Special Hobby 1:32 Scale Morane Saulnier Type N

[Bughunter]

I've found  the plastic is quite soft and several of the smaller parts may need replacement as they are pretty flimsy!

Lance, that is called live demonstration! And in 1/48 the parts are even thinner. Now you know why I replaced all those struts and co on my recent projects, e.g. the Special Hobby Fokker D.V

Cheers,
Frank

[gbrivio]

Very nice subject, following.
Ciao
Giuseppe

[Fvdm]

This project looks real nice. I'm very interested in this plane so I'll follow along.

[Monty]

A great project to choose, Lance! And in your capable hands will turn out a stunner! A bit out of the ordinary, and so appealing! In my thoroughly disorganised stash this kit may be lurking, the French boxing, I think... so I will pay rapt attention! Regards, Marc.

[lcarroll]

   Thanks all, as always I really enjoy your comments!
    Progress has been slow but here's another update. The cockpit module is complete and it has been test fitted into the fuselage. Trimming required was marginal as there's not very much that can be reduced without compromising the entire frame.  The three instruments were scratched using Air Scale decal faces and Aero Scale PE Bezels. I added control cables to the rudder bar and pear wood veneer foot boards.







The Fuselage interior frame and longerons were done with Evergreen Styrene Strips.  The two larger holes are the original kit wing alignment holes, the third (middle one) has been added to receive the brass tube that the wings have been drilled for to add a bit of strength.



    The Kit's PE Seat Belts were replaced with some spares from an HGW Fabric set which I far prefer.:





    I also subjected the wings to a bit of hair dryer torture and they are now (and hopefully permanently) straightened. I figure she's ready to be "buttoned up"!
Cheers,
Lance

[mgunns]

You are making good progress on this Lance.  The pearwood veneer on the floor boards is a nice touch.  The Instruments are nicely done and the whole cockpit assembly looks pretty outstanding from my side of the computer screen.  Looking forward to see how the wings work for you.  Looks like you have the situation well in hand.

[Alexis]

Nice clean work Lance , nothing like adding real wood to a build . Those are lovely floor boards 


Alexis

[Rookie]

Beautiful work on the cockpit Lance, and very nice stitching detail on the seatbelts. I hope it will all stay visible once the fuselage is closed.

Willem

[Fvdm]

It put a smile on my face when you wrote the three instruments were scratched, considering how many instruments they use today.

Progres is nice Lance.

[Gisbod]

Lovely Lance,

I too, love a bit of real wood.

Guy

[lcarroll]

It put a smile on my face when you wrote the three instruments were scratched, considering how many instruments they use today.

Progres is nice Lance.

     Thanks for looking and commenting. The wood floor boards are strictly my own embellishment, I couldn't find any photos or a diagram of the cockpit bottom but there had to be some sort of support there between the Pilot and the fabric bottom! As for the scratched instruments Fvdm, can you imagine trying to "scratch" a full "glass" cockpit like today's aircraft?!
     I'm hoping to get the fuselage closed up today, with more to follow.
Cheers,
Lance

[RAGIII]

You are making good progress on this Lance.  The pearwood veneer on the floor boards is a nice touch.  The Instruments are nicely done and the whole cockpit assembly looks pretty outstanding from my side of the computer screen.  Looking forward to see how the wings work for you.  Looks like you have the situation well in hand.

I agree with all Mark has said. I Love the floorboards. Nice touch!
RAGIII

[lcarroll]

Thank you Rick, real wood is hard to beat alright. I'll add a mini update as I got the fuselage closed up as planned today. The fit was much better then I anticipated with only three small fill ins required. I did my usual fumble fingered routine and "pinged" off the instrument on the right sill, but located it before the floor monster swallowed so it's easily reinstalled later.
    The assembled fuselage, the brass rod support for the wings is "posed" for the photo:



    A small bit of putty around the headrest area:



   More in two small spots on the underside:



 .......... and two small "sink holes" where the tail skid support frame attaches.



    Next I'll complete the engine along with the prop, spinner, and cowling.

Cheers,
Lance

[Dave W]

Looking really good Lance. I'm following this build for reference to my own later.

cheers

Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia

[lcarroll]

Thanks Dave. The most valuable hint I can pass on at this point is regarding the framed cockpit assembly. The instructions are pretty basic and I struggled with the width of the component until I realized that the firewall would determine that. The other lateral frame members all were too long so were installed and then trimmed to match to outside face of the longitudinal frame pieces after the firewall was assembled to the front of the frame.; it then fell together beautifully and fitted the fuselage perfectly!
Cheers,
Lance