Ray, please define the parameters for a WWI build in 1/72 scale. Dave and I will start one. See Dave's comments at http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/SMF/index.php?topic=255.15
Lou
PS. I have already put of feeler for WWI ID models. We see mention of them but no photos yet.
Did you mean WW1? If so here it is, Allied Bi-plane Fighter any scale. In service during World War One. That leaves us plenty of room for future WW1 builds. As far as I know there are no ID or Spotter plans for such aircraft. Look in the gallery under Kit plans or use the search feature. Do I have a Second? :P
Sorry Ray, just one too many I. I'm in. 1/72 scale model to be determined.
I am still looking for WWI ID models.
Lou
A WW1 Allied Fighter Cook-Up has been proposed and seconded, Here Cook-Ups never end... ;D
Let the chips fly Gentlemen! ::) :o :P ;D
And my next WWI project was going to be a Sopwith Triplane! Oh well, guess I need to build something alongside it.
Ken Pugh
It seems that the folks at WWI did not have actual models to educate their pilots and ground gunners but relied on drawings only. I will keep trying to find out but it does not look good. I will be doing mine similar to my DR1 with colour and decals.
Lou
I will give the French Hanriot HD.2 in 1:72 a try. The U.S. Navy flew them in 1918.
I selected the Spad VII as my subject. As far as anyone knows, there were no recognition models as such during WWI. All they had were drawings of profiles and maybe models done by soldiers or airmen during their spare time. The Spad in 1/72 has a mere 10.86 cm span and fuselage measuring 8.55 cm.
The drawings have been scaled and printed. Wood selection will start shortly.
Lou
Good choice Lou.
Dave, have you looked at how thin those wings are? I have the fuselage roughed out but that is all so far.
Lou
The wings on my drawing are around 1/16th of an inch thick.
Same here. Luck has it that my local hardware store gives out nice hard basswood paint stir sticks. They have a built in curve to them and are just about 1/8 inch thick. I bit of sanding on the belt sander and some more by hand should result in a pretty nice looking wing(s). Other than the fuselage, the basic pieces are cut out but not shaped yet. The undercarriage was my main interest this afternoon, but I got called away.
Lou
I glued up a small block for the fuselage today and will cut it out tonight. Except for the round cowling and the headrest fairing, the cross-sections look square.
Good luck.
Lou
Progress on my WWI cook-up entry. Stayed up late last night...
Very nice going. Photos were taken but hey are downstairs in the camera. Some will be posted tomorrow. While shaving the trailing edge too much came off which made the wing chord to short. And after I had files the scallop trailling edge at that. Oh, we now have two bottom wing and a new top wing. Not much going to happen tonight since the Mrs and me have darts. Being statistician, one has to show up!!!!!
Lou
PS Check this out dave.
http://www.wwi-models.org/app/sbj/srch/Macn.php?action=uModelList&subjId=173
Lou, thanks for the link, it helps with the colors. Late last night I decided to do all of the fuselage painting before attaching the floats and upper wing. Photo attached.
Sounds like a great idea. I have reconstructed the top wing but need to slim it down some more. The bottom with is down 1.5mm while the upper is still at 2.25mm. That small amount sure shows up when you put them in place. Photos to come.
Lou
Very nice model Dave. But you guys are sure working in small sizes. Good luck. But perhaps as we are working in solid scale it would be to our advantage to investigate alternative scales. It's very difficult to add detail to such small models. And do we really need to emphasize the aircraft's size relative to the modern equivalent? Perhaps in between scales should be considered. Or even larger scale. All matters to be considered but, as we are in solid scale, and can do anything we wish there are an infinite possibilities.
Cliff.
Cliff, maybe our next WWI cook-up can be 1/48 or 1/32. uuummm a DR 1 in 1/32. That is for another day.
All parts have been cut out since the photo was taken The second photo is my struts at approx .010 in thick or should I say thin.
Lou
Oops, only the second photo showed up. Here goes again.
Actually, Ray stated the cookup is any Allied biplane in any scale. Lou had 1/72 in mind when he suggested but that is not the cookup mission statement. So, build whatever scale you like!
Such a small scale is difficult for detail but how much really exists at this scale. They are used in wargames and look quite nice. This scale would be excellent for cranking out a bunch of low detail planes that are easily hand-painted.
I am really hooked on 1/32 scale for WWI. That is the scale of my Pup and I plan to build more in the same scale for comparison. I would like to build a bunch in 1/72 as well, though.
Ken Pugh
Sorry for the misleading info Cliff. Senility set in.
Lou
Great pics guys. You guys are tempting me to jump in; as if I didn't have enough projects. Dave, the Hanriot looks fantastic. The cowling looks good enough to have been turned on a lathe.
Lou, in your last photo of the SPAD components, what's the stick in the center of the grouping? Wheel turnings?
Cheers,
Mark
The stick is the wheel and axle assembly carved as one piece. It makes it stronger that way.
I shape the cowling as an octagon first, then carefully pare down the corners. On a model this small, I can put the roughly rounded piece through the appropriate sized hole on a draftsman's circle template, where it acts as a guide to find the high spots.
The lathe idea sounds not to bad!
Stayed up late again and after some primer, a few quick blasts of Tamiya Sky Grey and Testor Aluminum. I am trying to hand paint the letters.
Looks fantastic Dave. The aluminum cowl caught the proper shine and texture. Congratulations on some fine lettering also.
Lou
For those wanting to join the cook-up, here are a few profiles of WWI (and others) aircraft.
Lou
http://www.cbrnp.com/profiles/quarter1/index.html
Judging from that link, the Bristol Scout looks like it would be a fairly easy build.
Hi again gang. I guess I really was putting forth the idea that we should explore the possible advantages of scales that are not at all "standard" - other than 1/32 and the like.
Moved to general category.
Lou
Dave,
Here's HD-1 at Pensacola; one Bureau Number higher than the one on your model. Did they really have "British" roundels on USN aircraft at that time?
http://www.aero-web.org/museums/fl/nmna/a5625.htm
Mark
It looks like my gray is pretty close then. I have seen models of the HD.2 with red/blue/white and red/white/blue roundels. I would rather use the "American" markings on mine. http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq2-1.htm (http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq2-1.htm)
With the Hanriot, I was lucky with the cabane struts as they create a pyramid shape, meeting at the center line of the upper wing. This made it easier to align the wing for glue-up. I drilled small holes, indentations really, where all of the struts sit in the wings and fuselage, then after the wing glue has dried, measured the distance between holes with dividers and cut struts a little longer than necessary.
Looking good Dave, real good. I screwed mine up a bit and had to back tract some. Now I am having to place the windscreen in place with the top wing glued on. I have taken a few photos but will wait until I am finished just in case I have to tear the thing apart again. Yours is looking fantastic so far.
Lou
Time to post some pictures. The aircraft is complete except for fuselage decals and tail number. Those are drying as I am typing. I will wait for the final shots once the remaining decals are on. the last pic is a teaser and would not show the fuselage or tail markings.
Lou
My Spad has been completed and sent to the Eastern front to do mock fighting with a captured DR1.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10004/normal_Spad_28329.JPG)(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10004/normal_Spad_28229.JPG)
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10004/normal_Spad.JPG)(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10004/normal_Spad_28429.JPG)
Lou
Bravo, Lou!
Very nice models Lou. But also some very nice and very realistic settings not to mention photography.
Cliff
The float assembly is finished and ready to attach. I am painting the roundels and fin flash by hand, building up thin layers of paint and working on a color match.
Looks fantastic Dave.
Lou
Floats attached. I need to carve a machine gun or two, a pilot, an engine and a prop. There is supposed to be a windscreen too.
looks fantastic just as is. I am sure the addition of the prop/engine will make it even better. I look forward to placing it in the Model Of the Year folder.
Lou
Carved a pilot, prop and machine guns for the Hanriot fighter. Also assembled a small rotary engine. All will be painted before attaching them to the model. Photos attached...
Your work makes mine look infantile. Awesome, keep it coming.
Lou
Gross exaggeration Lou, but thanks anyway ;)
Really tiny. But really neat.
Cliff.
Must not forget to keep the old threads alive.
Here is my SE5A in 1/32 scale.
(http://smm.solidmodelmemories.net/Gallery/albums/userpics/10004/normal_SE5A_Lower_front_left_quarter.jpg)
Lou
A comparison of scale. 1/32 vs 1/72.
Lou