forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: DaddyO on February 25, 2026, 08:39:50 PM

Title: Not so secret project - Beardmore W.B.IV
Post by: DaddyO on February 25, 2026, 08:39:50 PM
Since I was already creating a pile of dust with my Be12b project I made a start on this one. It's in my usual 1/72 to give you an idea of size.

Taking a bit of time off meant making the most of it and during that period when stuff was drying I didn't want to waste any potential modelling time. Browsing through some books I came across this one which had me sorting through my spares box looking for bits to use. It will be a bit of a 'background' project to fill in those odd moments so don't expect rapid progress to be made. So far just a start on the flying surfaces which were carved down from a complete set Breguet wings to the rough shape needed. The top wing was jointed together from three sections, as per prototype and I've not finished shaping the lower wing inner roots yet. The fixed tail surface was from a Breguet, but I needed to use part of what looked like  Be2 tail to make up the larger elevators.

Just for fun does anyone know what aircraft I might be creating in my usual Frankenstein way?

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55115222571_f1b5f570d2_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rYkVu8)Secret project (https://flic.kr/p/2rYkVu8) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: NigelR on February 26, 2026, 08:10:42 PM
It's too small to tell. Could be anything in that scale........ ;D
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on February 26, 2026, 09:09:38 PM
It's too small to tell. Could be anything in that scale........ ;D

 ;D
LOL - Okay I'll drip a few clues in over the next couple of days

First one is it's a single seater (so no good for the current group build)
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on February 27, 2026, 05:22:00 AM
Imaginary first prize goes to Flamingo who manged to work out what I'm building ;D

So hearty congratulations to Joachim for getting it so quickly. 8)

Anyone else have a clue what these wings might belong to?
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on February 27, 2026, 11:59:47 PM
Next clue for any prospective guessers is that it's a British aircraft  :)
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: AngryJazz on March 03, 2026, 04:34:17 AM
Hmmm no idea what it is - but it does looks like a great start  ;D
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on March 03, 2026, 06:03:07 PM
Hmmm no idea what it is - but it does looks like a great start  ;D

Cheers Ben  :)

One more clue for you would be guessers - It was an aircraft designed for use from an aircraft carrier (and one of the first purpose designed ones for that role)

ps - I'll do a big reveal in a couple of days time  ;)
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: NigelR on March 03, 2026, 07:31:46 PM
Sopwith Cuckoo? But the tail feathers don't seem right for that.....
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on March 03, 2026, 08:03:41 PM
Sopwith Cuckoo? But the tail feathers don't seem right for that.....

Close, but no banana Nigel  ;)
Title: Re: Secret project - anyone guess what it might be?
Post by: DaddyO on March 04, 2026, 04:26:09 AM
Dirigible-Al is another who's worked out what this is going to be - well done  8)

I'll reveal all tomorrow rather than keep folks hanging any longer. (As i mentioned Nigel was pretty close) ;)
Title: Not so secret project - Beardmore WBIV
Post by: DaddyO on March 05, 2026, 12:44:51 AM
Well thanks for the guesses chaps. I've actually started to build Beardmore's ugly duckling the W.B.IV  ;D

Well done to Joachim and Alan who both correctly identified the model from only it's flying surfaces - great effort

Not much done yet on this one which will be a bit of a background project to turn to when glue's setting or paint is drying on other builds so don't expect too many rapid developments on this, but I'll post occasional pictures as it progresses
For those that weren't aware this one was built to a naval specification and although the prototype performed adequately it eventually lost out to Sopwith's much more conventional looking Cuckoo (So close Nigel) ;)
The pilot's position must have made landings a doddle although the HS engine buried in the middle of the fuselage with a long propshaft running below the legs of the pilot would have made any servicing a complete nightmare. Anyway here's what it looked like before the wingtip floats were discarded

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55128962275_ebae259ff6_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2rZykPz)117-2 (https://flic.kr/p/2rZykPz) by Paul S (https://www.flickr.com/photos/202177392@N05/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Not so secret project - Beardmore W.B.IV
Post by: Dirigible-Al on March 05, 2026, 01:09:34 AM
Looking forward to this. The fuselage looks a challenge, there doesn't seem to be a straight line in it.
Alan.
Title: Re: Not so secret project - Beardmore W.B.IV
Post by: DaddyO on March 05, 2026, 01:58:33 AM
Looking forward to this. The fuselage looks a challenge, there doesn't seem to be a straight line in it.
Alan.

Cheers Alan
You're right about the fuselage being a bit of a weird one, but I think I've sorted out a way of making it satisfactorily (for me at least)

Paul
Title: Re: Not so secret project - Beardmore W.B.IV
Post by: NigelR on March 05, 2026, 11:27:26 PM
Well, that's a new one on me! Another intriguing and somewhat challenging project.......