forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: lone modeller on January 27, 2014, 08:44:21 AM
-
Evening All,
Following the completion of my fifth pusher conversion recently I decided that I would like to build something a little different so I was looking at the possibilities offered by tractor monoplanes. I had thought of a kit or conversion, but then remembered a question from Rob Hart in JoeDxMB's build of the Pyro Bleriot XI asking what was the relationship between the basic type XI and the Penguin trainer. I have always been interested in the lesser known early aircraft so this seems to be a good idea. Des' recent excellent build in 1/32 scale has also nudged me in this direction and I have consulted the other excellent build thread by IanB. It would be possible to convert the Eastern Express kit (originally issued by Frog in their Trailblazer series in the early 1960's) but I decided against this as it has so many inaccuracies that a scratch-build would be just as easy and a lot cheaper. I will use the plans for the type XI of 1913 in the Datafile number 109 The Bleriot XI at War and such information that I can find on the internet.
Penguins were basically the Bleriot type XI monoplane with clipped wings, a less powerful engine, smaller propellor and skids above the wheel axle to stop the machine from nosing over. Some had a horizontal bar above the cockpit rather than a pylon structure and there were many variations on the basic design which were probably the product of the availability of suitable engines, and local modifications and repairs. Some machines had a wider track to the undercarriage to make it more stable on the uneven surfaces of early airfields, and the elevators on the tail varied from the early type (as used on the machine that Bleriot used to cross the channel) to later more conventional types. In short, like most early aircraft there seems to have been a great deal of variation on the basic theme. This will allow me to use a bit of imagination and modellers' licence where I am uncertain of specific details.
I started by constructing the fuselage sides from 20 x 30 thou Evergreen strip and then joining the sides with cross strips, also of 20 x 30 thou thickness.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4323/35826195820_77632ec232_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WzQBRo)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4330/35384165064_0e9a94e625_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/VUM6vs)
I will post more pictures and information when I have completed the next stages: completing and painting the fuselage structure and making an engine.
Thanks for looking.
-
Great to see another Bleriot being scratch built LM. Before I built mine I read quite a lot on the trainer version, it will be a challenge in 1:72 scale but I'm sure you will do a splendid job, looking forward to following along with your build.
Des.
-
I will follow this WIP carefully because i love scratchbuilder works...
Just a question: are you sure that the Winsock you mentioned is the 109th? Shouldn't be the 108th or am i wrong?
-
I scratchbuilt a Bleriot XI some years ago in 1/48. It looks a little chunky now but it will do.
If you can - make sure you shape all the timbers with their little curves and champfers (sp?) - I didn't and it really annoys me now.
There is a pic or three on my website under AFC aircraft.
I will watch this thread, especially as you are going for 1/72!!!
Good luck.
Carpo
-
108 it is.
-
This will be fun to watch. I'm happy to see you taking this on.
-
I'll be watching this one avidly - it'll be great to see another 1:72 Blériot being built!
Ian
-
I will enjoy following your build, LM. I really admire the scratch-builders here,
particularly in the teeny scale. Good luck with the Bleriot, my friend!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
-
Looking forward to your progress! Yours and Des's build actually made me look at my OLD Pyro kit. Put it back in the box..... 8)
RAGIII
-
I fully subscribe what Ernie said LM. You are a great modeler having the courage to start on this. Good luck!
Kind regards
Patrick
-
Thanks to all of you for your kind and encouraging remarks - they are greatly appreciated.
My apologies for the error in the Datafile number: that was a slip of the finger and I did not notice the error when I checked the text. Thank you blubasso for pointing it out and Aroth for correcting.
Sorry Carpo but I have decided not to put in the curves and chamfers on the frames - in God's own scale that would be very difficult indeed and I know my limits!! I do like adding detail but that is one set that I think that I can live without. The compromise line has to be drawn somewhere…..
I have made some slow progress as I do not seem to get much time at the moment to sit at the modelling table. However I have managed to insert a piece of strip at the rear of the cockpit between the fuselage frames: as Des found it adopted the correct curve very neatly. A piece of 10 thou card made the cockpit floor. The long arm at the front is for the undercarriage and is deliberately too long as I will trim it later when I have been able to work out the correct dimensions.
I decided to represent a 40 hp 6 cylinder radial Anzani engine on my model as this was probably the type of engine used on an Italian machine shown in the Datafile. The crankcase was cut and shaped from sprue and the cylinders came from the same source. The exhaust pipes were from 15 thou rod bent to shape.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4314/36053650732_aff6a1523e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVWogN)
The control column and wheel and boss at the bottom were made stretched sprue and shaped card. A seat was also made from card. A fuel tank was made from scrap sprue filed to shape with Evergreen strip to make the supports. A throttle lever and a couple of dials completed the cockpit details. The rigging was done with copper wire - which is one reason why I have been a bit slow - there is a lot of it and it was fiddly to say the least. I had also added a fuselage side panel and the fuselage bottom when I took these photos.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4291/36219012315_956b365a7b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XbxUvz)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4313/36219010295_c13e6c3636_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XbxTUK)
The white marks on the fuselage frames are where I have scraped off the paint so that the liquid glue will hold the plastic card sides properly. I intend to mould an upper fuselage decking rather than trying to shape one from metal. Metal bashing has never been one of my strong suits.
More when I have completed the next stage.
Thanks for looking.
-
You are moving along quite nicely LM, what you have achieved so far is looking really good.
Des.
-
She's coming along nicely LM - looking good!
Ian
-
Nice progress, LM. Very interesting build, especially in the wee scale.
Cheers,
Ernie :)
-
LM,
Looks absolutely STUNNING so far!
RAGIII
-
Hi LM,
I really admire your work up to now. Great respect for all the scratch builders. I have onr question. A "thou" is excactely how many 10ths of a mm or inch? Thank you.
Kind regards
Patrick
-
IFF1418:
One "thou" is one thousandth of an inch, which means that if you look at one tenth of an inch on an old Imperial scale rule, 100 thou would make up the one tenth of the inch.
It is a very small unit of measure but I do not have a conversion chart to hand for metric scales.
-
Thanks to all of you for the supportive comments. This one is a bit slower than I anticipated but I hope to keep things moving over the next few days and post more soon.
-
IFF1418:
One "thou" is one thousandth of an inch, which means that if you look at one tenth of an inch on an old Imperial scale rule, 100 thou would make up the one tenth of the inch.
It is a very small unit of measure but I do not have a conversion chart to hand for metric scales.
Many thanks LM. Very small indeed.
Patrick
-
It is a very small unit of measure but I do not have a conversion chart to hand for metric scales.
1" = 25.4mm
.1" = 2.54mm
.01" (ten thou) = .254mm
.001" (1 thou) = .0254mm
-
It is a very small unit of measure but I do not have a conversion chart to hand for metric scales.
1" = 25.4mm
.1" = 2.54mm
.01" (ten thou) = .254mm
.001" (1 thou) = .0254mm
Thank you Bo, the help desk did it again!
Kind regards
Patrick
-
Wonderful build . . . and in 1/72, too . . . what skill!
Mark G.
-
Evening All,
I have managed to make some progress in the past few days. I finished mounting the sides and bottom of the fuselage. The fuselage top was moulded from 30 thou card and some very small gaps filled and rubbed down. I completed the frame at the front end of the fuselage with Evergreen strip and stretched sprue. The landing skid was cut from 30 thou card and attached to a piece of rod which in turn was glued to the fuselage frame.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4294/36177687896_f89997d53f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/X7U7cA)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/36219017755_c590195d0a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XbxW8n)
The wings and tail surfaces were cut from 20 thou plastic card carefully bent and sanded to aerofoil shape. The ribs were made from 10 x 20 thou Evergreen strip glued with liquid cement and rubbed down until they only just stand up.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4301/36219016245_66d2b3234f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/XbxVFk)
After I had completed the fuselage rigging I was able to attach the horizontal tail surface to the rear of the fuselage. The struts were cut from stretched sprue.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/36053670142_142e1b2704_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVWu3s)
I am going to be away from home for two extended periods in the near future so there may be a bit of a delay before I can do much more. Consequently there will be a delay before I can post more.
Thanks for looking.
-
Excellent progress on an interesting subject, LM. A friend of mine built a 1/72 scale Penguin a few years ago and took 1st in class at our local hobby show. Judges had no idea what it was. They thought it was a racer because of the stubby wings.
Cheers,
Bud
-
Looking really good LM, can't wait to see what she looks like with those little stumpy wings fitted.
Des.
-
Excellent Progress as all of the others have said! You guys have me pulling out books like the Harleyford Bomber book and looking at Bleriot versions used for observation and bombing. Maybe someday.
RAGIII
-
This is looking so good thus far LM. Keep up the great work.
Best wishes
Nigel
-
Beautiful work LM! This is an interesting model and a super build in 1/72. ;D
Please pardon my veering off topic a bit, but you mentioned at the start that you have completed five pusher conversions. I recall the Sopwith Gunbus and the Fee, but not the others. If it's not too much trouble, could you please post links to those other three pusher conversions? I am fascinated by pushers, and would enjoy seeing your work on these. Thanks!
Regards,
Bob
-
Coming along very well indeed LM, She looks like a Blériot now!
Ian
-
Very neat subject, LM, and coming along nicely. looking forward to seeing more when you return.
Cheers,
Lance
-
Hello LM,
I am full of admiration for what you accomplish out of nothing. Great modeling!
Kind regards
Patrick
-
Evening All,
Many thanks to all for the very encouraging remarks - I really do appreciate them. I am expecting some headaches with the undercarriage so it is great to know that so many people are behind me. I will post more when I am ready.
Please pardon my veering off topic a bit, but you mentioned at the start that you have completed five pusher conversions. I recall the Sopwith Gunbus and the Fee, but not the others. If it's not too much trouble, could you please post links to those other three pusher conversions?
Bob
Bob: I have not posted builds on the other three pushers on this site because I did not know of it at the time. There are photos in the completed models section here which you are probably already aware of. The FB 5 and FB 9 do not have full illustrated builds because I found them in my roof as partially completed models which I had started over 30years ago. I had completely forgotten about them and I only took photos of the state in which I found them as I did not think that anyone else would be interested. (It was only when a friend, and another modeller, told me otherwise that I started to take photos of my builds and then started to post them). There are build articles (text and photos of the completed models only), at the following site:
http://www.modelingmadness.com/review/w1/gb/fosterfb5.htm - this is the FB 5
http://www.modelingmadness.com/review/w1/gb/fosterfb9.htm - this is the FB9
The FE 8 was posted at:
http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=80&t=39040 - this is a full build with photos as by then I had learned that other modellers were interested in what I was doing.
I hope that these are helpful and thank you again for showing an interest in my builds.
-
Thanks LM! Those are wonderful. ;D
Regards,
Bob
-
Very nice LM.
Fantastic stuff from you once more. Looking forward to see some more progress.
Cheers
-
Evening All,
Thank you Zabu for your kind remarks, and indeed all of the rest of you for showing an interest in this build.
As predicted the undercarriage is causing problems which I am in the process of trying to solve - more later. In the meantime i decided to put the wings on as I think that they will not seriously get in the way when I finally attempt the undercarriage. The wings fitted well and I managed to get the correct dihedral with some very simple supports. The gaps between the wings and fuselage (there are always some tiny ones aren't there) were filled with paint and no longer show. These images show progress on the main structure so far.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4325/36053675992_f11a51790d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVWvMj)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4308/36053671612_4a3915511e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVWutN)
The undercarriage is causing several problems. The first is the nature of the legs and suspension but I think(?) that I can solve that with stretched sprue and thin rod. The second problem is the wheels which were spoked. Making spoked wheels in this scale is not an option for me so I made some discs from clear acetate sheet and scribed the spokes with the point of dividers. The tyres were made from thin rod bent around the handle of a file and held in hot water. The diameter of the file handle is smaller than the centre of the wheel so that the curved rod sat very tightly when I fixed it. Please remember that all of this is rather small (even when I look through an eye loupe with x10 magnification), so some minor problems will hopefully not show too much on the finished model. I know that IanB used kit wheels on his Bleriot but I do not have deep enough pockets to buy a kit just for the wheels, and anyway I wanted to try to scratch-build all of this model for a challenge, so a compromise is necessary. This is what I have achieved at the moment - I may have another to to see if I can improve on it.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/36053680332_9aba243d0b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVWx59)
I will post again when the undercarriage headache has gone away because I will have fitted it and finished painting the model, including touching in where necessary.
-
This is a fascinating build LM, and thank you for sharing it with us. Headaches maybe, but the inventive ways in which you are approaching things and tackling problem areas in this tiny size is so interesting.
Best wishes
Nigel
-
She looks really good with the wings fitted and your solution for the spoked wheels in such a tiny scale is btilliant, well done and I look forward to seeing the wheels on the model.
Des.
-
What a very good scratch buiding LM.
Martin
-
This is a great build LM. Thanks for sharing your creative solutions and techniques in creating this very unique and interesting model. ;D
Regards,
Bob
-
Good progress LM, those wheels look pretty damn good in the pics....
Ian
-
You are making terrific progress, LM. She is really taking shape and looks
wonderful with the wings on. The wheels are simply quite amazing. Great work!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
-
Your Bleriot is looking Fantastic now that you have the wings mounted! I like your wheel solution as well!
RAGIII
-
LM your work is amazing :o Such a beauty in 1/72nd! Most inspiring my friend!
-
Hello LM,
This is such a beautiful, creative build, really a pleasure to follow. Keep up the great work she will be a stunner!
Here is a little anecdote about the Penguin and novice American pilots in France I found in :
High Adventure – A Narrative of air fighting in France by James Norman Hall
"It was a crisp, calm morning—an excellent day for flying. Already the mechanicians were bringing out the machines and lining them up in front of the hangars, in preparation for the morning work, which began immediately after appel. Drew and I had received notice that we were to begin our training at once. Solicitous fellow countrymen had warned us to take with us all our flying clothes. We were by no means to forget our goggles, and the fur-lined boots which are worn over ordinary boots as a protection against the cold. Innocently, we obeyed all instructions to the letter. The absurdity of our appearance will be appreciated only by air-men. Novices begin their training, at a Blériot monoplane school, in Penguins—low-powered machines with clipped wings, which are not capable of leaving the ground. We were dressed as we would have no occasion to be dressed until we should be making sustained flights at high altitudes. Every one, Frenchmen and Americans alike, had a good laugh at our expense, but it was one in which we joined right willingly; and one kind-hearted adjudant-moniteur, in order to remove what discomfiture we may have felt, told us, through an interpreter, that he was sure we would become good air-men."
Kind regards
Patrick
-
HI LM.
Great update, love those spoked wheels.
Cheers
-
Evening All,
Thanks to all of you again for the complimentary remarks which I greatly value and appreciate. Thanks especially to IFF1418 for the anecdote from James Norman Hall - why is it that we all take great pleasure in sending up greenhorns? At least these machines would have saved more than a few lives in the absence of simulators as pilots learned the skills of lateral control.
I studied the undercarriage for some time before attempting it, not least because I think that it was by far the most difficult part of this build. Des' and IanB's builds also helped to give me some ideas but I decided that I could not emulate them so I would do my best using my own methods. The skids were made from 10 x 20 thou Evergreen strip glued to the underside of the fuselage and to two short extensions from the front vertical engine supports. The side legs, curved forks and axle were made from 5 amp fuse wire. This was rolled between two small blocks of hardwood to get it straight and then the forks were bent and curved using a pair of tweezers. The side legs are straight so they were cut to length. I glued the wheels on to the axle leaving about 1mm extension on the ends to stick the side legs to later. I superglued the forks to the axle and the bottom of the cross-bar below the engine. This operation was a real fiddle and I think that my model may sit a little high, despite my having carefully followed the plans. Finally I glued the straight side legs to the axle/fork joint and to small pieces of sprue glued to the uprights on the undercarriage frame. This was stronger than I had dared to hope but it will not survive a crash landing so L. Bleriot had better keep clear! Last of all I added the rudder and completed the rigging with rolled copper wire. The propellor was cut and shaped from a scrap of 60 thou card with a boss from 10 thou card. When painted it was glued to the front of the engine and the model was complete.
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/36053865262_6bd30d906a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/WVXu3A)
This was an interesting and unusual variant on an otherwise fairly well known machine, and certainly looks very different to the models of other aircraft: a trainer with a difference. I have posted more pictures in the completed models section for those who are interested.
Thanks for looking.
-
An excellent result LM, your method to make and fit the undercarriage was very good and really looks the part, I will now slip over to the Completed Models to see more photos of this superb model.
Des.
-
Outstanding work, LM! Heading over to take a peek at the rest of your photos.
Cheers,
Bud
-
Outstanding work, LM! Heading over to take a peek at the rest of your photos.
Cheers,
Bud
Wow! Me too!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
-
Thank you gentlemen for you kind remarks - I appreciate them greatly.