sandbagger

Hi all, The rigging for the wings has been done, apart from weathering and sealing. Rigging line is 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament with 0.5 mm diameter tubing. The crossed bracing wires from the top of the front cabane struts to the top of the fuselage are not shown correctly in the kit instructions. In reality, the two lines crossed through an 'acorn', similar to that for the Sopwith Camel. The acorn was made from plastic rod and drilled through with a 0.3 mm diameter hole. Next is to fit and rig the main floats and after that, fit and rig the ailerons, Mike

Hi all, I think I know what the problem is. Browsers, such as Google Chrome, are migrating to more secure browsing. Traditionally, images or web sites linked with a URL address with http:// are being superseded with https://. This entails someone like me having to purchased and install an SSL certificate for my hosting server, so my web sites and images will show using the various web browsers. I've started the process of SSL certification and once that's sorted I'll probably need to arrange re-direction of images previously linked to the http:// URL. Hopefully then me and others won't have the problem of my posted photo's not showing. We'll see, Mike

Hi all, The windscreen has been fitted using the kit supplied photo-etch frame and template cut out acetate transparency. The upper wing has also been fitted. I had the usual tricky problem of locating all of the struts and at the same time making sure the wings are correctly positioned and aligned. So now it's onto final rigging for the wings, Mike

Hi all, Just as a heads up. Last night I posted photos for this build in the same way I have for years, linked from my hosting provider to the forum. Later last night I went to the forum and found that every build photo, of any of my builds, had disappeared. Not only from this forum but also from others I post in. I could see everyone else's photo, just not mine. A couple of various forum members have experienced this problem over the past couple of weeks. When I checked on my android mobile and Apple IPad devices, I found my Ipad showed the photos, but my mobile did not. I then tried Microsoft Edge as the browser on my PC and the photos showed. Judging by comments made by forum members after I'd posted the photos', they obviously could see them, even though I could not. The only common factor stopping my photos from showing was Google Chrome, my default browser on my PC and mobile. I've checked all of the known problem settings, but still no joy. Therefore I've switched browsers to Edge and everything is OK now. Just thought I'd mention this in case others run into the same problem, Mike

Hi all, I've completed pre-rigging the fuselage and wings, apart from the main floats and ailerons. The rigging is 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament with 'Gaspatch' 1:48th scale turnbuckles and anchor points. The next step is the fitting of the upper wing before final rigging, Mike

Hi Rob, Just caught up with this build. Great to see you building the W.12. I've built the W.29, but the W.12 is still on my 'to do' list'. I know your pain with some HGW decals and photo-etch. I only use their seat belts now, as I've also found their decals way too fragile and reluctant to stick and some photo-etch design/fit problems. Looking forward to your progress, Mike

Hi all, The tail unit is complete now. Rigging is 0.08 mm mono-filament for the control lines and float bracing wires - Fin bracing is 0.12 mm. Tubing is Nickel-Silver 0.4 mm diameter. I replaced the float rudder operating bar with tubing and had to create the rudder/fin bracing bar (not included in the kit). The tail plane support struts in the kit is just brass rod, so I made aerofoil struts from tube with internal support rod. Mike

Hi all, The bracing for the tail float is now done, apart from painting the tubing. I'm now working on the tail float rudder and aircraft rudder/brace bar (which is not included in the kit). There are several problems with the tail float rudder, which required modification using micro-tube, drilling of location hole and reprofiling the rear face of the tail float. Also the creation of the aircraft rudder/brace bar, which also required a hole drilling, Mike

Hi all, I'm now working on the tail unit, starting with the rear float. First is to pre-rig the eight bracing wires between the four support struts. The mono-filament used is 0.08 mm diameter with 0.4 Nickel-Silver tube and 1:48th scale turnbuckles from 'GasPatch'. Next step is to fit the float and struts then complete the rigging from the fuselage to the float, Mike

Hi all, The lower wing, the wing ailerons, tail plane assembly and rudder fitted. Now it's onto pre-rigging, the struts and then start assembly. Mike

'Harv' - you must be getting sick of eating popcorn by now Hi all, The linen effect decals I was waiting for arrived so I've now finished applying them to the fuselage, wings, tail plane and control surfaces. The Ansaldo built 'Baby's' were primarily used for training and probably flown multiple times daily. It's probable they were not kept as clean as maybe the operational aircraft were. Therefore I've intentionally applied heavier weathering than I normally would, Ansaldo built aircraft tended not to have the white vertical rudder stripe painted, but instead left it as clear doped linen. Also, it was common for the upper surfaces of the lower wings to be doped with a drab olive colour, as the glare from a clear doped linen surface could affect the pilot's vision. Mike

Hi all, The main and tail floats had wood panels nailed to the internal structure. Inside each float were canvass ’bulk heads to separate the float compartments. Each of the three compartments in the main floats were accessed through a circular cover on the top surface of the floats. At the front and rear edges of the main floats were reinforced with Spruce end caps. Across each main float were recesses to locate the float cross beams and these recesses were covered with panels. These details are not reproduced on the kit supplied floats. The floats panel and nailing lines were created with a scriber and a 'Rosie the Riveter'. Base coated with 'Tamiya Dark Yellow (XF60) then overcoated with 'DecoArt' Burnt Umber. The edge beading was created by lightly sanding through the Burnt Umber to reveal the base colour. Sealed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) mixed with 'Tamiya' Clear Yellow (X24). Photo-etch access panels and strut plates black based then oversprayed woth 'Alclad' Steel. Weathered using 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt wash then final seal with ALC311. Mike.

Hi all, As I'm still waiting for decals to arrive I've worked on the trestles and beaching trolley. The side guard rails of the beaching trolley were broken, so I used tubing to repair and reinforce the rails, Mike

Hi all, While I'm waiting for decals I thought I'd work on the pilot. As this model is a float plane I thought I'd use the ‘Kellerkind’ Gotha bomber pilot (54095), as he is inflating his life jacket. Painted with 'AK Interactive' and 'Tamiya' acrylics. Dirt weathering is thinned 'AK Interactive' Kerosene (AK3029). Mike

Hi all, Working on the undersides of the wings. As the undersides would show the wing ribs ans spars as darker shadows, due to daylight from above the wings, the pre-shading is darker. The wings were primed with white, as before and then pre-shading was airbrushed between masking for the spars and free hand for the wing ribs (thinned 'Tamiya' Flat Earth (XF52). Then over sprayed lightly with thinned ‘Tamiya’ Wood Deck Tan (XF78) mixed with Buff (XF57) to 2:1 ration. Outer right wing outer sections were airbrushed with ‘Tamiya’ Green (X5} mixed with approximately 15% of ‘Tamiya’ Grey Green (XF76). The left wing outer sections 'Tamiya' Red (XF7). Next is to gloss coat, apply the 'Aviattic' linen effect decals and weather, Mike

Hi all, Upper wing top surface finished off. Gloss coated then 'Aviattic' linen effect decals applied, using paper templates to create the shapes. 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt and Grime clay washes applied. Smoke oil paint applied behind the location holes for the lifting points and aileron control wire guides. Roundel wing ribs slightly polished to highlight them, Mike

Hi all, I'm working on preparing the wings for the linen decals etc. This is the upper wing (top surface). First primed white then masked for the wing ribs and front and rear spars. Airbrushed with 'Tamiya' Smoke (X19). Then the outer five wing rib areas airbrushed to represent the Italian red and green under wing colours 'ghosting' through. Finally airbrushed with 'Tamiya' XF78 and XF57 to give the base colour for the linen effect decals. I lightly polished across the wing to smooth the surface and to highlight the wing ribs. Next is to gloss coat the surface then cut and apply the linen effect decals and roundels before a touch of weathering is applied, Mike

Hi all, I've represented the four locking turnbuckles at the fuselage joint, using 'GasPatch' 1:48th scale resin 'Anchor Points', Mike

Hi all, Weathering applied using a combination of: 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt clay wash. 'AK Interactive’ Engine Oil (AK 2019). ‘502 Abteilung’ Smoke (ABT005) oil paint. Now to create the four turnbuckle type locking devices that join the rear fuselage to the front fuselage, just behind the cockpit rear decking panel. Mike

Hi all, The Canvass/linen effect decals have been applied after cutting out the necessary paper templates. Kit Italian Roundels and Serial number also applied. Engine and engine cowl fitted. Next is to weather and seal, then create the various rigging points, Mike

Hi all, Just a quick update on the fuselage progress. The metal is 'Alclad' black base with Duraluminium top coat. Wood panels are 'Tamiya' XF57 base with 'DecoArt' acylic Burnt Umber for wood effect. Fuselage pre-shaded with 'Tamiya' Smoke X19 with XF55 used to highlight formers. Top coated with XF 78 for CDL base colour. The pre-shading and formers are faint but should show up more once the decals and sealing coat are applied. I still have to gloss coat and apply 'Aviattic' Clear Linen effect decals and seal the wood effect. Then weather it before starting on the rest of the model, Mike Post script: I've gloss coated and applied a test decal of the 'Aviattic' canvass/linen effect (ATT32236). This decal has no colour tint, just the canvass/linen weave. The colour required shows through from the base coat.

Hi all, Just a few updates for the fuselage as they're not covered in the kit: Filler cap (oil tank?) and access panel hinge to the top of the front decking. Filler cap is 0.2 mm plastic cards discs with a 0.3 mm diameter tube. Both fuselage/wing roots have photo-etch flying wire attachment points added from the ‘PART’ 1/48th scale WWI Aircraft Control Horns (S48-087). Creases added to the corners of the linen stitched panel, using ‘AV’ Masilla Plastica (401) putty, Mike

Hi all, The cockpit assembly is now enclosed within the fuselage. The fuselage seam joint and the various surfaces blemishes were first filled, then sanded before being primed. This showed slight surface anomalies which were re-sanded and re-primed until the surface was smooth. The right side of the fuselage had pre-moulded linen stitching, which I felt was overdone and unrealistic. So it was all removed, including stitching further forward, which didn't exist on the actual aircraft. The stitching was replaced by photo-etch from the ‘Eduard’ WW1 Stitching (EDP32228) set. Also a joint line was added around the fuselage to the rear of the cockpit decking, to represent where the rear fuselage could be detached. The rear fuselage was secured to the forward fuselage by turnbuckle type fasteners, which will be added later in the build. A white primer was applied as this is required prior to applying the 'Aviattic' Clear linen CDL effect decals, Mike

Hi all, The basic cockpit assembly is ready to be fitted into the fuselage. Control wires are 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament, cross bracing 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament. Turnbuckles are the 1:48th scale resin versions from 'GasPatch'. All tube work is either 0.4 mm or 0.5 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube. Seat belts were replaced with spare Sopwith F.1 Camel kit from 'Wingnut Wings'. Fuel tank pipe and throttle control rod are 0.4 mm tube. Aileron control line pulleys scratched from cut plastic card discs, with spacer discs to allow the control line to be able to wrap around them. Seat cushion made from 'Milliput', Mike

Hi all, The inside of each fuselage half has been painted and side frame outlines added with oil paint. The frame cross bracing is 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament with 0.4 mm Nickel-Silver tube and 'GasPatch' 1:48th scale resin turnbuckles. The bracing still needs painting of the tubes and turnbuckles, Mike