forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: Bolman on April 10, 2016, 08:45:30 AM

Title: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Bolman on April 10, 2016, 08:45:30 AM
Greetings everyone, this project is finally finished.

This kit proved to be challenging in many ways. Firstly, it was packaged with the intent of being one of the first aircraft to be sent over in the expeditionary force but was technically inaccurate with some of the features of that particular group. I took advantage of these inaccuracies to put together a generic representation of the RAF BE2c in order to make it useful as a game piece for a client.
I won't go into the inaccuracies to avoid making this sound like a review.

I used the majority of the kit parts except the struts and detail components provided. I scratch built the struts using sheet styrene scored for the addition of brass wire sandwiched between two layers. Each strut had the wire extending through the wing which was trimmed off flush to the wing surface and then painted over. The rigging is all 2 lb test fishing line with a diameter of 0.004". The bottom wings were mounted using 0.020" brass wire. 0.015" and 0.012" brass wire was used in many other locations as well.

The plane was painted white and then stained in a CDL I mixed. The light colored wood paint was also a home mix. The rudder is hand painted and the decals were not from the kit.

The gun is an Aeroclub white metal Lewis gun on a scratch built goal post mount.

Besides all of the challenges this kit provided, it proved to make a decent representation of the BE2c.  I wasn't going to put any registration markings on the plane, but if someone wants to suggest one that would fit, I may consider adding it.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Xv8NWYgv/IMG-0412.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/mk0BjzTm/IMG-0413.jpg)

(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww267/lodanmar/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsk2fmenpd.jpeg)

(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww267/lodanmar/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpst290tv6c.jpeg)

(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww267/lodanmar/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsconb8fdq.jpeg)

(http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/ww267/lodanmar/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsykev4plc.jpeg)

Thanks for looking!

John
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: RAGIII on April 10, 2016, 09:42:31 AM
Outstanding results with a very difficult kit John! Your finish turned out great as did the rigging. A joy to follow your build as always!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: lcarroll on April 10, 2016, 10:02:29 AM
   A "long haul" John, from a very basic Kit to a very fine model. You did wonders with this one, It's incredibly well done given the small scale let alone the Kit short comings.....a model to be proud of!
Cheers,
Lance
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Des on April 10, 2016, 10:20:39 AM
An excellent result John, I think it is a case of a silk purse from a pigs ear. The overall finish and the rigging is superb, well done.

Des.
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: boggie on April 10, 2016, 04:22:39 PM
Great looking model John.
I particularly like your rendition of CDL, very effective!
Looking forward to following along on your next challenge.  :)
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: TobyCoulson on April 10, 2016, 08:38:51 PM
A cracking build given what you had to work with initially. Have you thought about giving the Airfix new tool version of this a go sometime?
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: IanB on April 10, 2016, 11:03:34 PM
I can only echo others' comments. This has turned out very nicely indeed, even without taking the original kit into consideration. Having built one of Meikraft's efforts in the past I know exactly what you had to deal with...the word "fit" doesn't really apply to them!

Ian
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: coyotemagic on April 10, 2016, 11:53:28 PM
Very nicely done, John!  From what I've read, that kit's a beast.  You tamed it admirably!
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Nigel Jackson on April 11, 2016, 06:27:45 PM
Well done, John! The BE2c is such an important aircraft in the context of the early years of the Great War and yours is a fine representation.

Best wishes
Nigel
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Bolman on April 15, 2016, 02:52:25 AM
Thank you all for your kind words. After going through with this build, I may end up scratch building any further BE2c models in the future.

A cracking build given what you had to work with initially. Have you thought about giving the Airfix new tool version of this a go sometime?

As far as the Airfix offering, I would be interested in finding out how accurate it is compared to the drawings before jumping into that. After watching the video of it being assembled, I'm not really sure I would get one. Perhaps when Ian does a correction build on it when his kit arrives, I will decide then.

Thanks again all!

John
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: WarrenD on April 18, 2016, 01:11:55 AM
Beautiful work on a bear of a kit John. Well done sir!

Warren
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: lone modeller on April 18, 2016, 05:11:36 AM
Sorry for the delay with this post - have been away. Followed your build with great interest and agree that this was clearly not the best of kits - but to look at it one would not think so. A wonderful model of an extremely important type - until now badly under-represented in the scale that matters most. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Alexis on April 19, 2016, 10:36:10 AM
Nicely done John  8)




Terri
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Ernie on April 19, 2016, 11:42:32 AM
Brilliant modeling, John.  It's still hard keep in mind that it is
a 1/72 version!

Cheers,
Ernie :)
Title: Re: Meikraft RAF BE2c early in 1/72
Post by: Bolman on April 20, 2016, 09:53:50 PM
Thanks Warren, Stephen, Terri, and Ernie... Much appreciated.  I'm sure it's new owner will be quite happy with it when he gets it next week.

Thank you all for your support.

John