Grant Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 The copyright notice moulded inside the fuselage says 1953. So this kit is conceivably older than I am! It was an old bag kit, acquired from the stash of a modeller who had sadly passed away, so I felt I really had to do it justice. A very simple kit, that was quite clean for it’s age. I even used the kit decals. They are obviously a bit thick, but settled down nicely with some Klear. Modifications made during the build: - Heating pipes added to the port side exhaust, from left over resistor legs from my EH101 with lights (see, never throw anything away!) - The interplane struts are replacement brass aerofoil sections from Strutz, made by a man in Chetnole, of all places! - The kingposts, on top of the wing, have been added using brass from Strutz. - Pitot tubes added from a section of wheel from the FlightPath 1/72 bicycle kit. - Gun site added from a bit of photo etch that came with some lights I got for doing the EH101. A curious mix of items, but very useful now. - Pilot windscreen added; the sawn of front of a spare WhirlyBird DH88 replacement canopy. - Pilot and Gunner are from the Dark Dream Studio “Pilots of the first world war” set, DDS 72003. - The scarf ring is a couple of tyres and a bit of a wheel from the FlightPath 1/72 bicycle kit. - The elevator and rudder control attachments are bits of nylon fishing line pushed through drilled holes. - ALL that rigging is done with “100% Elastaine”, by Gold-Zack (part no. 977 770). I was put onto this stuff by a man who usually scratchbuilds pre 1914 aircraft, and it is terrific stuff for rigging. It comes a bit thick for 1/72, but splits nicely. I ended up using 1/3 to ¼ thicknesses here. Bits that went wrong: - I did start carving a wooden propeller out of veneers stuck together, but I couldn’t get it fine enough without the wood splitting, so I went with the kit part. - The idea of putting the figures in was to fill and obscure the insides. However, there is room for an instrument panel and I should have done one, but it was too late by the time I realized. - Having completed all the rigging, I was holding and admiring my work, when I dropped it! The starboard tailplane took a knock, but the rigging kept it attached. However, the rigging also prevents sticking it back in place properly, so it has a slight dihedral now. - Should have done something inside the intake shroud above the engine. References - Windsock Datafile #24 RAF RE8 by JM Bruce This is only the third bi-plane I have rigged and it was quite straight forward in the end. That Elastane is superb stuff. All you need is a bit of patience and a good rigging diagram. Enjoy the photos and, as ever, all comments and criticisms welcomed. Cheers Grant The Walk around: Some shots of on an airfield somewhere in France. cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muller Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 That looks great! You did a fine job on such an old kit. Love that grainy B&W shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Super work on the rigging Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz greenwood Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Very nice. But you must do something about the spider's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Excellent! and nice to see some god old fashioned modelling skills being used. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thanks peeps. But you must do something about the spider's. It has certainly been on the bench long enough for them to have had some input! Nice to finally finish it, and for the rigging to look the part. cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousFO98 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 tip top enjoyed the pics Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 (edited) What a beautiful model, it`s one of the best WW1 aircraft in 1/72nd that I`ve seen..and that rigging....well!!...I liked the photos of the real aircraft too!! Just one thing though.....and sorry for this....but your fantastic modelling has been let down by the decals for the fuselage roundels which are out of register......which is a shame as otherwise the model and your skills are amazing! Sorry for saying this but I`m only trying to be constructive.... All the best Tony O Edited February 18, 2009 by tonyot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atdb27 Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 Wow, That is one great model Grant. Takes me back does that. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mass Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Lovely build, and from a 50 year old plus bag kit! Anythings possible. Mass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Top hole old chap what?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tizzy Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Superb.I wish i could rig a model as well as that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thanks for the compliments, especially on the rigging. It certainly 'lifts' the model. ....but your fantastic modelling has been let down by the decals for the fuselage roundels which are out of register...... Yeah, you are quite right Tony. I ummed and ahed about them. They are all out, but it does look worse on the smaller fuselage decals. However, the wing ones did go on and settled down nicely, so I thought I'll continue as I had not (easily) found the right replacements, ones with the white surround. I was happy, not to mention amazed, that the original decals went on as well as they did. Perhaps I will think differently when I get around to the Brisift waiting in the wings. I have certainly invested in replacement decals for the inter war biplanes in the stash. cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Thanks for the compliments, especially on the rigging. It certainly 'lifts' the model.Yeah, you are quite right Tony. I ummed and ahed about them. They are all out, but it does look worse on the smaller fuselage decals. However, the wing ones did go on and settled down nicely, so I thought I'll continue as I had not (easily) found the right replacements, ones with the white surround. I was happy, not to mention amazed, that the original decals went on as well as they did. Perhaps I will think differently when I get around to the Brisift waiting in the wings. I have certainly invested in replacement decals for the inter war biplanes in the stash. cheers Grant Hiya Grant, I`m sure that your Brisfit will be just as stunning as the RE8 and I look forward to seeing it when its finished. I wish that I could rig like you...or even have the patience to rig like you and I`m so glad that you took my comment about the roundels in the way in which it was intended...thanks very much for that, as I was a bit worried!! All the best Tony O Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I built one of these a few months ago and I can certainly appreciate yours! The kit I used was from one of the Humbrol History of the RAF boxed sets and whatever I tried I couldn't get all the struts to fit. I'm not sure if there was something not right with the dihedral on one or other of the wings, either the lower wing had too much dihedral or the upper wing didn't have enough - putting the cabane struts on first made the gap between the wings too narrow for the wing struts, conversely putting the wing struts on first made the cabane struts too short! I eventually fitted the wing struts and replaced the fuselage struts with rod. I've asked around and this seems doesn't seem to be a common problem so perhaps I was unlucky or it might be a problem that has only recently manifested itself, so it might be worth checking. I have another, older "Aces" example which I've dug out to see if I can work out where the problem lay. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 ... whatever I tried I couldn't get all the struts to fit. ... Glad I didn't go with the kit struts then! Taking measurements from the above mention book, I set the wing jig (two loo roll inserts) with slits for the the wings at the correct vertical and fore and aft spacing and cut the brass to match. It doesn't take much for one bit to fit and the other not to. But working with the brass it was easy to 'file to fit' - and they look better too. cheers Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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