Eastern Express/Toko 1/72 Hansa-Brandenburg (UFAG) W.29

[Dutch522]

Dedication, you have to love the work you're putting into this big seaplane. Or tiny seaplane, as the case may be... it's beautiful, in any case. I've always loved the Brandenburgs, I still have a 1:48 W.29 vacuform kit from the days long before there were any injection-molded options (and who ever dreamed, back then, of one in 1:32?) which I never had nerve to start.

Great job, Max.

Dave V.

[Borsos]

Nice modeling here, and the scalpel blade gives an impression how tiny this is.
Andreas

[MR Bentley]

Thank you Tim, Richie, Dave and Andreas for the positive comments!

Now, the interior is starting to come together. Here's a quick shot of the auxiliary fuel tank and observer's locker


Next, I added a pin wash to give the framing a little more definition


I've installed the fuel tank, seat and control stick. The pipes are 0.5mm brass, the rest is copper wire of various diameters. The seat supports were painted XF-64 Red Brown, the rest of the pipes and controls XF-24 Dark Grey






Cheers!
Max

[kensar]

That's a lot of detail for 1/72 scale.  Nice work.

[Dutch522]

Really enjoying this thread. Great work, Max, even more impressive in 1:72. I'm still amazed at the idea of perching the pilot atop the fuel tank; why not just make him sit on a box filled with dynamite?

Probably had something to do with the center of gravity.

Dave V.

[KiwiZac]

I can only echo others' comments: it's always shocking to remember this is 1/72! Bravo!

I'm still amazed at the idea of perching the pilot atop the fuel tank; why not just make him sit on a box filled with dynamite?

I didn't realise the Sopwith Snipe was the same until watching a video of Kermit Weeks showcasing his TVAL-build reproduction. That's some level of trust and confidence!

[Dutch522]

Zac, I actually remember that from my stalled build of the original CSM Snipe kit back around 2001. I scratchbuilt a lot of the interior but Eric provided a fairly usable white-metal fuel tank that fit under the seat (or, more appropriately, that the seat perched on top of!). Let's see, if one gallon of petrol has the explosive power of three sticks of dynamite, then...

DV

[Tim Mixon]

Great looking interior work. This is shaping up very nicely. 

[MR Bentley]

Thanks, guys!

With the majority of the interior finished, I've moved on to the engine area. First up, making the engine bearers.


I'm using the GasPatch Schwarzlose guns and i'm making their mounts from 0.5mm brass pipe. The rear posts are removable for ease of painting, with the forward post glued directly the the bottom of the receiver.


Last up, the same XF-59 + burnt umber oils combo for the woodgrain.


Cheers!
Max

[RAGIII]

Amazing work / Scratch building! Lovely wood grain.
RAGIII

[MR Bentley]

Moving on to the engine.

First, removing the inlet exhausts and fiiling the void in the port engine half.


Here I've cut a groove into the top of the cylinders so I can lay in a piece of brass pipe.


Once the pipe was in, I puttied around it and various other sinkholes to smooth out the parts.



I also installed spark plugs made of 0.3mm brass rod.




Cheers!
Max

[Tim Mixon]

Oh my! That is some serious tiny detailing. Very impressive. 

[Dutch522]

Wow, impressive, beautiful work. What are you using to get those photos... a scanning electron microscope??

Dave V.

[RichieW]

I have to keep checking the title to make sure I'm looking at a 1/72 model. Impressive micro surgery!

Richie

[RAGIII]

Extremely nice Engine detail and I am sure it will be stunning when finished!
RAGIII