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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

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