Roden 1/32 Sopwith Strutter from April

[macsporran]

Thank you everyone. I'll try to keep the momentum going!

Started strutting the Strutter and have to note a huge improvement in Roden's strut attachment points. The undercarriage plugged together very satisfyingly and allowed me to true it all up balanced on the upside down fuselage without recourse to any jigs or supports. I'm not a great fan of jigs as I tend to damage the model while removing!
Likewise the 'W' 'half-struts' plugged nicely into the inverted top wing with good solid square locating lugs. When half set, I then positioned on top of the model, adjusted the angle of incidence and left to cure.
I couldn't resist popping on the half-painted wheels just to see what the finished beast will look like - see below!

(You may notice I sprayed white circles on top wing in case the decal roundels came out grey over the PC10, but this was probably unnecessary as the fuselage markings white colour proved perfectly dense enough.)
Sandy

PS Just got a shipping note from Jadlam that my 1/32 Roden Comic Strutter is on the way to me, so I'll need to get a move on!

[Dutch522]

Looking great, Sandy! These photos really bring out the design of the Strutter... it's interesting how solidly the top wing sits on that big "W". I'm sure it wasn't the case, but it makes it look as though the outboard sets of struts were just there for bracing (like on that scary-looking Dr.I prototype).

All ahead full!

Dutch

[KiwiZac]

She's looking great from here Sandy!

[NigelR]

Looking good! It's good news that it goes together well, Roden deserve credit for this. And of course the modeller doing it does as well!

[macsporran]

Again thanks for all encouragement - been a bit busy recently but managed to get a little progress.

It's going to be much easier to run the control wires to the elevators before mounting the top wing, but they will really get in the way while rigging the wing cellule, so I've decided to attach from cockpit to the brass tubes I've mounted on fuselage sides but only tack in place on tailplane until a later stage.

I use chameleon fishing line of 2,3 or 4lbs as appropriate. I apply a splodge of aluminium paint (Revell Aqua in this case) to a coffee filter, then draw a metre or so of the wire through the folded filter several times to replicate a suitable RAF wire colour. (I don't try to achieve the aerofoil section, as all previous experiments have twisted after construction and looked worse than a round section!) The Aqua dries very quickly and doesn't react with the CA glue I will use to anchor the line in pre-drilled holes.

I rigged the undercarriage at the same time.
Sandy

[macsporran]

Now to make it look like a Strutter.
Top wing cemented in place on cabane struts and once set, outer struts popped into place and fixed with a little Tamiya thin.

I've also place the Scarff ring in temp situ.

Yes, definitely starting to look like an LCT.
Sandy

[NigelR]

Looking good Sandy. I like your approach to the rigging, also colouring it is an excellent idea. I prefer a metal colour to black myself.

[KiwiZac]

She's looking great Sandy, I love it!

[Dutch522]

Brilliant, Sandy, she's really coming together quickly now. I've been coloring my rigging wires as well, with good old Testor's "Steel", thinned down a bit... I'll have to try the coffee filter idea, though.

Dutch

[pepperman42]

Awesome results!! Would you consider this Roden's best?

Steve

[macsporran]

Thanks Nigel, Zac, Dutch, Steve - I certainly think it's a good kit but there is still a fair bit to do - but that's what modelling is all about! (eg: I'll never use a Proper Plane propellor (huge respect to them though and those that use them) coz part of the fun for me is trying to make it for yourself. YMMV.)
(To me, the Albatros kits are the best Rodens I've made.)
Sandy

[Borsos]

What a lovely build! It looks like you’re close to the finishing line!
Andreas

[macsporran]

Thanks Andreas

On then with the rigging. I'll do the wing cellule first, then tidy up surfaces and apply roundels, then I'll add aileron control horns and add control cables. Finally I'll rig fin and tailplane and end by attaching elevator control cables. That's the plan anyway.

My coffee filter method is less successful this time: must be a new brand of papers. Instead I add a pool of the Alu paint on a crease in the paper and fill a soft size 5 paintbrush with paint and use it to hold the fishing line down in the paint pool while I draw it through. Two or three passes and I have a supply of pre-coloured metallic rigging material.

Vesti la giubba
Sandy

[macsporran]

Before finishing last night I couldn't resist getting the roundels on the top wing.

Oh yes, I love the big colourful RFC cocardes set against the PC10 backcloth. A little Microset and sol, and the Roden decals appear to be behaving as well as any other brand. Thin, good conformance and colour density - and they do make the wings pop!
Another pic in daylight.
Sandy

[macsporran]

A wee bit of surgery to expose the wing inspection panels and here we are up to date.

I've tidied up the rigging holes but will thicken the turnbuckles once I've got the underwing roundels on.

I think this Roden kit, really captures the looks of the Strutter:
Sandy