The last Frog F312 Anatra DS Anasal

[Doccur]

Aptly, I have left this kit until last. This is the 'Frog' (Emhar), Anatra Anasal.  This is a WW1 biplane that was built in Odessa for the Imperial Russian Air service. It later served in various other air forces such as the Polish Air force. Less than 100 were built and is such a fairly quaint topic to select. The kit is very well moulded and has an air of quality about it, considering it was originally tooled in 1977. This is the last kit that was designed by Rovex, no boxes etc were produced and only 500 'test shots' were made. There are more knowledgable people than I, when it comes to this, so I shan't get too bogged down in the detail. But as it goes, this kit is very significant in terms of Frog's history and more specifically their demise. As this is one of the first biplanes I have built, I shall keep the colour scheme simple, (Doped linen overall, with wood and metal details) so I can focus on the build. I shall be attempting to rig the aircraft, Let's just roll with it and see how this goes 😂

 

See below for an overview of the kit:

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 28, 2019 by Doccur

[PeterB]

Hi Ash,

 

I shall be watching this with interest as I have never come across this kit before, and my only knowledge of the actual machine comes from the old "Pocket Encyclopaedia or World Aircraft in Colour" series by Kenneth Munson and published by Blandford press in the late 1960's.  I gather this started life as the Anatra D which was only moderately successful, but the fitting of a 150hp Salmson engine to replace the original 100hp Gnome resulted in the improved DS which was also called the Anasal. In the book they show a plane in overall light green. I have build a few Emhar kits and the mouldings were always very clean though on my Demon the leading edge of the wing was a bit blunt. Should go together well. Any thoughts on how you will rig it?

 

Cheers

 

Pete

Edited May 29, 2019 by PeterB

[Rabbit Leader]

Another great subject Ash and as you've written (which looks a lot like my writing!), one of the most suitable kits to grace this GB. This is the last Frog kit designed by those lads at Rovex and just adds to all that we know about this company venturing far and wide to cover subjects that were not household names - perhaps that's hidden code for the reason they ceased to exist? I often wonder what Frog would have appeared like today should it have had Airfix's roller coaster fortunes - but that's perhaps for another day? 

 

Cheers and I salute your great choice of subject(s).. Dave 

[Doccur]

19 hours ago, PeterB said:

 I have build a few Emhar kits and the mouldings were always very clean though on my Demon the leading edge of the wing was a bit blunt. Should go together well. Any thoughts on how you will rig it?

I have a couple of ideas, nothing concrete... any suggestions Pete? the trailing edges on this one are quite thick but nothing too noticeable.

 

10 hours ago, Rabbit Leader said:

 I often wonder what Frog would have appeared like today should it have had Airfix's roller coaster fortunes - but that's perhaps for another day? 

Imagine what weird and wonderful stuff we could have  got our hands on! They certainly didn't mess around when it came to interesting kits...

 

Cheers, Ash

Edited May 29, 2019 by Doccur

[PeterB]

Ash,

 

Rigging is not one of my better skills but here are a few thoughts. Unlike the Airfix O/400 where the wings are in upper and lower parts (and already have rigging holes in them), these wings appear to be solid. Over the years I have used stretched sprue, cotton, "invisible thread" which is actually nylon like fishing line, and lately EZline, all of which have pros and cons. Stretched sprue is perhaps the easiest to put in place as you cut to length and glue to the end of the struts - however it breaks easily. You could do the same with the various threads but getting them tight when in place can be a problem. The easiest way to use them is to drill holes in the wings and just thread them through with a suitable needle - I have a range of lengths and have bent some in curves to help in limited spaces. EZline is possible the best of the ones I have used (though there are plenty of other makes) as it stretches. Once in place you glue them with superglue. Of course you have to cut off the bits sticking out on top and bottom of the wing, and sand/fill to remove the traces, which can be a pain. An alternative I have not yet tried is gluing "turnbuckles" in the holes you drill and then passing the thread through. You can buy etched turnbuckles in 1/72 or possibly make your own from fuse wire (well I am a Yorkshireman so why pay for something you can make yourself). Finally, I believe that somebody makes thin metal rigging which you should be able to use like sprue, or perhaps you could try lengths of piano wire or something similar. OF course doing this in 1/72 is a probably harder than in larger scales where you have more space to "get in" and there are more after-market products available I believe.

 

I am sure you will get more suggestions from other viewers, and if you want to talk about this in detail an email would probably be best. There have been numerous articles on this subject in modelling mags as well.

 

Pete

[JOCKNEY]

Hi Ash

Please don't get stressed about rigging. It's great that we have such an unusual Frog kit in the GB.

I look forward to seeing you make this kit come to life.

cheers Pat

[Doccur]

Update 1:

 

making progress with this one. Competed the cockpit which I painted in a generic Brick Red dope which also handily doubles up as a wood colour:

 

Fit on this isn’t great, plenty of shaving of plastic from different areas has been required so far. Also, there are no locations pins for the fuselage which is a bit of a pain but not too much of a challenge.  

 

Cheers

 

Ash

 

[Rabbit Leader]

Nice start Ash. This is another interesting subject which has peaked my interest. The cockpit colour looks good to my eye. 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

[Ray S]

Hi Ash, this is a great little kit! I built in quite a number of years ago when it was released (along with 3 other Late-Frog kits) by a firm called 'Red Star'. I had very little trouble, except I was rather cack-handed when it came to fitting the radiator connector from the top wing to the engine.

 

I did not rig it, but one way I do rig biplanes is using EZ-Line, CA, accelerator, a fine-tipped glue applicator (fishing line!), sharp nosed tweezers, and magnification. I drill holes half way into the wings, drop a hint of CA into one hole, dip the end of the EZ-Line into the accelerator and then push the end into the hole. Despite the accelerator, hold the line in place for a few seconds for the CA to grab. Then cut the line just fractionally shorter than the distance to its next connecting hole allowing a hint of stretch, and do the same again, but hold the line in place for just a bit longer - you do not want it to spring out because it will glue itself to almost anything, instantly! Doing it this way negates the need to cut off excess line and refilling holes on the top and bottom of the wings.

 

Hope that helps,

 

Ray

[TonyW]

It's good to see this one getting built.

 

Here's the bagged Red Star version mentioned above. There's also a cheap card box set of three planes from Red Star. I have it somewhere, if I find the thing I'll add a picture here.

 

Tony.

 

[bigbadbadge]

Hi, Nice choice, I have never seen one built before, I have only seen them in the Pocketbond catalogue and didn't realise it's Frog origins.  Will watch with interest and may have to look at getting one myself.

 

Good luck with your build

 

All the best

Chris

[John Masters]

I have built this kit couple of times.  It builds up easily enough and you'll find the rigging easily done if you drill holes and use .005 test fishing line.  

 

The odd thing about this kit is that it is not actually 1/72nd scale.  It's a bit larger, maybe 1/68th or something like that.

 

Nice to see it!

[Doccur]

On 11/06/2019 at 16:18, Ray S said:

Doing it this way negates the need to cut off excess line and refilling holes on the top and bottom of the wings.

This was the main issue I was worried about Ray! Thanks for the advice ☺️

 

Interesting to see the provenance of this kit! Thanks @TonyW

3 hours ago, John D.C. Masters said:

I have built this kit couple of times.  It builds up easily enough and you'll find the rigging easily done if you drill holes and use .005 test fishing line.  

 

The odd thing about this kit is that it is not actually 1/72nd scale.  It's a bit larger, maybe 1/68th or something like that.

 

Nice to see it!

As far as I understand, a lot of the kits in the frog range are labelled as ‘1/72’ but in fact are either smaller or larger! Bit of an oversight by the designers! Either that or some dodgy maths 

[Doccur]

Update 2: I haven’t forgotten about this one I promise! 

 

Continuing with assembly and filling various bits and bobs. Struggling with motivation with this one... something to do with pre-season beginning and picking up a Special Hobby Sea Fury T.20 and looking at it longingly. (No! I mustn’t start anything until this GB is done!)

 

On a disappointing note... I have found that the windshield is broken and I’m going to have to fashion a replacement 😤

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ash

 

Edited July 14, 2019 by Doccur

[John]

I'd never heard of this aircraft until I read the reviews of this kit. It's certainly an attractive little plane.

 

John

[Rabbit Leader]

Looking great Ash so please try to retain your mojo on this one. There’s many a keen eye on here who want to see it finished. 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

[Doccur]

Steady progress being made on this one, (been very busy... RIAT with work among other things! Plus who wants to be stuck inside when it’s 37 degrees?)  did a little pre-shading for a tiny bit of variation on the one solid colour. This is the first coat.

 

I have also drilled 0.3mm holes for the rigging. 

Cheers,

 

Ash

Edited July 28, 2019 by Doccur

[bigbadbadge]

Hi Ash looking good and getting paint too.  Can't wait to see this built up. 

The SH Sea Fury T20 is a cracking kit too and looks the bees knees when built. Canopy is a bit of a so and so though and mine needed to be separated to sit right, luckily you get two. 

I hope it doesn't distract you from this build though.

Keep up the good work

All the best

Chris

[Doccur]

@bigbadbadgeI’ve decided on a stash strategy of building one old kit before I can build a new kit! So it might be a tiny bit longer before I build it... but I am looking forward to it. I have also bought a 1/32 Finnish Brewster Buffalo... the stash continues to grow 😂

[bigbadbadge]

36 minutes ago, Doccur said:

@bigbadbadgeI’ve decided on a stash strategy of building one old kit before I can build a new kit! So it might be a tiny bit longer before I build it... but I am looking forward to it. I have also bought a 1/32 Finnish Brewster Buffalo... the stash continues to grow 😂

Oooooooo you will like that kit, it's a lovely kit and builds into a stunning replica, I built the Mk1 Buffalo. There are some very useful information threads in  the WWII section of Aircraft modelling threads.

All the best

Chris

[Brandy]

I hope when you say you drilled holes for the rigging that you did at least one all the way through. The only way to tension the lines properly and evenly is to use non-stretch monofilament, fix one end and weight each line the same after it exits the through hole before applying CA. If you use stretchy line you risk tensioning one more than another and the wings can be pulled out of true!

Rigging is really very simple, start with the bits you can't reach with the rest in place - the cross wires between the outer struts, then work from inboard to outboard. Don't worry about trimming the ends and tidying up, that's no problem. All you need is a fresh scalpel blade and a touch of PPP, maybe a bit of very localised sanding at the most.

Have fun!

 

Ian

Edited July 30, 2019 by limeypilot

[Doccur]

5 hours ago, limeypilot said:

I hope when you say you drilled holes for the rigging that you did at least one all the way through.

I’m afraid I have done them all only partially through 😬 I have no clue what I’m doing with the rigging to be honest! I have some 0.15 mm monofilament, some CA and hopefully a bit ( a lot) of luck! 

[Brandy]

I would highly recommend doing one all the way through for each line, it will be far easier to tension them and then trim the excess.

 

Good luck!

 

Ian

[Doccur]

More progress! Things are moving thick and fast with this... despite the obscenely long Xtracolour drying times. I have used Xtracolour RFC bleached linen for the main colour and humbrol polished aluminium for the bare metal sections. Next up is the fun stuff with aligning the wings and struts and then rigging 😰

 

On an unrelated note I am off to see the mighty reds at Wembley this weekend so there won’t be many opportunities for me to tinker with this! The sacrifices I make 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

 

 

cheers,

 

Ash 

Edited August 1, 2019 by Doccur

[Doccur]

I’m in the home straight with this one! The damn thing has really fought me with the radiator assembly and placing the upper wing... but I have got there! Just a few bits of touching up to do before the decals. After that I’ll evaluate whether I want to rig it. I might chicken out but I will see how I’m feeling. 

 

 

Cheers 

 

Ash