sandbagger

Hi all, The model is now finished. I'm just waiting for the display case to arrive. The last shot for posting is the pilot figure. The next shots will be the completed model, which hopefully will maybe at the weekend. As usual, thanks to everyone for their encouragement and comments throughout this build, Mike

Hi all, Nearly there now. Just the engine/prop assembly with propeller bullet deflector plates to do. Plus of course the pilot figure, Mike

Hi all, The rigging has now been finished, apart from painting the turnbuckles. Still to do are the wheels, tail skid, windscreen, ailerons, engine assembly and the figure, Mike

Hi all, All of the necessary pre-rigging has been done, using 0.12 and 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament with blackened 0.5 mm diameter Brass tube. The wings were then fitted. The ailerons win the upper wing were controlled from the cockpit by external rods and levers, similar to the French Nieuports. The kit parts had rods that were way too short and would not reach the fuselage openings. I cut the rods away from the levers and fitted 0.6 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tubes with 0.4 mm tube inside. The protruding 0.4 tube fitted into holes drilled through the front end of the levers. Now it's onto final rigging, Mike

Hi all, Photographs of the finished model are now up in the LSM Finished page. Thank's to everyone for the encouragement and comments throughout this build, Mike

Hi all, I thought you might like to see my 1:32 scale build - The German ‘Hansa-Brandenburg W.20’. This model is from ‘Omega Models’ and is resin. This aircraft was a single seat float, designed to be carried in a water tight container on a type of submarine. The intention was to surface and remove the aircraft from its container, assemble it then launch it for reconnaissance missions. After landing near the submarine, it was be taken onboard, disassembled and stowed back in its container. The special submarines were never built before hostilities ceased and the three prototypes were eventually put into storage. The basic list of changes/additions to the model are: Engine: The resin engine replaced with the equivalent engine from ‘Wingnut Wings and detailed with Nickel-Silver valve push rods and copper wire ignition leads. Propeller: The resin propeller was replaced with a special made wood laminate from ‘ProperPlane’. Modified or corrected: All wing, float and tailplane resin struts were replaced with hand made Brass Tube struts with internal Brass rod. The entire engine support frame was hand made using Brass tube and rod. Rigging is 0.08 mm or 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament with ‘GasPatch’ 1:48th scale turnbuckles and 0.5 mm or 0.4 mm diameter blackened Brass tube. Animation of the ailerons, rudder and elevators achieved by cutting out with Brass rod supports. The beaching trolley and trestle were scratch built, apart from the wheels which were from a 'Kellerkind' model. After market used: 'Aviattic’ Clear linen effect (ATT32236). ‘Aviattic’ German Naval Hex (faded) (ATT32113). ‘GasPatch’ Elite Accessories 1:48th scale metal Turnbuckles. ‘Wings Cockpit Figures’ 1:32 scale Seated pilot (LSK 07A). ‘Elan Miniatures’ 1:32 scale German Naval pilot (EL19). ‘Elan Miniatures’ 1:32 scale RFC Mechanic (modified) (EL41). Coastal Kits’ 1:32 scale Abandoned Airfield Display Base (modified for 3D effect). As usual I've created a downloadable build log in Adobe PDF format, for those who might want to refer to it for reference or build details. It contains full step by step descriptions of the model build, its modifications/changes and is also supported with illustrations and photographs. If viewed in Adobe Reader, each build log has book marked chapters/headings for easier navigation through the log. My model website has the gallery page, so to view any model, go to the gallery and select it. If it has a PDF build log, it will be available to download using the 'PDF' icon on that models photo's page. For any photograph, just click the photo to enlarge or reduce the viewing size. http://igavh2.xara.hosting]Mikes WW1 Aircraft Models Mike

Hi all, Just a few updates. I've applied and sealed the weathering ('Flory Models' Dark Dirt clay wash). Also added the pilot's foot plate, made from spare photo-etch) to the lower port wing, which is not in the kit. The replacement 'GasPatch' Lewis Mk.1 machine gun has been fitted. Now onto the pre-rigging, Mike

Hi all, I've applied the decals. The Clear Doped Linen are the '‘Aviattic’ CDL aged varnish (ATT32094), The plywood fuselage are the ‘Lukgraph’ Dark Plywood (DEC004) - from their Friedrichshafen FF.33L kit (32-30). I still have to finish weathering and maybe darken the wood decals, Mike

Hi all, I've pre-shaded the parts ready for applying plywood effect decal to the fuselage and linen effect decal to the flight surfaces. The fuselage if the aircraft was covered in plywood but it's difficult to tell if the plywood was applied as single sheets or as separate panels. One photograph seems to show a panel join, so I've gone for separate panels. Panel lines scribbed with nail lines added each side using a 'Rosie the Riveter' (1.0 mm). Mike

Hi all, Just a few updates. The kit supplied resin propeller was base coated with 'Tamiya' Buff (XF55) then had 'DecoArts' Burnt Umber acrylic brushed on. Finally a sealing coat of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) mixed with 'Tamiya' Clear Orange (X26). Forward fuselage and spinner base coated with 'Tamiya' black gloss (X18) then over coated with 'Alclad' Duraluminium (ALC-102). Slot cut forward of the cockpit to house the 'GasPatch' Lewis machine gun. The brass created struts were base coated with 'Tamiya' Buff (XF55) then had 'DecoArts' Burnt Umber acrylic brushed on. The four interplane struts were then clear gloss coated to have 'Xtradecal' 1.0 mm wide black decals applied to represent the linen bindings around the struts. Finally all of the struts were sealed with a coat of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311). Now it's onto pre-shading the model prior to applying the CDL and plywood effect decals, Mike

Hi all, I've been asked on several forums about making struts from Brass tube and rod. The tool I use is the 'Strutter' made by 'Albion Alloy's' This tool, plus others, was available to purchase on the previous web site, which is no longer online. I contacted 'Albion Alloy's' and this was the reply I received today: "Hi Mike, Many thanks for getting in touch and so pleased to hear your comments regarding the Strutter. We do indeed intend to put the details of how to purchase the hobby tools we do on our website. This will probably happen in the next couple of weeks and I'll keep you informed. Best regards, Matthew at Albion Alloys" There web site: https://www.albionhobbies.com/]https://www.albionhobbies.com/ Video using the 'Strutter': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o10w7aVmIk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o10w7aVmIk So keep checking their web site if you are interested in the 'Strutter', Mike

Hi all, I decided to replace all four interplane struts as the kit parts were also soft white metal alloy. Made from 2.0 mm diameter Brass tube and 0.5 mm diameter rod, soft soldered the profiled, Mike

Hi all, The landing gear and wing struts supplied in the kit are molded in white metal. Consequently the landing gear in particular bends extremely easily and I suspect may not even take the weight of the model. Therefore I recreated the landing gear struts and axle using brass tube, rod and styrene sheet. The struts are 2.0 mm tube formed around 1.mm rod and soft soldered then filed and sanded to shape. The axle is 2.0 mm tube crushed flat on one aide around 0.8 mm rod. Styrene strips off 0.5 mm thickness were glued to the front and rear of the rod, then sanded to an aerofoil shape. I'm not sure yet whether I'll replace the wing struts - we'll see, Mike

Hi all, I can't finish the Hansa-Brandenburg W.20 as I'm still waiting for the propeller. Also I can't progress the Ponnier M.1 until I receive the replacement Lewis gun, so that I can modify the fuselage accordingly. So I've started researching what will probably be the 'next' model, which will be the last of the problematic resin kits I have. This model will represent a Mosca-Bystritsky MB bis fighter, flown by the Imperial Russian Air Force from 1916. The Italian aircraft designer Francesco E. Mosca worked at the Russian Duks factory, along with Bezobrasov, Lerkhe and Yankovski. The initial MB design, first flown in 1915, was a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft, similar to contemporary French Morane and Nieuport monoplanes. During 1916, a smaller and faster single seat version was developed as the MB bis. The MB bis was similar in construction to the MB, being constructed largely of wood with a linen covering. The wings were mounted in the shoulder position with gaps between the wing roots and sides of the fuselage, which allowed for easier access to the cockpit and gave the pilot an improved field of view. When being transported on the ground, the wings were folded to lie along the fuselage sides and the tail-planes were folded forward and upwards. The aircraft used wing warping, rather than aileron control and was powered by a 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhone 9C engine. The armament consisted of a single 7.7 mm machine gun (type and make not known, but looks to be a Lewis variant). The machine gun was mounted in one of two ways. The forward firing machine gun was fuselage mounted and fired through the arc of the propeller, which was fitted with deflector plates to prevent damaging the propeller. Otherwise, the machine gun was mounted on the fuselage to fire either upwards and outside of the propeller arc, or was mounted parallel to the fuselage, similar to the earlier French Nieuport fighters, again to fire outside the arc of the propeller. A total of 50 MB bis fighters were built up to 1918 and a few additional aircraft of this type were reportedly built after the revolution. Mike

Hi all, The engine cowl and the two side panels have been added (the engine will fit inside the cowl). Also the kit supplied resin carburettor air intake pipes have been replaced with chamfered 1.8 mm brass tube. This was done as the tubes are angled downwards from the fuselage sides and have chamfered ends, unlike the kit parts. Also added the filler cap as it needed to be sanded away during the fuselage assembly. Finally the lower wings had just one small resin locating stub for locating against the fuselage sides. I replaced them with 1.0 mm diameter rod - the front rod passes through the fuselage into the opposite wing. The rear rods locate the wings at the correct angle to the fuselage, which was not feasible with the original single locating sub. Mike

Hi all, Some progress on this model. Information on the cockpit detail is non-existent as far as I can tell, so I've built the cockpit as supplied. All I've added rudder control lines and pipe to the priming pump. Getting the two fuselage halves to fully close around the cockpit assembly required some fairly heavy scraping of resin from the cockpit side panels. I also added 1.0 mm thick plastic card strips around one fuselage half to help positive alignment to the other half, as as usual being a resin kit, there are no locating pegs and receptacles. The ailerons in the upper wing were cut out and pinned with 0.5 mm diameter rod, so that the ailerons could be positioned. The tail plane, fin, rudder and elevators were all drilled and pinned with 0.3 mm diameter tube. The elevators are positioned down slightly. As the engine can hardly be seen on the completed model, I decide to use the resin engine supplied in the kit, even though it's not the best representation of the Le Rhone 9c. I've added 0.4 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tubes for valve push rods and tube with copper wire for spark plus and ignition leads. Mike

Hi all, I forgot the figures. I'm not much of a figure painter, but I add them to my models primarily for scale effect. ‘Wings Cockpit Figures’ - (Seated pilot LSK 07A) - butchered somewhat to fit into the cockpit. ‘Elan 13’ Miniatures German Naval pilot WW1 (EL19). ‘Elan 13’ RFC Mechanic WW1 (EL41) - removed the RFC forage cap making him bald.

Hi all, I'm just waiting for the display case and propeller to complete this build. As soon as it is done I'll post some photographs. Thanks to everyone who followed and commented on this build - much appreciated, Mike

Hi all, As I'm close to finishing the Hansa-Brandenburg W.20 float plane, I thought I'd start on a 'Planet Models' resin kit. This model represents a Ponnier M.1 ‘Le Vampire’ of the Aviation Militaire Belge, as flown by Abel De Neef from the Ten Bogaerde (Koksijde) airfield in 1915. Before WW1, Louis Alfréd Ponnier was a Director of one of the companies of René Hanriot. In 1913 Hanriot decide to temporarily quit his interest in aviation and Ponnier took over the factory under his ’Avions Ponnier’ trade mark. The Avions Ponnier company attempted to win a pre-WW1 contract from the French military with their 1913 Ponnier L.1 scout, designed by Alfred Pagny, but they were unsuccessful. In 1915 Pierre Dupont was hired as an aircraft designer and in 1916 the Ponnier M.1 was tested by French ‘Aviation Militaire’ pilots, including Jean Navarre and Charles Nungesser. During flight testing, Charles Nungesser was severely injured when the aircraft entered a flat spin. In the ensuing crash, Nungesser had both legs broken as well as his jaw. The crash was thought to have been caused by an incorrect centre of gravity combined with a rudder which was too small. The French lost all interest in the aircraft after this incident. However, the Belgian Air Force were desperate for fighter aircraft and so ordered the type. At least twenty Ponnier M.1s were produced by S.A. Française de Constructions Aéronautiques, Ponnier's successor company to Avions Ponnier. Most of these, probably more than eighteen, were bought by the Aviation Militaire Belge. However, the Belgian ace Willy Coppens found the aircraft to be ineffective, despite modifications, which included a larger empennage and removal of the propeller spinner. The aircraft, like those remaining with the French, were rapidly discarded. Those that were left had their lower wings stripped and were sent to the pilot training school in Etampes, where students used them to learn how to taxi. As an aside, René Hanriot returned to the aviation business and his designer, Emile Dupont was instrumental in bringing about the much better Hanriot HD.1 fighter. Mike

Hi all, And the tail trestle, made from thin balsa wood, Mike

Hi all, As the aircraft had a beaching trolley and of course the kit does not supply one, I scratch built it. Made from 0.8 mm thick plastic card, Axle is 1.8 mm diameter tube with 0.5 mm rod support brackets. Wheels are from the ‘Kellerkind’ Tail Skid Trolley (54/077). Padding bead is 0.5 mm diameter styrene rod from 'PlusModel'. The three leaf suspension on both sides of the axle are made from three 0.2 mm thick plastic card strips. Now onto the tail trestle, Mike

Hi all, The tail unit with elevators and rudder is done. Bracing and rudder control cables are 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament with blackened 4 mm diameter tube. Apart from the propeller, that's the aircraft completed. Now it's onto creating a beaching trolley and the figures, Mike

Hi all, The rigging for the wings and ailerons is done. 'GasPatch' 1:48th metal turnbuckles with 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament and blackened 4 mm diameter tube. Now onto the tail unit, Mike

Hi all, The upper wing is now fitted. The ailerons as well as the tail unit have yet to be fitted. Now onto the rigging !! Mike