forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: lone modeller on May 24, 2021, 05:36:11 AM
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Evening All,
I thought that I would amaze you all by building a tractor monoplane for a change - just to show you that I can do it! I have chosen this subject because I want something simple for a change: in addition this is another type which has been on my "to do" list for a long time. The Morane type L Parasol was widely used by RFC, RNAS and French and Russian forces in the first two years of WW1. The Pfalz Company in Germany also built many of these under license. Perhaps its most famous moment came in June 1915 when Lt Warneford managed to down Zeppelin LZ 37 by dropping small bombs on it. The French pilot R Garros had steel deflector plates fitted to the propellor of his MS L so that he could fire a machine gun forwards along the line of flight and in doing so caused others to investigate more seriously the interruptor mechanism for machine guns firing through the propellor arc.
I have made a small start by cutting some 30 thou plastic sheet for the fuselage sides, top and bottom:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51198495919_35492ea076_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m1eF7g)
I have started to modify a cowling from an Airfix Avro 504 which I found in the spares box and did not know I had! I have cut off the rear to narrow the chord and glued a piece of 20 thou card on the inside of the opening to make that smaller. Later I will reshape the front of the cowling:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51197005792_5e8bbdcb81_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m1739q)
The green stick is an old cocktail stick, (again found in the spares box), which I intend to use to make cylinders for the rotary engine. The other pieces are also for the engine.
The engine crank case was made from a disc of 40 thou card and the cylinders were mounted around the edges. A smaller disc of card made up the front of the engine and push rods were made from 20 thou Evergreen rod:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51197927273_37b93bafde_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m1bL52)[
More to follow in due course.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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I love the Saulnier aircraft Stephen.
I'll be on your tail for this build ;)
Willem
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Looking forward to this project.
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Tagging a long on this one and by the looks of things you are well underway :)
Alexis
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Am going to follow this very closely from the start.
Richie
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I'll be following along as well.
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Excellent start as always Stephen. I am looking forward to watching this one develop!
RAGIII
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You're away for a short while and you almost miss a new project by Stephen! nice start, I will follow of course!
I have this type in my cabinet and this is still the favorite of my wife.
Some small light remarks allowed?
Tthere is a typo in the subject, the company was Morane.
I know, you like the scratch work, but have you ever tried a Small Stuff engine in Gods own scale (https://www.smallstuffmodels.com/p/products.html#!/1-72-Detail-Sets/)?
Cheers,
Frank
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Excellent, Stephen!
Your off to a great start and I will follow this with interest
Regards
Dave
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Evening All,
My grateful thanks as always to those who have left your kind comments - they are all much appreciated.
Frank: thank you for commenting on the spelling of "Morane" - I have corrected the error. (That was caused by my geological background - my specialist field of study was interpreting glacial landforms and I had the wrong spelling for the aircraft manufacturer).
Yes I have tried Small Stuff engine kits: they are the bees knees in any scale but I am a bit tight for cash at the moment so I chose the poor man's alternative!
I have finished painting the interior and rigged the parts of the cockpit sides that will be visible with copper wire. I used strip and rod for most details, some of which I have not shown yet. I will put a bulkhead in the rear fuselage so I have not put any details in there: they will not be visible and I wish to keep this as a fairly quick and simple build. In addition I have painted the engine: as this will be largely obscured by the cowling and propellor I decided that this too would suffice for this model:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51216887250_23534b99c7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m2RWdb)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51215100567_8921c34bea_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m2GM6i)
I have still got to finish shaping the cowling and add a firewall, make some seats and controls and other minor details and then I can assemble the fuselage. I hope to show that stage in the next post.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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I love that tiny engine you have made Stephen. In 1/72 that is perfect. It's all looking very neat, are you sure your bench is as untidy as mine? ;)
Richie
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Your interior and engine are looking Excellent Stephen!
RAGIII
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Your builds always make me smile :) Awesome !
Alexis
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I admire your detailing on this small scale Stephen.
Keep it up!
Willem
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Evening All,
Thanks Richie, Rick, Alexis and Willem for your support - I really appreciate your kind and encouraging comments.
The fuselage is assembled and nose added. I decided to put in a couple of pockets for the pilot and observer on the starboard (right) side of the fuselage - not sure why as they can barely be seen and usually I do not bother with such details these days as I consider that if it cannot be seen on the completed model then there is no point in putting it in. I also added seats, an oil and fuel tank, controls for the pilot etc. After the fuselage parts had been glued together a small amount of filler was run along the joints just to ensure that there were no gaps.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51227641502_538d2a5e69_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3P45j)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51228344636_6cf433ff2a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3SE6j)
The images also show the upper decking of the front of the fuselage and engine cowling prior to fixing to the fuselage. The decking is 20 thou card which has been gently bent over a paintbrush handle. The cowling has been modified by sticking some 30 thou card in the front apature and then filing and sanding until I achieved the correct shape. The firewall at the back is 30 thou card. The interior of the cowling assembly was painted in aluminium and some wash of brown/black applied to represent the oil thrown off the engine. The fuselage assembly is now ready for paint:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51228344606_c91a6865f3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3SE5N)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51227641442_0072f4dda3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3P44h)
I have cut the wing from 30 thou card which had been bent in an old pipe and plunged into very hot water for about 10 seconds. The ribs have been applied (10 x 20 thou strip) but not sanded when I took the photo. Similarly I cut the horizontal tail surfaces and added the ribs:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51229116759_c24babc318_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m3WBBM)
The model is about ready for paint - just have to make the wheels from discs of 60 thou card and tyres from 40 thou rod.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Your interior and fuselage look great all closed up. The wings also are looking Fantastic.
RAGIII
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I am in awe of how quickly and smoothly this appears to be going Stephen. After nearly a year I still haven't got any external surfaces on my Scout, there's no substitute for years of experience and the knowledge it gives.
On another subject I joined IPMS, you may recognise a Sopwith Triplane in Cher Ami soon. 😀
Richie
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Great progress, Stephen. This is coming together quickly. I like the interior details - sharp and crisp looking.
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Fantastic work on getting the halves button up and the top wing , looking forward on seeing her in her livery :)
Alexis
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This is looking brilliant, Stephen! Such amazing work and everything so neatly done... Just lovely! To me, a really appealing subject, can't wait to see the progress... Regards, Marc.
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Evening All,
Thank you Rick, Richie, Ken, Alexis and Marc for leaving your supportive comments - they are as always much appreciated.
I have painted the main parts of the model. I used Humbrol 103, (clear doped linen), mixed with white for the fuselage and flying surfaces, and Humbrol black for the cowling and stripes on the fuselage. I added some 10 x 20 thou strip with the corners rounded with a file to make the frame on the front of the fuselage behind the cowling. The wood was Revell 382, as was the propellor which I found in the spares box: I had made one for another model and reduced it in size to fit this one.
The national markings were Humbrol white, red (60) and blue (25) mixed with white. I scribe a circle the diameter of the roundel using a pair of dividers on to the surface I wish to paint. I apply two or three thin coats of white to the circle - the paint is taken to the edge of the circle but not allowed to run into the groove. I then scribe two more circles into the white paint and apply the red and blue - this time the paint is allowed to run into the groove and a nice clean edge results (provided that my hand does not move when I am painting). I rest my and on the desk when painting like this and I use an eye loupe (magnifying lens) on my glasses. The roundels are of the Royal Naval Air Service prior to mid -1916: I have not added a serial as I do not have suitable transfers so this will be a generic representative model.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51245371659_c6778a19de_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m5nVCF)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51244607956_306f3a091d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m5j1Bo)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51245371709_0defe42ba9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m5nVDx)
Next I intend to complete the assembly and final details - undercarriage, wing plus struts, engine etc.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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another incredible build, the paint job looks great and the roundels are superb
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:) :) :)
Alexis
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Excellent progress, Steve -
Looking great
Regards
Dave
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Lovely paintwork, all done with a hairy stick I believe! That CDL colour is really beautiful and I like your roundel painting method. Very old school and works perfectly.
Richie
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Incredible paint work, especially the roundels! Looking Awesome!
RAGIII
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That is a very nice painting on this Parasol Stephen!
You have done an incredible paint job, also on the roundels in God's own scale, and that without machines like my electronic cutting plotter!
It looks so nice because your perfect job with some slight imperfections - as the real cockades are also hand painted in field at that time.
This will be again a nice model in your collection!
Cheers,
Frank
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Coming along nicely, Stephen. This will be an awesome little model.
One question, did the cowling not have fairings on the sides of the fuselage?
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Nice to see you're making so much progress Stephen!
It's really looking good!
Willem
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Evening All,
Thank you EBF, Alexis, Dave, Richie, Rick, Frank, Ken and Willem for you kind remarks - they are all much appreciated.
Ken: there were no fairings fitted to the rear of the cowlings on many of the L parasols according to the photographs that I have seen. It does seem to have been an omission from an aerodynamic point of view, but the wooden sides to the fuselage and the raised strip on it are quite clear both on the photos and the drawings that I am using.
The first step was to fit the undercarriage. The tail skid assembly looks complicated but in reality it is 4 outer support struts with a central post on which the skid was mounted. The purpose of the outer struts was to keep the skid rigid. Similarly the main undercarriage legs were simple to make and assemble - I used 30 thou rod, (which is probably a little over scale but needed for strength), with plastic rod for the axle. The V struts for the bracing wires were also made from plastic rod and the undercarriage assemblies were painted after fixing in place:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51260459158_8df47230d3_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6HfBY)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51259529802_85039bc5ab_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6CumA)
Once it was on its legs I could finish the details in the cockpit and add the windscreens for the pilot and observer. They were cut and shaped from clear acetate. To fix the wing I drilled two holes where the main struts passed through and then enlarged them a little with the end of a round file. The struts were shaped from 20 x 30 thou Evergreen strip which had been filed to remove the corners. After several attempts to get everything correctly aligned I cut the rear struts and cemented these to the sides of the cockpit. The main struts were threaded through the holes in the wing and cemented at the top and where they join the wing. While the cement was still wet I lowered the wing/strut assembly so the the main struts were on the fuselage sides and the rear struts fixed against the rear of the wing. This was set aside to harden properly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51261002014_bcfbf745fe_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6L2Zy)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51261303175_730a741c34_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6MzvZ)
When the above had set properly it was a simple task to add the reinforcing front struts:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51261001964_25987c48db_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m6L2YG)[
All that remains now is to paint the struts, rigging and add the wheels and propellor.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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That's the way, Steve!
Starting to look like an aircraft now
Regards
Dave
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The struts, wing and gear look excellent! Really taking shape and looking Fantastic!
RAGIII
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Fantastic progress Stephen , she is fab with the wing finally in place :)
Alexis
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Excellent work Stephen. I am always overwhelmed with scratch build models and this is a stunner, too.
Bye Manni
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This is fantastic work so far, I really like what I see.
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Wow Stephen, I am amazed at how quickly you are able to get a little gem like this together. It really does look elegant.
Richie
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Very nice Stephen!
It is always impressive to see you results with somehow "robust scratch methods", which looks at the end better then others reach with building a kit.
One question, did the cowling not have fairings on the sides of the fuselage?
Ken, I build that bird some years ago and here is a picture of my model.
If I remember right I found a picture showing those "bolts" to hold the cowling.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--ICD0GH9AKI/VeLzMsQaUBI/AAAAAAAAE3M/gJmTKS8DZ6U/s800-Ic42/rumpf21.jpg)
Cheers,
Frank
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Evening All,
Thank you Dave, Rick, Alexis, Manni, Michael, Richie and Frank for your very kind comments.
Thank you too Frank for showing us the excellent photo of your model with the nose detail.
I have finished the Morane: the rigging was fairly straightforward as there is only one wing and the attachment of the wires was relatively easy when compared with rigging multi-winged types. I used rolled 40 SWG copper wire attached with CA. The propellor and wheels were easily fitted too and the model was complete.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51270738658_54013d8e04_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7BWmJ)
I will post more photos in completed models shortly.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Outstanding craftsmanship! Your build threads are always a treat.
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Another fantastic build Stephen :) Looking forward to more pic's of this beauty in the complete section !!!
Alexis
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Wonderful stuff again Stephen, you are an amazing scratch builder! All those years of experience really show in your work, both in terms of the quality and the pace at which you can put together a little beauty like this!
Richie
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8)
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Beautiful Results! This one was fast and Furious 8)
RAGIII
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Wow, Stephen! A lovely build in every way! It looks so delicate and neat - stunning work! Looking forward to more pictures! Regards, Marc.