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WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: JoeDxMB on July 30, 2012, 11:25:13 AM

Title: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on July 30, 2012, 11:25:13 AM
While I'm  wating for the oils to dy on wooden cockpit parts, I bulit the  Gnome engine and the cowl . I'm representing the Rhinebeck Aerodrome's original A-1. as it was in the 1980s when it was still airworthy and still rather pristine after a restoration .
I saw it fly back  then and it was a beautiful sight!

The push rods on the Gnome were fashioned out of .032mm copper wire . No rockers, etc are modeled but they would not be visable under the cowl anyway. 

For the cowl, I first painted it inside and out with  Humbrol's aluminum metal cote. Then Tamiya red acrylic (x-7)  followed on the  exterior. When dry, this enabled the red to be scratch easilly down to the metal coat . I just gave it a few random scratches . I did not want to over do it. I was more concerned about representing the effects of the Gnome's  exhaust and castor oil. 
I then sealed it with Humbrol's satin cote. Final weathering and the MS PE logos will be added at a later time .

Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: coyotemagic on July 30, 2012, 01:29:35 PM
Outstanding job on the cowling and the engine, Joe.  I'm really looking forward to this build.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: GAJouette on July 30, 2012, 11:09:46 PM
   Joe,
The cowl looks excellent my friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 11, 2012, 12:51:26 PM
Ok... this is what I got so far.........

For the silver doped  linen tail pieces  I use some Tamiya TS-17(spray)  gloss alumninum I had on hand followed by Humbrol Matt cote, The rudder  decals were applied with microset and microsol  followed by the matt cote.  Holes have been drilled for rigging.

So far, the fuselage just has the silver linen portions painted (T-17) with  Humbrol aluminum metal coat on the forward  metal panels . Also, the engine  intake holes are drilled out and tubes inserted which I painted a darker metalic grey for a bit of contrast.   I expect the fuselage wiil look better once the decals and matt cote is applied .   

Next comes the wing and all them stuts to line up . :)

 
BTW, I  found another pic of the ORA A-1 taken after it was no longer airworthy .  I think i will give it the color prop shown in that Pic . 
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 14, 2012, 08:15:04 AM
Here's a pic of the mostly completed  fuselage which is now  sealed with "matt cote"

 I  think the combo of the two silver paints mimics the colors of the ORA's A-1 nicely. 
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: coyotemagic on August 14, 2012, 08:44:51 AM
Excellent work so far, Joe.  Looks just like the photo from Old Rhinebeck.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 14, 2012, 10:37:28 AM
Thanks.  :)

I don't know how historically accurate the red and siver color scheme is bu,t I  find it very apealing on the A-1.
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: coyotemagic on August 14, 2012, 10:43:22 AM
Thanks.  :)

I don't know how historically accurate the red and siver color scheme is bu,t I  find it very apealing on the A-1.
Well, it was certainly more eye catching soaring over the upstate New York country side than the 5 color French camo would have been.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 19, 2012, 08:37:40 AM
Here's an updated  pic of the fuselage so far along with the completeted wing.

The tail is now rigged with  the engine and cowl installed .

The wing is now  complete and matt coted. The aileron demarcation lines are a dark chalk (almost black) wash wicked into the grooves . 
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: GAJouette on August 19, 2012, 09:38:45 AM
   Joe,
Outstanding finish my friend. The Aluminum and red certainly is a striking  scheme and to mention attractive too. Well done to date.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: uncletony on August 19, 2012, 10:49:24 AM
Coming along very smartly Joe!
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 19, 2012, 12:23:33 PM
Thanks.  :)
 
The next step will be to mount the Vickers then, start mounting the wing.
I don't anticipate any problems  mounting the wing...... it will just be a bit  time consuming 
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: Dal Gavan on August 19, 2012, 12:53:07 PM
That's looking nice, Joe.  And it's another aircraft I've never heard of, as well.  I wonder if SH will release this in 1/32?

Cheers.

Dal.
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: Whiteknuckles on August 19, 2012, 09:10:12 PM
Very nice work Joe.

Andrew
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 22, 2012, 08:58:34 AM
I could not put it off any longer ....... I had to start  mounting the wing.  ;)

I did not know where to start.......

So, I first drew a couple of lines on a sheet of paper and that took care of that alingment......the easy part.

The rest was a nightmare..... but, I was deterimed to get it done .

I started with the cabane "N" struts to ge initial alignment. I  found that  I had to use( thick) slow cure  CA. Plastic cement  was a  complete disaster.

The wing wing incidence  was eyeballed and adjusted by overhanging the triangle  rudder over the edge of  the base I was using...... it is and old audio EQ . I just pulled  the paper towards me  until it looked  right  When all looked OK and secured,  I added the two rear main stuts. That should be enought to maintain the alignment.

The rest shoud be fairly easy by comparison.  :)
 
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: uncletony on August 22, 2012, 11:05:19 AM
Congrats, looks true to me!
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: coyotemagic on August 22, 2012, 01:57:43 PM
Congrats, looks true to me!
I concur, Joe.  Fantastic job.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 23, 2012, 06:00:18 AM
Thanks.  :)

It's  not completly  "true" but, it was the best could do given what I had to work with ......... parts  that  did not fit very well and a lack of a better jig . The kit could have been  much better engineered to make the wing mounting a bit easier.
If  anyone  were  to consider building this kit, I would  stongly suggest bulding a simple jig to mount the wing if they do not  already have one.

Howver, I don't think that any misalingment  will be noticable when the mofdel is completed .

Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: Des on August 23, 2012, 07:31:21 AM
Well done on mounting the wing Joe, it looks pretty good to me, and the finish on your model is superb, a very appealing colour scheme.

Des.
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: JoeDxMB on August 31, 2012, 01:24:04 AM
DISASTER!............

I'm sorry to report that the A-1 is no more. 

Last week when I attemped to lift the A-1 off its shelf to my kitchen table to work on it,  I dropped it.
My refelex action was to grab it to prevent it from falling which completely  tore off  the wing and part of the tall with all of the wing/tail  rigging with it.  It was so  damaged that emotionally, I cound not bear to try to repair it. So, I thew it  out . 
 
However, in my past RC aircraft days, I learnd to quickly  shrug off a damanged/crashed aircraft and I was only angry with myself for a minute or two .
I was never comptetely  happy with the wing mounting anyway . Yeah,  a bit of sour grapes perhaps but, it was true none the less.

In any event, the A-1  was learning experience  in a few different ways so,  it was not a total loss . What I learneed  from it will be applied to future builds.

Now, onward to  better things!

BTW,  I'm currently building a Williams Bros 1/48 Ford Flivver ( I love all sorts of vintage aircraft) that I  started along with  A-1 and it almost done. it's a very simple build . So, I'm "over" the A-1 and  I'm "back on the horse"  :) 

However,   I got an Eduard Nieuport 11 (profipack) comming and I may start on that. I always liked the N-11.
Yes, I wiil be more carefull with that. :)
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: uncletony on August 31, 2012, 01:48:09 AM
That's too bad Joe :-(
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: Whiteknuckles on August 31, 2012, 09:22:08 AM
That's a complete bummer Joe, I was looking forward to seeing it complete.

Ah well, onwards and upwards ;)

Andrew
Title: Re: Special Hobby Morane Saulnier A-1 .... 1/48
Post by: Des on August 31, 2012, 09:28:53 AM
That is a real shame Joe, and it was looking so good, ah well, these things happen and we just have to look forward to the next model. On the bright side, you now have some good spare parts for your spares box.

Des.