly modern front wheel three-point landing gear was installed and the canopy could have well been in one of the Burt Rutan designs.

The position of the engine dictated that a series of holes were made on the fuselage for ventilation which, added to the front lower windows, made for a mid-way model construction name change. Instead of “Bruyere”, I realized that “Gruyere” would be more appropriate.

As a futuristic sculpture or even as a highly polished, over-sized espresso machine the Gruyere would probably have been more fortunate than as a plane, since it crashed as soon as it left the safe protection of the earth and gave itself to the merciless laws of physics.

When art and aviation merge, the results can’t be wrong, can they?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Courageous]

I like that, a lot.

Looks like it's back to front.

 

Stuart

[pheonix]

Getting all of those parts to fit and line up looks exciting.... There are a large number of futuristic characterstics in that aircraft - the designers certainly were well ahead of their time and technology, so it is perhaps not surprising that it was less than successful. An excellent metallic finish - what did you use to achieve this? Another brilliant model too.

 

P

[Baldy]

A real piece of aeronautical exotica here Moa, beautifully made. What a wonderful looking machine it was too! Looks like it was inspired by Jules Verne and wouldn't look out of place in a sci fi movie from the 40's. It was certainly innovative but sadly unsuccessful. At least the pilot survived!

 

Cheers

 

Malcolm

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

2 hours ago, pheonix said:

An excellent metallic finish - what did you use to achieve this?

Hi P

Just the well-known Alclad II on gloss black enamel.

Some times, as we know, it comes out better than others. For reasons of course hard to fathom. I think solar flares may be a factor.

 

1 hour ago, Baldy said:

Looks like it was inspired by Jules Verne

Yo are absolutely right, Malcolm!

[invidia]

Fantastic looking aircraft, something out of a HG Wells book. Great model.

[RidgeRunner]

Now that's odd, Moa, but you've done a great job!