sandbagger

Hi all, The kit illustration showing the rigging for the engine support 'Z' struts is wrong. It shows correctly bracing rods fitted midway up the struts and routed across the fuselage between the front and rear struts of the two 'Z' struts. What is not correct is that it shows a bracing rod fitted along the left and right sides of the 'Z' struts, spanning the front, centre and rear struts of each. In reality a bracing rod was fitted across the fuselage between the rear struts, centre struts and front struts. I've pre-rigged both 'Z' struts, which will be finally rigged once fitted to the fuselage, Mike

Hi all, The ‘Isotta Fraschini V4B’ six cylinder engine for the Macchi M.5 is more or less completed. There are engine controls and pipes to add, but these can't be done until the engine is fitted to the model. The only change I made was to replace the spark plugs and leads I'd made with I think better versions. The plugs are 0.5 mm diameter tube with 'RB Motion' Aluminium nuts at the base. The HT leads are 0.2 mm diameter lead wire. Mike

Hi all, The upper wing has now been joined and the lower wings secured to the fuselage (with the required 3 degrees of dihedral angle) The shots below show the upper wing dry fitted with only the unfinished 'V' interplane struts located. The unfinished engine is just positioned onto the fuselage 'Z' support struts. The two upper 'Z' struts from the engine bearers to the underside of the upper wing still need to be drilled into the bearers and upper wing. NOTE: The unfinished engine is positioned further rearwards than it will be when finally fitted. So far both wings appear to be correctly aligned when viewed from the top and sides. Mike

Hi all, After finishing the wing floats it was pointed out the they seemed too short. After re-checking the drawing I realised that in fact they should span the chord of the lower wings and also that the sides of each float were angled in towards the nose. So back to the drawing board. As the micro-tube struts were already fitted and matched the location recesses I'd created in the wing, I didn't want to start the floats from scratch. Also, because of the struts, I couldn't really cut and insert an extension to lengthen the floats. So I stepped the top and bottom surfaces and added 0.5 mm thick plastic card strips. The bottom of the floats had a packing piece of 0.5 mm thick plastic card to help create the shallow curve on that surface. Once that was done I filled the sides with modelling putty and once set, sanded it all to shape. So not perfect, but I think close to the correct size etc. The second shot shows the floats test fitted to the underside of the lower wing halves, Mike

Hi all, And the lower wing floats. The kit supplies the earlier 'hull' shaped wing floats. which were attached directly to the underside of the lower wing. Also supplied are the later 'ski' type wing floats, which were attached to the underside of the lower wing with support struts. Once again no surprise that the kit does not supply the support struts, just the floats!! I made the support struts from soldered micro-tube and chiselled recesses into the underside of the lower wing so the floats are correctly positioned, taking into account the 3 degrees of wing dihedral angle. Some Macchi M.5 aircraft had wing floats of just varnished wood, others had markings such as Italian roundels, white discs etc. This particular Macchi M.5 had the Italian tricolours applied, similar to that of the fin. Mike

Hi all, The fin and rudder are now finished. The kit decals were not used, but instead airbrushed. The CDL covering and rib tapes were applied as for the wings. 'Flory Models' fine clay wash (Dark Dirt) applied for weathering. Mike

Hi all, The wings and tail plane/elevators are finished. The underside of the upper wing has 'ghost' roundels visible from the roundels on the top surface - created with masks and airbrushed.. The heat deflector panel (for engine exhausts) on the inboard left wing painted with 'Alclad' Steel on black primer. Final weathering applied using 'Flory' fine clay wash. Surface finish airbrushed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen, Mike

Thanks Sir Des, if a tad overstated Hi all, I think that's as far as I can take the top roundels. The inner white ring was replaced with the same 'Aviattic' CDL decal used to cover the wing. The reason being that photographs show what appears to be CDL inner roundel rings, not painted white. Moving on now to the undersides of both wings. That means red and green outer areas with CDL centre sections and 'ghost' roundels' under the upper wing. Mike

Hi all, Out of interest here's a shot of the various parts that are WIP. I've yet to add the rib tapes, Mike

Hi all, I've started working on the wings. The wings were covered in Clear Doped Linen (CDL), but of a much lighter, almost white' finish. Photographs of the aircraft show darker ribs tapes over the lighter covering, which I'm assuming was because the rib tapes were effectively double thickness linen. The wing were primed with 'AK interactive' white AK-759. The wing spars were masked off and airbrushed with thinned 'Tamiya' Smoke (X19). The masking was removed and the internal cross bracing wires drawn on with a pencil. Pre-shading was then airbrushed with thinned 'Tamiya' Smoke (X19). The wing was lightly airbrushed with the white primer to tone down the pre-shading and spars. The raised detail was then lightly sanded to highlight the wing ribs and outer edges. The whole wing was then sealed with 'Alclad' Aqua Gloss (ALC-600). 'Aviattic' clear Bleached CDL (ATT32044) was used to cover the wing. The same decal, cut into 2 mm strips was used to cover the rib tapes. This is a long tedious job as both sides of the upper and lower wing need to be treated this way, but hopefully it'll have the desired effect. I still have the roundels and markings to apply, plus any final weathering and a sealing coat of semi-matte to finish. Mike

Hi all, If you think the cockpit is small and somewhat cramped, here's a shot of the replica Port Victoria P.V.8 'Eastchurch Kitten'. This is being ground run at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, near York in the UK. This is similar in size and concept to the P.V.7 'Grain Kitten'. Mike

Hi all, The lower wings are intended to just 'butt' joint against the fuselage sides. Not good, so I've added 0.8 mm diameter rod into the lower wing halves. The longer rod passes through the fuselage and into the lower wing on the opposite side. Also the cockpit has been completed as far as possible as there is no information available. The seat has been replaced with a 'Barracuda' wicker seat and cushion. 'HGW Models' seat belts fitted and instrument decal from 'Airscale' used. Rudder control lines from 0.2 mm Nickel-Silver tube and 0.4 mm Aluminium tube. Switch wire added from 'PlusModel' 0.2 mm diameter wire. I'll be moving back onto the Macchi M.5 build now, so this build will be on hold for now, Mike

I hadn't heard of the 'Sperry Messenger' before so looked it up. Interesting aircraft for sure. But it's even smaller than the 'Kitten' Mike

Hi all, Pilot ('Copper State Models') assembled and primed, ready for painting. He doesn't look too impressed having to fly in the 'Kitten', Mike

Hi all, I've modified the tail plane, fin and rudder in a similar manner to the other flight control surfaces, Mike

Hi all, The elevators are supplied as separate parts,but are intended to be just glued directly to the tail plane. The parts have been moulded very thin so that would be way to weak a joint. Also, again, the kit has no resin or photo-etch control horns. So I've modified the elevators in a similar way as I did for the ailerons. The exception being the holes for the control horns are 0.5 mm diameter and the holes and rods for attaching the elevators to the tail plane are 0.3 mm diameter. Now onto the fin/rudder, Mike

Hi all, Thanks. In fact there were two aircraft built by Port Victoria for the Admiralty design. The P.V.7 'Grain Kitten', but also the P.V.8 'Eastchurch Kitten'. The P.V.8 was partially built at the RNAS Experimental Flight at Eastchurch and was design by the Chief Technical Officer, G.H. Millar. Later it was moved to the Isle of Grain to be completed. It was similar to the P.V.7 in size and performance and like the P.V.7 carried a single Lewis machine gun above the upper wing. The engine was intended to be the 45 hp (34kW) ABC Gnat engine, however like the 'P.V.7 it was first fitted with the less powerful 35 hp (26 kW) ABD Gnat engine. It first flew in September 1917 but found to be unstable in flight so was modified with a revised tail plane and elevators. It proved to be superior to the P.V.7 but also suffered similar engine reliability problems. Like the P.V.7 it was considered to be unsuitable for its intended roll. However it was packed ready to be shipped to the USA for evaluation in March 1918, although whether it was actually sent is uncertain. Mike

Hi all, Well, when I said a basic 'out of the box (OOB)' build, what I really meant was ------------------------- The upper wing ailerons are moulded as part of the wing. The kit has no resin or photo-etch control horns. So I've removed the two ailerons and sanded the leading edges to a more rounded profile. I created a slit indent on both sides of the ailerons, then drilled through a 0.3 mm diameter hole. Into the holes and indent I fitted photo-etch control horns from the 1:48th scale PART set. Three holes of 0.3 mm diameter were drilled through the wing (x1) and ailerons (x2) for the control wires. Now onto the tail plane/elevators and the fin/rudder, Mike

Hi all, The last few models I've built, including the Macchi M.5 I'm currently working on, have all proved to be a challenge in one way or another. So while I'm waiting for decals to arrive, I thought I'd start on what will effectively be an 'out of the box' (OOB) build, mainly due to there being no information available on this one-off prototype. The aircraft is the very small Port Victoria P.V.7 'Grain Kitten', a resin kit from 'Planet Models'. In an attempt to break the stalemate on the Western Front, the German Imperial Navy commenced air raids on England, first against military then later civilian targets. The first attack came on the night of 19th January 1915 when the German Zeppelin L3 attacked and bombed Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast, resulting in the death of two civilians. That same night another Zeppelin attacked Kings Lynn and two more people died. Public outrage provoked the government to introduce measures to counter the Zeppelin air raids, however anti-aircraft guns proved ineffective, as the airships flew too high and were able to shut down their engines and glide, making detection from the ground extremely difficult. The Admiralty put forward the idea that aircraft, launched from decks on ships or from floating and towed pontoons, could intercept and destroy the airships over the sea, preventing the wreckage falling over land and causing more damage and casualties. This prompted designs for lightweight fighters that were capable of being ‘sea’ launched. The Port Victoria P.V.7 ‘Grain Kitten’ was a prototype fighter designed and built by the Port Victoria Marine Experimental Aircraft Depot on the Isle of Grain. The aircraft was a very small and light weight tractor biplane, intended to fulfil the Admiralty requirements and was designed by W.H. Sayers. The wings were of the ‘sesquiplane’ configuration, the lower wing being much smaller than the upper wing. The wings featured the same high-lift section as used in previous Port Victoria aircraft and were fitted with ailerons only on the upper wing. It was intended to use a 45 hp (34 kW) geared ABC Gnat two-cylinder air-cooled engine and the armament was a single Lewis gun mounted above the upper wing. The P.V.7 first flew on 22 June 1917, powered by a 35 hp (26 kW) ABC Gnat engine, as the intended engine was not available. The official trials took place on the 6th of October 1917 but the P.V.7 proved to be tail heavy in the air and difficult to handle on the ground and the sesquiplane layout and high lift wings were c onsidered not to be suitable for such a small aircraft. In addition, the Gnat engine proved to be extremely unreliable, with test flights being forced to remain within gliding distance of an airfield, in case of engine failure. The P.V.7 was rebuilt with new wings of conventional aerofoil section, a modified tail and a new undercarriage to eliminate some of the problems found in testing. However, the low power and unreliability of the Gnat engine prevented the P.V.7 being suitable for its intended use and the P.V.7 was never flown again after it was rebuilt. In June 1917 the German military stopped using Zeppelins for bombing raids over Britain. Although a tremendous psychological weapon, they had actually caused little damage to the war effort. Of 115 Zeppelins built, 77 had either been shot down or otherwise totally disabled. Instead, air raids continued but using aircraft, such as the Gotha. Crew: One Length: 14 ft 11 in (4.55 m) Upper wingspan: 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) Lower wingspan: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m) Height: 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) Wing area: 85 sq ft (7.9 m2) Empty weight: 284 lb (129 kg) Gross weight: 491 lb (223 kg) Engine: ABC ‘Gnat’ air cooled two-cylinder horizontally-opposed piston engine, 35 hp (26 kW) Performance: Maximum speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m) Service ceiling: 11,900 ft (3,600 m) Time to altitude: 22 min to 10,000 ft (3,000 m) Armament: A single .303 inch Lewis machine gun, located above upper wing. Mike

Hi all, The propeller is finished. Hand made wood laminate special from 'ProperPlane'. Airbrushed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC-311) with a few drops'Tamiya' Hull Red (XF9). Erosion protection stripes (either Copper, Tin or Mondel (Copper-Nickel Alloy) brush painted. Propeller bosses brush painted with 'Mr. Colour' Stainless Steel (213). Final sealing coat of 'Tamiya' Clear Orange (X26). Propeller bosses coated with 'AK Interactive' Kersosene (AK2039). Mike

Hi all, I'm calling the fuselage finished. I've scuffed the underside roundel to represent water wear. The fuselage was given a weathering coat of Dark Dirt clay wash 'Flory Models' to represent general grime, especially as crew and mechanics had to walk on the cockpit decking. It was then sealed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC-311) lacquer. A second light wash of White was applied to give an indication of salt spray and to highlight the fuselage panel nail lines, then sealed again. Now onto the wings, Mike

Hi all, The fuselage is progressing with the stripes and Latin legend 'Frangar Non Flectar'. Just the three metal hatch covers to add and final weathering and finish, including the fuselage nail lines. Then onto the wings, Mike

Hi all, I still have weathering, nail lines and the green fuselage stripes (waiting for paint to arrive) to do. However I have: Painted the gun ports and rigging panels ('Mr. Colour' Stainless Steel). Painted the engine support strut mountings ('Mr. Colour' Aluminium). Fitted gun barrels (0.7 mm diameter tube) painted with 'Mr. Colour' Iron. Gun Sight (0.3mm and 0.5 mm diameter tube) painted with 'Tamiya' Rubber Black (XF85).. Compass binnacle (modified sprue with a compass decal and clear 'window'). Windscreen ('Alclad' Duralumin) - clear area treated with 'Pledge' Floor care. Mike

Thanks - I try. Hi all, The fuselage decal are now on. As the kit supplied decals are translucent and darker colours underneath show through, I had to cut out white decals for the roundels and skulls. Not easy but at least the darker wood colour doesn't show through, Mike

Hi all, As I wasn't happy using wood effect decals I stripped off all of the previously applied roundels, stripes and the wood effect decals. I then sanded the fuselage and re-primed with 'AK Interactive' white (AK759). Then I applied 'Tamiya' Dark Yellow (XF60). I masked off the white areas then sponged on 'DecoArt Crafters Acrylic' paint along the fuselage. Next is to Airbrush 'Tamiya' Chear Orange (XF26) or Yellow (XF24) mixed with a semi-matte sealer ('Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC-311). Then add the roundels and fuselage stripes (white decal first). Add back the nail lines with a 'Rosie the Riveter' (1:32nd - 1 mm). Apply the final decals. Finally a weathering wash of 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt or Grime followed by a light sheen sealing coat. So still a bit to do, Mike