sandbagger

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

Hi all, On most BE2c aircraft, linen was wrapped around the four fuselage cabane struts and the landing gear struts. This was done to protect the struts and to help prevent the wood from splitting. To represent the linen wrapping I used cut thin strips of plumbers Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape. This tape is by nature very thin and will self-grip to tools and your fingers, so patience and repeated cutting will be necessary. The tape was secured in position using thin CA adhesive. Then airbrushed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311), treated with 'Flory Models' Grime wash and finally clear coated again. Mike

Hi all, The weapons are now finished, although the observers Lewis will be finally positioned on its swivel mounting once the rigging etc is completed. The Lewis machine gun for the observer was mounted on a tubular swivel arm located centrally between the observer and pilots cockpits. The Lewis machine gun for the pilot was mounted to the side of the cockpit and angled to fire obliquely outboard. Both weapons and the spare ammunition drums are the ‘GasPatch’ Lewis Mk.1 stripped half heat sinks (32-32052). The observers weapon has a 0.3 mm diameter rod fitted to allow it to swivel on the gun mounting. Similarly the pilots weapon has a rod fitted to locate it into a hole drilled into the side of the fuselage. I chose not to use the kit supplied photo-etch mounting for the pilots weapon as is was way to flimsy. Both weapons were primed with 'Tamiya' Gloss Black (X1) then airbrushed with 'Alclad' Gun Metal (ALC120). Then ‘Mr. Colour’ Super Metallic - Super Iron (203) was dry brushed over the weapons. Finally 'Tamiya' Hull Red (XF9) was applied to the handles and 'AK Interactive' Brown Leather (AK3031) to the drum straps. A light wash os 'AK Interactive' Kerosene (AK2039) was applied over the ammunition drums. Mike

Hi all, A few more observations of areas of the model not included. Later versions of the BE2c had an access panel on the right side of the fuselage and rear of the pilot’s cockpit. This panel is not included on the kit fuselage and will need to be created. Later versions of the BE2c had either one or two circular access panels on the left side of the nose, on the triangular panel. This panel is not included on the kit. Also most BE2c aircraft had a twin pitot tube fitted to an outboard interplane strut. Also not included in the kit. Mike

Hi all, The engine is now fitted, including the upper auxiliary fuel tank and it's tube connecting it to the main fuel tank under the observers seat. The kit supplied top cowl is supplied as either resin or photo-etch, but neither seem curved enough at the top when fitted. Also the RAF 1a engine had baffle plates fitted between the engine cylinders and these are not provided for in the kit. Therefore it looks like I'll need to make the cowl and baffles instead, Mike

Hi all, The kit supplies a photo-etch carrier for three spare ammunition drums for the Lewis machine guns. Various profiles and photographs show these carriers to have storage for different amounts of ammunition drums. The photograph below show a captured No.13 Squadron BE2c with a four drum carrier, as does the colour profile I'm using for this model. Therefore I chose to make this type of carrier from 0.2 mm thick plastic card. This was primed white then airbrushed with 'Tamiya' Dark Yellow (XF60). I then brushed Windsor and Newton Raw Sienna (Griffin Alykld). The four ammunition drums are those from the replacement 'GasPatch' Lewis Mk.1 stripped half heatsinks (32-32052) set. They were airbrushed with 'Tamiya' Gloss Black (X1), then with 'Alclad' Steel (ALC-112). The rounds were brushed painted with 'Mr. Colour' Brass (219) with 'AK Interactive' Brown Leather (AK3031) for the hand straps. Mike

Hi Hubert, Thanks, although the roundels are in fact weathered. It's just that being primarily white, the model/roundels reflect the light and tend to mask out the effect when photographed, Mike

Hi all, PLAN B. Damaged CDL decal, fuselage decals removed. Black squadron stripes airbrushed, fuselage and 'Lift Here' decals replaced. 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt and Grime clay washes applied. Sealed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC-311) clear lacquer. Hopefully a more dirty, 'war weary' finish. Mike

Hi all, Well it happens 🥴 I accidentally spilled a bottle of White Spirits over my modelling workspace and, unfortunately the model. I tried to dab it off but it had already dissolved areas of the applied decals on all of the models parts. As I had no CDL decal replacements and no wanting to purchase and wait for replacements, I decide to go to Plan B. This required the removal of as much of the decal as possible, leaving some in place as weathering effect. The fuselage took the main hit, but fortunately not inside the fuselage. So I've stripped all of the decals (CDL, roundels and black stripes). The black stripes were airbrushed and replacement roundels and 'lift here' decals were applied. My plan is to apply 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt and Grime fine clay wash (which I normally apply anyway). Hopefully the wash will compliment the residual CDL decal to give the model a well worn, war weary look. We'll see, Mike

Hi all, Wood effect Applied using 'Windsor and Newton' Griffin Alkyd Raw Sienna. Some shadowing applied to wings and fuselage using 'Tamiya' Smoke (X19). Cockpit padding brush painted with 'AL Interactive' Brown Leather. Nose number 1 airbrushed with mask cut on a 'Cricut' Air 2 cutter. Now onto further weathering, Mike

Hi all, The Clear Doped Linen (CDL) decals have been applied on the fuselage, wings, ailerons, fin, tail plane's and elevators. The 'LukGraph' supplied CDL decals supplied with the Premium kit are very much like those from 'Aviattic'. They are quite strong and adhere well to the model surfaces. The kit supplied marking decals were applied onto the CDL decals. The Serial No.2635 had to be made from spare decals, as the kit does not have the markings for this particular aircraft. The black stripe marking for No.13 Squadron was from the 'XtraDecal' black strip set (XPS1). Now onto applying the wood effects to the fuselage, Mike

Hi all, A few updates. I've primed then masked off the wings, fuselage and other flight surfaces, then pre-shaded the internal structures. This was over sprayed with white primer to 'knock back' the pre-shading. The linen effect decals will be applied before the kit markings. The fuselage nose was painted with 'Tamiya' Neutral Grey (XF53) and the cockpit decking panel and under fuselage with Dark Yellow (XF60), in preparation for applying wood effects. Mike

Hi all, Another fix required. The rigging diagrams in the kit instructions fail to show a single bracing wire fitted outboard from the bottom of the inboard front interplane struts. This wire was routed diagonally up to the underside of the front spar of the upper wing, midway between the inboard and outboard interplane struts. Mike