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Modelers Lounge => The World of Scale Models => Topic started by: William Adair on April 27, 2021, 07:18:53 PM

Title: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on April 27, 2021, 07:18:53 PM
Hello all. Here's my latest project, the Supermarine S.5.  It's hard to believe this is a 1927 design that is contemporary to things like the Gloster Gamecock or Blackburn Blackburn. 

(https://i.imgur.com/BwLnfmS.jpg)

This one began as I was getting to the end of my Pfalz D.III double build and the Australian summer was proving too hot for delicate rigging.  It started out as a bit of 1.5mm styrene sheet with the side profile scored into it.  This got a piece of styrene added either side to pack it out and the whole lot got sanded to shape.

(https://i.imgur.com/vHcJNyj.jpg)

The floats got a start as well. I used two bits of 3mm styrene sheet to make up the basic block. One side of the high impact styrene sheet has a hard, clear surface. I face these inwards when I laminate the pieces so it gives me a visible centre line and I don't accidentally sand things out of true. The plan view was shaped first.

(https://i.imgur.com/VmBkMdL.jpg)

Once the top view was satisfactory the side view was marked out and the lower profile cut to shape and filed to the right contours. The step is made by masking off the rear section with three layers of Scotch tape (810D is best) and painting on several layers of Mr Surfacer to build up some thickness. A couple of days to dry and bit of a sand, then take the tape off...

(https://i.imgur.com/WtCBqLh.jpg)


Once the underside is done it is safe to start shaping the top. I find if I start trying to shape things in the round from every angle at once it goes out of control very quickly. Doing the shape one profile at a time seems to be much less difficult.  The floats got a final shaping and were scribed and sanded smooth.  Extra details like the mooring points and circular inspection panels were added too.  With the fuselage, I tried to keep the components separate for as long as possible.  The windscreen was mocked up in solid styrene as a guide.  I'll use it as a pattern for doing a clear one later.

(https://i.imgur.com/3tTGvLI.jpg)

Putting things together for a trial run...

(https://i.imgur.com/0cGJNvJ.jpg)

Once things were looking pretty reasonable I was able to put the pieces together and blend it all in with minute quantities of well-thinned putty and primer.  Still looks a bit rough but bear with me.  I swear I'm going somewhere with this  ;)

(https://i.imgur.com/NMB85eu.jpg)


 
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: kensar on April 27, 2021, 10:14:24 PM
Well, that's shaping up quickly.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Alexis on April 29, 2021, 01:13:07 AM
Looking forward on this build unfolding , off to an excellent start  :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Bughunter on April 29, 2021, 01:46:41 AM
You did a great scratch work on this beauty here!

Recently a series of Schneider Trophy racers appear on the market in 1/48 produced by AMP, like Supermarine S.5, Piaggio-Pegna PC.7 and Macchi Castoldi M.C.72. But I have decided to stay with my biplanes for the time being, since my stash is already big enough ::)
Anyway, the racing aircrafts of this time are elegant aircrafts!

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: DaveB on April 29, 2021, 04:28:10 AM
Amazing quality of scratch building work on display here!

Regards

Dave
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on April 29, 2021, 10:39:23 PM
Thanks for the kind words and encouragement.  Hopefully it will all come together.  I learned a lot from the two Pfalz builds and it has made this one a lot easier.   

The airframe itself has a lot going on, so I’ve been adding as much as I can.  The 16x exhaust ports were perhaps the trickiest and needed a lot of care to get looking nice and neat.

(https://i.imgur.com/VVNS04F.jpg)

The corrugated radiator panels were a real challenge too.  These were depicted with hair-thin strips of tape. Very difficult to see when laying them down, but they stand out very prominently under a coat of primer. 

(https://i.imgur.com/0CIZit8.jpg)

Here’s a shot of the completed fuselage with a wash of artists oils to help me check the contours and panel lines. So far so good..!  ;)

(https://i.imgur.com/O617fQO.jpg)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on April 30, 2021, 03:58:17 AM
Another of your master classes in working with the Braille Scale. The quality of your work is exceptional - without that giant pot it would be very difficult to guess the actual size of this model. Inspiring indeed - and an excellent choice of subject - even if it lacks a wing!

Stephen.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: RAGIII on May 02, 2021, 12:36:18 AM
Another absolutely incredible and stunning build! Looking Beautiful!!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on May 02, 2021, 12:11:10 PM
Thanks so much.  In truth I don't think I could have even attempted this a year ago.  The little Pfalz project was educational to say the least.   :)

I've been working on the wings and the jig to do the struts for the floats.  The wings were looking too much like they were fabric covered so I had another try.  The 1/48 scale kits show prominent battens on the surface, which I copied thinking they must know something I don't.  However it appears this is incorrect and the upper wing at least was really quite smooth as there were surface radiators there.  The new raised detail shown below will need to get sanded back until only a ghost of it remains.

(https://i.imgur.com/1kSoSwN.jpg)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Alexis on May 02, 2021, 10:30:03 PM
 :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: RAGIII on May 03, 2021, 04:34:40 AM
The Jig alone is beyond My scratch building skills  ;D Looing great!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on May 04, 2021, 04:52:48 AM
One of the problems with scratch building lesser known types is that getting the details right can be a problem. However at least you can sand your ribs away - although it is a frustrating waste of time having to do so! It still looks very good though.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: dr 1 ace on May 04, 2021, 05:40:46 AM
Wonderous work !!

Ed
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on May 26, 2021, 09:04:51 PM
Thanks for having a look :)  It's still coming along but edging closer to completion.  Or closer to a proper coat of paint anyway.

The struts were quite a trial and I spent a couple of weeks fussing about with them.  The initial masters are made from silver and have a streamlined boot that is shaped from a blob of superglue at each end.  I didn't trust the strength of a glued metal joint however, so these later got cast in resin.

(https://i.imgur.com/hYXPYQN.jpg)

One complication that I almost missed is the offset of the fuselage, which sits to one side of the centre line between the floats.  Presumably to help counteract torque. This meant all the struts needed to be different sizes..  :-\

(https://i.imgur.com/OlqHKNo.jpg)

Fortunately the jig helped, but if I was to do this again I would make those wing supports out of clear.  I could barely see what I was doing.
Handy tip for those who need to repeatedly test fit a fiddly part: dip one or both ends in ordinary tap water so the capillary action holds the piece temporarily in place.

(https://i.imgur.com/Xowaije.jpg)

Over the past week the wings were fitted and flushed in.  I sanded the lines back until they were only just visible (much better now) and made some location holes for the struts.

(https://i.imgur.com/RmqUErY.jpg)

Then gave it a squirt of Mr Surfacer 1500 primer:

(https://i.imgur.com/ZRvYuOx.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dbYLy3S.jpg)

Used the jig to align the struts and shave the boots down to a nice profile...

(https://i.imgur.com/EESYMxV.jpg)

Pretty happy with the way the angle of the struts and the offset floats worked out

(https://i.imgur.com/G9sZVEi.jpg)


Then a thin coat of primer and another test fit in the jig.  I swear, its looking sooooo pirate right now!   ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/cW4fv2o.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CE26qVp.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LSUTT7y.jpg)

 
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: kensar on May 26, 2021, 09:47:54 PM
Extraordinary work, Willliam.  This is a very cool project.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Alexis on May 27, 2021, 01:10:03 AM
Awesome ! Really nice progress William  :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on May 28, 2021, 03:29:09 AM
Totally agree with Ken and Alex: this is modelling of the very highest standard.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: PrzemoL on May 28, 2021, 09:42:32 PM
Spectacular work!
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on June 10, 2021, 11:08:17 PM
Still moving forward.  Got a lot done over the past couple of weeks but there's still a lot to do.  Looking very racy now though.   :)

(https://i.imgur.com/IGOfwDG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zgt4O8d.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yjQmcOB.jpg)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on June 13, 2021, 04:29:50 AM
There may still be much to do but it really is beginning to look the part now.

Stephen
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Bughunter on June 13, 2021, 05:15:03 AM
What a beautiful model after so much careful work. Love it!

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Rob Hart on June 13, 2021, 05:47:32 AM
Remarkable!
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: WD on June 14, 2021, 01:21:27 AM
Extraordinary sir!  This is true scale modeling, as opposed to kit assembling, which is all I'm good for.  ;)

Sir Harry would be so proud. Beautiful work.

WD
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on June 20, 2021, 12:13:13 PM
Thanks for the kind comments!  WD, I just received a CSM Nieuport 17 in 1/32 from my wife as a birthday present.  I should be able to run with the big boys soon.   :D  :D

Here's a bit more on the S.5.  In 1/144, you could die for want of decals.  I had to do the tail codes myself and these were made by running some blank white decal paper through a laser printer.  Then cutting the numbers out after to leave a thin white outline.

(https://i.imgur.com/CAhd2gU.jpg)

I never tried this before and needed plenty of spares, but after 18 tries managed to get to here:

(https://i.imgur.com/jnfYa5G.jpg)

I also tried doing the spoked wheels, which was another new one for me.

(https://i.imgur.com/wYNOI1i.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/sDOwGcC.jpg)

So far the spokes are only on the front face.  I haven't decided whether to do the rear faces too or to leave well enough alone..  ???
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Bughunter on June 20, 2021, 09:46:03 PM
I flashed away by the quality of your self cut decals! :o
This build is unbelievable ... Love your work.

If you touch a 1/32 kit with that technology used on your small ones this model will work and fly once finished!

Cheers,
Frank
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Manni on June 22, 2021, 01:14:28 AM
I can only ditto what Frank said. Incredible how small you have managed to cut out the decals. The spoked wheel made me want to quit my hobby. I have done it in 1/32nd and had a less accurate wheel. Chapeau.
Bye Manni.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Rookie on June 22, 2021, 03:12:16 AM
 :o

Willem
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on June 24, 2021, 04:38:01 AM
I agree with Frank and Manni - your work is superb in every way. Spked wheels in 1/144 scale.....? I think that I will now give up modelling and try something a little easier.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on June 24, 2021, 08:40:46 AM
Don’t worry.  I have that urge all the time too!  Sometimes I wonder if I would have been better off if I’d just learned to play the bongos instead.    ;D
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Alexis on June 24, 2021, 10:51:40 PM
Well ..you made the one side ...might as well continue with the others . What are you using for the spokes ?


Alexis
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on June 24, 2021, 11:28:33 PM
Hi Alexis, I cheated a bit with this. 

I made clear acrylic wheel hubs by shaping some discs on my motor tool (superglueing the disks to the end of a drill bit) then scribed the lines in.  I rubbed some artists oil paint into the scribe lines afterwards to make them stand out, as the oils penetrate the lines much better than other paints.  On a small scale it is very difficult to tell that the piece is solid.

(https://i.imgur.com/7TLnmTn.jpg)


Still working on the beaching gear.  Beefing up the tyres and adding the slats and whatnot.  It pretty much feels like a model in itself. 

(https://i.imgur.com/seBHpKs.jpg)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: Alexis on June 24, 2021, 11:50:31 PM
Now that is a nifty way on doing the spoke wheels , brillant  :) No worries of them bending or losing shape from handling them  :)


Alexis
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: kensar on June 25, 2021, 02:03:21 AM
Looking very racy indeed!
That's a novel way to make spoked wheels.  8)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: lone modeller on June 26, 2021, 01:15:08 AM
I tried making spoked wheels from acetate many years ago but did not think to apply the black paint. I must try that ext time as they may be better than photo-etch.

Stephen.
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on July 15, 2021, 12:26:27 AM
I tried making spoked wheels from acetate many years ago but did not think to apply the black paint. I must try that next time as they may be better than photo-etch.

Stephen.

Cheers! I think its worth giving it a go in the smaller scales.  Oil paint seems to be the best for picking out the spokes.  I tried lacquers and acrylics but they don't seem to have the same opacity.

I managed to get the floats assembled over the last couple of weeks and painted the beaching gear, which was actually quite enjoyable.  The little brackets are cut from painted decal sheet. 

(https://i.imgur.com/hEut735.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/kCrxgIQ.jpg)

Since taking those pics I've attached the plane to the trolley and started on the rigging.  The whole thing is surprisingly strong.  I've dropped it twice already but it didn't break.   ???
Hopefully I can get it finished off this weekend if all goes well... 
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: kensar on July 15, 2021, 12:49:26 AM
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result.  Post some pics that show the size, if you don't mind?
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on July 15, 2021, 01:20:18 AM
For sure!  I’ve got some coinage lined up for scale. Plus the Mk I matchstick never fails.  :D
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on July 18, 2021, 12:01:59 PM
Almost there.  Just the chrome-painted spinner and black axle hubs left to go.  The weather is dark and rainy today, so as soon as I can get some decent sunlight and a properly flat surface I can take some final shots. 

(https://i.imgur.com/WGBEB9H.jpg)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: bobs_buckles on July 18, 2021, 07:15:23 PM
Excellent work, William  :o
Amazing!

Bob
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: William Adair on July 18, 2021, 10:17:44 PM
Thanks Bob.  I just got it finished off today.  Yesterday's stormy weather is out of the way so I did the final dabs of black paint on the wheel hubs and ventured out onto the balcony to spray the chrome tip of the spinner.

The sun peeped out every now and again, so I was able to take a few snaps too.  A pretty challenging build and the silver finish could perhaps have been better I guess.  But on the whole I'm quite pleased with it. 

So here we go:  Supermarine S.5 N220.  Schneider Trophy race, Venice 1927

(https://i.imgur.com/fry3FVR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/StULvsO.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hE7h818.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/1JK9r0H.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lkenKBb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wExSyKF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ako5cXN.jpg)

And one last shot for Kensar to better help give an idea of scale:   ;D

(https://i.imgur.com/DgJ8yNV.jpg)

Cheers!
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: bobs_buckles on July 18, 2021, 11:37:26 PM
(https://media.tenor.com/images/1fb93e098589d31f5023b7d32418f013/tenor.gif)
Title: Re: Supermarine S.5 - 1927 Schneider Trophy winner in 1/144
Post by: kensar on July 19, 2021, 12:51:54 AM
Amazing!  That could be a model of a model.