28 Sqn DH5: Hendie builds a mess

[hendie]

As many of you know, I have been following a rather misguided mission to build a model of every type of aircraft flown by 28 Sqn since the dawn of time up until I served on WSF in Sek Kong. Don't ask me why. I thought I had almost got there until I stumbled across a post languishing in the depths of the internet which mentioned that 28 Sqn flew a DH5. Damn!

Trawling the internet over the past few years threw up nothing in the way of photographs or credible information. The only thing I could find was a mention on another forum of 3 x D5's flown by 28 Sqn and listed the following three serials: A9217, A9416, and B365. Further searches uncovered a photo of DH5 B365 but all the information associated with it pointed to an Australian Squadron, and nothing conclusive to having a connection with 28 Squadron.

Every now and then during moments of boredom I trawl the internet in the forlorn hope of finding something credible. It never works.

Until... about two weeks ago I was trawling again when I stumbled across some information. It was a collection of photos of RFC aircraft. In that collection was a photo of a Sopwith Camel B6223 belonging to 28 Squadron - okay, I've already built the Camel so I'm not doing that again, BUT there was a photo of a DH5 hiding in the collection. Upon closer inspection it was a DH5 with the serial clearly showing as A9416!

 

 

Now, there are a lot of assumptions coming into play here - the accompanying blether does not specifically mention that this is A9416 of 28 Squadron, but I am going to assume that since this is a collection of photos, that they were all taken by the same person, on or around the same time. I am also going to assume that the photos were taken in or around the same location. The blurb mentions Yatesbury, where 28 Sqn were stationed at one point.

Therefore, we have a confirmed 28 Sqn Camel photographed at Yatesbury, and a DH5 with a serial number which shows up connected to 28 Sqn somehow, somewhere, sometime. Tenuous or wot? But I'm going with it.

 

 

Now the bad news.

The only 1/48 D5 that I could find was that of AMG and it was long OOP.  More searching... and I came across one at a reasonable price.  Duly ordered.

I've only had experience of one AMG kit before and that was their Hawker Hart which I converted to an Audax. The kit was a pleasure to build - nice detail and well molded, so my hopes were high for the DH5.

Oh, how wrong I was !

The kit arrived and was duly laid out for inspection. At first glance it appeared a little bit clunky.

 

 

The instructions were basic to say the least. There was not a lot to this kit.

 

 

There were no locating pegs/holes, or anything in the way of alignment aids. No part numbers on the trees and you have to rely on their little diagram which even has one set of parts with no number associated.

 

 

Those stains on the instruction sheet above are from my tears upon further examination of the kit contents.  

 

Ehrrrr...one of these is not like the other!

 

 

Further examination only deepened my concerns. It's hard to see in this poorly taken photo but the fuselage is adored with carbuncles, numerous, for the modeler, detriment of.  It looks like someone was playing drums with a hammer on the tooling. Then the "detail"... what there is of it, is pretty terrible - very soft and there's one detail on the fuselage which I can't find on any diagrams or photos of a D5 - that patch thing you can just see halfway down the spine of the aircraft.

 

 

Okay, I guess I could file and sand the fuselage to eliminate the warts n pimples.

However... symmetry was not a real concern of the designer

 

 

Oh dear.

 

 

Can you guess where we're going with this?

I can and I don't want to! 

I've just finished the DHC-3T Otter which hammered my mojo. I only ended up using some of the fuselage sides and the windscreen and had to design/print/scratch all the rest.  I did NOT want to go down that path again, at least not for a while yet.

 

Sometimes there are things you just can't live with.

So...

 

 

 

 

and a quick rendition of one of these

 

 

and since they got the engine cowl wrong too, I thought I might as well.

 

 

This time however, I am going to be using at least SOME of the kit parts. (I really hate modeling/printing wings - they're so troublesome). These aren't perfect by any means but they are useable (so far)

 

Then I'll be using some home grown parts.

 

You can probably see why I chose to design/print and engine and not use the kit part. Really, why did they even bother?

 

At least this time I have some location points  - allowing me to use brass rod to align/support the lower mainplanes.

 

The brass rod gives a nice sturdy connection - which I am going to need later.

 

Same principle for the tail feathers.

 

The instrument panel(s) painted up nicely. Of course, that was a given since it will never be seen once installed.

 

A bulkhead was designed to mount the engine onto.

 

The bulkhead/engine/cowling are all keyed to align to each other and to the fuselage. 

 

Then brass tube was brought into play to provide the cockpit air conditioning device thingy.  The only tube I had was rather thick walled so I had to drill it out then use a rat tail file to thin the wall a tad.

 

All of which brings me to the end of episode one.

 

I may live to regret starting this build - maybe I should just have convinced myself that 28 never went anywhere near a D5 - that would have been the sensible choice. Any sane person would have gone down that route, wouldn't they?

 

Onwards... I wonder how well the struts are molded...  

 

 

 

[perdu]

Oh yesssss.

[Farmerboy]

Really modern modelling, 3D printing will/has changed the game!! Great work!

[Sabrejet]

In case it helps, 28 Sqn at Yatesbury appears to have operated four DH.5s, all inherited from 55 TS. They were flown by 'A' Flight, while 'B' Flight had Sopwith Pups and Bristol Scouts and 'C' Flight Avro 504s. The four DH.5s were A9217, A9413, A9416 and B365.

 

I've done a lot of research on 28 Sqn at Yatesbury and here is a typical return from the parent 28 Wing (no relationship to the squadron of the same name) Orders;

 

 

Sadly there is no similar return for A9416, though it had been transferred to 6 TS, AFC on/by 20 September 1917.

Edited September 26 by Sabrejet

[Sabrejet]

Incidentally your photo does look like Yatesbury: the photo was taken on the western airfield (Yatesbury had two), looking roughly eastward and to the south of a number of Bessoneau hangars that were erected next to the permanent ARS hangar. The walls of the latter still survive (just) on site.

[Sabrejet]

This is 28 Sqn DH.5 B365 at Yatesbury, this time at the northern end of the eastern airfield, with the road to Yatesbury village at rear and the vicarage just visible through the trees.

 

 

[hendie]

44 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

In case it helps,

 

It most certainly does - many thanks.

 

45 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

Sadly there is no similar return for A9416

 

But at least it is now confirmed that it was allocated to 28 Sqn. Thanks again.

 

31 minutes ago, Sabrejet said:

This is 28 Sqn DH.5 B365 at Yatesbury,

 

I have a copy of that shot but everything I found pointed to it being allocated to an Australian Squadron. Good to know it was indeed 28 Sqn.

 

Now I have the choice of A9416, A9413, & A9217.

I just spotted for the first time in that shot of B365 that it has been modified and has a second cockpit... an observer position, or perhaps for training?

 

[Sabrejet]

47 minutes ago, hendie said:

I just spotted for the first time in that shot of B365 that it has been modified and has a second cockpit... an observer position, or perhaps for training?

 

 

I did see that but can't confirm that it's a second cockpit. However Yatesbury had similarly-configured RE.8s, with the rear gunner's machine gun ring removed and a faired cockpit with screen added. So this may be a similar mod, though in the case of the RE.8 it could be steered from the rear position whereas the DH.5 wouldn't have been.

[Tavystokie]

Brilliant stuff, both the modelling and the historical research behind it. 

 

Will watch this unfold with great interest!

 

TS

[hairystick]

Most excellent! Another Hendie build. I'm going to guess the 3d printer will see a lot of action here!

 

I'm just a little concerned that the aircraft have been assembled incorrectly, with the struts facing the wrong way. Perhaps someone had delusions of flying a Beech Staggerwing much ahead of its time?

[Whofan]

 

 

12 minutes ago, hairystick said:

I'm just a little concerned that the aircraft have been assembled incorrectly, with the struts facing the wrong way. Perhaps someone had delusions of flying a Beech Staggerwing much ahead of its time?

 

Wikipedia states it was one of the first “back stagger” wing aircraft, so it’s assembled correctly.

[Hamden]

 

Room for one more can't miss a Hendie build, a great start and a type I was unaware of to boot

 

           Roger 

[silverfox63]

I was going to ask if you had the 3d printer warming up in the background, just in case, but I see it is a necessity.

Good luck, I know know you'll hammer it into shape.

Cheers,

Chris.

[Pete in Lincs]

The fuselage looks a bit too narrow for a seat and the collective stick. Maybe it was on the outside like a Bentley gearstick? 😋 Good luck and fair winds Alan. I think you'll be in need of all you can get. Great support from @Sabrejet BTW.

[Max Headroom]

Ooh, a Hendie build. I was only thinking I hadn’t seen one for a while (missed the Otter….)

 

Looking forward to this.

 

Trevor

[Viking]

Wow, great work on the fuselage, this is going to be a really interesting build.

[The Spadgent]

Really nice work on the fuselage. Are you going to fit the cockpit in through the ’ole? 
 

Nice stitching by the way. 🙌😇

 

 Johnny

[CedB]

Marvellous.

At least you're using the flat bits!

 

Coming together already  

[giemme]

11 hours ago, CedB said:

At least you're using the flat bits!

Indeed. I was wondering why Alan can be bothered buying kits, but you answered already...  

 

Excellent start, Alan!  This 3D printing thing seems second nature for you, at this point  

 

Ciao

[perdu]

By turning the wick up on my screen I'm entirely unconvinced there's a second cockpit Alan, just looks like shadow around the head protection fairing, under the wing.

Then suddenly I looked even harder and lo!

 

I can see the hole at the rear of the driver's seat.

 

Wow

 

There isnt even a headrest.

 

 

[Terry1954]

Just made first page, with room to spare!

 

This is going to be a very interesting build, with great progress already.

 

I'm all eyes!

 

T.

[heloman1]

Cracking on then Alan...

 

Colin

[81-er]

That's quite a first update, Alan! At this rate you'll be finished in 3 updates  You new fuselage. engine, and cowling are absolutely superb, a giant leap forward from the kit parts

 

James

[Brandy]

Ooh, I'm looking forward to seeing this one come together!

The "cockpit air conditioning thingie" is the air intakes for the engine. The other end will be the hollow crankshaft which acted as a sort of carb.

 

Ian

[hendie]

Wow, this thread seems to have generated a lot of interest. I can't think why as it's a pretty dull aircraft, anda very poor kit. I am grateful for the interest though - it certainly helps me keep things moving, especially when I start to get bogged down.

 

In this weeks exciting episode there's not really much in the way of exciting stuff. If you're into mundane stuff then this is the thread for you!

I've decided that this is going to be an easy relaxed build, or as much "easy and relaxed" as I can manage, which means that I am NOT going to get bogged down in the weeds like I did with the Otter - says me after modeling and printing an entire new fuselage.

Some things just have to be done though - like plucking the feathers off the wings n stuff.

 

 

... which then got tidied up. The aileron hinge line did not, surprise surprise, line up top and bottom which meant that once I had removed them I had to fill up the hinge trench left on one face of the wing with some Tamiya filler then sand everything back flush.

Another splash of primer was splashed and all the feathers and wings were pinned, or more accurately, wired, using 0.4mm stainless wire. 

 

 

Looking once more at the kit parts I wasn't particularly happy with the wheels either. Thankfully I have some spares which will do the job.

The PC10 colored wheels are all ready to go but they seem a bit on the thin side so I'm going with the two center bottom wheels after they've had another visit to the paint shop.

 

 

With the wings and feathers separated it was time to attack one of those jobs I hate - adding the horns on the ailerons, rudder and elevators.

Remember in my first post I mentioned one of these things is not like the other?

Well, I started with the rudder. Okay, easy enough, just cut out part PE7 and stick it on.

Can anyone spot the flaw in my plan here?

 

 

Yup, there is no PE part 7.  Great job AMG.

Luckily at some point in the distant past I had purchased a PE fret of various biplane type horns. SO that was dug out, only to discover that there was nothing suitable on that fret either. Thankfully, a further search in the PE parts stash yielded a smidgin of brass that would do the job. 

 

 

Sheesh... look at the state of that rudder!  I can foresee an attack of the sanding sticks in its near future.

Like just before adding this splash of color

 

 

I decided to reprint the engine cowl as I had originally printed it parallel to the build plate which while being the quickest way to print it, left an artifact on the front face as it transitioned from the curve to the flat. This time I angled it slightly and got a much better quality print, which was duly colored in.

 

 

After the coloring in it got a coat of semi-gloss clear and the engine, bulkhead, and cowl were assembled. I went with semi-gloss on the cowl as there is a definite difference between the metal of the cowl and the fabric of the fuselage in photos so semi-gloss for the cowl and I'll finish the fuselage in a clear flat coat.

 

 

Talking of fuselage, I went around the cockpit padding with some Mr. Dissolved Putty to try and take away from the uniform look of the loft I had ehrrr... lofted around the cockpit opening.

 

 

Then it was time to start working on the internals again. I made the cockpit floor out of sheet styrene and woodened it with some paint and some oils. The pilots seat was done at the same time. The very few photos I have that show anything of the insides of this appear to show a plywood seat as opposed to the usual rattan effort so commonly seen in WWI aircraft, and since I'm not going overboard on this build I went with the kit seat.

 

 

Though I did decide to spice it up a little by adding some "leather" padding around the edges - again from Mr Dissolved Putty.

 

 

While all that was going on the printer saw some action again, this time in the form of a Vickers machine gun. To be fair, AMG had made a valiant effort with their machine gun in the kit and it wouldn't look out of place on the finished article, but I had already designed a Vickers MG for my Wapiti build and it had a few more details on it. That was just a case of drag and print.

 

 

Now, while they did a good job on the machine gun, the saem cannot be said of their effort on the spinner.

ACtually making it round would have been a good start but they failed on the first hurdle. In addition, it does not look like any of the spinners I see on DH5's so I printed my own.

 

 

and it fits!

 

 

I've thinned down the trailing edges of the propeller quite drastically and removed the parting line seams, then rounded all the leading edges. It's currently colored in with Model Master "Wood" awaiting some grainy wood like oils to be applied. My current set of oils was a cheapo set and they've turned quite nasty - all the caps are leaking and some of the oils have dried up so I really must invest in a decent set.

 

As I said above, quite mundane really. In the next installment I hope to have some exciting coloring in going on and maybe some of that assembly nonsense. Who knows?

You can now return to your regularly scheduled programming.