sandbagger Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 Hi all, Normally I never work more than one model at a time, but I'm waiting for decals to arrive for my 'Aviatik 'Berg' D.1 build. Therefore I thought I'd make a start on another 1:32 scale 'HPH Models' resin kit. This is the Italian 'Macchi M-5 single seat float plane fighter. I know already there may be some areas of this model that will need some attention, so we'll see how this one goes, Mike 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HubertB Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Jeff said: +1 ! Hubert 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted November 10, 2019 Share Posted November 10, 2019 +2.......harv 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 Hi all, I've removed all of the major parts from their resin backing sheets or blocks and cleaned away any residue and flash. The fuselage fin support is moulded with a slight curve on the top edge, which needed to be flattened. There were no substantial 'blow holes' on any of the parts, but there were a few rough spots, especially under the rear of the fuselage. It looked like it had been filed to remove resin? The main problem to sort was that the various struts have steel reinforcing struts moulded inside, which should protrude from the ends of each strut for location into the model. However most struts had at least one that only protruded from one end. I had to drill a 0.5 mm diameter hole into the end of the strut, where I thought the pin should have exited. Once the end of the pin was seen I carefully twisted and pushed the pin up through the strut until it protruded from the end. Tricky as you know how brittle resin can be when stressed - however it worked. The next step is to 'open up' the cockpit and two forward ports in the top of the fuselage, which by the way is moulded mostly as a solid piece so is pretty heavy!! Mike 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 11, 2019 Author Share Posted November 11, 2019 Hi all, My research is throwing up more apparent anomalies - this time with the flight controls. The kit instructions show both the rudder and elevator control 'cables' exiting from an open aperture in the fuselage support fairing for the tail plane and fin/rudder assembly. These cables are attached to the rudder control horns at the base of the rudder itself and to control horns only under the elevator halves. However it seems that: The rudder cables exited the fuselage at the base of the support fairing and were routed back to the rudder control horns, which were in fact attached the rudder post and below the rudder assembly. The elevator 'cables' it seems were more likely to be a push/pull rod which was connected to the elevator control horns only under the elevator halves. This method of control would only require control horns on one side of the elevator as it was a push or pull control. Finally the model does not have aileron control cable exit openings in the rear decking behind the pilot, from where the cables were routed up and into the underside of the upper wing. As an aside the model does not have the filler cap for the fuel tank, which should be located at the right side at the top of the rear decking panel. This is all detailed, with illustrations etc, in the PDF build log I'm compiling as I go along. However before I sort that lot out I need to 'fettle' the tail unit as the there are a few issues to be corrected there as well, Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 12, 2019 Author Share Posted November 12, 2019 Hi all, I've 'fettled' the basic tail unit. Fuselage support fairing re-profiled and drilled. Tail plane drilled. Fin re-profiled and pinned. Rudder pinned. Elevator halves pinned. Rudder control line exit holes in fuselage drilled. Support fairing aperture opened up for elevator controls. Rear fuselage notched for rudder post. Rudder post added to rudder. Photo-etch rudder control horn added. Assembly all test fitted. Just elevator control horns then its on to the cockpit end, Mike 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Hi all, A little more progress. The ailerons have been rounded off at the leading edges and pinned to the upper wing for animation. The fuselage support fairing for the tail plane/elevator/fin and rudder has been hollowed out to allow the elevator controls to be fitted from inside the fairing. I've replaced the elevator control horns, which seemed over scale, with two from a 'Parts' 1:48th scale set. The cockpit area and ports in the decking have been opened up, Mike 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SapperSix Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Interesting subject!! Very precise, a very clean build. I am looking forward to more of this build.  -Frank 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 17, 2019 Author Share Posted November 17, 2019 Hi all,, Just a few updates for the Macchi. Engine support bearers with added photo-etch bearer plates (kit part), cross bracing anchors (Gaspatch) and added nuts (RB Motion). Also drilled out three lightening holes into the resin top struts and 'opened up' the fasteners around the engine cowls and the nail heads on the top of the forward fuselage. The kit now supplies alternative wing floats but no support struts, so these were made from soft soldered 0.7 mm diameter brass tube. I've also added all of the rigging points around the aircraft. Now it's onto scribbing in the wood panel lines onto the fuselage,, Mike 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 Hi all, I thought I'd take a short break from the resin model and start on the 'easy' job of constructing the 'laser cut' wood trestles and beaching trolley. Hmmmmm - most of the parts have not been laser cut through, just scorched the surface. So these will need to be cut out manually and some parts are quite thick, Mike 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted November 19, 2019 Share Posted November 19, 2019 Wow! Good luck with the wood.......harv 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 19, 2019 Author Share Posted November 19, 2019 Hi all, Not represented in the kit is the fuel filler for the tank. The initial versions of this aircraft were based on the Lohner T.1, which had an oval fuel tank, connected by a filler tube to a filler cap on the decking panel. However the production Macchi M.5 had a cylindrical fuel tank. Drawings of this aircraft don't show a filler tube to the decking panel. Photographs instead show what seems to be a cover plate over an aperture in the decking panel. My assumption is that when this cover plate was removed, it gave access to the filler cap located on the tank itself. Mike  4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Hi all, Just a couple of updates. The fuel filler cap access panel has now been added and is 'dished' into the decking panel, as can be seen in the photo in the previous post. Also the model had a pre-moulded circular access panel on the left side of the rear decking panel. As I can't find any evidence that it existed on this aircraft, I've assumed it was supposed to represent the fuel filler cap access panel. If so it was the wrong shape and size and on the wrong side of the decking panel. I've removed it. If I'm wrong it can easily be re-instated. I've built the wood trestles and beaching trolley, although they need to be cleaned, stained etc and have the photo-etch parts added. I'm off for a two week break tomorrow so no more updates until I get back, Mike  4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 7, 2020 Author Share Posted January 7, 2020 Hi all, As my build of the Austro-Hungarian Aviatik 'Berg' D.I is complete (apart from the display case), it's time for me to get back to the Macchi M.5 build. Thanks to input from other modellers I have more information that I'll need to include in this build, Mike 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 8, 2020 Author Share Posted January 8, 2020 Hi all, I thought I get back into the Macchi M.5 by hitting the beaching trolley and trestles first. The four tie rings on the corners of the beaching trolley are metal rings. The photo-etch parts supplied in the kit are flat and two-D. Therefore I cut away the 'rings' from the photo-etch parts and replaced them with rings of 0.5 mm diameter lead wire. I also modified the photo-etch tie ring holders to suit the replacement rings. Also in the photograph you can see protective padding, which I'll be adding to the trolley and trestles. Mike 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Desmond Glazebrook Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 On 11/12/2019 at 6:50 AM, sandbagger said: Hi all, My research is throwing up more apparent anomalies - this time with the flight controls. The kit instructions show both the rudder and elevator control 'cables' exiting from an open aperture in the fuselage support fairing for the tail plane and fin/rudder assembly. These cables are attached to the rudder control horns at the base of the rudder itself and to control horns only under the elevator halves. However it seems that: The rudder cables exited the fuselage at the base of the support fairing and were routed back to the rudder control horns, which were in fact attached the rudder post and below the rudder assembly. The elevator 'cables' it seems were more likely to be a push/pull rod which was connected to the elevator control horns only under the elevator halves. This method of control would only require control horns on one side of the elevator as it was a push or pull control. Finally the model does not have aileron control cable exit openings in the rear decking behind the pilot, from where the cables were routed up and into the underside of the upper wing. As an aside the model does not have the filler cap for the fuel tank, which should be located at the right side at the top of the rear decking panel. This is all detailed, with illustrations etc, in the PDF build log I'm compiling as I go along. However before I sort that lot out I need to 'fettle' the tail unit as the there are a few issues to be corrected there as well, Mike You do realise you are giving your brilliant thoughts away for free?  1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Hi Sir DG, Yeah but that's what forums are all about I guess - constructive sharing amongst fellow modellers with similar interests . Besides I hate to do all the research then keep it to myself  3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share Posted January 10, 2020 Hi all, The beaching trolley and support trestles are done. The metal wheel rims were annealed to make them easier to bend and to give a better 'used' look. The wood beaching trolley and trestles were stained with 'AK Interactive' wood wash, then sealed with 'Alclad' Flat (ALC314). The top padding was represented with 'Tamiya' Rubber Black (XF85) and algae staining by water based ‘Derwent’ Inktense 24 pencils. Wear on the padding was from sponging 'Tamiya' weather set E (green) and dirt on the axle from 'Flory Models' dark dirt wash, Mike  6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 10, 2020 Author Share Posted January 10, 2020 Hi all, True to form this kit has already shown problems. The instructions indicate where the forward bulkhead and pilot's seat support should be located. The bulkhead locates on the hull bottom (effectively the cockpit floor). If the instructions are followed, it will result in the hull bottom not fitting into the fuselage as the bulkhead would be too far forwards. The pilot's seat support location is such that, when fitted, the pilot's seat is too far rearwards in the cockpit, so needs to be moved forwards on the seat support. This means the control column is then too close to the seat. The forward bulkhead is shown in the correct location. The pilot's foot boards assembly may need to be modified to move the control column forward and away from the pilot's seat Mike 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 11, 2020 Author Share Posted January 11, 2020 Hi all, I've cut away the centre foot board and rear cross member on the hull floor. This allows the control column to be positioned more realistically, otherwise it would be too close to the seat. Also allows fitting of the 'V' shaped seat support. A notch was cut into the centre cross member on the hull floor to allow the torque bar of the control column to be adhered to the hull floor (better support) These changes will allow the control column to be positioned further away from the front of the pilot's seat, Mike 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 Hi all, I've modified the pilot's foot boards and seat support to: Cut away the centre foot board and rear cross member on the hull floor. This allows the control column to be positioned more realistically, otherwise it would be too close to the seat. Added more lightening holes in the seat back, as per the official drawing. Added the 'V' shaped support (made from thick paper) below the seat. This also housed the control column torque tube, aileron control bell crank and aileron control pulley and control cables. Added nail head indentations to the foot board to cross member joints. Mike 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomber_County Posted January 12, 2020 Share Posted January 12, 2020 Mike, words fail me looking at your exquisite modelling...........never tried HPH, also not sure my skill set is up to it........ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 12, 2020 Author Share Posted January 12, 2020 Hi Phil, Yes their resin kits are expensive and do have the odd problem. However, no-one else produces them in this scale so you 'pays your money and takes your choice', Mike. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandbagger Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 Hi all, There's still a lot of detail to do for the cockpit area, including thinning and roll edging the seat as well as adding the bulk head seat fixing at the top of the seat. Also the seat needs to have the access for the seat belts to pass through, as the kit instructions show them positioned over the sides of the seat, not through it, Mike 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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