1:32nd scale Caudron G.3 (Anzani engine)

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
My next build.
The Copper State Models 1:32nd scale Caudron G.III with the Anzani engine.
A Belgian Caudron G.III trainer, operating from Juvisy-sur-Orge, France during 1918.

At the moment I'm working my way through the bird cage of structural and control cable rigging for my build log,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I had built and painted the engine and was about to add ignition leads to the spark plugs.
However, at this stage of the engine build I found an apparent error in the molding of the front bank of engine cylinders.
As can be seen in the following photograph, the spark plugs on both banks of cylinders face left.

 

The kit instruction manual at step 67 shows the cylinders with plugs fitted at the left and the right.

Further to that, Step 68 shows the engine with what appears to be two spark plugs fitted in each cylinder.

Also, the Caudron G.3's in the RAF museum, Hendon, UK and and in the Brussels Museum, Belgium show two plugs per cylinder.

 

 

 

As the engine halves J8, 9, 10 and 11 are keyed, they can only be fitted together one way.
Therefore, the locations of the spark plug on the models engine are confusing.

 

 

So, modification to the front cylinder spark plugs may be required,
Lacking definitive information, I'll go for single, left facing spark plugs on all cylinders,

 

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I've had contact from Copper State Models and others and have found more reference photographs.

The only references available are period photographs, museum engines and aircraft and the kit instruction manual. 
Period photographs show limited, if any, engine detail.
As most know, museum displays can be misleading due to reworking and display requirements, so they are not always authentic.

As examples, the Caudron G.3s in the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK and the Museum in Brussels, Belgium have two spark plugs fitted to each cylinder on their Anzani engines.

However, photographs of Anzani engines clearly show the spark plugs fitted to the right side of the left cylinders and left side of the right cylinders.

This configuration matches the illustrations in the kit instruction manual, but not on the completed model of the engine. 

Therefore, the completed model engine would appear to have four spark plugs located on the wrong side of their cylinders, being on two front cylinders and two rear cylinders.

Those spark plugs are highlighted in the following photograph and are the ones that I will either reposition or replace,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Rather than have some kit molded spark plugs and some replacement plugs, I chose to replace all plugs.
That way there would be no mismatch of plugs.
The kit plugs were cut away and replaced by Albion Alloy's 0.5 mm diameter Aluminium tube (MAT05).
These will have copper wire ignition leads added,

Mike
 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The basic engine is complete.
I've replaced the spark plugs and added ignition leads.
I've also added what I assume is an oil supply pipe to the engine crankcase.
The carburettor fuel supply pipe and control rod can only be added after the cabin has been assembled,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The propeller is completed.
A Waring and Gillow wood laminated propeller from Proper Plane (WP-046).
Kit decals used and hub plates painted with Mr. Color Super Iron 2.

Now its onto rigging the Carlingue (cabin),

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The basic cabin component parts.
Weathering was done using Flory Models Dark Dirt clay wash.
Leather and wood effect using Windsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd oil paints (Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Van Dyke Brown),

Mike

[Fran]

Lovely work!!! 

Pelase keep posting!!

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I've now rigged the rudder, elevators and wing war control lines to the cabin.
Turnbuckles are the new 1:32nd scale resin turnbuckles (RD005) from Proper Plane.
The line used is 0.08 mm mono-filament and the tubes are cut from Albion Alloy's Nickel-Silver 0.5 mm diameter tube (NST05).

Now it's onto assembling the cabin,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The Carlingue (cabin) is more or less complete.
There's few thinks left to do such as tidying of seam joints and weather etc.
One modification to do yet is for the carburettor fuel supply pipe and operating rod.
These are at the bottom of the carburettor and are routed through the forward, underside panel.
The illustrations in the kit instruction manual show a hole in the panel, but there is no hole in the actual kit panel.
Also the kit has no parts to represent the fuel supply pipe or the control rod,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The carburettor fuel supply pipe and control rod added.
Both added using PlusModel 0.3 mm diameter lead wire.
Rod painted with Mr. Color Stainless Steel (213).
Pipe painted with Tamiya Clear Orange (X24),

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The cabin is finished now, apart from adding the windscreen.
That will be added at the end of the build.
Weathered with Flory Models Dark Dirt clay wash and Tamiya Weathering Masters.
The propeller is test fitted only,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Well, at 75 years of age I think I'm entitled to make a mistake every so often !!
I was looking at the cabin last night and kept thinking there was something missing.
Then I realized - the linen effect decals for the cabin. 
Hmmmmmm ?
The cabin was finished with all of its rigging, paint, decals, sealing clear coat and weathering applied.
I did think of leaving it but the wings and tail would have linen effect decals, so -------
I've stripped the exterior of the cabin back to the base coat and repainted the surfaces.
Next up is to apply the 'Aviattic' Linen Weave effect decal (ATT32044), then the kit decals.
Fortunately there are three sets of Belgium serial number decals in the kit.
Then it'll be weathering and sealing coat.
I'll be back,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Cabin version number 2.
This time with linen weave effect decal applied and alternative serial numbers,

Mike

 

[HubertB]

The effect is subtle but still makes a huge difference, Mike 👍 !

You must probably account for 50% of Aviattic’s decals turnover 😊, with your kit output

Hubert

[DocRob]

Like Hubert said, but it would have haunted you forever, if you had left it with a visible difference.

 

On 6/22/2025 at 8:03 PM, HubertB said:

You must probably account for 50% of Aviattic’s decals turnover 😊, with your kit output

Well, put in 20% for my future WWI builds, because Mike made it look so good and I couldn´t resist.

Cheers Rob 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Just a point of interest.

The early version of the Caudron G.3 had a straight trailing edge on both rudders.
The elevators had scalloped trailing edges that increased towards their inboard centres.

The later version rudders has scalloped trailing edges.
The elevators had straight inboard edges at their centres.

However, the kit supplies rudders as the early straight edged type, but the elevators are of the later type.
If matching the versions is required, the only reasonable option would be to modify the rudder trailing edges to the later version.

Luckily for me, the previous photograph clearly shows a Belgium Caudron G.3 with early version rudders and later version elevators, which is how this model will be configured,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Just a few things to show.
The wood effect has been applied to the tail booms and struts.
Tamiya Dark Yellow (XF60) base coat with brushed Windsor&Newton Griffin Alkyd oil paint (Burnt Umber).
The upper surfaces of the wings, tailplane and elevators have been painted.
As have the two fin/rudders.
These will have Aviattic Weave Effect Linen decal (ATT32044) applied later in the build.

Now to repeat the masking and painting on the underside surfaces !!

Mike

[KevinM]

On 6/21/2025 at 8:30 AM, sandbagger said:

Well, at 75 years of age I think I'm entitled to make a mistake every so often !!

Will Mike I hope when I get there I can remember everything one needs to do...outstanding work and craftsmanship Sir!

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The flight surfaces are finished, except for weathering, detail painting.
The undersides have a darker outline of the internal structure, representing structure shadows.
Grey primed then MRP Dark Wood (MRP-262) applied.
Structure masked off and Tamiya' Deck Tan (XF55) applied.
Masking removed and lighter coat of Deck Tan applied to fade back the darker structure.

The top surfaces have lighter rib tape markings.
Grey primed then MRP Clear Doped Linen (MRP-256) applied.
Structure masked off then MRP Dark Wood (MRP-262) applied along the structure masks.
Masking removed and a lighter coat of MRP Clear Doped Linen (MRP-256) applied to fade back the lighter structure.

Covered with Aviattic Weave Linen Effect decal (ATT32044).
All other decals are kit supplied,

Mike

 

[Clunkmeister]

Mike, we look at your work and are all blown away by your work.  Brilliant work, Sir!  

Like many here, I have this kit in my stash, waiting it's turn for me to do my typical hack job on it.  I'm quite thrilled to see you building it, because I didn't know how to treat the thick airfoil portion compared to the thin warping areas.  Now I know, and now I'll try.  I even have the correct Aviattic fabric in stock. Yippee!

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The painting of the linen wrappings and metal fittings is done.
'Tamiya' Medium Blue (XF18) the sealed with Semi-Gloss clear (X35),

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
A couple of updates to the Caudron.
The landing gear appears to have axle coil springs fitted between the tail boom and wheels.
I've represented them by lightly wiping over them with a Prismacolor Verithin Argent Métallique pencil (752).
The wheel covers were airbrushed with Tamiya Deck Tan (XF55) then had Aviattic Weave Linen Effect decal (ATT32044) applied,

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Subtle weathering applied.
Flory Models Dark Dirt clay wash and sealed with Tamiya Semi-Gloss (X35).

Now it's onto pre-rigging,

Mike