forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: lone modeller on June 21, 2017, 03:06:51 AM
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Evening All,
I have completed this build - the log is in the scratch build section if anyone who has not seen it before is interested. The original aircraft sat on the 4 wheels under the fuselage nacelle: mine, despite putting a large amount of lead weight in the nacelle, decided to sit on its rear after I had fitted the horizontal tail stabilizers. So I had to initiate Plan B which involved making a simple base and using superglue to change the model's attitude: it will not sit on its tail again for a long time.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4288/35244785132_87dffa6a9a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VGsJHb)
Gabriel Voisin established the Appareils d'Aviation Les Freres Voisin in 1905 and worked for a short time with L. Bleriot and later with H. Farman to improve designs for early aircraft. In January 1908 H. Farman flew a Voisin design on a 1km closed circuit and won a significant prize for doing so. In 1912 he designed what was to become with some modifications and a 130hp Salmson-Canton-Unne engine, the Voisin III. These early machines were designated LA but on later production aircraft the engine was raised to improve the thrust and these were designated LAS.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4203/35281696361_e059f220d1_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VKHV8F)
The type entered service with the French armed forces in 1914 just before the outbreak of war, but due to a shortage of suitable designs the British also ordered them for the RFC and the RNAS. The first machines were bought form France and entered service with the RFC in February 1915. 50 were ordered from companies in Britain and these were largely supplied to the RNAS where they operated in the Agean, Basra in Iraq, and in East Africa where they were used against the forces of von Lettow-Vorbeck.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4229/34569207444_15cac2b8fb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/UELe11)
Other countries which operated the type included Russia (which also built them under licence), Belgium, Italy, Romania and one which was interned in Switzerland. The type was so successful that it remained in service until the end of the war, although in the later years it was used for night bombing only.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4278/35371939796_9167ed510e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTGrmY)
The model represents an aircraft from No 2 Wing, Imbros, (a dried salt lake bed), RNAS December 1915.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4270/35281699491_1f016d0378_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VKHW4D)
The model is scratch built with a kit engine kindly given to me by Epeeman and modified, Eduard wire wheels at the front, and an Aeroclub Lewis gun. It is rigged with rolled 40 SWG copper wire. The booms were made from florists wire because I do not wish them to bend: on reflection I should have made 2 from plastic rod to try to reduce the weight at the rear. I put that mistake down to a learning experience. Markings were hand painted except for the serial which came from a Pegasus numerals sheet. I also cribbed ideas from Des' superb 1/32 scale build log.
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4197/35371938196_ecb9f81db7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTGqTo)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4290/35371950046_271d58c37a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTGupG)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4224/35371946116_deb9bb447a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTGteW)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4240/35411262535_bd54a5fd82_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VXaYDe)
(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4247/35371941936_c3c880cff7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VTGrZS)
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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She turned out spectacularly, Stephen! Outstanding work all 'round.
Cheers,
Bud
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Hi Stephen, loved your build log and the final outcome of this beautiful subject. Thanks again for sharing.
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to change the model's attitude
I have trouble with them too - sometimes they are just plain stubborn
Your Voisin is a little beauty!
Richard
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Wonderful project, Sir, and brought home the highest of style!
You have made a wonderful little model of a very important type. These Voisins were a major element of the French air service, and of the Italian. I do like your choice of subject, though --- I have a soft spot for the out of the limelight employments of aeroplanes at this time, and for the R.N.A.S. particularly.
Plastic booms would have been too heavy, too --- I had to weight my 'Steel Farman' pretty thoroughly, and even so, it just barely balances forward (and tips back if a truck goes by...). I think it is the weight of the tail surfaces, on the long end of a lever with its fulcrum at the rear axle.
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As always, Stephen, a real treat to follow your progress and a wonderful model to drool over in the end result! I have to ask, how many of these Scratch Built beauties do you have in your collection? I hope they are prominently displayed as well, all that you've shared here are truly "winners"!
Cheers,
Lance
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Absolutely gorgeous, certainly one of your best. And the others are not shabby either......
Ian
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Very nice! I enjoyed your build log.
Steve
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Wonderful historical monument of the "flying car"! Due to the location of the four wheels it looks to me like a car with wings, very unique and nice model!
Cheers,
Frank
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Great job, Stephen, the build log was pure pleasure to follow and the result is a real stunner!
Congrats on finishing this beauty!
Ondra
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My thanks to all of you who have dropped by and left such encouraging remarks. This was a subject which had been on my list for some time but because of the front spoked wheels and apparent fragility I had hesitated to start. In the end it was pretty straightforward, except for having to drill so many holes in the fuselage.
Stephen.
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I have to ask, how many of these Scratch Built beauties do you have in your collection? I hope they are prominently displayed as well, all that you've shared here are truly "winners"!
Cheers,
Lance
Lance,
I have a total of 10 scratch builds and another 6 pusher conversions from kits (Airfix DH 4 and Avro 504). All of them except one (the MF 7 Longhorn) are in a cabinet which I bought to put them in and keep the dust off! The Farman is an a specially constructed perspex display box. I have to write that after I embarked on scratch building I found that I no longer have any enthusiasm to build kits, but I really do enjoy following the build logs of others, especially on this site where the standard is so universally high.
Stephen.
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Wonderful historical monument of the "flying car"! Due to the location of the four wheels it looks to me like a car with wings, very unique and nice model!
Cheers,
Frank
Another modeller on another site called it the "flying supermarket trolley"….. I can see both points of view. It is certainly different, even by WW1 aircraft standards! Nonetheless it was also a very successful design - a testimony to the skill of Henri Farman.
Stephen.
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As always, Stephen, a real treat to follow your progress and a wonderful model to drool over in the end result! I have to ask, how many of these Scratch Built beauties do you have in your collection? I hope they are prominently displayed as well, all that you've shared here are truly "winners"!
Cheers,
Lance
I agree with Lance! As always I too found your build a joy to follow. Outstanding results!
RAGIII
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A scratch built Voisin??? A wow! Great to see it completed. Congratulations, Stephen.