AvisUA Lee-Richards No. 3

[cduckworth]

I have a fondness for pre-WWI aircraft and when I saw the Lee-Richards No. 3 offered in 1/48 scale I knew I had to build it.  The box indicated this maybe AvisUA first 1/48 scale kit.  The parts are limited and there's some flash, very minor cockpit details and not much it terms of prototype drawings or photos.  Peter Lewis' British Aircraft 1804-1914 was my reference plus a couple images on the web.   The OOB build was a result of a 'Shelf of Doom' by the WWI Mailing List that's been around for at least 15 years.  I initially started with a Special Hobby Pfalz E.I but after laying down the numerous black rib decals I decided the iron crosses were in the wrong spot and stripped the lower wings.  The Pfalz took its place back on the shelf and the Lee-Richards looked at a quick build and we were to be completed with our models by the end of May.    Apparently the Lee-Richards were a successful flyer and the types flew some 128 hours before WWI broke out.  

 

Charlie Duckworth

[Wulfman]

What a weird looking aeroplane, maybe the first with a tricycle undercarriage !

Anyway an excellent build. 
 

Wulfman
 

 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

Great model! and fantastic subject!

I have built it in 1/72.

16 hours ago, cduckworth said:

the Lee-Richards looked at a quick build

but no so fast...

what happened to the rigging below, the flying wires?

[cduckworth]

None of the references I had show wires below (box art or instructions).  The top of the wings had a reference point but it didn’t have these molded on the bottom of the wings. If you have something I can use please post it and I’ll add them. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

1 hour ago, cduckworth said:

None of the references I had show wires below (box art or instructions).  The top of the wings had a reference point but it didn’t have these molded on the bottom of the wings. If you have something I can use please post it and I’ll add them. 

Oh, man, you are in for a ride (or a rig!)

 

https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/Stock-Images/Rights-Managed/MEV-10844558

 

https://i.redd.it/8jy6sajcfrx11.jpg

 

 

This is my build of the 1/72 version of it.

There is a link to the WiP that shows the model while being rigged underneath.

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235070158-lee-richards-annular-wing-modified-avis-172nd-injected-kit/

 

[cduckworth]

Moa

Very nice work; I looked at the 1/48 kit and it reminded me of the old Inpact preWWI models I wasn’t in the mood to rework all the struts and just decided to do an OOB built and keep it off the ‘shelf of doom’.   Since there’s no reference points on the bottom of the wings I’ll (hopefully) remove the ceramic wires at those points and drill through the wings so I have a starting point.  

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

4 minutes ago, cduckworth said:

Moa

Very nice work; I looked at the 1/48 kit and it reminded me of the old Inpact preWWI models I wasn’t in the mood to rework all the struts and just decided to do an OOB built and keep it off the ‘shelf of doom’.   Since there’s no reference points on the bottom of the wings I’ll (hopefully) remove the ceramic wires at those points and drill through the wings so I have a starting point.  

I am sorry, maybe I should have kept silent.

Perhaps measuring the distance of the radius between the inner edge and the locations of the two anchoring points on top, and translate them to the bottom? in the 1/72 model there are rib tapes, may be you could use them as "radius" guides, that way you don't have to undo all that beautiful work on the top.

Since models are mostly seen from above, you could even leave it like that, not risking any boo-boos that may occur.

It is a spectacular looking plane, and I am happy to see more of them "a-round" (sorry about the pun).

Cheers

 

[cduckworth]

Leaving it alone just wouldn’t be the ‘cowboy way’ so I’m ready to tackle it.  I like your suggestion on using the rib tapes and measure from the outer part of the wings.   Might also hold the model against a strong light and see if the holes can be marked with a pencil.   One has to wonder what sources Avis used to design the kit and why they didn’t include a rigging diagram for the few preWWI enthusiasts.  My google searches only came up with the top view of the a/c uncovered and while I could see some wires underneath I couldn’t tell where they terminated.   I’d love to see the preWWI era models get a jump start in the hobby but am sure the sales just aren’t there to support the investment. 

[RMCS]

Brilliant 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

20 hours ago, cduckworth said:

I’d love to see the preWWI era models get a jump start in the hobby but am sure the sales just aren’t there to support the investment. 

I concur with your observations.

As you most likely know, there were of old companies that released some basic renditions of pioneering machines, like Renwal and others.

Here is an Entex kit I built. I have posted similar ones too.

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235053081-de-havilland-1910-entex-172/

There are photo-etched kits, good and not so good out there too:
https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235043047-drdesign-172-14-bis-photoetched-kit/

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235043015-clement-ader-avion-iii-dr-design-multimedia-172nd-scale-kit/

 

And then there is scratch, of course.

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235042974-sir-george-cayleys-flying-carriage-1853-scratch-172nd/

 

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235043093-mozhaisky-steam-powered-monoplane-1884-scratchbuilt-172nd-scale/&tab=comments#comment-3127717

 

Not always the nature of this pioneering machines is easily translated into kit format. Most offers are photo-etched, some with resin parts.

And, as you mention, seemingly modelers have other tastes, know by all, sigh... which makes sells prospects for the adventurous unlikely.

 

Glad I found a fellow modeler with similar tastes.

Cheers

 

 

[cduckworth]

Moa

I’ve been following your beautiful (recent) work and wasn’t aware of these earlier models. Thanks for sharing.   I’ve got a 1/72 Karaya Short 830 coming so that will hit my work bench this summer. I normally build 1/48 but a Short seaplane, in that scale, wouldn’t fit in my display cabinet.  I don’t like dust on my finished models and have no idea where I’d put a 1/32 model.   I bought none of the Wingnuts kits  due to that reason.
 

 Thanks again for the ‘heads up’ on the information on the additional rigging on the Lee-Richards. 
 

Charlie. 

[fjaweijfopi4j48]

47 minutes ago, cduckworth said:

Moa

Thanks for sharing.   I’ve got a 1/72 Karaya Short 830 coming so that will hit my work bench this summer. I normally build 1/48 but a Short seaplane, in that scale, wouldn’t fit in my display cabinet.  I don’t like dust on my finished models and have no idea where I’d put a 1/32 model.   I bought none of the Wingnuts kits  due to that reason.
 

 Thanks again for the ‘heads up’ on the information on the additional rigging on the Lee-Richards. 
 

Charlie. 

You are very welcome, Charlie!

Cheers