forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: torbiorn on June 28, 2021, 06:37:18 AM

Title: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: torbiorn on June 28, 2021, 06:37:18 AM

In 1913 railcar producer Södertelge Werkstäder opened an aviation department, and acquired licenses to build Farman pushers and Gnome engines. They built HF 22s and HF 23s, which they called SW 10 and 11 respectively, both equipped with 80hp Gnomes. Among the first customers was the painter Anders Zorn, who bought two HF 23s and donated one to the army and one to the navy. The naval version was supplied with floats - or slippers as the pilots called them - and was accepted by the navy as Flying Boat number 6. Based on drawings and some excellent images from Digitalmuseum I have built a 1/72 version of that machine in early 1915 livery.

Flying boat no 6 served extensively in the so called neutrality patrols until it crashed beyond repair in December 1916. The Farman was quickly taken out of front-line service by the warring nations, their slow velocity making them vulnerable, but as no one was shooting at them they served as the main workhorse of the Swedish marine throughout the war years, where their main tasks were to spot drifting mines and chase away intruding warships. At one point two unusually stubborn intruders were exchanging close-range fire in Swedish waters, and the flier eventually landed right between them and bade them to bugger off. The British and German ships both broke off in different directions. Although that would have made a nice diorama I did not manage to identify neither the plane nor the ships.

The navy liked the Farman enough to collect the wrecks of crashed Farmans and have the Torpedo Workshops puzzle together the remains into complete planes. Later they were re-equipped with stronger engines but they were never fast. They served all-year round, landing on the ice in the winters - the flat floats functioned just as well as skis.

An SW 11 on display at an unknown fair:
(https://i.imgur.com/pB4016E.jpg)


The model was built with styrene strip and sheet, various metal tubes and rods and wires, with a Gnome Lambda engine from small stuff models.

(https://i.imgur.com/Y71YCmF.jpg)

In 1914-1915 the Swedish air corps introduced underwing cockades in French fashion, along with a capital S, topped with a naval ensign on the rudder. The exact application varied, the Farmans typically had the cockade on the upper wing and the S:s on the lower, next to the aircraft pennant number. Flying boat no:6 had designated number 2.2.9:
(https://i.imgur.com/ycltX7X.jpg)


(https://i.imgur.com/GlgjQTE.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FspVBJ1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/x08Jppz.jpg)

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: herbarnold99 on June 28, 2021, 07:37:34 AM

Lovely! Thanks for sharing, your work is fantastic!

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: RAGIII on June 28, 2021, 07:53:53 AM

Absolutely Beautiful Model! Your work is amazing!
RAGIII

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: lone modeller on June 28, 2021, 08:14:41 AM

That is a first class model. It is even more impressive, (and important), because it is a pusher!

A very interesting background too - thanks for the information.

Stephen.

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: Alexis on June 28, 2021, 10:02:48 PM

Nice looking pusher !  :) And it's a float plane ...even better  ;)


Alexis

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: kensar on June 28, 2021, 10:12:57 PM

Excellent work.  Two wings and floats - bonus!

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: ModelCellar on June 29, 2021, 12:28:51 AM

WOW.  That's amazing!  ...scratch built ?!?!   Holy smokes!!   And, all that rigging - in 1/72 scale too.

Paul

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: DaveB on June 29, 2021, 01:26:07 AM

Superb!

Great scratch building and expertly rigged.  I never ceased to be amazed by the many unusual aircraft people find to model ............

Regards

Dave

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: Bughunter on June 29, 2021, 05:35:52 AM

Wow, that is an impressive model!
That amount of fine rigging in God's own scale :o

Thanks for showing,
Frank

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: RichieW on June 30, 2021, 03:04:56 AM

Stunning!!!! What a fine job you have done of that absolute spider's web of rigging, just amazing!

Richie

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: dr 1 ace on June 30, 2021, 03:25:36 AM

Add my complimentss to those above!

Ed

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: torbiorn on July 01, 2021, 04:20:14 AM

Thank you for the kind comments, folks.

I admit the rigging was a little challenging, but I find most rigging problems are solved if you take a long break when patience starts running dry.

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: lcarroll on July 01, 2021, 05:12:57 AM

Magnificent! Great modelling and beautiful results!
Cheers,
Lance

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: WD on July 01, 2021, 08:54:00 AM

I am gobsmacked at folks like you that can scratch-build like this. Beautiful work, Sir Harry would be so proud.

WD

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: Monty on July 02, 2021, 02:43:36 AM

That is quite an amazing construction - a great model and beautifully detailed and rigged! Quite unique, I bet! Well done! Marc

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: Brad Cancian on July 02, 2021, 08:01:30 AM

Wonderful scratch building, well done, sir!

Cheers,

BC

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: Rip Van Winkle on July 14, 2021, 12:25:05 AM

This project is a work of art.  I appreciate anything that is scratch built.

Title: Re: Henri Farman HF23 with slippers - 1/72 scratch-build
Post by: SimonK on July 31, 2021, 11:29:47 PM

stunning model, wish I had such skill