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Hi all, The locking plates for the two access panels. Mike

Hi all, The hinged engine access doors had more detail than provided on the basic doors that are supplied in the kit. Also Wingnut Wings chose to have four bracing ribs moulded onto the inside of both panels. However, The only photographs of these panels, either at the time or museum aircraft, don't show four bracing ribs. They seem to have been located on the doors as either: Two ribs - front and forward Three ribs - forward, centre and rear Two ribs - forward and centre. Also there are details that needed to be added: Lightening holes in the bracing ribs Retaining cable or rod Additional bracing tubes Ports from the external cooling air louvres (right door only) Access panels to the engine (left door). I opted for the three ribs (forward, centre and rear) as shown below. The ribs were cut from 0.5 mm thick styrene sheet and drilled using 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 mm diameter drills. The bracing tubes are flattened 0.7 mm diameter Brass tube. Cooling ports and access panels were cut from 0.2 mm thick styrene sheet. Now onto the locking plates for the two access panels. Mike

Hi all, The basic fuselage internals are done. Although no rigging is necessary I have added the rudder and elevator control lines. I've also added extra fuel pipes to the main fuel tank and the 'Telefunken' wireless aerial wire, wrapped around the spool on the set in the gunners cockpit. Finally the two filler caps on the right side forward from the pilots cockpit - I assume these were for fuel and coolant. I've not fitted the two aileron control rods from the cockpit as they can be easily broken during subsequent handling. I've tested and they can be fitted later but before the engine is finally fitted. The engine shot below is test fitted only. Mike

Hi all, The engine is as complete as I can get it. I've added some details: Ignition leads support tubes Ignition leads Valve gear push rods Cylinder fuel primers Float chamber fuel supply Magneto spark advance rod Throttle control rod Carburettor interconnection rod and levers Rear engine pipes and tachometer drive. Coolant pipe through cylinder bases Coolant supply pipe from water pump. The engine controls will be attached to the fuselage/cockpit later in the build. Now onto the fuselage, Mike

Just noticed the pilots windscreen has lifted at one side - sorted now 🙁 Mike

Hi all, Although the kit supplied engine (Benz Bz.IV) is of good quality, there are details of the engine not included. 1. Cylinders coolant pipe (left side of engine only). 2. Ignition lead support tube (both sides of the engine). 3. Fuel primers (left side of engine cylinders). 4. Carburettor pre-heating gallery. 5. Carburettor pre-heating pipe. 6. Carburettor pre-heating pipe. 7. Carburettor pre-heating supply pipe. 8. Ignition leads (both sides of the engine). 9. Carburettor control rod. 10. Fuel supply connection (possibly). 11. Bleed pipe (possibly). 12. Valve gear push rods (6 each side of the engine). 13. Oil filter and pipe. I've made a start by cutting away the pre-moulded and flat coolant pipe across the bottom of the cylinders. This was replaced by 0.8 mm diameter styrene rod inserts. Also the ignition leads support tubes were made from flattened 0.6 mm diameter brass tube. Next up are the cylinder fuel primers, Mike

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