I started this about the same time as the Flycatcher, CH 1 and Avro Rota .
So it is an addition to Lou's 100 for RCAF.
I made two engines at the time of the Flycatcher so that's done .
Using the Alfred Granger drawings.
The RCAF had these plus the two seat DC.
There was also an Aerobatic team called the "Siskins " . 3 aircraft.
I will finish this one as "20" prior to 1930 change in markings . The reason being that the "Large" wing roundels appear on the bottom and top of the upper wing.
Pictures to follow.
Cheers
Gordon
The Siskin is also on my to do list.
(https://aerobaticteams.net/UserFiles/pictures/A09204C5-6321-84EB-4D9D-5596AB98C2E6.jpg?cache&w=2000)
Lou
Great picture Lou. There is one of "20" with the large roundels on the bottom of the upper wing.
Where the Siskin is at.
Cheers
Gordon
Awesome engine even from this angle. May I haver a close up photo?
Lou
I shall stick one up shortly.
Cheers
Gordon
In the interim. This is how I intend to finish it.
Note large roundel port upper wing lower surface. Small roundel on Starboard lower wing.
There is also an inscription on "both" sides of the cockpit . In this case For Wilton Brown of Alcock and Brown. Done to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of their Atlantic crossing .
Cheers
Gordon
As requested close up of engine. A bit work more required.
Cheers
Gordon
Awesome! Thanks for the photo Gordon.
Lou
Fuselage has been roughly shaped.
Gordon
This may be the aircraft you are modeling. Still want to research the quotation on the fuselage sides.
(http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/504/pics/94_1.jpg)
Lou
Another profile showed it green rather than olive drab. The top line of text appears to be the aircraft certification. All I can make out is Armstrong Whitworth Siskin. Many more images at https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/canadian-warplanes-1-armstrong-whitworth-siskin
An interesting view with what seemed to be an aileron change at some point with the extra roundel.
(https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/60d3c6d0e106af90561564f7/60f852e39168c9d97f508147_Armstrong-Whitworth-Siskin-III-dual--63--St-Hubert--1928--LAC-MIKAN-No--3650315.jpeg)
Lou
Interesting that it had a 14 cylinder twin-row engine.
Fraser
I have been looking at silverhawk's site.
"59" was along with "20" had the annotations for the Alcock and Brown anniversary .
I did find a site that dealt with the inscriptions on the side of the cockpits.
I'll dig around and see if I can find it again.
The bottom picture is a III DC two seat trainer.
it is interesting looking at old pictures and "discovering" the small changes caught in that moment when the picture was taken.
Pushing on slowly.
Cheers
Gordon
Fuselage is in process of being cleaned up. Will experiment with making the stringers a bit sharper.
Tailplane ribs done using doped cotton thread. Applied over primer. Attached with brushed on thinned dope. Two coats of primer.
Light rub with 1200 wet/dry . Two coats of Tamiya light white primer.
Cheers
Gordon
Your technique looks very effective Gordon.
Lou
I use it occasionally. Bit quicker and less fiddly than tape. I used it on the Aeronca and the Brandenburg W29.
Still cleaning up the fuselage.
Cheers
Gordon
Where the fuselage is at.
Experiment with fine wire (28g) to give some definition to stringers.
Wire superglued on premarked lines . Poly filler added and then delicately sanded and deft use of a wet finger.
Two coats of primer applied and then a coat of silver on rear fuselage. Forward left as pre primer.
Seemed to work.
Cheers
Gordon
Coming along. The fuselage ribbing is done to good effect.
Lou
Just have to learn to stop fiddling with it.
I will push on with the other side and the wings.
Cheers
Gordon
I like the idea of the fine wire stringer details. They give a good line to work with and should allow a nice scalloped effect.
Fraser
Thanks Fraser.
Lower wing has had the "ribs " done using the doped thread method. Dihedral added.
Will begin repeating the process on the upper wing.
Decals have been sorted. Haven't done the printing using decal paper yet.
Will make up a jig similar to that used on Flycatcher for the undercarriage.
Should keep me occupied for a while.
Cheers
Gordon
Lower wing in progress.
Gordon
You have been busy. Nice rib details.
Lou
Silver dope?
Fraser
Rattle can Silver.
Upper wing in progress using the same method.
Gordon
Where the Siskin is at.
Wheels turned up. (Bit more work required)
Wing struts being prepared
Remaining stringers added to right hand side of fuselage.
Upper wing ribbed and primed.
Propeller blank prepared.
Tossing up how to do the cockpit.
Pushing onwards.
Gordon
Your ribbing method is highly effective.
Lou
Thanks Lou.
The trick I have to learn is when to leave it alone and to get into the habit of lightly sanding in one direction (not rubbing back and forth).
I am going to use the same method on the BAT 26 wings. Looked at it yesterday and I have to make up some more and a lot of doped thread.
Prop blank shaped. Getting together bits for the undercarriage.
Might have a day doing all the wind driven pumps and generators .
Cheers
Gordon
I am not able to get dope here, so I am guessing clear nail polish would probably work as well. They both smell the same so the basic composition can't be that far off. I need to do a corrugated fuel tank for my Gypsy Moth so I will borrow some from the misses.
Thank you for the tip on sanding in one direction.
Lou
Propeller roughly done . Bit of cleaning up to do.
Gordon
Propeller nearly done.
Gordon
Coming along Gordon.
Lou
Looking at photos it looks like a metal spinner over the boss. Painted silver.
The lower portion of the blades are a dark colour. Yet to be determined. Can't tell if the rest of the blades painted or vanished wood.
Some pictures have a metal cowling over the engine wobbly bits.
So if some body has any ideas I'm open.
Cheers
Gordon
Hey Gordon.
The first aerobatic team in Canada was "The Siskins". The flew the Siskin in a flight of three from 1929-1934. The book "Tradition of Excellence" written by Danial Dempsey has several pages devoted to the team and the aircraft. What sort of detail are you looking for?
BTW it is an excellent book with over 700 pages with many interviews of the pilots that flew for the various teams over the years.
Fraser
G'day Fraser. Good to hear from you.
Looking at the pictures on page 1 there is a "dark " colour at the root of the blades. Not quite sure what it could be.
Next were the blades left as vanished wood or painted?
Most of the pictures that I can find have the "spinner" or propeller boss painted "silver" ?. Some Brit ones had it painted "red" or left as polished wood.
Cheers
Gordon
Found this color drawing by Canadian artist Graham Wagg displayed in the Canadian war museum in Ottawa.
Fraser
https://www.warmuseum.ca/collections/artifact/1032451
The blade root (cuff) has been painted the same color as the spinner on this aircraft. The blades themselves appear to be wood coloured, so probably varnish to allow inspection of the blades in service.
Fraser
Thanks Fraser.
Made me look a bit closer at pic of "20" on page 1. Will go with "dark" green cuff ,spinner and stripe at centre section of top wing.
Back to the bench.
Cheers
Gordon
Apologies for being a bit of a gray man. Been tied up with a couple of things plus doing the propellers for the Siskin and BAT.
Cheers
Gordon
Beautiful engine and prop assembly. Very clean look indeed.
Fraser
Excellent engine and propeller combination. Very impressive Gordon.
Lou
Thank you Lou. Pushing on slowly.
Gordon
Love the BIG roundels. Paper cut out used to check size. Need to adjust diameter slightly.
Cheers
Gordon
Excellent finish on your wing.
Lou
I agree. Excellent detail and very interesting to look at
Fraser
Thank you Lou and Fraser.
Pushing on slowly.
Gordon
Made up the inter plane struts and shaped the cabana struts.
Thinking about how to do the fuselage stitching.
Cheers
Gordon
Made up one half of the exhaust using brass rod. Needs further work.
Adding some detail to the engine.
Gordon
I have overcome a slight case of modellers block.
Inspired by Mark's picture of his Comper undercarriage I have finally done the undercarriage for the Siskin.
I had made up a jig (similar to the Flycatcher) but used the fuselage itself. Turned out OK.
I've cleaned out the cockpit with a rotary tool and will just use a pilot bust to fill the hole.
Checking measurements for struts and pre drilling rigging holes.
Cheers
Gordon
Nice to see you back at it. Thanks for the update.
Lou
After a bit of a hiatus some progress.
Bottom wing is attached.
Fuselage stitching done.
Cockpit cleaned out with rotary tool.
Engine in the process of some refinement.
The piece of wire on fuel filler is not scale. It's so I can pick it up.
Various wind driven pumps and generators are in progress.
Onwards.
Cheers
Gordon
Nice work, Gordon.
I was wondering if you've ever seen this colour photo from a 1930 issue of The National Geographic magazine. This is NOT colourized.
You have a magnificent engine and superb detailing throughout. I envy your collection Gordon.
Lou
Mark,
Thank you for the picture. I must admit that I didn't run across it it during searches.
Provides a lot of information. Confirms the blue colour of the time.
Lou,
Thank you. Trying to maintain the building spurt of activity.
Onwards.
Gordon
Started to think about putting it all together .
Have made up a jig to help with aligning the struts.
Inlet pipes added to engine. Exhaust manifolds have been done (yet to be fitted to engine).
Pictures to follow.
Gordon
Pushing on slowly.
Cabana struts attached to upper wing with the aid of a temporary jig and a cunningly placed bit of scrap balsa block (cut to requiredMeasurement) in front of the cockpit.
Outer struts needed to be slightly modified.
So it's now kit of all the fiddly bits.
All the wind driven pumps and generators have yet to have their propellers added. Aldis site from Ali tube and flattened copper wire.
Exhaust collectors from brass rod
Oil cooler from thin ply and a couple of pins. Fuel filler from scrap balsa,bamboo skewer filler cap and vent from copper wire.
The brown pained wire is for the cockpit coaming.
Need to do the exhaust pipes .
I won't be adding them until I've got the engine sorted. Then the top wing can go on.
Cheers
Gordon
Excellent to date Gordon.
Lou
Thank you Lou.
Slowly sorting out the various "wobbly" bits.
Gordon
The model is really looking good. I revisited the photo of the engine and it is a great piece go workmanship. The exhaust collector looks very well done. Did you solder it in one go as so many joints on a small piece can be difficult to put together.
Fraser
Thank you Fraser.
Shaped the collector around a suitably sized former. Bent the top and bottom exhausts at right angles. Cut lengths for the remaining 5.
Tinned them and placed into a bit of scrap balsa with positioning holes. Then soldered them in one sitting.
Bit of fine tuning to do (match cylinders to outlets ). Tossing up how to connect the exhaust tubes.Either slid into Ali/brass tube or plastic tube.
Need to pre position a lot of brackets and wobbly bits before I put the top wing in place.
Cheers
Gordon
The Siskin gets worked on as time and other things permit.
No real movement since last update.
Gordon
I had made up the two exhaust manifolds out of soldered brass rod.
The port side fitted just about right but the starboard side required some major rework on the position of the cylinders.
That has occupied a bit of time over the last couple of days. Nearly done.
Onwards ...........
Gordon
Nice to hear from you. It is very lonely on the site lately.
Lou
Fear not Lou. I'm still here, albeit a bit quiet for now.
Fraser
Thank you Fraser. Our active members are so few.
Lou
A couple of days work on the engine.
Except for some touching up it is it.
Note to self .... No more exposed radials for awhile.
On to remaining linkages and horns.
Cheers
Gordon
This photo shows the fuselage frame under canvas to excellent effect. And to exposed radial, those early aircraft had no choice.
Lou
The engine should also be featured in the Model Engine thread as well.
Fraser
Aldis, exhaust brackets and wing attached.
I think I can get the windscreen in later with some deft work with tweezers.
Might have to do some minor lengthening on outer struts.
Tailplane is not attached. Thinking of separating the rudder.
Looking like a Siskin.
Cheers
Gordon
Looking magnificent.
Lou
The model is really taking shape. The Siskin certainly had a certain amount of "heft" to it.
Fraser
Thank you Fraser.
Always liked the look of the Siskin.
Most wobbly bits have been manufactured .
During handling over the last couple of days a small wobbly bit fell of the engine. I heard it hit the floor but a search proved fruitless.
Interplane struts have been attached with the minimum of fuss using my non patented wing jig.
Aiming for completion before the end of the year.
Cheers
Gordon
Starting to slowly finish the Siskin off.
Fuselage and underwing decals applied. One upper wing roundel applied ( with some difficulty) . Recovered and looks ok after a touch up.
The other upper wing roundel failed at the immersion stage. Have to make a couple more.
I have redone the fuselage and underwing serials.
Fuselage step made up from brass tube.
Rudder separated. Had a whoops moment when I cut it wrong. All fixed.
Picture when further progress has been achieved.
Cheers
Gordon
Always nice to hear your progress reports.
Lou
Gordon:
That is a thing of beauty! Magnificent detail and workmanship. A "museum quality" model that gives me something to aspire to...
jim
Thank you very much Jim.
I think everyone on here contributes to everyone else's "aspirations " and learning.
Gordon.
Slowly pushing on. Decals going on. When that's all done I'll start the rigging. I think I've got all the holes pre drilled.
The undercarriage and engine will be pretty much the last to be attached .
I'll post a pic when further progressed.
Cheers
Gordon
Where the Siskin is at.
Still have to remake an upper wing roundel and rudder stripes.
The small bits a various pumps and generators. I've cleaned up the wheels a bit by adding a copper wire rim. Looks a bit better.
So the tasks today are to print some decals. Start the rigging from the tail end.
Should be done by the end of the year.
Cheers
Gordon
Excellent workmanship Gordon. Your updates are appreciated.
Lou
It's been fun watching this model take shape. Beautiful .
Fraser
Thank you Lou and Fraser.
Rigging started. Generators,pumps and undercarriage attached. Turnbuckles have been done using a mix of PVA and poly filler .
Little bit more to do.
Gordon
Rigging done.
Was going to push on but noticed upper wing roundel is cracking ( Harrrummmphh ! ).
That will be todays problem.
Cheers
Gordon
OK . Nearly done.
Need to redo the "20" decal for the rudder. Mine are slightly oversize.
Aileron horns and cable to be done
Tail skid and propeller will be the last things to be permanently attached.
I will be leaving off the position light and the radio aerials.
Should be done by years end.
Cheers
Gordon
looks fantastic Gordon.
Lou
Thank you Lou.
Rudder decals applied.
When they have settled I will attach the rudder and tail skid then she's done.
Cheers
Gordon
It's taken awhile but I will call her finished.
As I have said I have left of the position light on the upper wing and the radio antenna.
I've left the cockpit as is . At some stage I will attempt to make/mould a pilot figure like in one of silver hawk pictures.
His left arm is extended on the coaming.
Learned a lot. Enjoyed it.
Cheers
Gordon
Magnificent build Gordon. Congratulation on an excellent addition to your collection.
Lou
Such a nice looking model. Great details with the exhaust system and paneling on the fuselage. Even the tire valve markings on the wheel covers🙂
Again it is very well done and a worthy addition to your fleet!
Fraser
Thank you Lou and Fraser.
It kept the mind active and the fine motor skills in tune.
Cheers
Gordon
It looks GREAT with all around great attention to the details from the ribs to the engine. Must be something related to scratch building as the standard vendor kit's never seemed to arise to this level of detail.
I look at the plans and any pictures in books and the internet to see what "wobbly" bits catch the eye and then think about how to
Achieve them. That's half the fun. Probably not to the standard of the high end kits but my standards are met.
Cheers
Gordon
Exactly. I find it interesting how certain subtle details define an aircraft.
Fraser
Your standards are much greater than mine; mine are just ID-level carvings. I hope you continue to provide us with those excellent models and all those wobbly bits.
Lou