sandbagger

Hi all, Completed model photographs are now up in the 'LSM Aircraft Finished Work' page, Mike

Hi all, Here's the shots of the completed model. This model represents BE2c Serial No. 2635 of No.13 Squadron, RFC, operating from Savy in France during 1916. My full build log, including all materials used is here: As usual a full build log in PDF format is available to download from my site (Gallery 4) in my signature link. Just click the PDF icon to read or download. Once again thanks for your comments and encouragement - appreciated, Mike

Hi all, The upper wing ailerons are supposed to be close to the outboard trailing edges of the centre section. Once assembled, there is a 2.5 mm gap where the centre section moulding did not include an extension to meet the ends of the ailerons. Making inserts to fill the gaps is tricky as the wing surfaces are corrugated. However, the kit sprues have two parts (24 and 25) which are not used and these are corrugated on on side. I cut two strips with two corrugations to fit the gaps. These were cemented into the gap on the top surface of the upper wing. There is not enough of parts 24 and 25 left to use on the underside of the upper wing. Therefore I cut inserts from 0.5 mm styrene sheet to fill the gaps then added two 0.5 mm wide styrene rods to represent the corrugations. Mike ORIGINAL GAP UPPER SURFACE INFILL UNDERSIDE INFILL

Hi all, The kit supplied upper wing outer sections have an extension at the wing trailing edges. This is to represent the cover strip for the leading edges of the ailerons. However, due to the limitations of moulding, these corrugated cover strips are moulded as straight extensions. In reality, these cover strips were normally unevenly distorted along their entire length, from slight to heavy distortions. As they were made from corrugated Duraluminium sheet, my assumption is they were probably distorted by being trodden on by maintenance personnel. To create these distortions, I used the heat from an electrical soldering iron. The wing was held of the tip of the soldering iron until the styrene showed signs of softening. I then eased the styrene into a distortion using the ball end of a paper embossing tool. Then I just moved along the wing repeating the process. Now onto the infamous gap between the aileron inboard ends and the upper wing centre section, Mike

Hi all, Interesting to note that even 'Wingnut Wings' can get it wrong. The known gap at the upper wing aileron inboard ends. Also the instruction manual on page 11 shows assembly of the upper wing outer sections. The kit supplies wing stiffeners (Parts I1 and I6), which are intended to be fitted into the upper wings outer halves before the halves are joined. However, the instructions on page 11 do not show or mention these stiffeners. Mike EDIT - I was wrong - the stiffeners are for the upper wing centre section (page 8 in the instructions) - not for the outer wing sections.

Yes the Wingnut Wings kit (32001). It was one of the first four kits released back in 2009: 32001 1/32 Junkers J.1 32002 1/32 LVG C.VI 32003 1/32 SE.5a ‘Hisso’ 32004 1/32 Bristol F.2b Fighter Mike

Hi all, My build of the RAF BE2c is complete, apart from its display case. So I thought I'd take a break from resin models and rigging. Therefore the next model will be the Junkers J.1 armoured ground attack aircraft. This particular aircraft is Serial No: 596/18 at Dessau airfield, Germany, in September 1918. Mike

Hi all, Figures done. ‘Model Cellar’ British RFC pilot and gunner (MC32026). Painted using 'Tamiya' and 'AK Interactive' acrylics and 'Citadel' paints for the flesh. Once again many thanks for your comments and encouragement - most appreciated. I'll post the completed model once it's in its display case, Mike

Hi all, The tail plane bracing wires added. Rudder control cables added. Propeller fitted. That's it for the aircraft. Now onto the figures, Mike

Hi all, Elevator control cables rigged. Now onto the rudder, Mike

Hi all, Bomb sight recovered from kit part with extras added from 0.3 mm diameter tube and 0.2 mm thick plastic sheet. Also the pitot tube added from 0.3 mm diameter tube (blackened). Just the elevator and rudder controls to add then it's onto the figures, Mike

Hi all, A few more updates. Bombs and bomb control quadrant and cables added. Hand operated fuel pressure pump added. Engine exhausts with retaining frames added. Windscreens added. Upper wing straps added. Ammunition drum rack added. Pilot and observers machine guns added. The tail planes and elevators added. The fin and rudder added. Kit supplied 3D printed wing skids replaced with 0.6 mm diameter blackened Brass tube. The kit supplied CFS Mk.4 bomb sight has been binned. It was so frail it literally fell off in bits!! I'll need to make a representation of one instead. Also the propeller will be fitted (last). Finally the rudder and elevator controls and cables are still to be added. Mike

Hi all, Landing gear and tail skid now done. I managed to twist and pull the axle metal rod from the axle fairing. This was replaced with a brass rod, which was longer to fit deeper into the wheels. The axle retainer discs for the bungee suspension cords were cut from 0.2 mm thick plastic card with a central hole to fit onto the axle rod. The axle assembly was held into the 'V' struts with CA adhesive, backed up with 0.2 mm diameter annealed copper wire. The bungee cord, represented by 'EZ' line White (heavy), was then wrapped across and around the axle ends, between the retainer discs. The model now needs to be held by the fuselage. Therefore, before adding the elevator and rudder controls and wires, I'll need to fit the remaining parts to the forward fuselage. Mike

Yes, that's about the only way. I'm thinking using copper wire for support then follow with representing the bungee cord over that. I think lead wire may be too weak, Mike

Hi all, The kit supplied landing gear comprises two ‘V’ struts and the axle/fairing. The axle is intended to be glued to the bottom of the two ‘V’ struts. However, there is nothing to retain the axle at the bottom of the struts, except the CA adhesive under the axle and onto the bottom of the struts. The weight of the model bearing down on the axle and wheels with only the CA adhesive taking the weight is a joint failure waiting to happen. Therefore this needs to be addressed. Also the ’bungee’ suspension cords are retained between two discs on the ends of the axle, which are not represented in the kit. Finally the internal strengthening rod within the axle protrudes from either end for mounting the wheels. However, the protrusions do not go far enough into the wheels, which is another weak point. Onward, upward, Mike

Hi all, The aileron control line have now been rigged. It's difficult to make out on the photographs as it's a larger models to focus on. Next up is the landing gear before I move onto the rudder and elevator controls, Mike

Hmmmm - not him - his rigging is not aligned in some areas 😆 Mike

Hi all, The wings are now fully rigged. This includes twin flying wires, single landing wires, incidence wires, wing brace wires, drag wires and cabane strut cross and fuselage bracing wing wires. I've yet to airbrush the rigging to knock back the shine.. Next up is fitting and rigging the landing gear so as to lift the wings and prevent contact damage to the aileron controls (when fitted). Then it'll be ailerons, rudder, elevator and their control line rigging. Mike

Hi all, Tricky to fit but now the pre-rigged upper wing has been fitted. I've kept the temporary elastic bands over the wings. This is to keep them the wings restrained until the rigging is done. The solid lower wings can flex slightly on their locating rods, which can cause the strut joints to separate. Now onto the final rigging, Mike

Hi all, The pre-rigging is done. The aileron, rudder and elevator control rigging will be fitted after the wings have been fitted and final rigged. That way the exposed control lines have less chance of being damaged during handling. Also the landing gear and rigging will be fitted later, Mike

Hi all, The eight 'Hale' 20lb heavy case MkII/C bombs. The red and green stripes were decals taken from another model kit. Mike

Hi all, A couple more updates. The photo-etch camera mounting, which represents the CFS Mk.II/C mounting. Also the three fuselage windows are done. The photo-etch frames for the two square side windows were secured in position over the created openings, using thin CA adhesive. I then infilled the frames with 'Microscale' Krystal Kleer, which once cured leaves a transparent film. The opening in the larger rectangular window is too large to apply Krystal Kleer straight off. Therefore I cut a very thin strip from the supplied windscreen acetate sheet. The strip was just long enough to span across the centre, underside of the photo-etch frame. This effectively creates two smaller openings for applying the Krystal Kleer. The frame was then added to the fuselage in the same manner used for the side windows, Mike

Hi all, Just a few updates. The bomb racks, wheels, interplane struts and propeller. I'm now finishing off the eight 'Hale' heavy case Mk.II/C bombs, Mike

Hi all, Well, the most difficult part of this model build, the top engine cowl, is done. Without going into detail (as it's covered in my build log), I had to effectively scratch the cowl. The kit supplied photo-etch or resin cowls were discarded. I used the centre section of the photo-etch panel, annealed and bent into shape. The retaining straps from the cowl onto the cylinder head bolts, the cylinder baffles and the fire wall were made from 0.2 mm thick plastic card. The centre support strut under the cowl and into the engine block is painted 0.4 mm diameter tube. Now it's onto pre-rigging, Mike

Mike