forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Borsos on June 18, 2017, 08:50:31 PM
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Hello,
well, finally it is time for this one. I always wanted to build a Fe2. I had a vacuform kit once I was in 1:72 scale building, but never really started it besides of cutting the main parts and comparing them to the WDF scale plans. The same was with 1:48, I still have the Aeroclub Fee. It is a very nice kit and I have seen many great models that were made out of it on the web. But the more I browsed the internet for building reports of the Aeroclub kit, the more I saw the many 1:32 build reviews of the Wingnut Wings Fe2b. And yes, there was something like -- envy ::). When WNW released their never-expected Albatros B. II, I was finally lost and switched from 1:48 to 1:32. The Albatros was the last stimulus, but the reason was the Fe2b. I really love this aeroplane. This frequently blamed as "ungainly" or "ugly" pusher airplane is one of my absolutely favourites among the WWI planes.
The most beautiful version of the FE2 is in my opinion the Fe2d, equipped with the Rolls-Royce Eagle, with cut down fuselage and Trafford Jones undercarriage. Somewhere I read in an interview with Richard Alexander that it could possibly be that WNW would release the Fe2d someday. Maybe, maybe not. Maybe in some years. I could be dead then – or, even worse, collecting stamps or autographs from movie stars instead of modeling. No, dystopic thoughts aside, let's do it here, let's do it right now. I purchased an Eagle engine sprue from WNW and over the years some books on the Fe2 had also been collected.
(https://picload.org/image/rpwdcrol/img_6140.jpg)
I tried to figure out the Differences between the Fe 2b and the Fe 2d (the source naming the most differences is: The R.A.F. Fe 2b/d & Variants in RFC, RAF, RNAS & AFC Service, pp. 18–19, p. 93, the WDF 134 and Miller, Fe 2b/d vs. Albatros Scouts name less differences):
- Rolls Royce Eagle 275 HP (in the end 284HP) engine instead of the Beardmore: There's a wonderful WNW Eagle so, this won't be a problem; but the Eagle was designed for tubular engine bearers and these had to be mounted above the existing wooden ones, raising the thrust line. A great photo of that is published on the WNW homepage: http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/productdetail?productid=3121&cat=1
- the radiator was placed higher and above the nacelle. The nacelle was cut down. They used several styles of radiators, some rounded ones, some squared ones, but in the end the smaller radiator of the Beardmore engine was used. Additional shutters were added as these radiators worked all too well in their new exposed position.
- The main fuel tank was increased from 24 to 36 gallons by producing them not cylindrically shaped but box-like shaped. Sadly I didn't see this new tank on any picture yet.
- The position of the gravity tank changed from the underside to the upper side of the upper wing.
- The new engine made some changes on the nacelle necessary: the Radiator was slightly moved forward, the wood covered part of the nacelle was increased, reducing the fabric covered part.
- It is stated that the Fe2d nacelle was slightly longer then the Fe2b nacelle. This is only mentioned in one of my sources. I sized up the scale plans of the Fe2d out of the WDF 134 and compared the WNW Fe2b nacelle. It fits perfectly.
The dimensions that are given in my sources are the following:
WDF 134: Length Fe2d: 32' - 3'' (9.83m)
WDF 147: Length Fe2b: 32ft. 3 ins. (9.75m) (SIC!)
WDF special: 32ft., 3ins. (9.75m – simply taken from WDF 147?)
Miller, Length Fe 2b 32ft., 3 in (tricycle undercarriage), Fe 2d 31ft., 9in. (SIC!) – As WDF is my "bible" for wwi modelling and its scale plans don't show a difference, I'll go without changing the nacelle length. I have no idea, why 32feet and 3 inches are in one publication 9.83m and in two others 9.75m. But I won't kill myself because of this, as the difference of this would be 8cm, so 2,5 mm in 1:32 scale. Why Miller gives the Fe2d shorter then the Fe2b, I cannot explain neither. - The interior of the nacelle, the places of pilot and observer, are changed: The pilot's seat is slightly moved forward, so the rounded dashboard of theFe2b is changed into a flat one including a window. The covers for the feet of the pilot were changed as well. WDF 134 pp. 7, 24 and R.A.F. Fe 2b/d & Variants, p. 103 show good pictures of that change. Scratchbuilding a new dashboard and new foot covers for the pilot should be possible.
So these should be the differences between the Fe 2b and the Fe2d, hopefully not too impossible to realize in 1:32 scale. If anyone has information that I don't have (pictures of the nacelle in particular) or can see any faults I made, I would be really happy, if he could contact me!
I already tried to decide, which plane I'd like to portray and decided to build either A6378 (WDF 134, p. 12, pic. 20 and R.A.F. Fe 2b/d & Variants, p. 170:25 Sqd, C Flight, shot down on May 28 in 1917) or A1959 (R.A.F. Fe 2b/d & Variants, p. 155 and Profile on p. 105).
Borsos
Edit:When I post pictures of my builds I intend to give you as much information as possible. Therefore I posted some pictures of kitparts that were changed by me to fit the scale plans in the mentioned publications. Doing this I photographed these parts lying on sectors of these scale plans. As this forum is a meeting point for specialists, I had no problems doing that, as the plans were distorted by the angle of the camera and you all have these plans at home anyway. But I can hardly describe my surprise when I recently entered "Fe2d" into the Google search machine and found between many other pics my photos of this build. So adressing to a much wider public is another story that made me delete and/or change these photos. We all depend on high quality publications on our subjects and there's nothing I want less than harm these publishers in any way.
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What a lovely project to embark on, Borsos! We don't see nearly enough conversions and modifications to WNW kits, and lots of accessories are now available... but a FE2d, Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing your expert touch on this... Regards, Marc
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Wow Borsos, pulling up my chair and awaiting your treatment on what I am sure will be another of your masterpieces. :D
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I have also been preparing for this conversion. I have all the same ref's you've shown. One of the biggest differences I've noticed (other than your stated ones) is that the thrust line seems higher in the 'd' than the Beardmore 'b' and the prop looks like it is also larger. As for the nacelle I think I've noticed that there seems to be 3 distinct 'variances', initial with the cockpit side made very low (crashed prototype). Then it seems that a standard was reached in later models with the height of the side (pilot area) varying to crew preferences either 'high' or cut down.
I have notice that there seems to be two different interiors as the pilot is concerned. As you ref'd the dash is changed, but there seems to be some that look more like the Beardmore version from one or two crash photos.
Really looking forward to your build esp how you handle the radiator and posterior to pilot nacelle area.
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Oh, this will be a stunner again! I will watch carefully and learn from you.
Manni
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As all of the others have said I am really looking forward to seeing your Magic at work on this conversion!
RAGIII
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I am preparing parts for a scratch build of this type in the True Scale so I will be following you too. I agree with rtenyes about the cockpit sides - these certainly varied and are causing me a headache at the moment as I have to mould the nacelle. I am absolutely certain that tis is going to be a build well worth following because you will add so much extra detail: and I will be watching and following so that I can try to get some things right on my model!
Stephen.
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Thank you all, Marc, Juan, rtenyes, Manni, Rick and Stephen!
I agree, the thrust line lies higher, I mentioned that in my point 1, but wasn't aware yet of the larger Propeller. Thanks for the hint, rtenyes! Also it is true that the cut-down of the cockpit sides varied extremely. I intend to build A 1959 which had quite high fuselage sides judging from the two photos I have of it. But contrary to A 6378 it was fitted with an engine covering that hides the main fuel tank and most of the engine suspension. And both of these aereas are difficult terrain, because there are not many or no pics respectively.
I browsed through my sources, but couldn't find any photos of a more Fe2b like dashboard, I just found the changed ones.
Well, some progress was made meanwhile and here the photo hosting side that mustn't be named any more also is changed for a better one. I started with reworking the interior of the nacelle. The Fe2d radiator is larger and sits higher and some 4 milimeters more forward than the Fe2b radiator. That pushes the 2nd fuel tank and seat more forward. therefore they changed the dashboard into a flat one which also changed the appearance of the observer's cockpit. All of this was made almoust parallel and frequently compared with the scale plans
(https://picload.org/image/rwlpooll/image.jpg)
The new dashboard was made according to photos
(https://picload.org/image/rwlpoola/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/rpwdlwwa/img_6507.jpg)
The compass isn't glued in yet. It all needs its wooden colors before installing the cockpit devices.
Borsos
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Excellent work on the cockpit and instrument panel, looking forward to seeing more progress photos.
Des.
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Excellent work to date Andreas! Looking great !
RAGIII
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I will definitely will be watching this build
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Off to a great start! This will be a fun build to watch!
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Superb work, so far, Andreas! This is going to be a fun build to watch.
Cheers,
Bud
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Thank you very much Des, Rick, Kuya, Ian and Bud! It's good to receive such kind words of motivation!
Now I added the shutters to the radiator
(https://picload.org/image/rwgrlogw/img_6555.jpg)
"How will you paint the part behind the shutters", you ask me? Well... ahem...good question ::)
The engine covering needs to be vacuformed, so a balsa pattern was made.
(https://picload.org/image/rwgrlogi/img_6554.jpg)
The vacuforming process went quite fine
(https://picload.org/image/rwgrlora/img_6557.jpg)
And the part fits the nacelle as it should...
(https://picload.org/image/rwgrlorl/img_6558.jpg)
... I wished, the engine would already fit under it and it would have its cut-outs for the engine as it should.
Borsos
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Outstanding work on the radiator shutters and the engine cover! I am looking forward to the next step!
RAGIII
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How could I miss this? I will follow now!
Cool, looks like a two seater DH-2 without a rotary engine ;)
Cheers,
Frank
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Superb moulding and correction work there Andreas. Seeing you make this in a larger scale is going to prove very helpful to me when I come to scratch build mine. The cockpit area was one where I have been having some problems in getting enough details - you have been most helpful there.
Stephen.
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Outstanding work Borsos. Really looking forward to your progress/treatment on this beauty.
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Thank you for your kind words Rick, Juan Frank and Stephen!
Stephen, I must say that also in my case the cockpit area leaves some questions for me, but I did my very best on the base of the available sources and 'educated guess'. Especially the dashboard is just my interpretation of a single photo that shows quite complex and confusing details.
I went through the first painting phase now.
(https://picload.org/image/rwddpioa/img_6593.jpg) (https://picload.org/image/rwddpilr/img_6597.jpg) The PC-10 is not the final shade. I used the radiator part to try out some comercially available PC-10 shades, like Drooling Bulldog (much too dark for my taste), MRP PC-10 late and PC-8. I'll mix both shades and add some drops from the PC-12 bottle. Then I think it should look like I want it.
(https://picload.org/image/rwddpiol/img_6594.jpg) (https://picload.org/image/rwddpioi/img_6595.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/rwddpila/img_6598.jpg) The engine is the WNW Rolls Royce straight from the sprue. There are the instructions for a RR Mk. VIII or later online on the WNW homepage, but a good picture of the early Mk. III / V as well. and all necessary parts are on the sprue. Additional detail painting and some wiring will follow when the engine is mounted on its bars.
And because the oils still need annoyingly long time to dry, I went on with the propeller. I made a wooden one my usual way out of my collection of veneer. Here I used some darker grained wood (cherry?). Since I carve and sand my own propellers, this became one of my most favoured jobs building a plastic airplane. I simply love working with wood...
Fresh from the bench (https://picload.org/image/rwddpior/img_6592.jpg)
and with some shots of Gunze clear orange, clear yellow and Future (https://picload.org/image/rwddpiow/img_6596.jpg)
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Wow, there is some solid piece of modelling going on here, Borsos!
Great work so far, I will be following this one with great interest.
Cheers
Ondra
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Awesome work! Your wood tones on the plasic parts and the prop are amazing!
RAGIII
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Awesome work! Your wood ones on the plasic parts and the prop are amazing!
RAGIII
Could not agree more, especially with the wooden propeller, a work of art.
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Coming together beautifully Borsos, and that prop is pure "magic". Having done a few of my own I appreciate the delicate work involved, particularly on a four bladed one. My compliments, that's lovely work!
Cheers,
Lance
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Thank you Ondra, Rick, Juan and Lance!
Here's some minor progress on the prop
(https://picload.org/image/rwliwcow/img_6916.jpg)
The pilot's seat (a PE back from HGW)
(https://picload.org/image/rwliwcoa/img_6913.jpg)
the radiator (some profiles depict it a brass color, but the b/w photos made me go with PC-10)
(https://picload.org/image/rwliwcol/img_6914.jpg)
the wheels
(https://picload.org/image/rwliwcoi/img_6915.jpg)
and the finished dashboard (the left side is proven by a photo, but on the right side I only could make out the big device. The rest is educated guess according to the Fe2b dashboard.)
(https://picload.org/image/rwliwcaw/img_6912.jpg)
Borsos
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Gorgeous work on the radiator painting, seat, and the panel! This is continuing to be a work of art! The prop is stunning to say the least!!
RAGIII
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That panel is incredible! excellent job.
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Astonishing work on every detail, I love the propeller carving, I'd like to know more about the techinique you use, it's perfect!
Antonio
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Thank you very much for commenting, Rick, Ian and Antonio!
Antonio, for making my wooden props I go the well known way - I have no new ideas or extra techniques: I had bought some veneer of different woods, each about 0.5-0.6 mm thick. I choose the suitable wood color and glue the reqired amount of layers using white glue and a vice. When building a four-bladed prop it is important to glue the veneer strips crossed. When everything has cured i glue the paper copy of the desired prop on top, drill the hole for the prop shaft and roughly cut the outlines of the prop using a scroll saw. the rest is sanding, sanding, sanding... after I acchieve the desired shape of the blades I use some steel wool to smoothen the prop and give it several (at least five) shots of future, tinted with Gunzes clear yellow or orange.
Meanwhile I finished the interior (minus the armament and the seat belts). In the end I decided to go with the oval shaped fuel tank of the Fe2b, as nothing will be seen of it once the fuselage is closed and the engine is installed...
(https://picload.org/image/rwcplgii/img_6988.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwcplgii/img_6988.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwcplgiw/img_6989.jpg)
and I started to rework the outside of the nacelle to fit Fe2d standards. Upper nacelle half is cut to shape but the surface detail is that of the Fe2b, lower part is already reworked according the WDF plans and photos. A1959 has two bumps on the front of the nacelle, probabely after a rough landing with a nose over. I am playing around with the thought to create a diorama around that...
(https://picload.org/image/rwcplgia/img_6986.jpg)
Borsos
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Thanks Borsos for reminding the veneer technique!
Antonio
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Thanks Borsos for reminding the veneer technique!
Antonio
Lance once has started a detailed "how to" thread: http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=282.0
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Thanks Borsos for reminding the veneer technique!
Antonio
Lance once has started a detailed "how to" thread: http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=282.0
Thanks again, Lance's tutorial is very clear!
Antonio
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There's one thing I've forgotten: Several props show traces of black because the glue they used had a black color. This is easily repeated in 1:32 or 1:48 by adding some black acrylic color to the white glue.
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Wow Andreas, never get tired of looking at your craftsmanship, first class.
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Thanks Borsos for reminding the veneer technique!
Antonio
Lance once has started a detailed "how to" thread: http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=282.0
Thanks again, Lance's tutorial is very clear!
Antonio
I have changed my method slightly; I now prefer to carefully carve the prop (I use a standard hobby knife with a #11 Blade) to it's rough outline and dimensions rather then use the drum sander. From that point I used the small drum sanding attachment on my Dremel and then hand sand until finished. It seems easier to control that way........
Cheers,
Lance
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Wow, everything is said above. So much talent...I will store my Fee in a dark box in the cellar.
Chapeau,
Ich verneige mich,
Manni
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Thanks Andreas for providing such clear and detailed photos of your build, especially the engine. These are going to be really useful for me when I get around to scratch building mine in a smaller scale. I will not be adding the level of detail that you do of course, but even the outlines will now be much more accurate because of your guidance.
First class work, as always.
Stephen.
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Thank you all for your nice comments, gents!
Manni, don't say that. Your Fee is spectacular and I love to throw an eye on your posts for reference :)
Here are some pics of an almost finished nacelle. Engine and cover are attached without glue for the pics only:
(https://picload.org/image/rwwaorow/img_7085.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwwaorlr/img_7086.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwwaorla/img_7087.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwwaorll/img_7088.jpg)(https://picload.org/image/rwwaorli/img_7089.jpg)
Borsos
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Great progress, Borsos! It's interesting to see the changes you've made, especially as I know so little about the different flavours of Fee.
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Simply outstanding work on the engine and Nacelle Andreas! Your skills are truly in evidence on this one!!
RAGIII
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Great job! The engine looks outstanding. Thank you for the compliments ;)
Bye,
Manni
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I particularly like the dents in the nacelle, it really boosts the realism. Looking very good!
Ian
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You are making a spectacular conversion, Borsos! I like every single bit of this. And I am looking forward to see more. ;)
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Beautiful work on the engine and nacelle. I just found your build - cockpit is amazing, too.
Dave
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Some really great modelling happening here, Borsos! Your conversion work is very impressive, shaping up beautifully!
Cheers,
Lance
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I concur with the other posters. This is shaping up nicely and your modeling skills are in evidence throughout the build. The engine is a modeling work of art in itself as are the modifications you had to do to come up with this variant of the FEE. Very impressive.
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Thanks so much for these photos Andreas. I have been trying to work out the shape of the nacelle from the drawings in the DF and could not seem to get it right. Your photos have solved a problem for me so that I can now carve a mould to make the correct shape. The engine details are also very helpful as I will have to scratch build that too.
Your modelling skills are very evident in these pictures - especially the dents in the nose. I think that I may give those a miss on my model!!
Stephen.
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obsessively following. hoping i'll be up to one of these one day.
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Andreas, this is a really impressive build! You take full advance of the big scale!
Since I carve and sand my own propellers, this became one of my most favoured jobs building a plastic airplane. I simply love working with wood...
I only can sign that - and your use of Future is a very fine finishing technique!
Keep on going,
Frank
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Incredible work on the engine and nacelle Andreas! Simply outstanding.
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Thank you very much for your generous comments! I really appreciate them.
Stephen I am keen on seeing your magic scratchbuilding on the Fee. I do have left a started 1:72 Fe2b vacuform kit (can't remember the manufacturer). I once separated the parts from the plastic fret. If that could be a help for your project, I'd be happy to send it to you.
Borsos
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This is modelling of the highest order. :o
Superb!
vB
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Wow, this is a spectacular piece of modelling, Andreas! Your progress so far is really breathtaking!
As Germans say - weltklasse! ;)
Cheers
Ondra
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Oef....beautifull work on this one, and some good photografy as well..!!
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Borsos,
I see you used the FE2b 'early' version of the WNW kit. Is there anything on sprue H i might want? Should i prefer it to the late Fee? the reason I ask is although I already have the early Fee in my stash, it will be the bus Fred Libby made ace in as a gunner. (If you haven't read his memoir "Horses Don't Fly," I highly recommend it). I would expect the 'early' version to sell out first.
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Hi Jeff,
the reason why I went with the 'early' boxing is the Trafford Jones undercarriage in that box, the 'late' version only contains the V-Struts. But I wouldn't be too pessimistic about the availability of both kits. It seems as if not too many people agree in seeing the Fee as one of the most beautiful WNW kits ;). I think if you'd like to get the H-Sprue with the Trafford Jones undercarriage it would be a good idea to send an email to the WNw customer service and to ask for purchasing a separate sprue. I did that in the past one or two times (with their Albatros and Rumpler offerings I think) and it always went perfectly. They are very helpful. As the Fe2d either had an Oleo or a Trafford Jones undercarriage and neither is included in the "late" boxing, I think you'd need that sprue. But I don't know for sure if the Oleo and the TJ- u/c share any parts, so probabely you could use the one of your early boxing for the Fred Libby Fee and the other for your Fe2d conversion?
"Horses don't fly" then, I never heared about it. Thank you very much for that hint!!
Best regards
Borsos
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ok i'll get an 'early' boxing if they're still available when i'm caught up on all the kits that are likely to go extinct. i *need*--as in, i'll die if i don't get--the Eindecker in which Udet got his first kill and Barker's Snipe, so i'm optimistic.
Got the Cross & Cockade/RAF Museum FE2b/d book, it arrived today. this is probably the best book on a single aircraft type i've ever seen. it's jaw-dropping. Of the rest of the books you've got, are any of them essential beyond the Windsock?
Libby's book is also available as an audiobook btw. that's how i 'read' it. the 'd' i may build as Harold E. Hartney's, if his books are good. just started reading him. if not, i'll pick an ace with a gaudy scoreboard (there are a couple, the Fee was a formidable beast).
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me and my wallet both know this "needing as in 'i'll die if I don't get it'" just too well...
I totally agree on the quality of the C&C book, it is just amazing. That with and with the Windsock datafile on the Fe2d I think you are well equipped. Both other datafiles contain an abundance of Information, but are of course just dealing with the Fe2b variant. And I don't think that I would buy the Osprey title again, too less information on that special Fe2d variant.
I don't say that there are no questions left: The actual cockpit details are frequently more an 'educated guesswork' than real knowledge, but that's nothing new in WWI modelling. And sadly I didn't find any valuable information on the exact mounting of the engine and on the new fuel tank, therefore I covered that area with an engine cover...
Good luck with that project, the more I think about it the more I am thinking about picking it up again...
Best regards
Borsos
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looking forward to your resuming this build, whenever you're up for it, both because it's a magnificent project in its own right, and for the obvious selfish reasons ;)
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Astonishing work.
Cheers
Syd
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Hey Borsos!
I've been researching, and hit my first dilemma: the airframe i want to build, A3, had a 250 HP engine. the Eagle is 266-375hp.
have you seen anything in your reference materials to showing if they looked different? can i use the WNW engine?
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Hi Jeff,
Good question!
according to my research the Fe2d was powered by a "R-R 250 HP Eagle" engine. Your A3 had engine no 1/250/65.
Well. There were 3 Eagle engines rated at 250HP, the R-R 250 HP Mk. II, the R-R 250 HP Mk. III and the Mk. IV. The 36 built Eagle Mk. IIs were exclusively installed into the Short Bombers. The Eagle V (designation R-R 275HP, Mk. I) was rated at 275 HP. The next version of the Eagle, the Mk. VI, was rated at 275 HP as well, but got a doubled engine igniter including four magnetos as did all the later eagles up to the Eagle VIII.
Have a look at the archive photos on the WNW homepage, Accessoires, Rolls-Royce Eagle (132E0022):
http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/productdetail?productid=3121&cat=1
Here you see several photos of Fe2ds with "R-R III, IV or V" engines, according to the photo titles.
Here: http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/productdetail?productid=3121&cat=4
you see scetches of the R-R Eagle II(late), III and IV (they look the same), of the VI and VII and a last one of the VII. If you throw an eye on the parts of the sprues and these sketches, you'll see the only really visible differende between the R-R III/IV/V and late R-Rs are the doubled igniter and the four magnetos. The R-R III/IV/V didn't have those. Well, that brought me to two conclusions:
1. Whatever R-R 250HP engine (The Mk. II, III or the mk. IV) powered the Fe2d, they looked the same and even looked exactly like the R-R V (although rated at 275HP). Even the guys at Wingnut Wings couldn't distinguish them.
2. The WNW sprue 132E0022 contains all the parts you need to build a 250 HP R-R Eagle for a Fe2d.
Now I'd add a third conclusion: to call 132E0022 "266-375 HP" on the WNW homepage is nonsense. There is no R-R Eagle rated at 266HP and even the R-R VIII was only rated at 300 HP, not 375.
I used the WNW R-R Eagle according to the drawings on their homepage. I didn't follow the online instructions that show the later eagles with double ignition and four magnetos.
Does that help? I admit, it's no 100% proof, but as we've got all the available literature who can proove us wrong ;)?
Best regards
Andreas
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that helps a LOT yeah.
didn't occur to me that WNW would have photo archives for accessory sprues... one of the photos is A27, which is the same production batch as my A3!
i picked A3, btw, because Harold E. Hartney vividly describes a mission he flew in it in his memoir Wings Over France.
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i went ahead and ordered the Rolls from Weta. 20 percent off sale, plus the 'Weta Dollars' i've banked from ordering a second Albatrio, meant i paid about US$3 for it, including shipping. now all i need is another Fee...
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And you can use all the photos of the well documented A‘5 I think!
BTW you made me putting the Fee back on the bench, Jeff. I think my mojo is back...
Andreas
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the cheerleading section is watching your build with keen interest.
by the way i'm also considering A1960, the bus in which Hartney a) made ace and b) was shot down, allegedly by Richtofen (that's according to him, but a lot of sources say it was someone else). A3 has the tricycle landing gear though, which i like...
i've got some time to decide, i won't even be able to pick the kit up until May, when i visit the US...
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Take the time you need, Jeff! This project existed in the back of my head for about two years before I started it. And I am sure I won't finish it before the autumn.
I made some minor progress: The kit's forward interplane struts are too sort because they are made to be clued into the sides of the original Fe2b radiator. Covered up you don't see that they don't meet the fuselage bar they should. So I had to make the inteplane struts on my own: I sandwiched a piece of 0.5mm wire between two sheets of veneer, let it dry carefully and sanded it to shape. Although I like my new struts and they fit quite nicely (don't be mislead by the angles of the pictures, it's all as straight as it should ;)) I don't expect to be able to paint the plastic interplane struts of the kit that they look exactly like my wooden ones. So I'll have to replace them with wooden struts, too.
And after all in FFB I've seen what can happen to a wonderfull D.H. 2 if the plastic lattice tail is rigged with just a little too much tension. That brought me to the conclusion to replace the plastic lattice tail with brassrod -- even when it hurts...
(https://picload.org/image/dalpdgwi/3cd2a4ea-6378-4026-a13c-1f729b.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dalpdrgr/27397ff3-09b4-4e88-8303-bc8674.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dalpdgwl/4f1ae546-b0f4-4c25-9c72-6a6cc7.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dalpdrga/5859797f-f762-484c-bfbe-f74157.jpg)
Dryfitting the lower wings to the nacelle brought me to a crucial question: Both lower wings droop when atttached without glue. So to all who alreday built that kit: Will the lower wings be as straight as they should when glued into the nacelle?
Best regards
Borsos
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Hi Borsos.
Very fine progress on what I consider the finest, the best WNW kit.
I built it some years ago. The lower wings did not drop when I attached them for good in my model. The dihedral is perfectly as it should be. With the upper wing and rigging added it is stiffer than many other WNW models!
Also, I had no problems with any deforming of original plastic tail lattices - it just took some time to assess - on dryfitting the rigging through the tubes, how much tension to introduce, not to distort them and still make them stiff. The key was to tighten both bracing cables in a given bay at one time. You know, the lattices are not "full" and some bays cannot be rigged before the tail is attached to the wings. At this stage the model could not stand on the u/c. But when I rigged the missing bays, everything got the proper stiffness. And it has been safely and stably standing on its wheels for 6 years or so in my display cabinet.
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good to see you're back on this ship. coincidentally, the Rolls Royce Eagle sprue arrived today. gorgeous little engine kit! super impressed.
i'll be following closely. i haven't got a second Fee kit yet, (better do it soon, before they sell out of 'early' ones).
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Borsos,
I had the same experience as did Przemo with the lower wings, they attached perfectly. I found the rigging of the lattices to be a delicate operation but also checked them for distortion at every step and used quite a bit of elastic line (some EZ Line and even more Modelkasten) to reduce undue strain on the frames. Like rigging a smaller subject the trick was moving from one side to the same wire on the other side to ensure too much tension and distortion didn't occur. It's made several long road trips to contests and is still standing straight and undamaged.
It's good to see you back at this one, a great subject and it's coming along beautifully!
Cheers,
Lance
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Excellent work on the cabanes. I envy your skill in being able to replace all of the struts and lattice tail booms! You are a master!
RAGIII
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perfectly unavoidable decision on the cabane struts but man that's leading you down a rabbit hole innit.
but at the end of all this you'll have a beautiful example of (ok, arguably) the most under-rated ship of the entire war.
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Thank you very much Przemo, Jeff, Rick and Lance and pleas forgive my long absence here. Thanks for the hints regarding the tail boom! I think I'll dryfit the kit's parts and look how stable they seem to be...
After a long break I am back on that one. I added some streched sprue around the cockpit openings, glued in the engine and corrected the cowling pipes. Two new Fe2d exhausts are in the making (dull job...!)
(https://picload.org/image/dladwpli/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dladwplw/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dladwpcr/image.jpg)
Best regards
Andreas
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Excellent progress on the engine and fitting of the covers. Your scratch built details like the louvers and lacing are gorgeous.
RAGIII
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Glad to see you back on this beauty. Great attention to detail and scratch building.
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Great to see you back on this project, Andreas, excellent work so far. The amount of ingenuity invested into overcoming the various issues is truly inspirational.
Cudos!
Cheers
Ondra
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Andreas, good to see your mojo to work on this project comes back!
Looks fantastic!
Cheers,
Frank
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Andreas,
Glad to see you building this. Looks great so far. These British pushers amaze and terrify me.
Gaz
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carry on at will, sirrah.
greatly enjoying the return to this. my keen interest in this project is well documented...
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Great to see you do your magic again.
Bye,
Manni
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Rick, Juan, Ondra, Frank, Gaz, Jeff and Manni Thank you very much for your comments!
Meanwhile things went on. I glued on the engine cover and painted the nacelle. I used Mr Paint PC-10 early. I cannot praise these colors highly enough. They are simply great for using with the airbrush. Afterwards I cut the A' 4-markings out of white decal paper, added some detail painting, weathering and some wiring according to the pictures of real engines on the WNW-homepage to the engine and glued the scratchbuilt exhausts on after I tried to duplicate the asbestos warping around the fuselage struts with decal paper and some oil paint.
(https://picload.org/image/dloloowi/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dlolooww/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dlololgr/image.jpg)
(https://picload.org/image/dlololga/image.jpg)
Finally I replaced the kit's Lewis mountings with some brassrod and added some detail with old PE parts. The claps at the front and the sides of the fuselage are better replaced, as the kit Parts don't give enough detail imo.
(https://picload.org/image/dlololgl/image.jpg)
Now slowly the conversion part of this build comes to an end as the wings and tail section are obviously the same for Fe2d and b.
Best regards
Andreas
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The tub and engine look sweet Andreas! Your weathering adds some great depth and dimension.
Gaz
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Masterfully done Andreas, looking forward to your progress. :D
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I have only just realised that you have restarted this - hurrah! The extra details are really terrific, especially those associated with the engine and louvres, etc. I am following this carefully as I tink that I might be able to crib some of your ideas for my own project on the FB 5. In particular I am thinking about the stitching.
Stephen.
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Lovely work Andreas, the subtle wear and weathering and the terrific detailing are all really eye catching.
Cheers,
Lance
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Catching up on your build here Andreas, lots of nice progress, the asbestos wrapping on the struts is really a nice touch, just adds so much to that area. Naturally the engine with the home made exhaust looks nice nestled against the motor. It's coming along nicely and your patience and time has paid off for you. Looking forward to the non scratchbuilding phase.
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spectacular.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that's the FE2d conversion playbook written. can't wait to see this ship in its finished form.
now i just need to score an early Fee. i've been taking time off shopping to pay off debts, so hopefully i can still score one in December when i have some cash flow again...
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Hi Andreas
I thought I'd commented on this before but no. Anyway amazing work. The woodwork is especially impressive - best I've seen to my eye - amongst an incredibly impressive build of all other parts to date. Will keep up from now on!
Cheers
Alistair
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Hello Andreas, spectacular work. As usual I am impressed by your colour vatiations, lots of depth and perfect highlights. Just great.
Bye,
Manni
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Gaz, Juan, Stephen, Lance, Mark, Jeff, Alistair and Manni, thank you very much for your friendly and encouraging words and for your patience to follow this slow build.
At the moment there's not much new. My Fe 2d A1959 had the drop tank installed in the middle of the upper side of the upper wing. The kit's tank is shaped for installation on the lower side of the upper wing. That means reshaping the drop tank to follow the wing's shape of the upper side without loosing all the detail and -- most annoying -- the removal of the fuel line which is cast onto the rib tape detail. That means loosing the detail of one single rib tape which will stand out afterwards between all the other, unharmed ones. I am still thinking about a solution for that formerly unexpected problem...
Best regards
Andreas
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Great job all around, Andreas. You will surely end up with a WNW Fee but still so different than many others built to date.
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The standard of work here is superb, looking forward to following this build.
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As others have said, superb paint and wood work.
Ryan
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Hello,
You remember that one? I had to blow off a lot of dust from that shelve queen, but some progress is done now:
(https://abload.de/img/fc57f6cf-bae1-4095-8mhk8l.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/a16e80ae-a6bb-40ed-ac7k9h.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/6cce03f5-821c-479d-83ljnl.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/84744a54-2d33-4f1a-adqkoi.jpeg)
After starting a long paint job on the wings I attached the lower wings, the landing gear and the middle part of the upper wing. It took some time to get it look straight, but now I am quite happy with it. i decided to go with the kit‘s interplane struts.
Here a dry fitting of the rest of the upper wing and the tail booms. Everything seems to fit like it should. pew...! Now I have to finish much shading on the rudders. That bird is large, I think it’s the largest model I built to date and I‘ll rig her in steps as soon as possible as handling her is not that easy...
(https://abload.de/img/fc4817e1-ba9d-4d58-apekfc.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/75d31abe-9f88-4709-9pjkgx.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/7fd7ffec-b8d8-4a11-aq9jj0.jpeg)
Best regards
Andreas
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I just read through from the first post to the last. I like your instructive style of posting! Great work!
/Fredrik
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Very nice to see this beauty back in the spotlights, Andreas. It is a big unwieldy model to finish, and the delicate nature of it's construction adds to the challenge. Outstanding work and results thus far, and a great Build Log to follow.
Cheers,
Lance
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Superb piece of modelling Andreas, Cockpit is really beautiful.
I have this one in the stash too and will come back to your build whenever i will start mine for some reference sneaks....
Interesting to see that you use the vertigo jig, what are your impressions so far, is it a useful tool?
Cheers
Hans
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Hi Andreas,
Lovely work, great colours!
Regarding the tail booms I could recomment you to use a thin fishing line instead of elastic rigging. On my Fe the tail boom is a bit wobbly. The elevator and the rudder is a bit heavy for those thin booms.
Bye,
Manni
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Hi Andreas,
Lovely work, great colours!
Regarding the tail booms I could recomment you to use a thin fishing line instead of elastic rigging. On my Fe the tail boom is a bit wobbly. The elevator and the rudder is a bit heavy for those thin booms.
Bye,
Manni
Copy that remark on rigging. In my opinion the use of structural rigging in this model is an absolute need!
And great to see you back at this model. I love Fees!
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Great work, Andreas. That's going to be one complicated rigging job.
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The problem with a Well Done conversion is Not Many will even Notice how much you altered the kit! Brilliant work and I am looking forward to seeing the rigging!
RAGIII
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Really good progress there Andreas. Wonderful to see a 2d conversion too - apart from a few afficionardos I wonder how many people know of this variant? As Rick has remarked, because your conversion work is so good I suspect that many observers will assume that it is just another 2b!
Stephen.
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Dear Fredrik, Lance, Hans, Manni, Przemo, kensar, Rick and Stephen, thank you very much for your friendly comments. It’s great to have you on board!
I‘d also like to express my gratitude towards Mr. Spider-Man. His help rigging this beast is highly appreciated.
I used my beloved 0.14 mm fishing line for the structural rigging and invisible nylon thread for the rest.
(https://abload.de/img/3ddb839f-05cc-4aee-9g7k4y.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/2a32847e-5be1-4ba9-a5yjug.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/0372fdca-312f-4c06-a5fkkn.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/69a79789-b325-444f-bzlji1.jpeg)
It is going to need some time for painting all the little details and touching up minor misshaps. Prop and Lewis MGs at last.
Best regards
Andreas
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Brilliant Andreas!
Looking at all that rigging makes me feel slightly queasy...
Guy
Ps if I were your mother, I’d tell you to clean up your workbench! ;D
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Beautiful Andreas, she is coming along quite nicely (what else would I expect from you). :D
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Spectacular!
Robin :)
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That is truly super Andreas. The rigging really does look comples but in your hands I suspect that it went together fairly easily.
Stephen.
PS I was also going to comment on your workspace but Gary has beaten me to it. (And don't tell anyone but mine looks similar.......)
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+1 with all the positive comments.
Amazing build! :o :o :o
von B
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Great job, Andreas! 8)
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Simply Stunning! Your rigging is the icing on a Delicious cake 8) Superb skills all around!
RAGIII
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Can I have it ?
Very nicely done , I would give those spiders some time off !
Terri
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Very, very impressive work, Andreas! Always a stunner!
Bye,
Manni
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Magnificent Andreas,great to see this one approaching the finish line.Lovely modelling indeed.
Cheers,
Dave.
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Andreas, the beauty of this model blows me away! :o
You put a lot of work into it, but the result shows every of that minutes. Outstanding and one of your best!
Can't wait for the final pictures ???
Cheers,
Frank
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Thank you very much for your positive comments and your interest!
Meanwhile I've got her finally done. I was carried away with rigging, adding small details like the Lewis MGs, the fabric warping around the lattice tail or the minor battle damage on the upper wing.
Here are some final pictures, the rest will be in the "completed" section: https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=10869.0
(https://abload.de/img/73b0117d-be8c-45af-9wfjxd.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/04900abf-2176-4961-b0ckyf.jpeg)
(https://abload.de/img/21369835-ae04-4276-aagj7c.jpeg)
I hope you like it.
Best regards
Andreas
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Brilliant work on ALL ASPECTS Andreas! Stunning build and presentation!!
RAGIII
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Oh my ..... I'm off to the Completed Models entry to really enjoy this jewel!
Cheers,
Lance