1/48 Caudron G-4, Paris-Melbourne 1919, conversion kit Meliusmanu

[huberlu]

It's confirmed, ... I'm weak.

I bought two "Smallstuffmodels" engines for my plane.



They are like on the pictures of their site.




There are three tiny pieces per cylinder to stick (Spark plug, rockers, and rocker arm support):





There is no trace of molding, so nothing to trim.
All the parts are put in place without difficulties, it is just necessary to remove them from their support. You do not even need a blade for the smaller ones.

I decided to fine-tune the trailing edge of the upper wing by scratching the intrados on the scalpel blade.

[huberlu]

Alclad Alu without undercoat + diluted black ink + diluted brown ink and matte varnish






I will finish the patina once all the cylinders in place.

[ermeio]

Great work and a definitive improvement

[huberlu]

Thank you !

Finally I painted everything in Alu Prince Auguste. I get the same result and I find it easier to apply. It is less clear in real life.




Payne gray oil patina and motor grease (Abteilung).

... and I lost only a tiny piece while painting!

Regards

[huberlu]

October 1919 'Étienne Poulet and Jean Benoist try their plane in front of Gaumont and Pathé's camera:
The aircraft is not yet equipped with replacement propellers, engine nacelle advertisements or the name Chicken on the upper wing.

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVAFBAU4T2I1KM20VUBEEO44AP4-FRENCH-AVIATOR-POULET-LEAVES-PARIS-FOR-MELBOURNE/query/Etienne+Poulet

[UFAG]

No weakness, just creativity for improvement, looks great..!!

[RAGIII]

Your choice of engines looks great. Beautiful Painting!
RAGIII

[huberlu]

Thank you!

The intake manifold is painted in copper alclad. Two types of tubules are available. Those on the left are covered with a little brown ink so that they are less pink ...



All parts are glued.




The rocker rods attach themselves to the top of the cylinders by "clipping" them into a tiny U-shaped piece (like the real engine). It must still stick but the accuracy is formidable.



Everything is small but everything is very well designed and everything is easily fixed without sanding or adjustment.

To try absolutely

Regards

[RAGIII]

Stunning work on the engine!
RAGIII

[huberlu]

The biggest air trip: Paris-Melbourne:


 The Mirror 19 October 19

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6566258t/f6.item.zoom

The idea of ​​the Paris Australia raid goes to Jules Vedrine, Etienne Poulet's "comrade", who asked him to accompany him.
At the accidental death of Jules Vedrine (April 1919) he took over the project on his own and prepared the itinerary. He will take with him the mechanic Jean Benoist who accompanies him for several years and who was already present in 1914 during his record flight of 16h30min.
The raid is undertaken to benefit the widows of Jules Vedrine and his five children.

 La vie aérienne illustrée. 1919/10/23.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k64797751/f14.image.r=Benoist%20Rangoon

The plane he will use will be a Caudron G-4 bought by him and modified for the occasion. It "takes off quickly, lands slowly and has all the security guarantees." The plane is slow and not very powerful but E. Poulet knows it very well.

-Characteristics of G4 Poulet and Benoist, described in  L’année aéronautique 1921. Pages following the steps, mileage etc.

https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6553380s


He gets no support from the French army or "administration". On the other hand, "Poulet received from the English government the insurance
that all the aerodromes of Mesopotamia, India and Siam would grant him all their assistance and provide him with all the necessary fuel.
He gets the help of the industrialist Paul Plouvier, and Jean Lhermit (journalist) both friends of Vedrine. Mr. Plouvier will be the guardian of the five orphaned children ( Le Figaro, No. 32, February 1, 1924, p.1).


L'Hermit giving the latest advice to Poulet [press photography] / Agence Meurisse

From the 14th of July to the end of September, he prepared himself for the raid by making, in stages of 500 to 800 kilometers, a total course of 20,000 kilometers.

In the l' Ouest Eclair of July 28, 1919 No. 7259, his arrival at St Malo is announced on the 01 and 02 August. He will give baptisms of the air for the benefit of the widow and children of Jules Vedrine.
https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6458896/f1.item%20.r%20=%20poulet.zoom







Photos extracted from the archives of "« Aéroplanes »". After analyzing the exhumed plates from their archives (now deposited in the Departmental Archives), the plates, as indicated on the box, come from St Malo / Paramé.
Bulletin No. 42 Airplanes. http://lesaeroplanes.free.fr/index.htm

[huberlu]

Hello!


I started to paint the interior of the cabin. The ejection pellets are to be removed conscientiously because they are very visible. I partially removed the support of the radio right side.
Étienne Poulet had abandoned  TSF too heavy in favor of pigeons.



The frames will be clearer.

The plane carried, among other things, crates, a rifle (visible in the photo), pigeons, 5litres of water, some food and a spare wheel:




I thought the wheel was stowed as in the picture. So I remove the support of the passenger seat thinking that by remaking finer plastic it could return without exceeding the cockpit. Alas ... she still exceeds that much. I should have measured better before cutting.



The wheel must be stored in the cockpit but elsewhere ...

So I redid the support by modifying it a bit so that it looks a little more like the one visible at the Smithsonian.
https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/caudron-g-4









In the two ramps on each side of the passenger seat there are pilot control rods passing. Difficult to delete them.


The passenger chair in photoetched. Hard enough to get in shape and stick properly.



The pilot's chair, redone by modifying the original with greenstuff and plastic.



Regards

[RAGIII]

This is quite and update! Lovely work on the interior wood. The redesigned support and PE seat look excellent as does the beginning of the padding on the pilots seat!
RAGIII

[ermeio]

excellent conversion!

[Alexis]

Super job on seat cushion , that looks very comfortable .



Terri

[huberlu]

Thank you!

As I am stuck, I think about a diorama. I will definitely want to put J. Benoist's little boy there.

Maybe the three characters (and maybe the photographer who already exists at 1/48):



I started a figurine, just the head.

It's not alike but I will not get to better I think. I have him aged a lot ...





Regards