forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Early Bird Fan on February 24, 2021, 04:22:47 PM

Title: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on February 24, 2021, 04:22:47 PM
Something i've been meaning to build for a while is a Bristol F.2B, a Roden version in 1/72 came up on ebay at a decent price so here we are
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968633741_a1c16d9d07_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVz6g)

The kit comes with the same detailed engine as the felixstowe but in this kit there's 2 build options which is nice. You can either build normally with engine enclosed or cut the front off, fit some framework and display with engine on show. for this one i opted to build with the fuselage complete which means you don't fit the rocker assemblies or cooling pipes to the top of the engine otherwise it won't fit inside the fuselage. That all sounds great and this is how roden say to build the engine to fit inside the fuselage, i didn't go mad with the paint as it won't really be seen.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968633721_025950cc57_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVz5V)

This, in reality is what you end up with and this means the fuselage doesn't meet properly in places.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968633686_a2032f85d1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVz5j)

So the ancillaries were cut off along with the barrels, the barrels are now glued directly to the sides of the fuselage and the crankcase is glued to the radiator and bottom of fuselage. It's the only way i could get the exhaust ports somewhere near where they need to be, get the fuselage closed and have the crankcase and thus the prop shaft sitting square. It was a nice idea from roden and cudos for offering a highly detailed engine even though it won't be seen, in hindsight however i feel a much more simplified engine which fitted in the gap provided would have been the better idea for those building with engine cowl in place.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968633621_324186286f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVz4c)

The interior has some nice details but everything was too wide to fit inside the fuselage, the paint looked a lot better before i had to get serious with a file.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50967971538_1b4c176393_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDSbeY)

Seatbelts are 1mm masking tape painted in radome tan
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968671441_d58266b5c0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVLig)

The fuselage was finally closed up but some areas just didn't want to talk to each other so once the glue had pretty much set i cracked out the sprue goo and pasted it on. I'll leave that for a good 24hrs to go off and then start the cleaning up process
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50968633656_5a784ed939_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDVz4N)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50967934078_b330af8213_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kDRZ77)
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: hrcoleman66 on February 24, 2021, 09:28:14 PM
Nice little kit from memory... 

Looking forward to seeing how it turns out for you.

Cheers,

Hugh
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Alexis on February 24, 2021, 09:52:03 PM
Off to a good start on this one .  :) Are you replacing the decals ?


Alexis
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RAGIII on February 24, 2021, 10:45:17 PM
Grat start. The issues with the engine sound similar to the SPAD VII. Your interior looks good and you have made quick progress getting this one together!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: kensar on February 24, 2021, 11:27:33 PM
The closeup shots of small parts are always brutal, but in the end, they are hardly noticeable.  Good detail for the scale and I'm glad to see the poor fit of the fuse hasn't discouraged you.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on February 25, 2021, 03:28:56 AM
Off to a good start on this one .  :) Are you replacing the decals ?


Alexis
hadn't really thought about it tbh, any recommendations?
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: lone modeller on February 25, 2021, 04:37:21 AM
That looks like a good start but it is annoying when parts do not fit properly. Just hve to get the knife and files out and show it who is boss!

Stephen.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Alexis on February 25, 2021, 10:52:35 AM
Off to a good start on this one .  :) Are you replacing the decals ?


Alexis
hadn't really thought about it tbh, any recommendations?

I have no idea what is out there for replacement decals in this scale . I'm sure the guys that build in this scale will have a better idea then me . Sorry I can't help you out

Alexis
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Rip Van Winkle on February 26, 2021, 02:40:00 AM
 Print scale makes after market decals for the Bristol F.2B.  #72-234 Bristol F2B aces . I usually try to have some backup decals for any model because of decal inconsistency.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: fredjocko on February 26, 2021, 11:17:01 PM
Very nice detail in such a small scale.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on February 28, 2021, 11:13:31 AM
Print scale makes after market decals for the Bristol F.2B.  #72-234 Bristol F2B aces . I usually try to have some backup decals for any model because of decal inconsistency.
thanks for the heads up, i'll see if i can find some
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on March 11, 2021, 05:05:28 PM
made a bit of progress on the bristol the other day, after a fair bit of sanding back it's not looking too bad and i haven't destroyed any of the details. I need to go back over the seems behind the cockpit with a skim of filler to smooth out some of the pin holes prior to painting that area.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50992225902_c6679dbb34_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kG1udE)

The underside was trickier to sand as this area is not flat so only trying to sand the centre line was a bit tricky, definately another go is needed in this area
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50991412123_112053c2cd_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kFWjiZ)

The nose section wasn't looking too bad after a bit more sanding with a finer grit so i've given it 4 rather heavily thinned coats of gull grey, i'll buff it back once the filling is done and give it one more coat as the coverage is still a bit patchy in places.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50991412108_376f6f0289_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kFWjiJ)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50992225832_f2cda00f18_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kG1ucs)r
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Alexis on March 11, 2021, 10:33:35 PM
Really nice progress on the fuselage so far  :) Looking forward towards the next up-date !


Alexis
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RAGIII on March 11, 2021, 10:38:07 PM
Great progress! Like Alexis I am looking forward to the next update!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: lone modeller on March 12, 2021, 08:58:33 AM
Sorry EBF but I somehow missed your last post. Making very good progress - sorting out the underside join looks fun but you have achieved it. The early paintwork looks good.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Stuart Malone on March 13, 2021, 03:57:57 AM
Looking very nice!

I would recommend using something other than the kit plastic for the landing gear main struts.  They are barely able to hold the lower wing and fuselage in place.

Stuart
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: phil2015 on March 13, 2021, 04:54:31 AM
It's looking good.  And I am so impressed by folks who can work on biplanes in 1/72!
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on May 23, 2021, 02:20:40 AM
life seems to have got in the way the last couple of months but i'm back at it now and have made steady progress over the last few weeks.

I decided to give the revell nato olive a go for the green, partly because it's close to what the colour should be and partly because i really liked the way the other revell enamels i've used went on. I really wish i hadn't bothered, no matter how much or little i thinned it, or whatever brush i used, or how much i put on the surface layer evaporated almost immediately locking in any brush marks. Luckily i'd only applied it to the wings so they spent a few days in a dettol bath and i switched to using oil paint. I used a different shade of black for the mix (the mix is now yellow ochre with ivory black) which has produced a different shade of green compared to the camel i did, i also put the parts in the airing cupboard for around 4 days between coats, this seems to have cured the paint nicely (don't know why i didn't think of doing that before)

I need to do one more coat of grey for the nose then i can start to think about assembly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51073272652_6e00c4e0a0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kPaSAq)

I've also got the prop painted, i just need to paint the retaining plate and then give it a couple of coats of varnish
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51072477648_8b0b837a63_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kP6Ngs)

unusually for roden they neglected to include the control horns for the elevators so i made some simple ones from evergreen strip. The rear stabs have been fitted, the 'linen' is mainly white with a few drops of revell beige silk and a dash of grey in enamel, the wings have been painted with the same mix.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51180464859_8dc35e6a7e_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYDg6V)

This is my second attempt at fitting the rather fragile undercarriage legs, the first attempt involved fitting them to the wings first as they need to fix on both the upper and lower surfaces of the wings plus the fuselage, so a fiddly job at best. The first method didn't really work, i thought i had it glued in place but the slightest touch and they broke free so for this attempt i thought i'd try fixing them to the fuselage first. It means i now need to slide the lower wing between the fixing points on the struts without breaking them, but for now they are on and square
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51180464864_776240f9fb_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYDg71)

My second attempt seems to have worked and i managed to snuggle the wing between the legs and fuselage, i then fitted the remaining struts and although i think the fuselage is sitting at slightly the wrong angle (it should be level with the wing from front to back) it's as close as it's going to get and if i try and move it now things will break and then i'll be buggered. Once the upper wing and struts are on it shouldn't notice too much, i think the main thing is the undercarriage seems square and the wing is square to the fuselage. So a few touch ups to do then move on to attaching the upper wing
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51181366928_9b7bc41d61_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYHTfQ)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51181149246_1d3cac3859_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYGLxG)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51181944284_495f0cf5da_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kYLQTf)

On my last day off last week i did the touch-ups and stuck it in the airing cupboard for 5 days. It's now had the top deck fitted so it's officially a bi-plane

I've also pre-rigged and fitted the elevator controls to the fuselage and the scarff ring is now in place

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51193866155_96cbb47c94_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kZPWQK)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51192094242_54421a5878_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kZES7w)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51193015058_5dbdd8b804_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kZKzQE)

thought i'd get the decals on the tail end sorted so i can then rig the rudder etc. I splashed out my pocket money on the print scale Bristol aces of WW1 decal set (thanks to Rip Van Winkle for the heads up on this decal set) in which you get 10 different schemes to choose from, i've opted for the scheme as flown by Sydney Dalrymple and his observer G Beagle. The decals went on quite nicely although the stripes were a bit of a pain to get lined up, also there should be an S under the scarff ring but the first one i tried looked awful as the backing film seemed too thick and the edges wouldn't sit flush so i made the decision to leave them off for now. I might get a general number and letters decal set and use an S from that later on.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51196083440_713542fa70_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m12iXN)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51196083425_e01e177d52_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m12iXx)
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RAGIII on May 23, 2021, 02:23:21 AM
Really looking Fantastic!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: lone modeller on May 23, 2021, 03:54:03 AM
Some real progress with this one EBF. This has clearly presented some problems but your method of attaching the undercarriage seems to have worked very well indeed frorm where I am looking. The markings also turn this into an individual model - will look even better when rigged.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Fvdm on May 23, 2021, 05:19:22 PM
So far it looks great. Can't wait to see the rigging
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: WD on May 23, 2021, 10:52:29 PM
You're a far, far better man than me EBF!  I've seen and heard what a fiddly build this kit can be. I'm light years away from being able to do what you've done here.

It looks great, looking forward to seeing the finished product.

WD
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: DaveB on May 24, 2021, 01:17:03 AM
Good work and your getting this one together nicely

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Alexis on May 24, 2021, 11:38:41 AM
Progressing really nicely EBF , that would have tested me for sure . Well done !


Alexis
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on June 24, 2021, 03:51:10 PM
thanks all for the comments, i've made a steady start on the rigging

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51268329605_b3d86ae6eb_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7pAek)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51267297686_19d698f1ed_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7jitC)

Control cables for both the rudder and elevator are doubles so double the trouble  ;D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51268329575_036ec50047_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7pAdP)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51267478558_4fb8cbcb7a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m7kef7)
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Alexis on June 24, 2021, 10:23:21 PM
Nice work on the rigging so far !  :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RAGIII on June 24, 2021, 11:17:49 PM
The rigging looks awesome! Not an easy task in 1/72nd!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: FAf on June 24, 2021, 11:18:28 PM
Great work! I really like the looks of the Brisfit and your model is doing the real thing justice.
/Fredrik
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: lone modeller on June 25, 2021, 08:19:39 AM
Excellent start on the rigging. Double wires in God's Own Scale are not easy but you are making an excellent job of yours.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: WD on June 26, 2021, 10:08:07 AM
Excellent work sir!  You are a brave man.

WD
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on July 01, 2021, 07:32:45 AM
thanks all for the comments, very much appreciated.

The bulk of the rigging is now complete, i just need to do a couple of control cables but they need doing after the last decals go on. Also fitted the exhausts, the next update might even see this one finished

Excuse the new backdrop, it could do with seeing the hot end of an iron  ;D

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51281667790_8e63c5d1b7_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m8zXd3)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51280824973_91685ee489_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2m8vCEH)
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Rookie on July 01, 2021, 07:39:25 AM
Absolutely fabulous!

Willem
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: WD on July 01, 2021, 08:51:26 AM
Beautiful!!!!  I love it.

WD
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RAGIII on July 01, 2021, 09:04:49 AM
Outstanding rigging and overall work@! Beautiful Bristol!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: RichieW on July 01, 2021, 08:56:20 PM
100% agree with all the praise you are getting. This is beautiful!

Richie
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: IanB on July 02, 2021, 02:49:32 AM
Very nice!

Ian
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: lone modeller on July 02, 2021, 07:03:59 AM
Yup you are making an excellent model from that kit. The rigging looks spot on and the stripes on the fuselage are very eye-catching.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: SimonK on July 02, 2021, 08:10:20 AM
That's really nice!
Title: Re: Roden 1/72 Bristol F.2B
Post by: Early Bird Fan on July 03, 2021, 11:35:36 PM
thanks all for your comments and for following me on this project, i'm happy to report this build is now complete and pics can be found here (https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=12342.0)