sandbagger

Hi all, As the Sopwith 1.B2 model is close to being complete, I thought I'd start on the next model. The 'Wingnut Wings' Jeannin Stahltaube, Serial No: A.283/14 at Aldershof-Johannisthal aerodrome during 1915. This aircraft was normally doped with German Field Grey. However, it seems this aircraft had not yet had its wings doped, so were still Clear Doped Lined (CDL), Mike

Hi all, Here are the figures. Both are ‘Kellerkind Miniaturen’ - French mechanic (54089) and (54112). Apart from the display case, the model is complete. I will post the final shots of the build in the coming week. Thanks for your support and comments throughout this build, Mike

Hi all, The model is now complete and here is a quick shot. I will of course post larger and detailed shots of the model once its in the display case. I'm currently working on the figures to complete the model, Mike

Hi all, The upper wing has been fitted. I found it best to fit the fuselage cabane struts first. Those struts are rigid when fitted and take much of the load from the upper wing. Once secured in position, the wings can be flexed slightly to locate and secure the interplane struts. Now it's onto final rigging, Mike

Hi all, The engine has now been fitted with the Aviattic 3D printed engine cowl. Many of the French aircraft had a single, larger cooling slot in the lower, front of the engine cowl. As opposed to the British type, which had two cooling slots at the same location on the engine cowl. Also, the modified Gaspatch Vickers machine gun was fitted. Finally, I created a pilot's windscreen, which was off-set to the right of the breach block of the Vickers machine gun, Mike

Hi all, More updates. The landing gear assembly is complete. The interplane and fuselage cabane struts are done and have slightly larger diameter brass tubes fitted to the strut end locating pegs. This was done as the locating holes in the wings are larger than the strut pegs. The underside of the upper wing has been pre-rigged with 22 lines. Lastly, the upper wing ailerons only have been pre-rigged. This is for the rear interconnecting control line that will route between the wings and their ailerons. Next is fitting of the upper wing, Mike

Hi all, A few updates. The underside of the fuselage with the rocking shaft and cover, bomb cassette panels and the airbrake control pulley with cable. The airbrakes have been fitted. The 'Proper Plane' Waring and Gillow propeller. The observers Lewis and mounting with 'EZ' line for the pulley cords. The wheels with 'Aviattic'' weave effect linen covering. I've applied wood effect to the interplane and landing struts, but need to paint the metal fittings etc, Mike

Hi all, I've now added the control cables for the rudder and tail skid. These were passed through the fuselage from outside and attached to the pilot's rudder bar. The tailplane incidence control cables were fitted previously. The cockpit decking panel was then fitted. Next is the pre-rigging stage for all of the externally visible wires, Mike

Hi all, A few updates on the 1.B.2 strutter. I've added basic bomb release panels under the fuselage. Initially I applied a light grey base colour on the model as I was applying the 'Aviattic' Weave Linen Effect'. I though that would bring out the Aluminium effect for the linen covering. However, it didn't so instead I applied 'Alclad' Duraluminium as the base coat. Even so, the reflective nature of the paint lessens the linen decal effect somewhat. The French roundels and Escadrille markings were created in Paint Shop Pro software on my PC. They were then printed using my Canon i-Sensys LBP631 Cw laser printer. The chick/egg emblem and rudder decals were printed on clear back laser paper and the chick/egg decals were applied twice, as the decal paper is translucent. The remaining decal were printed on white backed laser paper and carefully cut out for application. The decals were sealed with a semi-matte clear coat, after which Flory Models dark dirt wash was applied. The wash is basically to dirty up the aircraft (heavier than I normally apply). The pilots Vickers and observers Lewis machine guns are also painted. Next is to rig the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator before the top decking panel if finally fitted, Mike

Hi all, It's been a few weeks since I last posted, mainly as I was abroad on vacation. However, the fuselage internals are now complete. Exact information is rare for the cockpit layout of the French 1.B2 version of this aircraft. Therefore I've added what detail I could and with some artistic license. General: Blue crossed bracing wires along the fuselage sides and rear floor section. Added a false rear floor to hide the visible fuselage joint seam. Given the access to the open cockpit, the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator should be able to be added later - we'll see. Rear cockpit Crossed bracing wires at the rear of the cockpit. Two bomb cannisters at the front of the cockpit. Centre pedestal with a rolling map holder between the bomb cannisters. Forward cross frame under the cockpit decking panel. Tailplane incidence control cables from the pilot's cockpit. Pilot's cockpit Tailplane incidence control cables. Airbrake control cables. Trigger cable for the Vickers machine gun. Engine blip cable from the control column. Ammunition container under the instrument panel. Wicker seat with cushion. Engine throttle and mixture control rods. Fuel supply pipes from the fuel tank. Fuel content indicator pipe on the fuel tank. Pipe to the oil Pulsometer. Replacement carburettor air intake pipe (metal tube). Retaining frame at the top, front of the fuel tank. Rear support frame for the Vickers machine gun. NOTE The instrument panel is the British version and not the type fitted to the French 1.B2 aircraft. The pilot's seat is of the British type and not the metal seat fitted to French aircraft. Due to the access through the open cockpit area, the control cables for the rudder, tail skid and elevator should be able to be added later - we'll see. Mike

Hi all, The Aviattic bleached linen effect decals (59 in total) were cut for the inside of the fuselage halves. Although the weave effect can be seen, a white base coat would have been better than the dark yellow I used. The main assemblies of the two cockpits have been fitted. Now it's onto adding cockpit detail (not in the kit) and rigging, Mike

Hi all, The fuselage halves and cockpit parts have been painted Tamiya acrylics used. Wood and leather effect was made using ‘Windsor & Newton’ Griffin Alkyd oil paints (Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna and Raw Sienna). Fuselage halves and instrument panel gloss coated ready for decals, which is the next step, Mike

Hi all, When to two halves of the fuselage are joined together, the joint seam on the underside of the fuselage will be visible in the rear of the observer/gunners cockpit. This was sorted by fitting a 1.0 mm thick plastic card insert, Mike

Hi all, A few modifications for the Sopwith 1.A2 'Strutter'. Changes to the airbrakes. Addition of the operating pulley and cable slot for the airbrakes (port underside of fuselage). Aileron fitting. Elevator angle. Rudder fitting. Tubular carburettor air intakes. Gaspatch Vickers machine gun offset to the left on the decking panel (not central) Gaspatch Lewis machine gun on Scarf mounting. Addition of control column rocking shaft and cover. Addition of fuselage access panels between observer and pilot cockpits More research to be done for possibly adding the following cockpit details: Rear of the fuel tank and forward in the observer/gunner cockpit. Fuel contents indicator. Compass. Control rods or cables. Magneto starter switch. Clock or watch. Frame over front of fuel tank. Tachometer. Mike

Hi all, My bad as I posted the build thread here instead of the work in progress page 🤪 The 'Wingnut Wings' Fokker D.VII (OAW). Built as the 'Seven Swabians', Serial No: 4697/18 of Jasta 65, flown by Alfred Bader. The forum build thread is above in this thread. The fully detailed build log is available to download from the Build Logs page at: Mikes WW1 aircraft Models Mike

Hi all, The pilot figure is completed. ‘Black Dog’ German fighter pilot WW1 N°3 (F32172). Painted with 'AK Interactive' acrylic paints. That's this model completed. Thanks for your comments and support during this build, Mike

Hi all, The finished model is now up in the WNW and WW1 Ready for Inspection page. Thanks for your support and comments throughout this build, Mike

Hi all, The 'Wingnut Wings' SE5a (Hisso) with a 'Proper Plane' 3D printed conversion front end to a Wolseley Viper powered aircraft. Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a (Wolseley Viper engine) Serial No: C1149 as flown by Capt. Duncan Grinnell-Milne with No.56 Squadron (RAF) during late 1918. Dual comparison build with the 'Kotare' Supermarine 'Spitfire Mk.1a. The forum build thread is: The fully detailed build log will be available to download, once I've uploaded the Fokker D.VII Seven Swabians build, at my site: Mikes WW1 Aircraft Models Mike

Hi all, I had read of Aluminium doped Strutters, but was guided by the Windsock data file 34. It seems at the time of writing, doped Aluminium Strutters had not been known. From what I now read it seems a few Strutters were supplied to the French for evaluation. They were considered worth using and licenses were given to allow the French to build the aircraft for their use. Production was slow to start, as happened with the earlier Caudron aircraft. The Sopwith aircraft built by the French looked similar to the British counterpart, although it's thought the 1.A2 (reconnaissance) version may have had reinforced wings and different equipment. However, only the few early models originally supplied British were clear dope linen. Later French built Strutters were probably Aluminium doped and by the end of 1917, the five coloured dope camouflage was universally adopted. The camouflaged aircraft had the standard French 5 colours pigmented dope. On the upper wings pigmented dope was used, which is why a difference can sometimes been seen in hue between doped surfaces and the roundels. If the landing gear, cowlings and plywood coverings were camouflaged, it was with the standard paints. On the Aluminium doped aircraft, the colouring was apparently: One coat of clear tautening dope Two coats of Aluminium tautening dope One coat of clear finishing dope That fuselage and wings were similarly doped. The cowlings left the factory burnished (sometime painted in unit level) and the exposed plywood decking was varnished. The landing gear was either painted silver (most often) or left with the blue -grey protective paint. As with most WW1 aircraft research, very little can be actually confirmed. However, given this and the helpful comments elsewhere, I've decided to amend the colouring of this model to that of an all Aluminium doped finish. Mike

Hi all, The Se5a (Viper) and Spitfire Mk.1a dual build and the Fokker D.VII build are nearing completion. Therefore I'm starting the next build. A Roden kit for a model of a French Sopwith 1 1/2 ‘Strutter’ (1.B2), Ser No.326 ‘7’ of French Escadrille SOP226. Mike

Hi all, Just the last bits fitted now. Upper wing fitted. Aileron control cables from fuselage to upper wing. Fuselage grab handles and pilots foot step. Propeller fitted. Just the figure and display base to go, Mike

Hi all, Landing gear with bracing cables fitted. Flight control cables mostly rigged. Cabane and interplane struts fitted. Proper Plane Niendorf propeller also ready for fitting. Next is fitting the upper wing and aileron cables, Mike

Hi all, The W's are done. Weathered, Weapons, Windscreen. Also the exhaust and a modification to add a flare pistol to the centre, leading edge of the upper wing. The pre-rigging is also added. Next up is assembly, Mike

Hi all, I've added all of the necessary decals now. The fuselage, wings and control surfaces are all from the specific Aviattic set (‘Aviattic’ clear backed Seven Swabians (ATT32173) and (ATT32070). Unfortunately the pre-shading on the wings and tailplane were not dark enough, so are not really visible. Now it's onto the weathering stage, Mike