1:32nd scale Salmson 2-A2

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
At last the rigging is complete.
I've added the side bracing wires from the fuselage to the underside of the upper wing.
Also the upper and lower drag wires from the engine bearer frame to the underside of the upper wing and leading edge of the lower wings.
The flying, landing and fin bracing wire infills have also been painted with the same colour as the undersides of the wings and fuselage.
I chose CDL as it's difficult to know if these infills were CDL or blue (as for the rigging wires).
My assumption is that blue would has stood out too much against the camouflage surfaces, so I opted for CDL.

So now it's onto the four wireless wires from the cabane struts to the underside of the upper wing.
Also the fuel tank vent pipe,

Mike

[PrzemoL]

Just beautiful

[hrcoleman66]

Awesome work as always Mike!

Your attention to detail and patience is to be admired.

Cheers,

Hugh

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
I've added the vent pipe from the fuel tank, using 0.4 mm diameter black tube from 'MFH'.
Also the four wireless wires, made from annealed and twisted 0.2 mm diameter copper wire.

Now onto the front end parts,

Mike

[KiwiZac]

She looks exquisite, Mike, and those extra details in your most recent post really set it off.

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
I've now added the pilot's Vickers machine gu ('GasPatch replacement), gun sight, ring site, mirror and coolant header tank.
Also the wind driven pump/generator, with pipe from 0.4 mm diameter black tube from 'MFH'.

Just the ailerons and control cables wind screens and observers weapons to add, then it's onto the figures,

Mike

[RAGIII]

Stunning rigging work Mike. This could be the Best of all you have done...and like I said earlier that is saying a lot!
RAGIII

[Dirigible-Al]

I agree. Amazing detail.
Alan.

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
The aileron control cables have been added.
The mono-filament used is 0.08 mm diameter and is left clear.
Although the structural rigging was painted blue, the control cables were left unpainted.
I assume this was due to the cables being regularly adjusted and maintained.

Now onto the observers weapons,

Mike

[KiwiZac]

Just beautiful work Mike, truly beautiful! The aftermarket bits and your own added detail really make this special.

Another newbie question about the blue rigging and control horns: was this explicitly a Salmson trait, or one common to other French types of the period?

[RAGIII]

More excellence Mike!
RAGIII

[Mike Norris]

Just beautiful work Mike, truly beautiful! The aftermarket bits and your own added detail really make this special.

Another newbie question about the blue rigging and control horns: was this explicitly a Salmson trait, or one common to other French types of the period?

Hi Zac,
Certainly some French aircraft had blue painted structural rigging, like this Salmson and others, such as Caudron and Nieuport.
How widespread this was across French aircraft manufacturers and how long it continued is debatable.
As with this time period, predominately black and white photographs and the type of film used, make it difficult for mere modelers to determine exact colours.
Unless it is specified by better and more accurate research, it can be down to guesswork.
Bleu de France (Blue of France) is a colour traditionally used to represent France.
Blue has been used in the heraldry of the French monarchy since at least the 12th century, with the golden fleurs-de-lis of the kings always set on a blue (heraldic "azure") background.
A brighter version, based on the blue of the French Tricolour, is used in modern times, particularly in a sporting context.
French national teams in all sports will normally use blue as their main colour.
Also, Blue is France's national racing colour and several French motorsport teams have used it,

Mike
 

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
The observers twin Lewis machine guns assembly is now done.
I replaced the kit supplied weapons with 'GasPatch' weapons.
This required modifying the kit supplied gun mounting and adding both the cross bracing between the gun handles and the spreader bar between the breach blocks.
The gun mount spindle is 0.4 mm diameter tube located through holes drilled in the gun mounting lugs.
The cross bracing is 'EZ' line (heavy) routed through 0.3 mm diameter holes drilled diagonally the the ends of the handles.
The twin bungee lift cords around the gun support tube are also 'EZ' line routed through 0.4 mm diameter holes drilled through both sides of the tube pivots at the base ring.

Just the two windscreens to go and the model itself is complete.
Then it's onto the figures,

Mike

[RAGIII]

The Machine guns and Mount look amazing Mike!
RAGIII

[KiwiZac]

The guns and mount look exquisite, lovely work!

Hi Zac,
Certainly some French aircraft had blue painted structural rigging, like this Salmson and others, such as Caudron and Nieuport.
How widespread this was across French aircraft manufacturers and how long it continued is debatable.
As with this time period, predominately black and white photographs and the type of film used, make it difficult for mere modelers to determine exact colours.
Unless it is specified by better and more accurate research, it can be down to guesswork,

Mike

Thanks Mike. As I said earlier, until this build I had never heard of blue rigging so you're giving me quite an education!