forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: GrahamB on March 13, 2015, 08:21:12 AM
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Hi,
not really a build log but just to show you how nice the Special Hobby MIC is. The internal cockpit structure is very delicate and builds up very well. The attachment points for the various frames are quite small and look unconvincing at first sight but with careful micro-masking (not here) or cleaning out of paint I found no problems with the assembly. Test fitting is necessary of course and only some slight adjustments were needed. I don't have any references for this aircraft so the wiring is a bit under-cooked and I had still to attach the 'throttle' rod on the port-side when the photos were taken. Like DrDave I swapped the kit's seat-harness for a spare WNW Pup lap-belt that's attached to the frame under the seat. The brass oval behind the seat is the kit's fuel tank (or at least the front end).
There is one major divergence from the kit in that there are two cut-outs in the forward longerons just behind the firewall as I'm going to insert brass tube to accept wing-root rods (Albion Alloys slide-fit stuff) - front only though; part D18, the curved transverse frame/coaming, was shaved at the back (mostly the lower half and obliquely)to clear the passage for the tube.
It is a pity that almost all of this disappears when the fuselage halves are joined as the cockpit aperture is very small.
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/015_zpsdfa7vqwp.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/015_zpsdfa7vqwp.jpg.html)
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/017_zpsfjkywn7r.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/017_zpsfjkywn7r.jpg.html)
Possibly some updates to come.
Cheers,
GrahamB
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You have made an excellent start with this kit Graham and what you have done so far is looking really good. I have this same kit so i will be watching your build with great interest, this kit gets excellent reviews so it should be a beauty.
Des.
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The cockpit looks great, Gordon. Really nice wood tones.
I'm Looking forward to the maybe possible updates. ;) ;D
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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I think you've done a great job so far.
Warren
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Outstanding cockpit Graham! Your seat and the overall wood tones are perfect!
RAGIII
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Outstanding cockpit Graham! Your seat and the overall wood tones are perfect!
RAGIII
I agree completely with my amigo, Graham! Looks like a fantastic kit. Excellent detail.
Cheers,
Bud
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Blush. Thanks guys.
I forgot to say that I replaced the kit's rather poor instrument decals with some 'Airscale' versions - probably only for effect and not accuracy. I think the only possible downer coming up are the decals - said to be fragile? I don't like the blue and red colours anyway and might try painting the insignia. Some spare Pheon Pup 'late' decals might do the job but I've only one pair of wing roundels.
Wood (pine) is Lifecolour's UA756 'Weathered Hemp' as a base coat (same for cockpit linen) with faint streaking in Burnt Sienna and (less) Raw Umber oils.
I've used some generic Eduard brackets for the cross-bracing with an attempt at using tube (that plasticy-flexible stuff) for the lower 'turnbuckles'.
The resin wicker seat with the kit is a gem and scrubs up beautifully.
cheers,
GrahamB
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Hello gentlemen,
Sure, it looks great.
Best regards.
Alain.
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wonderful begining!
Xan
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Hi,
some progress with fuselage closed up and seams tidied up (I think - we'll see when the overall primer goes on). A common problem with short-run kits such as this is the variable thickness of the plastic that makes a first-attempt clean join quite difficult. I masked off the upper and lower fuselage seams to protect the nice fabric-over-frame to concentrate on the mid-line flat strip. The extreme rear of the fuselage where it meets the stern post, on upper surface, dipped slightly so that a test fit of the tail fin (lower edge straight) showed a gap. It may have been me being overkeen with sanding but it is worth looking out for. I built it up with my sprue/liquid glue paste and sanded it level.
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/016_zpsv2vb3gqs.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/016_zpsv2vb3gqs.jpg.html)
A similar issue (variable thickness) is with the cowling that also has no supports - although it is actually pretty good and could be applied without any. I decided to add some small punched-out discs to help with the fit - these have to be glued one at a time with the cowling held flush with the main fuselage to ensure a fit. These won't interfere with the engine and can't be seen. The 'museum-quality' builders on the site won't like this though - you know who you are!
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/017_zpsh2cvzwer.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/017_zpsh2cvzwer.jpg.html)
Third picture just shows the wing spar arrangement - the main receiving brass tube can be slid into place with a longer piece of the thinner tube inserted and a spot of glue to fix it.
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/015_zps9dyfjyvq.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/015_zps9dyfjyvq.jpg.html)
One foul-up so far - the tailskid went AWOL somehow and I had to scratch one based on the kit's drawings.
Paint on soon.
Cheers,
GrahamB
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You are progressing extremely well Graham, the kit so far looks to be very good.
Des.
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Beautiful!!! ;)
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Outstanding ! You are making great progress and the spar treatment is excellent!
RAGIII
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Graham,
Looks like a wonderful Kit, and I like what you are doing with it. The cockpit is beautifully done and the wing spar "extras" an excellent piece of work! I'm looking forward to more updates.
Cheers,
Lance
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Not my scale , but I'm impressed with the over all quality of your build so far .
Terri
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Very good beginning Graham.
Martin
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Hi,
just a quick update - but slow progress on painting roundels. Why do I bother? Still, I'm just hoping there are not too many touch-ups to do after masking them off for top coats of camouflage colours. I used Phoenix-Precision enamels for the blue and red - they do a very nice Bright Roundel Blue and Bright Roundel Red (and equivalent Dull shades) that I toned down with complementary colours (a light brown for the blue and a green for the red). The red ended up practically the same as the kit's decals but the painted blue was a better ultramarine.
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/006_zpsdhgmo6gi.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/006_zpsdhgmo6gi.jpg.html)
On the way I have added some nice rivet decals to the back of the spinner (Archer Fine Transfers), drilled out the control wire apertures and added a brownish PC12 (or late PC10) to the undersurface wrap-arounds and the 'pick-up-here' stencil at rear of fuselage. This follows the suggestion made elsewhere that some of these M1Cs were originally finished PC10/PC12 then had the brick-red topcoat.
Just sprayed the light blue undersides - was going to use the Precision Roundel Blue enamel but decided to go with Vallejo primer white with some drops of Ultramarine (839) and a spot of Vallejo Modelair 035 Light Brown to tone it down. The final product that I was happy with turns out to be, coincidentally, a damned good match to the colour shown in the SH instructions!
Cheers,
GrahamB
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Looks very beautiful Graham.
Martin
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Really nice Graham, wish I could order those paints, but they can't be mailed. :(
Warren
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Your painted roundels are awesome! I think this is turning into a very stunning build!
RAGIII
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Really nice Graham, wish I could order those paints, but they can't be mailed. :(
Warren
Hi Warren,
Yes it's a pain with all these restrictions on solvent-based paints. I had these when I came to NZ some years ago and managed to order a few before the postal clampdown came along. Precision were originally mostly (British) railway paints but they started to introduce a few aviation colours. Still, if you want a really, really good late PC10 (brownish variant) then their railway colour P960 Frame Dirt (matt) is awesome - used it on the M1C. If you can get it by hook or crook I recommend it.
I'd like to know if the new 'Drooling Bulldog' colours (I guess they are laquer-based?) are going to be available in NZ too.
Thanks for all the positive comments. If it wasn't for the roundel painting it would be finished now. There is something very appealing about the shape of this aircraft, and Special Hobby's effort - the fuselage especially - is very fine. If I was to do another I would probably sand down all the rib tapes and patches though and replace with decal strips.
Cheers,
GrahamB
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Beautiful job with the roundel painting Graham, the colours look very convincing.
Des.
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Beautiful job with the roundel painting Graham, the colours look very convincing.
Des.
I couldn't agree more, Graham. Wonderful job!
Continuing to follow your very interesting build. :)
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Just another update. Most of the component parts are painted up and ready to be assembled. I'll probably add the rigging attachment points first though - small, short 'Bob's Buckles' types that are not prototypical but reasonably 'scale' in size.
The reddish camo colour is a little too bright in this photo and the roundel blue too cold. I am trying to wean myself off enamel paints but some of those I still have are simply too useful to ignore. This red-brown (iron oxide) is an excellent WEM paint: WEMCC ARIT 04 Rosso Ruggine - a WW2 Italian armour colour (Fiat-Ansaldo), darkened slightly with WEMCC ACLW08 Dunkelbraun RLM61. This first coat - somewhat patchy- was then lightly oversprayed with neat Rosso Ruggine. I might risk some light drybrushing with another (slightly lighter-brighter) paint from the colour-group - Precision M121 Dull Roundel Red - to pop out the fuselage ribs and other protruding elements.
Not far now.
Cheers,
GrahamB
(http://i587.photobucket.com/albums/ss320/zeuxo/007_zpsrrstepgh.jpg) (http://s587.photobucket.com/user/zeuxo/media/007_zpsrrstepgh.jpg.html)
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That is looking extremely good Graham, the colour seems right to me, looking forward to seeing all those bits and pieces joined up.
Des.
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Beautiful paintwork, Graham, and a very attractive scheme. This is looking like a really exceptional Build.
Cheers,
Lance
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Gorgeous work Graham! Once all of those components are together it will be a showstopper!
RAGIII
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You ended up with a great color there Graham, those WEM paints are great, aren't they? I do hope they find a distributor here in the U.S. for them.
Warren
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Very beautiful painted and great work Graham.
Martin
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Shaping up very nicely !
Terri