sandbagger

Hi all, I've now rigged the wings and undercarriage. Not as easy as I'd thought - small model and resin. Anyway now it's onto the ailerons and tail unit, Mike

Hi all, The fun begins. Pre-rigged flying, landing and strut cross bracing wires for the wings. Also the two aileron control lines from the cockpit into the underside of the upper wing, Mike

Hi all, Thought it was about time for an update. The model has now been primed and painted, using 'AK Interactive' white primer and filler, 'Hataka' lacquers and 'Tamiya' acrylic paints. Once painted it was sealed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen lacquer, then given a coat of 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt fine clay wash. This was removed as desired to leave a weathered effect then re-sealed with the 'Alclad' lacquer. Now it's onto pre-rigging before fitting the upper wing. Then I'll be final rigging, Mike

Hi all, The undercarriage strut assembly has been fitted. I had to shorten the span of the axle fairing as it was too long, causing the two undercarriage struts to spread too far apart at the bottom. This meany cutting off the pre-moulded stub axles, so those were added afterwards using 0.5 mm diameter rod. Another problem is that the material used to mould the undercarriage parts seems to be neither styrene or normal resin. Whatever it is the finish is moulded smooth and hard and the parts will not join using CA adhesive. In the end I resorted to using two part epoxy adhesive, which did the trick, Locating holes needed to be drilled into the underside of the fuselage as they're were none, Mike

Hi all, The only weapon intended to be fitted to this aircraft was a Lewis machine gun, fitted over the centre cut-out of the upper wing. However there are no photographs or details of this weapon fitted to the PV.7 and the kit does not supply any weapons for this model. The only comparison I could find were photographs of a Lewis machine gun fitted on the Port Victoria PV.8, the ‘Eastchurch Kitten’. The Lewis machine gun fitted to the PV.8 was offset to the right, presumably to allow easier access to the cockpit for the pilot. As can be seen on the following photographs of the PV.7, there is what appears to be the front mounting for a Lewis machine gun, located on the forward centre line of the wing. Therefore I decided to fit an aftermarket gun. In this instance it was the Lewis Mk.II (13-32056) from ‘Gaspatch’. I drilled through the pivot mounting point of the Lewis, then modified a swivel mount from my spares box. That was also drilled through and a 0.4 mm diameter tube was inserted through both to allow the gun to pivot on the mounting. The front support for the gun is 0.5 mm diameter tube, secured into the upper wing then flattened with pliers. Mike Port Victoria PV.8 'Eastchurch Kitten' (Ser No.540). Port Victoria PV.7 'Grain Kitten' (Ser No.539).

Hi all, The four fuselage to upper wing cabane struts have now been created, using the same method as for the four inter plane struts. Being resin and small, the upper wing tends to flex slightly in the centre section, which is why it is slightly clear of the cabane struts. When finally fitted it will seat fully onto the struts, Mike

Hi all, The four wings struts have been test fitted. Now it's on to making the four fuselage to upper wing cabane struts, Mike

Hi all, The four wing support struts supplied in the kit do not have internal support rods, as the upper wing, although solid resin, is small and therefore light weight. Normally I would use the kit supplied struts. However one of the struts was missing the locating pin at one end. Possibly it could have been drilled and pinned, but I decided to replace all four struts with micro-tube and internal support rods. As before, I used the 'Strutter' tool to create aerofoil sections from 1.2 mm diameter micro-tube with internal 0.5 mm rod supports. The rods were soft soldered in the aerofoils sections, Mike

Hi all, Now the Macchi M.5 model is finished I'm going back to continue working on the Port Victoria PV.7 'Grain Kitten'. It'll be a totally different mindset as the Macchi was one of the largest models I've built to date and the 'Kitten' will probably be the smallest model I'll ever build in this scale. It's another resin model and will doubtless have the usual challenges of a 'limited run' kit. The main areas that take the time are usually the cockpit and engine. However, as I've already finished the cockpit and there is no visible engine to speak of, the build shouldn't take that long to complete - we'll see, Mike

Hi all, Here's the completed resin WW1 Macchi M.5 fighter sea plane in 1:32nd scale (HPH Models). As usual a full and detailed build log in PDF format will be available from my web site soon, Mike

Hi all, The finished model is now up on the 'Aircraft Finished Work' page, Mike

Hi all, The pilot figure has been painted. With that done the Macchi M.5 model is now finished, apart from setting it up on its display base. Thanks to everyone who followed this journey and for your encouraging comments on what turned out to be a 'challenging' build. I'll be posting up the completed model photographs once the display is done, which hopefully will not be long, Mike

Hi all, As the aircraft model is more or less finished, I've started on the pilot figure. The figure is the ‘Allarmi’ WW1 Aces of Italian A.F. (32063). The figure had a walking cane in the right hand, but I've removed that as I intend to have the figure leaning against the fuselage. I also chose to use the head without flying helmet and goggles, as the aircraft will be on its beaching trolley and trestles (so not about to fly). Mike

Hi all, I've some progress on the wing outer bracing struts, which are not supplied with the kit. Created from 0.9 mm diameter tube, formed into an aerofoil shape and with internal 0.5 mm locating rods soft soldered. Beforehand the locating holes of 0.6 mm diameter were drilled into the upper and lower wings. I've still got the central cross bars to do, but nearly there, Mike

Hi all, These are not very good shots but I thought I'd post up the rigging installed, along with the wing floats. There's a bit of painting to do then it's onto rigging and bracing the tail unit, Mike

Hi all, On the homeward stretch now. The upper wing with pre-rigged lines, has now been fitted. That included of course the scratch made struts - tricky but done. The tail unit (fin/rudder and elevators) has also been fitted. There's a way to go before the aircraft is finished, let alone the figure and display base. Some of the things needed include the necessary paint touch-ups, final rigging, tail plane support struts (scratch), attach wing floats, gun sight, upper wing vent pipe (radiator). One last major job left to do are the wing outer bracing struts, which as usual, are not supplied in the kit. Mike

Albion Alloys used to have a special modelling tools site, but it seems to have been pulled. However the link below shows the 'Strutter' apparently in stock. Bottom of the page, Mike https://www.microworldgamesllc.com/Albion-Alloys_c602.htm?page=5

Hi all, I've attempted to represent the various controls from the cockpit to the engine. Given the limitations of the model (especially after so many alterations) and a lack of information, some 'poetic license' was employed. The auxiliary pipe from between the fuel the intake manifolds (0.5 mm Nickel-Silver tube with 0.8 mm brass tube connection). The throttle control rod from the cockpit to the two carburettors (0.2 mm Nickel-Silver rod - throttle lever and support from 'spare' photo-etch). The fuel supply pipe from the fuselage fuel tank to pipe between the engine carburettors (0.5 mm Nickel-Silver tube with 0.8 and 1.0 mm brass tube connection). Oil pressure pipe from cockpit exit to engine (‘Model Factory Hire' (MFH) 0.4 mm black tube). Cockpit starter Magneto wiring from cockpit exit to engine magnetos (‘Model Factory Hire' (MFH) 0.4 mm black tube). Now it's onto prepping the rigging before the upper wing is fitted, Mike

Hi Rob, Yes - I use a 'Strutter' from 'Albion Alloy's. Basically you use the Strutter in a vice to crush micro-tube to an aerofoil shape with your support rod inside the tube. I've used it a few times, the most of which was building all of the wing struts for my model of the Fokker D.VIII (E.V), but also for the Sopwith 'Swallow', skeletal Fokker D.VII, SPAD XIII and now the Macchi M.5, (all detailed in my PDF build logs - link below). I've used Albion Alloy's 'Connecto' as well, but I find it easier to use the Strutter - plus being solid struts they are stronger that jointed struts, The amount of crushing to an aerofoil shape depends on the diameter of the supporting rod and the material of the tube. For example - a large diameter tube supported by a much smaller rod will crush down much flatter than the same tube would with a larger supporting rod. Also crushing too much may cause the tube to split at the sides, depending on the tube material (Brass, Nickel-Silver, Aluminium), Mike

Hi all, I've added radiator cowl support struts (0.5 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube). Also the air pressurisation pipe (for fuel tank) between wind driven pump and the fuselage fuel tank. Made from 'PlusModel' 0.3 mm lead wire. Now to do are: The auxiliary pipe between the fuselage and the intake manifolds. The throttle control rod from the cockpit to the two carburettors. The fuel supply pipe between the fuselage fuel tank and pipe between the engine carburettors. Oil pressure pipe between the engine and the cockpit gauge. Magneto wiring from cockpit starter magneto to engine. Mike

Hi all, Thanks for the encouraging comments - for this build I need them I made the cross struts in the same manner but the locating rods for these struts were soft soldered for strength. A 0.5 mm diameter hole needs to be drilled into the underside of the upper to locate the top of the struts, Mike

Hi all, Well just for a change ---- The lower engine support 'Z' struts support the radiator/engine cowl and the engine itself. When I test fitted the lower 'Z' struts into the fuselage, I found they were leaning rearwards when in fact they should be perpendicular to the fuselage. Therefore I 'tweaked' them to correct that. A second pair of 'Z' struts are bolted to the front and rear struts and span up and forwards to attach to the underside of the upper wing, forming the central support structure. I decided not to use the kit supplied upper ‘Z’ struts and replace them with struts created from micro-tube and rod, for the following reasons: The photo-etch engine bearer plates and top of the lower engine ‘Z’ support struts have no locations for attaching the upper engine ’Z’ struts. When test fitted into the location holes in the underside of the upper wing I found that the bottom of the struts on the two upper ‘Z’ struts were way too far rearwards and therefore not aligned with the tops of the lower ‘Z’ strut assembly, to which they should be attached (probably due to my correction of the lower 'Z' struts). The actual upper ‘Z’ struts were made of three separate struts, not one combined assembly as provided with the kit parts. To do this I drilled three 0.5 mm diameter holes through the lower 'Z' struts and the photo-etch engine bearer plates. Then I created four support rods from 0.5 mm brass rod. Finally I created four brass aerofoil sections that slid onto the support rods. The upper wing now locates correctly onto the wing 'V' struts and the created brass struts. Now I have to create the single struts that span between the top of the rear struts and the bottom of the front struts. Remember - modelling is meant to be fun Mike

Hi all, The engines bottom support frame is complete. The rigging is 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament, with 0.5 mm tube and 'Gaspatch' 1:48th scale Type C turnbuckles. The three bracing cross bars are 0.4 mm diameter tube, with twelve end brackets from twelve plates (item 43) from (‘PART’ photo-etch for Fokker Dr.1 -S32-023). The bars have an ‘RB Motion’ Aluminium Nuts Hex 0.79mm (1281-A) at each end. The struts are reinforced with solid steel rods, so careful drilling through struts was required to avoid hitting them with the drill!! On this particular aircraft, the wind driven pressure pump for the fuel system was mounted on the centre cross bar. I discard the kit supplied photo-etch item and made a pump from sprue and a propeller from the 'spares' box. Next up is to fit the engine then add the various controls and pipes to the engine, including those from the cockpit and fuselage fuel tank. Mike

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