forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Bolman on June 18, 2015, 10:08:08 AM
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Hello Folks,
I'm back again with a project I've been dodging for awhile but need to get done, so I'm hoping that doing a log on it will help me trudge along and actually get it done.
I've been away from the modeling bench for awhile now for no real reason other than I haven't been feeling the creative drive.
So, since I have a short list of customer builds to power through, I am starting with the top of the list. A RAF BE2c.
This particular build is of a Meikraft kit which is 1 of 3 I acquired. Looking inside, I couldn't help but be disappointed.
Many of them lumps of plastic will be replaced with scratch parts. What bothered me the most, is the scale. The parts are not large enough for 1/72.
Here, we can see the top wing is quite short compared to the drawing:
Fortunately, my customer is not looking for an exact scale model, nor does he find the value of the build being in the kit, but the finished model. With that in mind, the Datafile drawings will be reference only, and I will use only the parts I have to use to get the project done.
For those of you not familiar with the BE2c, the observer is located in the front seat which provided a particularly challenging aspect to defending the plane due to all of the obstacles to avoid while trying to fire at an attacker.
So, off to my bench to see what I can get done for the next post.
Thanks for looking,
John
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This will be a very interesting build to watch. I was once into ANY scale that I could get WW1 kits and I owned one of these when released. For the time, and considering it was limited run, I thought it was an excellent kit :D I remember the Pfalz DIII, A real beauty shape wise but ejector pins about 1/4" long all through the interior and a slightly rough surface. Still it was better than NO Pfalz at all.
Looking forward to your build!
RAGIII
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Great to see you back John, I'm sure you'll make this into a silk purse!
Ian
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Great to see you back John, I'm sure you'll make this into a silk purse!
Ian
Absolutely!
I'm really looking forward to this build. Good luck.
Best wishes
Nigel
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At least the decals are nice in that kit, for a presentation aircraft marked 'Liverpool', one of the earliest BE2cs to go to France
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Z%20Oddments/BE2c%20early.jpg)
I have in my stash also.
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looks like a fun project.
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What a great idea for a build! I must say I'd love to give that kit a go, it definitely looks buildable to me.
I'm excited to follow your progress.
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Would love to find one of these kits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have the Pfalz D.III with the Conversion parts for the D.IIIa. I may have to start digging for the Be2c!
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Thanks all, I hope to meet or exceed your expectations.
I'm still doing some prep work on the parts and have started some base coat painting, but nothing has been assembled or completed so far making pictures pointless at this point. I'll keep plugging away at it. The interior isn't going to be much since I won't be detailing in that area. My goal is to do a passable job inside so that it doesn't draw attention from the rest of the plane. Once the two halves are together and the lower wings and tail are assembled, I should be able to get some results posted.
Meanwhile, back to work.
John
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Sorry for the delay in an update, progress has been slow.
What I have done is cobbled together the interior enough to make it look like I put some effort into it but it is strictly OOB with paint. The issues I had most with were the areas around the cockpit openings in the two fuselage halves. Voids and incorrect shaping were the biggest problems. Trimming out a notch to add plastic borrowed from the sprue and then shaping it took some time. Even now, the cockpit openings aren't perfectly sized, but I think it is less noticeable than before I started.
I have added the bottom wings after doing some delicate drilling all the way through the fuselage and into the ends of the wings in order to add 0.020" brass wire for mounting the wings. The vertical stabilizer/rudder part was also drilled and 0.012" brass wire was used to pin it to the end of the fuselage completing the tail. I spent some time drilling holes all over the fuselage preparing for the rigging to come. Several coats of white paint are going on the assemble now to cover the gray plastic color. It will also help the colors of the final finish appear less dark.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4dk6DwBG/IMG-1153-zps1tjgmrau.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/JnNNMJ2k/IMG-1154-zpsn2vz4thv.jpg)
So, until the next update, I will be painting white for awhile!
Thanks for looking,
John
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I've just done "invasion stripes" on a Korean War-era machine - hand-brushed - and I despise white. Kudos for your efforts! It's great to see this project lives. Although with Airfix's announcement a few weeks back, I'm not so sure I'd track down one of the Meikraft kits anymore!
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Very good work, John.
Martin
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John,
You are doing a great job on that old limited run kit! I once owned one of these and although crude by todays standards I thought it was pretty good at the time ::)
RAGIII
OOps, just realized I had already commented on my original opinion of the kit. again Terrific work!
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I've just done "invasion stripes" on a Korean War-era machine - hand-brushed - and I despise white. Kudos for your efforts! It's great to see this project lives. Although with Airfix's announcement a few weeks back, I'm not so sure I'd track down one of the Meikraft kits anymore!
Thanks. White isn't a fun color to brush paint. Yellow seems to be my least favorite. Some orange paints as well. I've found painting several thin coats of white is the best approach until you no longer see through it. Then, yellow, and other light colors go on a lot easier. I also add a coat of clear coat before changing colors.
I'm looking forward to the new release myself. I'd love to replace the two additional Meikraft kits I have with them.
John
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Thanks Martin and Rick.
Rick, As much of a pain the kit is, I really dont mind it. I didn't post pics of my progress until now because I didn't want my blow by blow of what I was fixing and why to come across as a negative review of the kit. Mom always said, if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. From here on, it should be nothing but painting and detailing and rigging until it's done. ;)
John
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Excellent start on my favorite WWI aircraft, John!
Cheers,
Bud
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For an old and difficult to build kit you have done a great job so far, the two cockpit openings appear to be the correct size and shape, looking forward to seeing how this build progresses, BTW, the BE.2 is another of my favorite aircraft from WW1.
Des.
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Hi John. Words of wisdom, indeed, from your mum.
You don't need to apologise for any delay in posting. I guess like many others, I'm fascinated to see what you make of this kit and it looks like you've made a very accomplished start.
Best wishes
Nigel
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looks good so far, it will be interesting to see how the meikraft compares to the new airfix tool.
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Thank you Bud, Des, Nigel, and Albatros for your kind words.
For an old and difficult to build kit you have done a great job so far, the two cockpit openings appear to be the correct size and shape, looking forward to seeing how this build progresses, BTW, the BE.2 is another of my favorite aircraft from WW1.
Des.
Des, I personally find it remarkable that many of the iconic aircraft and work horses of the war, such as the BE2, are not represented well in the modeling industry. I'm sure I could list nearly a 100 or more other examples too. All too often, a modeler or enthusiest is either left with no choice but to aquire what is available in a scale other than what they normally build in, or become skilled enough to build it from scratch, or go without. I have chosen, in my case, to scratch what I can get the information on and test my skills. If it were not for the skilled and tireless work of the researchers and writers of the good folks producing the datafiles we all love, I might be forced to choose going without.
Because of your fine work keeping this forum available, I was recently able to aquire a drawing which will help fill a hole in my roster. Thank you for your work and all you do.
And, thank you to all of you members of the forum for all the support given to Des, Me, and to each other. As a community, we can only grow as we help each other in what we all enjoy doing. Modeling history, and keeping it alive.
John
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A short update...
The task of painting everything white has been completed and I've mixed a CDL wash to stain the white base coat.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fRRBCHgg/IMG-1161-zps0lueqlkx.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/YCD8s152/IMG-1162-zpsvbyme5s1.jpg)
I'm not sure if I went too heavy on the wash and am thinking I may need to get a large brush and thinner to dilute the look a bit.
John
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It looks beautiful, John.
Cheers
Martin
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That is a superb finish you have created John, this is a technique I will have to try on my next scratch build.
I agree totally with what you said John, there are a huge number of WW1 and pre WW1 aircraft that are not kitted by the kit manufacturers. The kits they do produce seem to be restricted to the 'well known' and popular aircraft of the time with the lesser known aircraft missing out. I can fully understand their marketing strategy but it would be nice if every now and then an obscure type would be kitted. I will continue scratch building the aircraft types I find interesting.
Des.
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Thanks Martin and Des
I think I am going to try wiping most of the color off since I feel it is too much in the photos. Just doesn't look correct to me. If that doesn't work, well.. back to painting it white again and make another attempt.
Thanks for looking,
John
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do what you feel you must. you have it in your hand and can see better. on the screen the finish you have painted looks very close to the pictures jamo posted. the be2c was often looking pretty dirty from what i have seen .
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I think you have done a good job with the effect. Only you can decide if it meets your standards/ look you are after. Either way I am looking forward to more!
RAGIII
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Update,
A couple of you suggested that the finish was fine, so I split the difference on what I was thinking it should look like and the previous post. Here is a shot of it after muting the color a bit. This wasn't as easy as wiping it off. Took me a few hours to rework the paint and attempt to get it as uniform as possible. It's not perfect, but may not be as noticable when completed.
(https://i.postimg.cc/q7tQVNrs/IMG-1181-zpsjc2f0dsl.jpg)
Thanks,
John
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i think it looks nice. also you must remember something i learned. looking at the bare finish its easy to see the contrast of tan colors layered. but once you put on the roundels and sqadron markings etc they will be more resigned to the background and therefore less obvious. imho you are going in the right direction.
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I am very impressed! I think the previous point is valid as I too have often times thought the finish wasn't right until markings were applied! In the end you are your worst/best critic! Have Fun,
RAGIII
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Update:
Apologies for my absence. Now that the holidays are past us, I will be getting back to this project with completion by the end of April as my goal.
I have already started making the brass cored struts and once I have a useable set done, I'll get some shots of the adding of the top wing and rigging in progress.
Thanks,
John
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Welcome back, John, Happy New Year!
Ian
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John,
Good to see you back and working on this one!
RAGIII
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Hi John, just now saw this thread. (Missed it while absent this last summer.) Wow! A man building a Meikraft kit! You're a manly man in my book! ;) (I still have my Meikraft Pfalz's and Albatri.)
Looking forward to seeing you progress on this sir.
Warren
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Greetings folks, and a belated thanks to Ian, Rick and Warren.
I have finally managed to get the strut material cut and assembled and still have 6 struts to shape yet and then paint. The strut shaping has been a bit brutal on my hands and I've only been able to manage doing a few here and there. Once I have the struts completed, we should be seeing some progress with the build.
Thanks for checking in,
John
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Great to hear that you are back working on this model John, looking forward to your next updates.
Des
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Yes, great to hear you're back in the saddle on this one. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
Warren
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Great stuff John, I'm excited to see you back at work on the BE. Thanks for sharing the photo.
Any chance you'll be "unwinding" after this build by tackling the new Airfix kit? It would make an interesting comparison.
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Terrific progress John! Looking great!
RAGIII
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Thanks Rick and KiwiZac
Zac,I'd like to eventually get a couple of the Airfix offerings in the hopes that they would be more accurate than the Meikraft version I am working with now. I'm currently concerned the engine in this kit may be bad enough that I'll have to scratch one. I certainly couldn't scratch one as well as some others on here, but I think I can make one better than what they gave me to work with.
I'm on a deadline with this build, so I may be forced to work with it.
John
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Update:
I've done some of the painting on the fuselage. Mixing the wood color myself. The struts are a little on the wide side and need to be thinned down a bit before I can install them. I hope to have that corrected soon so we can get some assembly going on this one.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ZY8HGTXs/image-zpsylpc1ay7.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
John
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Another update...
I fit the cabana struts into place and then the top wing. With having the struts made with solid brass wire cores, I pass the wire ends through the wings for added strength. I've never had a strut pop out of places using this assembly method. You can see the ends stick up through the wing here:
(https://i.postimg.cc/rsN9xJS2/image-zps7l1fj2vt.jpg)
Next was the task of getting the fuselage to wing rigging done and mounting of the goal post style gun mount. This was very fiddly and the parts I made may be a bit oversized for this scale, but I'm thinking I couldn't have managed them any smaller.
(https://i.postimg.cc/zvCxp5YM/image-zps2uxsdszs.jpg)
A bit more rigging done and adding of some of the struts as well as some painting:
(https://i.postimg.cc/63dVx0b4/image-zpsmwhocav6.jpg)
So, I'm still working on rigging for now and hope to have the wings rigged yet tonight.
Thanks for looking!
John
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Looks outstanding John! Nice work on the MG mount.
RAGIII
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Thanks Rick, much appreciated!
John
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This is shaping up beautifully John, the gun mount and rigging are looking really good.
Des.
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Thanks Des, appreciate the support. I was actually concerned about how the gun mount would look. Would be much easier to fabricate in a larger scale!
Looking ahead, the design of this kit does not match the plane they intended for it to represent. This kit has the engine sump cowling while the prototype did not. The lower wings are notched out for camera view and pilot visibility while the prototype was not. Since these are features I will not be changing, I am feeling ok about going ahead and building it as one of the planes these changes were made to prior to the removal of the skid landing gear and the version change to the D/E/F variants. I will be adding markings to match as well. I don't have the datafile in front of me at the moment, but there was a photo that caught my eye which would be a great representation of what I will be modeling. This is why I added the goal post gun mount even though the top wing was not notched out above the fuselage. We're going for one of those moments of when... hey, would be better if we notched out the wing a bit.
John
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Update:
All of the main wing rigging is now done and I have shaved off the excess line and wires protruding through the wings then filled any holes which were showing and then sanded the wing surfaces. After several coats of white paint, I then stained the wings to match the rest of the plane:
(https://i.postimg.cc/1XBpfzQ9/image-zpsyonv8gll.jpg)
Next, I plan to decal the wings before moving on to the engine and the details at the front of the plane and on the wings.
Thanks for looking!
John
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Awesome John! Great results!
RAGIII
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Very beautiful work.
Cheers
Martin
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Thanks Rick and Martin, much appreciated.
So, now I have the decals on and I've put the first coat of paint on the rudder. I'll need to go over it again.
(https://i.postimg.cc/MZm0s9jh/image-zpsfwzzpycq.jpg)
I'll be moving to the front of the plane for awhile and attempt to make something out of that engine next.
Thanks for looking,
John
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Update:
Moving forward to the engine, I've cleaned it up as best I could and decided to pitch the kit exhaust manifold / pipes since they were totally wrong. They were not long enough for the stack version of exhaust to reach above the top wing, and they were shaped wrong for the side exhaust to have the molded on mufflers. I opted to scratch them and to make the stack version.
Starting with some strip stock, I drilled and added wire:
(https://i.postimg.cc/KvbqjKny/image-zpsixuxlz3l.jpg)
Then drilled the engine and fit it to the engine:
(https://i.postimg.cc/gkKMZYDL/image-zps04xtutcc.jpg)
Then shaped the exhaust pipe:
(https://i.postimg.cc/jSdM6Ggg/image-zpszbi3zzrf.jpg)
After duplicating it for the other side of the engine, then a test fit to the plane:
(https://i.postimg.cc/qvbj1jWk/image-zpseaccqyox.jpg)
The stacks are a little tall at this point so I will need to trim them down and cut off at an angle and then hollow out the ends.
Once I have everything the way I want it, I'll paint and install.
Thanks for looking!
John
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This is looking really good with the decals applied and you have done a great job with the exhausts.
Des.
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I agree with Des John, excellent work on the exhaust!
RAGIII
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Great idea for the exhausts...expect to see it reappear on another thread sometime.....
Ian
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Been some time since I last check in , wonderful work so far John :)
Terri
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Thanks Des, Rick, Ian, and Terri. You're encouraging words are always welcome and do help me to keep it going. :)
I actually hope to have this one done by Easter... we shall see!
John
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And... another update:
I have done some more work with the engine, and since I'm not building it from scratch and using what was in the kit, I can't say I like it much... the intake is barely represented and I'm tempted to scratch it and add it. Due to the size of the engine offered, my exhaust is actually spaced a bit too far apart. I'm dealing with it since 90% of the general public won't notice it. As for the height of the stacks, I've seen it vary from several pictures and have chosen to use the shorter style allowing it to be less of a detail that can be broken in handling.
Some painting was done on the engine and exhaust and it is in position for test fitting.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FzNyrLwW/image-zpsjte0jsg1.jpg)
The kit hood is cast pretty thick and I think it would be less work to actually fabricate a replacement than to attempt thinning the kit part. The thickness is actually making it not fit correctly in place. Once I have all of this figured out and finished, I get to move on to the undercarriage.
Thanks for looking!
John
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Looking really good John, the exhaust stacks appear to be the correct height above the wing.
Des.
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Looking good John.
Having hammered together one of these Meikraft kits I know what you're going through!
Ian
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very nice job thus far.
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Thank you Des, Ian and Albatros1234 :)
And now... an update:
I ended up scratch building the intake and adding it to the top of the engine. I also had to sand down the bottom of the engine since it was actually too tall and interfering with the hood piece... which I did attempt to thin down instead of replace.
After doing some more painting and mounting the engine and hood in place, we now have this:
(https://i.postimg.cc/85W4PDc5/image-zpsnar9dyoe.jpg)
I have now started working on the undercarriage which is the skid version landing gear. I hope to have something to post in a day or two.
Thanks for looking!
John
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Outstanding work John. Your BE is looking great!
RAGIII
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Thanks Rick, much appreciated!
Progress has been slow, still working on the undercarriage assembly. Should have something after this weekend.
John
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John,
I just checked this out, what a great effort of "real modelling" you're applying here! Working in 1:72 (a black art I abandoned in my early 50's ::)) is a challenge in itself, you are really providing a great example of dedication on this Kit. I'll be following more closely, great Build you have going here.
Cheers,
Lance
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Thanks Lance!
Wow, go away for a weekend and come back to find my post no longer on the first page... thought Des deleted it (He would never!)...then looked on page two. You guys have been busy!!
I'll be back on this tonight and will be back soon with an update.
John
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Time once again,... for an update.
I suppose you've all been wondering what I've been doing, so here it is:
The rigging for the skid undercarriage was quite daunting with just the 3 view drawings I had available to me. Looking around, I found a few pictures and watched a few videos repeatedly to get a close representation of the rigging done on this model.
The kit parts are far from perfect and being quite delicate, I managed to only break them twice. The two parts are far from identical and trying to get them to line up on the fuselage and look square was next to impossible. The assemble still looks a bit 'wonky' to me.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fTWc1Yck/image-zpsp4emgpjr.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NfN6tLDD/image-zps7j8pjqch.jpg)
So, moving along, I am now attempting to mount the tail skid. I'll use the kit part but the support struts for the skid will be made from brass wire and it will also be rigged along with the tail.
After this, wing skids and a few more details to complete the model build. Of course, then a bit of touch up painting before it hits the history books.
Thanks for looking!
John
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Great to see her up on her feet, you have done an excellent job with the undercarriage John.
Des.
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My apologies, John. I somehow missed your build until now and in going
through it I am really impressed with your talent working in such a small
scale. The engine is beautifully done, especially the exhausts and the
rigging...well, that is just superb! Wonderful job, my friend
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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John,
The gear may look "Wonky" to you but it looks superb to me! Beautiful rigging !
RAGIII
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Great work so far John.
Cheers
Martin
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Nice job with that undercarriage, John! I know exactly how bad some of these Meikraft efforts can be, it takes a lot just to get the parts to fit, let alone fit nicely!
Ian
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Whatever the problems may have been you have certainly made that undercarriage look realistic and it looks perfectly square to me. This is a wonderf ul model in the making - I wonder how it would compare with the new Airfix kit.
Stephen.
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Thank you Des, Ernie, Rick, Martin, Ian and Stephen. Much appreciated.
Since I'm here, how about an update:
I have the tail skid assembled and rigged as well as the tail and I've started on the control rigging with the starboard tail control rigging in place. I also went as far to scratch build a representation of a camera to mount on the side of the plane using strip stock and a small piece of styrene tubing:
(https://i.postimg.cc/6qQygvJw/IMG-0397.jpg)
After completing the port side rigging, I have the ailerons to rig and the prop to add before doing some touch up painting. I hope to get everything except the touch ups done tonight.
Thanks for looking!
John
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I am late to this thread, but like what you have done, John. Seeing how nice your BE2c looks really makes me wish our friends in NZ would give us a 1/32 scale version (my eyes and fingers are no longer meant for 1/72!)
Chris
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Thanks Chris, glad you like it. Perhaps someday soon, there will be one in your scale as well.
As for this build, it's done. I will get some pics posted in the completed section soon.
Thanks to all of you for your support during this build.
John
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John, you've done a beautiful job on a kit that is, in my very humble opinion, a real bear.
Warren
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John,
As always it has been a pleasure following your building processes. Outstanding results with a difficult kit.
RAGIII
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Thank you Warren and Rick, much appreciated.
Sorry for the delay in posting finished pics, I've been real busy with convention prep since I have this done. I hope to find some time this weekend to take some photos and compose a post in the completed section.
Thanks again to everyone for your support.
John
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Ok, just a couple pics here to complete this thread. More will be posted in the completed section.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Xv8NWYgv/IMG-0412.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mk0BjzTm/IMG-0413.jpg)
Thanks for looking!
John
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John, that is just wonderful sir.
Warren
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She turned out looking brilliant John, looking forward to seeing more photos in the completed model board.
Des.
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Hello,
Fixed what I could of the pictures in this thread. I appear to be missing all of the initial pictures of the first post, so I deleted the old links. All of the remaining links I did have pictures for and they have been corrected.
John
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Thanks for your effort in restoring this build log. Excellent!
RAGIII