I have decided to build a kit this time taking a break from scratch builds. The Macchi M.5 has been a favorite aircraft of mine ever since I first saw it, a truely beautiful looking aeroplane.
I have decided to build the engine first. The crank case is very well cast with pretty good details, apart from the casting block no other clean up was needed. The cylinders are also well done, some fine sanding was required but nothing major, the valve springs are well cast and don't need replacing.
A full build log can be found here;
http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com/page52.html
My first obstacle came when trying to fit the rocker assembly to the top of the cylinders, the main boxes did not align with the valve springs. To rectify this I cut off each of the boxes then drilled a 2.0mm hole through the centre of each one, I then inserted a length of 2.0mm brass rod. After sitting the assembly on top of the cylinders and aligning the boxes I fixed them with CA.
The PE set contains the three rocker arms, when bent to shape and fitted to the rocker assemble it did not look at all like the real engine, I will be modifying this totally to make it look more the part.
I glued the cylinder bases and the cylinders onto the crank case, crank case has been painted with Humbrol No, 56 aluminium. I used 5 minute epoxy to fix these parts, it gave me those few minutes to make sure everything was sitting in their correct positions, slight adjustments were needed. The cylinder bases and the top of the cylinders have been painted with Mr Metal color Dark Iron while the water cooling jackets have been painted with a mix of Mr Metal color Brass and Stainless.
These photos show the modified rocker arm assembly, I utilised some parts of the PE set but made the remainder from lengths of brass tube and 0.5mm resin bolts, these simulate the adjusting bolts. I painted the rockers with Stainless paint and when dry buffed them lightly. The exhaust pipes are the kit supplied resin parts held with CA.
This will not be a fast build, I am still battling a severe chest infection so progress will only be when I am able to sit at my bench, but I have to admit, modeling is good medicine
Des.
