forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: DaddyO on April 19, 2025, 07:21:23 PM

Title: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 19, 2025, 07:21:23 PM
After finishing the LVG recently I bimbled around the workroom wondering what to have a go at next. I'm sue it's not just me, but when a build is completed I'm always a bit 'flat' (which is part of the reason my workbench usually has half a dozen different projects on the go at once)

Anyway after a few days looking through various kit boxes and narrowing the field down to a more acceptable number I still couldn't decide which one to commit to and so went away to do other things. My current collection leans heavily into Nieuport variations and German types so really I wanted something British (or at least allied) reasonably large and ideally a bit 'different' to stand out on the display table. It was then I remembered some of the 'one day' projects - you know the ones that you promise yourself you'll have a go at some day  ::) (We all have them; projects that are just ideas for 'really' nice models - multi aircraft diorama's, dramatic vignettes etc.) Well in my 'one day' projects were 3 suitable triplanes 8)

So on Good Friday I decided I wasn't getting any younger and the only way to get one of these models is to break out the plastic and have a go  ;)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54461515221_e362920410_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qYzv4K)FK12 (https://flic.kr/p/2qYzv4K) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Starting with the tail surfaces the first problem was encountered -
Having cut to shape and sanded to section I added the ribs using my usual 'scored' method and unfortunately the rather floppy piece of plastic took on an unfortunate bow  :o Now I'm sure others would press on and find an alternative solution, but my thought was I've used the scoring method for the last few years without issue on 'normal' kits so why not just make the tail the same way. Rummaging on the shelf I found a suitable wing from a box and tried again. The lower surface was sanded flat (ish) and all detail sanded off and then the section reduced in thickness before the elevators were separated. Although taking a good deal longer to make the result is something much more rigid that looks the part.  8)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54460676537_cf937bd035_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qYvcKF)FK12 tail plane (https://flic.kr/p/2qYvcKF) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Encouraged by these I slapped some plastic card together to form the main bits of the fuselage. The intention is to add the rounded top sections and nose from carved thicker sheet tacked in place for carving and then removed to allow any details to be added. One of the advantages of the layout is that both lower wings attach to the fuselage directly which should make setting up easier. To reinforce the attachment points I've added a couple of extra thcknesses of card  which should allow the wings to be pinned in place with wire.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54460676507_c4e81b3ab9_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qYvcKa)FK12 fuselage (https://flic.kr/p/2qYvcKa) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

That's all for the moment, but I'll cover a bit of history of this interesting beastie in a later post

Paul
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: s.e.charles on April 19, 2025, 07:58:18 PM
heckuva start.

following along
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: enathan on April 19, 2025, 09:38:47 PM
Great choice Paul!
One of those airplanes that makes you wonder "What were they thinking?..."
It's not even clear if it's the F.K.6 or F.K.12 but it's obviously a failure, and one of the best definitions of the term "ungainly"  ;D
A good start, I will be following with interest  :)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 19, 2025, 10:59:03 PM
heckuva start.

following along

Thank you kindly sir  ;D

Great choice Paul!
One of those airplanes that makes you wonder "What were they thinking?..."
It's not even clear if it's the F.K.6 or F.K.12 but it's obviously a failure, and one of the best definitions of the term "ungainly"  ;D
A good start, I will be following with interest  :)

Cheers matey.  ;D
I quite like the look of the FK8 and when I started looking into other designs by Fredrick (Koolhoven) I was immediately struck by the lack of shall we say 'conventionality'. Here was a man unafraid to push the boundaries of what was possible (I seem to recalla story that the earlier triplane was so radical that either the pilot or works manager refused it to be flown)

Clearly the idea of gunners in the wings was popular pre-sychronization because there's the similar (ish) Robey Peters idea (which is also on my some day build list) ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on April 21, 2025, 05:36:27 PM
Wow, what am intriguing project! Great start, you have a lot of courage to attempt this and I can't wait to see it in the wild on a GWSIG display  8)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 21, 2025, 06:51:46 PM
Wow, what am intriguing project! Great start, you have a lot of courage to attempt this and I can't wait to see it in the wild on a GWSIG display  8)

Cheers Nigel.  ;D
It's certainly a big old lump so should stand out among my usual tiddlers. The wingspan is about 62' so around the same size as a Marauder bomber (A tad less than a Gotha) Roughly 10 1/2" wingspan on the model

I figured I might as well have a go at something different and this is one of 3 triplane projects that I'd considered. There are a few 'problems' that will need solving before it's completed, but rather than wait until I was sure I knew how to sort them I thought I'd dive in and have some fun and hopefully learn some stuff along the way   ::)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 21, 2025, 09:07:20 PM
Following on from my tailplane experience I decided to tackle the wings slightly differently from my original plan. Looking through the many unbuilt models sitting on the shelf I found a pair of Roden Gotha's (GII and GIV) Since I'm only ever likely to tackle one that meant some surplus parts  :o and with a bit of jiggling about I could get a complete set of wings to suit.

 NB - I decided to fill the hinge lines with stretched sprue because this would behave in the same way as the rest of the wing plastic when adding details later. The large Gotha wing panels needed an extra little chunk of plastic adding to the cut out section to make up the length correctly. The middle (largest) wing is the only one with ailerons fitted so that will make life easier.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54466078545_6ea4d3e28c_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qYYTzK)FK12 mid wing (https://flic.kr/p/2qYYTzK) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

In other news the rough fuselage shape is now ready for a top piece and the upper wing (which is the only one with dihedral) is, after much rimming and sanding ready for pins and rib tapes to be added

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54466078525_f2c01ae7a8_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qYYTzp)FK12 top wing (https://flic.kr/p/2qYYTzp) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on April 22, 2025, 01:02:43 AM
Excellent use of a bank holiday weekend! And also excellent use of a spare Gotha.....
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 23, 2025, 02:02:27 AM
Excellent use of a bank holiday weekend! And also excellent use of a spare Gotha.....

 ;D Even managed to eat some chocolate eggs so top weekend all round

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: andonio64 on April 23, 2025, 11:21:28 PM
Great project Paul!
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 24, 2025, 12:54:45 AM
Great project Paul!

Cheers matey. really busy at work so haven't had any chance to move it along so far this week  :-[
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Flamingo on April 24, 2025, 02:06:34 AM
Nice scratch project of an ugly plane!
And hurry, so it is done when the kit arrives....
Cheers Joachim
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on April 24, 2025, 04:08:02 AM
Been away and just found this: an excellent topic for a scratch build. I do like those experimental types which looked ungainly at best and down right ugly at worst. They are so interesting for a number of reasons, not least because they are so little known - which means nobody can claim that you have got something wrong! (even when you have!!!?)

I will be following with great interest not least to crib any good construction ideas.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 24, 2025, 05:35:10 PM
Nice scratch project of an ugly plane!
And hurry, so it is done when the kit arrives....
Cheers Joachim

LOL wouldn't that be typical Joachim  ;D, but I reckon I'm pretty safe with this one . . .

Been away and just found this: an excellent topic for a scratch build. I do like those experimental types which looked ungainly at best and down right ugly at worst. They are so interesting for a number of reasons, not least because they are so little known - which means nobody can claim that you have got something wrong! (even when you have!!!?)

I will be following with great interest not least to crib any good construction ideas.

Stephen.

Cheers Stephen
I'm very taken with these shall we say 'quirky' designs and the empirical nature if build it to see if it works process that went on. They are also excellent display pieces compared with more regular designs provoking interest and comments when alongside more 'normal' aircraft  :)

Not sure there'll be much in the way of interesting techniques to crib, much of my modelling is 'make it up as you go along' school  ::)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on April 27, 2025, 04:52:39 AM
[quote/]

Not sure there'll be much in the way of interesting techniques to crib, much of my modelling is 'make it up as you go along' school  ::)
[/quote]

....which is the technique that I use all the time. It means that you will probably do something I have not thought about and then I can crib it!!

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 27, 2025, 05:59:56 PM
[quote/]

Not sure there'll be much in the way of interesting techniques to crib, much of my modelling is 'make it up as you go along' school  ::)

....which is the technique that I use all the time. It means that you will probably do something I have not thought about and then I can crib it!!

Stephen.
[/quote]

LOL!  ;D

The time I've had this week has mainly been wing related; I've now got a complete set of three wings wit the the lower sets pinned (0.7mm brass tube) ready for mounting. Ailerons are also pinned (brass wire 0.3 mm) and interestingly there are two control horns on each for which the slots have been cut ready for brass horns to be added later.
There's also been some work on the fuselage (although it doesn't look terribly exciting hopefully it'll make life easier in the later stages) ;) The wing pins were measured and fitted in the same position in each wing using the leading edge as datum which meant that I was able to align the fixing holes using a pencil line around the fuselage - this should in theory give me wing leading edges that all line up nicely when viewed from above.

Looking at the photograph and plan there appears to be a 'natural' break forward of the cockpit so a laminated plastic sheet panel has been added ready for carving. Aft of this I'll probably use the same technique, but may make a 'crash' mould to save hollowing out the cockpit area  :-\

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54479204824_09ba2e6101_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r19ayU)DSC_1641 (https://flic.kr/p/2r19ayU) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on April 28, 2025, 07:21:08 PM
Excellent progress Paul, this is starting to look impressively ugly..... ;) Superb scratchbuilding work on this so far.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on April 28, 2025, 08:22:23 PM
Excellent progress Paul, this is starting to look impressively ugly..... ;) Superb scratchbuilding work on this so far.

Cheers Nigel  ;D
It'll certainly be the ugliest/oddest aeroplane I've built so far

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 03, 2025, 06:30:46 PM
Just because the day is full with work related stuff doesn't mean modelling won't be done. A few very early starts (getting up at 5.00) :o allowed some uninterrupted build time before the normal day starts

Pod shape taken from plan with a few tweaks using the photo. The top will be trimmed later to fit under the middle wing. The side were cut to shape from 10 thou plastic card and then boiling water poured over them to allow them to be curved slightly. Interestingly the side taper inwards so the bottom of the pod is narrower than the top so a couple of tapered formers were glued to the bench to ensure both sides matched.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54493247894_d6a399ec17_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o95N)FK pod (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o95N) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Once both sides were glued the front edge was trimmed and a couple of strips of 10 thou card added ready to be sanded to shape

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54493407745_d9a8ac3e23_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r2oXAR)FK Pods (https://flic.kr/p/2r2oXAR) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

The top wing is the only one with dihedral, as I mentioned, so after pinning with brass wire this was glued together using a couple of plastic scraps to get the correct angle. The inevitable gaps were plugged with some scrap 5 thou card and when dry everything sanded ready for detailing.
 
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54493247919_1cfabc7658_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o96e)FK top wing (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o96e) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Then it was back to sanding the fuselage. The rough shape was hacked out using a scalpel and then on to the sanding sticks keeping everything nice and square at this stage ready for later shaping.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54493247904_9cdb0cecf6_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o95Y)FK fuz and top wing (https://flic.kr/p/2r2o95Y) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 03, 2025, 07:26:07 PM
This is impressive work. The beast is taking shape..... Keep up with those early starts ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on May 07, 2025, 05:59:28 AM
This is looking very promising indeed. The basic shapes are fairly simple but the taper on the nacelles looks interesting. Good to see you are using sophisticated jigs - hopefully others will see that scratch building is not nearly as difficult as they may imagine it to be.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 07, 2025, 06:24:10 AM
This is impressive work. The beast is taking shape..... Keep up with those early starts ;)

Doing my best Nigel  . . . yawn! ;D

This is looking very promising indeed. The basic shapes are fairly simple but the taper on the nacelles looks interesting. Good to see you are using sophisticated jigs - hopefully others will see that scratch building is not nearly as difficult as they may imagine it to be.

Stephen.


Cheers Stephen.  :D
Nothing too difficult so far (apart from the usual trying to interpret smudgy old black and white photos) ;)

As you say once you start to break it down the shapes are pretty simple and I'm a big fan keeping things simple; hence the quick and dirty jig. I keep telling myself that once the basic shapes are done it's just a question of adding detail as per my usual practice with limited run kits. I intend to concentrate the detailing around the areas where the eye is naturally drawn and am a firm believer in the 'if you can't see it don't waste time adding detail school'  ::)

Paul

ps - managed to get some time in over the weekend mainly sanding and making struts. I'll try and post a pic or two tomorrow when the sun is up
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 08, 2025, 02:51:25 AM
As promised here's the sanded fuselage (feels like we're getting somewhere now) Wing attachment holes are drilled ready to plug the wings in and cockpit cover area is removed ready to be hollowed out. For the presumably stringered area aft of the cockpit I'm thinking of adding thin brass wire and the build up with filler, but who knows what I'll end up doing  ::)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54503811228_b9138f3610_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r3jhcf)FK sanded fuz (https://flic.kr/p/2r3jhcf) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

As per usual struts are all brass which I usually sand from rod (yes it's boring, but I do a few strips at the start of the year ready to be cut to length) These are a tad oversize and need the ends shaping which I'll save for another day. Yes there are really that many of them! :o

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54503728169_f309727ec4_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r3iRvc)FK Struts (https://flic.kr/p/2r3iRvc) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

And here are the distinctive wing pods roughed out ready to be cut to fit the middle wing

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54503540916_6c8793e1df_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r3hTQG)FK Pods (https://flic.kr/p/2r3hTQG) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Final one for today since I was bored sanding and filling I decided to make a start on some of the details. Undercarriage had large oleo's which were easy enough to shape from a discarded bit of Gotha wing  :P
For the wheel attachment I wound 15 amp fuse wire round a brass axle and then filled and sanded the gaps. Not much will be seen, but it should be strong enough. Finally the exhausts also came courtesy of Roden's Gotha since there were a few different types on the sprues I simply picked the nearest with 6 inlet pipes and reshaped them to the correct size and style before adding the outlet pipes which were carved from those wing spars you get in Eduards Triplane box (Got plenty of those bits knocking about) ;)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54503811233_5f2ccdfb0a_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r3jhck)FK Tripe details (https://flic.kr/p/2r3jhck) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 08, 2025, 05:44:01 PM
This is starting to look really good. Lovely work on that fuselage, you've really got a great result there and very clever scratchbuilding on those details. Can't wait to see more!
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 08, 2025, 06:38:36 PM
This is starting to look really good. Lovely work on that fuselage, you've really got a great result there and very clever scratchbuilding on those details. Can't wait to see more!

Cheers matey ;D
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on May 09, 2025, 03:31:35 AM
Got to agree with Nigel - this is shaping up really wel. The engine nacelles are works of art.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 09, 2025, 04:09:20 AM
Got to agree with Nigel - this is shaping up really wel. The engine nacelles are works of art.

Stephen.

Thanks Stephen.
There's a certain boat like quality to the nacelles which makes me want to add a pair of oars (hopefully when they're on the wing the urge will disappear) :D
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Alexis on May 11, 2025, 11:23:46 PM
Going to admit , not the prettiest aircraft but totally different ! Love it !!


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 12, 2025, 04:59:12 AM
Going to admit , not the prettiest aircraft but totally different ! Love it !!

Alexis

Glad you like it Alexis. Got admit it fell out of the ugly tree (and hit most of the branches on the way down) ;D

Slow weekend with not much progress to show (although the hedges have been cut, the vegetable patch is dug and various plants have been potted so the garden is looking a bit more together)  ;)

I managed to cut the cockpit opening in the wrong place on the removable panel (don't ask) and after trying various bodges decided that the best solution was to make a new section and start again. Once this was sanded to shape the opening cut and then the piece carefully hollowed out. The scrap section is laying in front of the grumpy inspector. I also cut out the tail position and engine exhaust slots, which took longer than expected. I added a platform to these so I can slot in the 'engine blocks' with the exhausts attached giving the impression of something going on inside.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54512504259_4385807df9_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r45Qk6)DSC_1672 (https://flic.kr/p/2r45Qk6) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: bobs_buckles on May 12, 2025, 06:16:36 AM
That there, is some special work. Well done!

BB  :)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: enathan on May 12, 2025, 07:28:21 AM
Great progress Paul! The weird contraption is beginning to take shape ;D
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 12, 2025, 06:20:53 PM
Excellent progress, both inside and in the garden! I am really impressed with those slots for the engine/exhausts, that is some precision work there.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Richtrad on May 13, 2025, 09:10:47 AM
This is a creative thinking and problem solving showcase. Most impressive, and entertaining to boot.

Warren Q
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 14, 2025, 04:48:33 PM
That there, is some special work. Well done!

BB  :)

Cheers BB  ;D

Great progress Paul! The weird contraption is beginning to take shape ;D

Getting there now matey (and weird contraption is about right)  :)
Presently debating whether to add a couple of Lewis guns to the pods as intended, even if the only couple of photos don't show them fitted. I think it will make it more obvious how it was to be used.

Excellent progress, both inside and in the garden! I am really impressed with those slots for the engine/exhausts, that is some precision work there.

Thanks Nigel. Trouble with the garden is stuff just keeps growing  ;)

This is a creative thinking and problem solving showcase. Most impressive, and entertaining to boot.

Warren Q

 ;D Glad you're enjoying it Warren


Slight hiccup in the plan for this one discovered earlier today.  :o
The plan view and side view give different sizes for the length of the wing pods. I used the plan view to cut the top shape (logically enough) and took a number of fixed points from the side view to get the shape. Having trimmed the top of the pods to fix to the wing I've spotted that the pod is too long. It should finish in front of the rear strut so that it can attach to the wing (confirmed by a close look at the photo) Currently my pods are about 3mm too long which means the curve on the sides will also need adjusting to suit the new length. . . I'll have a closer look later to work out the best way of rectifying this.

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 14, 2025, 06:00:06 PM
Slight hiccup in the plan for this one discovered earlier today.  :o
The plan view and side view give different sizes for the length of the wing pods. I used the plan view to cut the top shape (logically enough) and took a number of fixed points from the side view to get the shape. Having trimmed the top of the pods to fix to the wing I've spotted that the pod is too long. It should finish in front of the rear strut so that it can attach to the wing (confirmed by a close look at the photo) Currently my pods are about 3mm too long which means the curve on the sides will also need adjusting to suit the new length. . . I'll have a closer look later to work out the best way of rectifying this.

Oh dear. Definitely won't be ready for the Salisbury show then..... I'm sure you'll be able to fix this though, keep up the good work.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on May 15, 2025, 04:15:45 AM

[quote/]
I managed to cut the cockpit opening in the wrong place on the removable panel

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54512504259_4385807df9_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r45Qk6)DSC_1672 (https://flic.kr/p/2r45Qk6) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
[/quote]

You have not scratch built a model until something like that happens! Also the plan and side elevation giving different dimensions for the same feature - another joy of using plans which have been cobbled together by somebody in the past....

This really is going to be an interesting model when finished - I am really looking forward to seeing it.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 15, 2025, 04:37:59 AM
 ;D
Cheers Nigel & Stephen.
I expected something to go pear-shaped at some point; at least at this early stage I can make corrections without too much hard work (and it's all good practice) ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 24, 2025, 09:53:26 PM
Right ho a few early starts saw the nacelles reduced in length, shapes adjusted and the bottoms replaced with 5 thou card.  8)

This morning I cut out the slots in sides (for landing wires) after reinforcing the open sides with a couple of square pieces to make this easier. The cockpit positions were cut out after adding a couple of circles (cockpit padding) which were made from some tyres that came with the Eduard DR1 kit; the hub part needed cutting away and I sanded them to half thickness to get a semicircular section. I'd already added a back to the cockpit so next up is to slap some paint to cover the white of the interior before adding seats and some interior details.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54541626546_98a3d93acf_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6E6nu)FK Nacelles (https://flic.kr/p/2r6E6nu) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Flamingo on May 24, 2025, 10:16:42 PM
Great progress, really like to follow.
Joachim
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 25, 2025, 05:23:00 PM
Great progress, really like to follow.
Joachim

Cheers Joachim glad you're enjoying the build as well  ;D

As promised this fella needs a couple of radiators to mount on the sides of the fuselage so next up was working out the best way of making them. Eventually decided that layering 5 thou plastic card gave the correct thickness and appearance so a bunch of strips were cut and then glued together using superglue since my normal Tamiya cement tends to distort the thin plastic which is definitely not required in this case
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54541814474_34f5fbeff1_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6F4eC)Radiator parts (https://flic.kr/p/2r6F4eC) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

After gluing and a gentle sand to square up any edges I was very pleased with the effect (even had the correct number of fins based on the FK8 radiators which I was using as reference)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54540752842_c5d2125602_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6zBDC)Radiator laminations (https://flic.kr/p/2r6zBDC) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

A scrap block of plastic was glued to one end and then shaped
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54541626561_10abe5f4af_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6E6nK)FK radiators (https://flic.kr/p/2r6E6nK) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Once that was done the process repeated for the other end and straps were added using self adhesive aluminium foil
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54542532682_23c0bd8c0d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6JJJw)FK finished radiators (https://flic.kr/p/2r6JJJw) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Incidentally although only two are needed I usually make a spare to practice the next stage on and act as a spare in case of any 'ahem' issues  ;)

Now to finish the wings off (drill for stuts and rigging and add rib tapes)

Paul
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 25, 2025, 06:01:21 PM
That is lovely scratchbuilding Paul, great skills evident there. But it's not going to be ready for next Saturday, is it....... ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 25, 2025, 06:37:47 PM
That is lovely scratchbuilding Paul, great skills evident there. But it's not going to be ready for next Saturday, is it....... ;)

Cheers matey
Sadly I suspect it'll not quite be finished in time, but who knows . . . . ::) ;)

Having drilled the wings and added rib tapes I couldn't resist a quick mock up to see what the overall effect is like  :o

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54545070370_c7b588c720_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6XK6L)DSC_1684 (https://flic.kr/p/2r6XK6L) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54544966503_10739480ce_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r6XddX)DSC_1685 (https://flic.kr/p/2r6XddX) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Long way to go, but certainly looks like something straight out of 'Catch the Pigeon'  :o
(which was a cartoon I grew up watching about vaguely WW1 type birds trying to intercept a messenger pigeon)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on May 26, 2025, 06:34:45 PM
Wow, that looks fantastic, this will be a great subject to see completed.

Long way to go, but certainly looks like something straight out of 'Catch the Pigeon'  :o
(which was a cartoon I grew up watching about vaguely WW1 type birds trying to intercept a messenger pigeon)
I think you mean "Dastardly and Muttley (in their Flying Machines)" - it was a spin-off from Wacky Races. And huge fun!
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Dirigible-Al on May 26, 2025, 11:44:32 PM
CATCH THE PIGEON. Thanks for reminding me of that, I remember that cartoon. I am now going see if I can see it again on Utube.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 27, 2025, 12:02:53 AM
CATCH THE PIGEON. Thanks for reminding me of that, I remember that cartoon. I am now going see if I can see it again on Utube.

I just did exactly the same  ;)
The show was actually called 'Stop that pigeon' rather than 'Catch the pigeon' as I said (Although as Nigel mentioned there were a few Dick Dastardly spin off shows and the original title for this one was 'Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines'. All of them were great fun and perhaps had too much of an influence on my model choices since I do seem to be drawn to the esoteric)  ::)

Next up modelling on this is to work out the undercarriage and since the top and side view on the plans don't quite agree with the couple of photo's of the full sized machine I'm going to have to wing it a bit (sorry I couldn't resist) ;D
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Borsos on May 27, 2025, 07:03:27 AM
I am always deeply impressed by you scratchbuilding folks. I love your work.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 27, 2025, 05:14:58 PM
I am always deeply impressed by you scratchbuilding folks. I love your work.

Cheers Borsos  ;D
Learning new stuff all the time since this is the first time I've started with a pile of plastic and a set of plans. Taking it slowly and just tackling each stage and problems as they occur seems to be working so far . . .(famous last words) ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: macsporran on May 27, 2025, 07:40:24 PM
Paul, this is brilliant. Exactly what real modelling is all about.
A few sheets of plastic, some old wing bits, rod, strut, glue and lots of ingenuity and chutzpah and ....  an unknown behemoth starts to appear.
Magnificent, my friend. Can't wait to see what the finished beastie will look like.
Sandy
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 27, 2025, 07:47:18 PM
Paul, this is brilliant. Exactly what real modelling is all about.
A few sheets of plastic, some old wing bits, rod, strut, glue and lots of ingenuity and chutzpah and ....  an unknown behemoth starts to appear.
Magnificent, my friend. Can't wait to see what the finished beastie will look like.
Sandy

Cheers Sandy.  ;D
Got to admit that all these supportive comments really help keep projects on track when problems crop up and the encouragement and knowledge of everyone here is a real inspiration

Paul
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on May 30, 2025, 02:01:59 AM
Been away recently and have just caught up. Excellent radiators and nacelles - and the mock up of the model so far is inspiring. Just shows what a few sheets of plastic card, rod, and spares can do with a little imagination.

First class in every way.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on May 30, 2025, 05:38:19 PM
Been away recently and have just caught up. Excellent radiators and nacelles - and the mock up of the model so far is inspiring. Just shows what a few sheets of plastic card, rod, and spares can do with a little imagination.

First class in every way.

Stephen.

Many thanks Stephen  ;D

Certainly enjoying it and it's always fun to create something different. There's quite a lot of 'ponder' time because of the lack of references trying to interpret what would have been likely, but that fits in with my current time for building so the project isn't slowed at all.

Current 'ponder' is the pilots cockpit. This is a vast fuselage for one seat with a rather large opening; when I placed the seat in the space there appeared to be acres of room around it which will need some interest adding. Behind the seat my original plan had been to have a fabric screen to save a bit of detail work (a bit like a Fokker DVII, but also seen in the FK3 cockpit) When I added the seat it was clear that wasn't going to work so the bulkhead had to be cut away and some stringers/ribs were inserted through the bulkhead hole into the rear of the fuselage which was an interesting exercise  :P I'll post a couple of pics when I get the chance although it's all white on white so might not show very well until I've managed to get some paint on it
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaveB on June 01, 2025, 01:54:53 AM
Oh wow - that is a strange looking aeroplane and one of not come across before but what great work so far!

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on June 02, 2025, 06:12:51 AM
Oh wow - that is a strange looking aeroplane and one of not come across before but what great work so far!

Regards

Dave

Cheers Dave
The plan was published a couple of times in the old Windsock magazine (and interestingly I'd earmarked both issues when searching for a new project not realising it was the same aircraft) ::)

Anywho as promised here are a couple of pics showing not much progress, but if you look carefully you can see some evidence of the structure that was fitted through a hole cut in the cabin bulkhead (Honestly I sometimes wonder if I make things difficult just to see if I can do them) :o

Other (not very interesting) work has been tackled as well - Holes for cabane struts and rigging, air holes in the nose and at the tail end as well as the start of the undercarriage (which is another story) and the rather vast cockpit starting to be, if not filled then at least populated with some of the usual items. Given how wide the cockpit is I think I'm going to make the dashboard more of a bulkhead for fitting the various pumps and wheels that are usually found on the cabin sides otherwise our intrepid pilot will need arms like Inspector Gadget ;D

I opted for the easy solution for the stringers on the turtle deck and simply sanded them in once the solid piece was in position. For the cockpit padding Duro putty rolled into a sausage and then worked into position reduced the vast opening slightly (If you struggle to get the still soft putty to stick just use a spot of superglue; a tip I picked up from Rob Lane of Elan 13 a few years ago at one of the last EuroMilitaires)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54561286865_639ed4344d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r8oRGv)FK interior rear 2 (https://flic.kr/p/2r8oRGv) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54561141039_a67cf88e77_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r8o7mg)FK Interior start (https://flic.kr/p/2r8o7mg) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54561141044_b880b78b33_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2r8o7mm)FK fuz (https://flic.kr/p/2r8o7mm) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: NigelR on June 02, 2025, 06:23:54 PM
Are you sure you didn't put a 1/144 seat in it? I see what you mean about the vast cockpit space....... This is indeed a big beast. But it's looking really good, real high quality scratchbuilding work.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on June 02, 2025, 06:44:55 PM
Are you sure you didn't put a 1/144 seat in it? I see what you mean about the vast cockpit space....... This is indeed a big beast. But it's looking really good, real high quality scratchbuilding work.

 ;D Yep I wondered the same (it is 1/72) and it had me rushing back to the plans to double check the scaling (which is right as far as I can tell)

The wheels, incidentally, are exactly the same diameter as found on the DH9/9a which is another clue that everything scales correctly. Apparently the test pilot was rather corpulent or the designer scaled the fuselage to suit the width of the rather large lump of engine ;)
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Dirigible-Al on June 03, 2025, 01:53:43 AM
If memory serves me correct, the Albatros WE.1 has a massive space for the passenger/observer in its nose and would look not dissimilar to yours. I tried googling it before this post but for some reason it didn't come up.

Edit: Albatros Wasser Eindecker HE https://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft28893.htm#gallery-12
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on June 03, 2025, 03:20:45 AM
It looks as though the pilot had enough room for a bed in that cockpit opening....

Thjis is shaping up very nicely indeed.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: bobs_buckles on June 03, 2025, 08:18:47 AM
You the Daddy!  :o
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on June 03, 2025, 05:07:19 PM
If memory serves me correct, the Albatros WE.1 has a massive space for the passenger/observer in its nose and would look not dissimilar to yours. I tried googling it before this post but for some reason it didn't come up.

Edit: Albatros Wasser Eindecker HE https://flyingmachines.ru/Site2/Crafts/Craft28893.htm#gallery-12

Thanks for the link; it's reassuring to see that they all weren't a tight squeeze  :)

It looks as though the pilot had enough room for a bed in that cockpit opening....

This is shaping up very nicely indeed.

Stephen.

LOL Stephen.  ;D
There was that other 'interesting' design (PB designed Nighthawk) which intended to have a bunk for a crewmember  :o (makes this one seem like streamlining personified)

You the Daddy!  :o

 8) Haha . Thanks Bob
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Alexis on July 02, 2025, 09:31:47 AM
Awesome work , shaping very nicely


Alexis
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: Skyhook on July 02, 2025, 05:05:10 PM
Hi!

According to the relative size of the seat, this seems to be a real luxury liner :). Great work and I am very curious to seetheend result before long

Cheers, Skyhook
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on July 02, 2025, 11:56:10 PM
Awesome work , shaping very nicely
Alexis

Thanks Alexis  :D

Hi!

According to the relative size of the seat, this seems to be a real luxury liner :). Great work and I am very curious to seetheend result before long

Cheers, Skyhook

Cheers Skyhook  :D

Not had much modelling time recently and since I'd got a bit bogged down with this one decided to crack open a simple build that I'd started earlier; proved to be just the ticket and although that's not quite finished I hopped back on this one to see if I can complete it for the WW1 SIG display at Old Sarum at the end of the month . . . :o (rocket building given my usual pace!)

Anyway I kept looking at the Barracuda seat and it just felt too small so I dug out a few others that I had in the spares box which all seemed more bulky and then I remembered some etched seats (Eduard?) Using the back and a plastic seat bottom with a bit of subtle enlargement gives me something that I'm much happier with  ;D

A quick spray over the bits completed so far revealed more filling/sanding was needed in a few areas so that's what I've been up to over the last couple of mornings. Will post some pics when I get the chance

Paul
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on July 03, 2025, 04:51:42 AM
First up seats
Barracuda one on slats as seen in earlier pic with standard Eduard? one and new 'not so svelte' wicker one which may be coming to a triplane near you soon  ;)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54628110857_f9a30f049b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2reim9i)FK10 seats (https://flic.kr/p/2reim9i) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/)

A quick pic of the inspector checking out the cockpit. Plenty of details to be added, but started with floor + raised foot boards, batons/formers and some stretched sprue 'rigging' attached with varnish
The odd colour of the fuselage is a standard primer filler coat which will (hopefully) disappear later  ;)

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54628110892_d20dce64dd_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2reim9U)FK10 cockpit (https://flic.kr/p/2reim9U) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/)

Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: lone modeller on July 04, 2025, 04:55:59 AM
Good to see that this one is on the move again. The new seat is certainly an improvement. Good progress - keep it up.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Armstrong Whitworth 3 seat triplane
Post by: DaddyO on July 04, 2025, 06:12:54 PM
Good to see that this one is on the move again. The new seat is certainly an improvement. Good progress - keep it up.

Stephen.

Thanks Stephen. Got to admit the seat was bugging me, but with the fractionally larger one it looked correct (if spacious) Up early this morning sorting out a few cockpit details which I'll paint later and then hopefully get the cockpit closed up and this bird moving forward again  :D