1:32nd scale - Bristol M1.c 'Bullet'

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The cockpit is ready to be fitted into the fuselage, when most of it won't be visible (why do we do it).
Additional pipes are 0.4 mm diameter lead wire.
Engine control rods are 0.4 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube, chemically blackened with 'Black-It'.
The supplied seat harness was photo-etch and looked remarkably the same as the 'Eduard' set for the WW2 Fairy 'Swordfish' aircraft.
Needless to say I replaced them with the coloured textile set from 'HGW Models',

Mike.

 











 

[mgunns]

Looking good Mike:  It's a shame all that nice work you did on the interior is almost un seen once the cockpit is buttoned up.  The Engine looks the part as well, but as you mentioned, not much will be seen due to the large spinner, albeit you captured the look of an "in service" engine, very nicely.

[RAGIII]

Beautiful cockpit work. The dials and bezels are particularly nice!
RAGIII

[Alexis]

Excellent job on the pit Mike 


Terri

[jeroen_R90S]

Looking great -at least you still have the pictures before it's all hidden!

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Just a few updates.
I've modified the front end to accept a 'ProperPlane' laminated propeller ('Lang' type).
This entailed replacing the propeller shaft on the engine with 2.0 mm tube and filing the front face of the spinner support ring.
Also sanding the rear face of the propeller hub, re-profiling the spinner cut-outs and thinning the walls of the engine cowl and spinner.

 

The Vickers Mk.1 machine gun was replaced with a 'GasPatch' version, which required lengthening the fuselage recess to accept the weapon.
The two ammunition feed guards were also slightly re-profiled.
I also drilled out what was a solid ammunition ejector chute.



The undercarriage struts attachment to the fuselage was poor and didn't allow for the struts to be angled correctly.
These were modified to have 0.4 mm diameter locating rods and the tops of the struts chamfered to the shape of the fuselage.
Also the two axle torque bars were replaced with stronger 1.0 mm diameter rod.

 

Mike

[RAGIII]

Nice work on the MG mounting area, Spent shell chute, and especially the gear legs. Should be quite sturdy!
RAGIII

[FAf]

Great work! Nice looking propeller, but it's the overall work of getting things to fit and look nice that is really impressive!
/Fredrik

[Gisbod]

Very nice indeed.

I like the Bullet a lot. Great work on the turnbuckles (and everything else...).

Guy

[Pup7309]

Great work on the cockpit, looking forward to the rest of my he build

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The wings are supported by a strut assembly over the cockpit.
The kit supplied struts are intended to be 'butt' glued together at the top and into shallow recesses in the fuselage sides.
Not a very satisfactory assembly and probably not really strong enough to take the weight of the solid wings with rigging.
Therefore I've replaced them with aero-shaped tubing with 0.4 mm diameter rods for locating into the fuselage.
The whole assembly is soft soldered for strength,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I've added the bungee type suspension cord to the axle ends, using 'EZ' heavy line (white).
Also the half hoops at the axle ends, inboard from the base of the undercarriage struts.
Made from annealed 0.4 mm diameter rod.

Mike

[fredjocko]

That looks great! I really like the seat; is that included or an aftermarket?

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi 'Fredjocko',
The seat and pressure pump propeller are supplied in the kit as resin parts.
The rest of the kit is standard styrene,

Mike

[kensar]

Nice detailing and engineering to improve the model, Mike.  I think the seat looks especially good.  At least it will be visible in the end.