forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: lone modeller on August 04, 2014, 07:20:29 AM
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Evening All,
Here are some more images of the completed model. The full build is in the Under Construction section, together with a brief description of how I attached the control wires to the wings and tail.
The shape of the Taube wing was derived from the leaf of the Zanonia palm. Igo Etrich was an Austrian who, through a series of designs in the first decade of the 20th century, eventually built an aeroplane that became the forerunner of all the later Taube models. Although Etrich produced a number of prototypes, only the two seat design was produced in significant numbers, but every machine was different as each one was hand-built, and each was an attempt to improve on its predecessor. Later other companies in Germany produced similar aircraft, also called Tauben, but many of these were of simpler construction and had the underwing spar and spar extensions deleted, a V undercarriage which was slightly more robust, and a markedly reduced amount of rigging, all of which reduced drag and increased speed. It also helped to simplify the problems of maintenance and repair in the field.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4442/36335031535_2faa352270_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XmNwYX)
The two seat version was adopted by the military in 1913 and was used for reconnaissance work. Control was by rudders attached to fins above and below the horizontal tail surface, and warping of the wing tips and horizontal tail surface. It was for this reason that the trailing edges of these machines were very thin: only the forward three-quarters of the wing had a double thickness of fabric covering while the the trailing section was a single surface. The undercarriage on Etrich machines was in the form of a twin-forked structure similar to the contemporary designs of L. Bleriot. The engines in Tauben varied from 70 to 120 hp, the most numerous being built by Mercedes or Argus and usually of 100hp. Radiators were mounted on the front sides of the fuselage and machines were unarmed.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/36335029945_e77c718694_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XmNwvx)
Taube types made up approximately 60% of the aircraft strength of the German Army in the early months of the Great War but only two were built by Etrich. The rest had the simplified structure of the later designs with the underwing spar removed and a simpler V undercarriage. Lt. von Hiddesen dropped some very small bombs on Paris in September 1914 from a Taube, and bombs were also dropped on Dover in that month, although nobody seems to have noticed at the time.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/36166292542_4757d722dd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X6TGKY)
It was a Taube that brought news of the Russian armies' movements in East Prussia that led to the Battle of Tannenburg in 1914, and a Taube carried out reconnaissance sorties for the German garrison at the siege of Tsingtao in Eastern China in 1914. Tauben also served in the air units of the Austro-Hungarian armies, although like their German counterparts they were withdrawn from front line service in the spring of 1915 but continued to be used for training for about a year afterwards.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4345/36424118346_31f0d7c6be_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XuF8os)
Like all limited run kits this one was a bit tricky in places and some of the moulding needed work done on it, but for an experienced modeller it should present no problems at all. I would recommend replacing the engine if you can, and the undercarriage and rigging should give enough hours of pleasure/frustration (delete as appropriate) to satisfy most modellers. Thank goodness we have the manufacturers who dare to make these lesser known aircraft that help fill the gaps between the better known and more popular types, otherwise we would have to either use vacuforms, convert from existing mouldings or scratch-build our own.
Thanks for looking.
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She's gorgeous, LM! Spectacularly rigged.
Cheers,
Bud
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Magnificent LM! Masterfully done and essentially one of a kind, as was the original. And the short history is most informative and much enjoyed. A great Build from start to finish! 8)
Cheers,
Lance
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Just beautiful. Graceful lines of this airplane are soooo appealing. And your model is equally so. Congratulations. LM!
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Thanks LM for posting your build of this model and now for posting the magnificent finished article. Congratulations on a superb job, the rigging is amazing, well done.
Des.
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A super piece of work, LM. Whenever I see model or a plan view drawing of a Taube, I can't help but think of the impression such aircraft must have made on the young soldiers of whatever nationality seeing them for the first time the sky above.
Best wishes
Nigel
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What can one say other than, Magnificent, Outstanding, Stunning!.... This build was a pleasure to watch unfold!!
RAGIII
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Beautiful work, LM!
A real pleasure to see. I can only hope that my build of this kit comes somewhere close to what you have achieved here.....
Ian
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Bravo!
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To create a model of this aircraft in a larger scale is very brave but to do it in 1/72 end up with such a superb result - well very impressive indeed.
Regards
Russell
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Wonderfull!
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Very well done LM :)
Terri
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Beautiful Taube !
Congratulations.
Jacek
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You have done a wonderful job here, Sir! Congratulations are definitely in order.
I took a long look through your build thread, and the rigging is simply wonderful, especially so on the underside, which does not show much in your finished pictures. That is superb work.
I am particularly impressed that you did it with copper wire, notoriously soft. To keep it straight through all that bespeaks very careful handling indeed. Did you use white glue to attach it? I am always on the look-out for new materials and techniques. Your result suggests what you did on this is worth taking a run at....
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An exeptionell build LM. ;D
Martin
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Impressive work. I enjoyed following this one and it's great to see it finished, well done.
Tom
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Stunning!
Great rigging to boot
Regards
Dave
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Thanks to all of you for the very kind comments. They are greatly appreciated. I apologise for delaying in replying - things have been super hectic in the last three days but now are getting back to normal.
OM: thank you for your compliments: I greatly admire all that you do and to receive such a comment from you is an real honour for me. With reference to the method of putting on the wires, copper is soft and does need careful handling, but in my opinion is a better material in this scale than thread because it is thinner. There is also the problem with this particular model that with so many wires to put on, with many of them being attached to each other, I am not sure how it could be done with thread. I use superglue to attach the wires - where they are attached direct to a flat surface I make a small mark with the point of dividers so that the glue sticks better. A drop on the end of the wire is enough. I have had some practice with wire and am now used to using it. If I should bend a wire when trying to put it into place, (which happens all too frequently), I can always roll it flat again, or cut another piece. It is also remarkably cheap - I have a roll long enough to rig models of the entire RFC and all for less than £10!