1:32nd scale Hansa-Brandenburg W12

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
As I've suspended the build of the Phonix C.I, I thought I'd started an easier build.
The 'Wingnut Wings' model of the Hansa-Brandenburg W12, Serial No.1184 (C3MG) as flown by Fl.Mt. Urban and Lt. Ehrhardt of C-Staffel, Zeebrugge, during December 1917.
This aircraft was part of a three aircraft patrol that shot down the British Naval airship C27, killing all five of the crew,

Mike

[AngryJazz]

YES! Im very much looking forward to this one Mike! Can't wait to see what you do with the kit. Have one im my stash so will be taking notes 

[MR Bentley]

A fine looking floatplane. I'm excited to see how this one turns out!

-Max

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The engine is complete apart from adding control rods once the engine is fitted into the fuselage.
I've added a few changes to the kit supplied engine:
Nickel-Silver push rods of 0.4 mm diameter.
Rear coolant pipe from 0.5 mm diameter lead wire.
Fuel filter pipes from 0.3 mm diameter copper wire.
Throttle control return spring from 0.125 mm diameter copper wire.
Ignition lead support tubes from shaped Brass tube.
Ignition leads from 'EZ' black line (Fine).
Fuel priming levers from 0.2 and 0.4 mm diameter Brass tube and Nickel-Silver rod.
Crankcase vent ports from 'RB Productions' photo-etch grill.

Mike

[KiwiZac]

Another gem that looks ready for the test stand. Bravo Mike!

[gedmundson]

Nicely done, Mike. Your builds are always a modelling clinic to watch and learn from.
Cheers,
Gary

[RAGIII]

Beautiful start as always Mike!
RAGIII

[Borsos]

Imagine some wheels instead of floats and you are not too far away from a Phönix C. I!
Andreas

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
An interesting conundrum.
There appears to be some contradiction for this aircraft regarding whether the upper wing was fitted with a fuel tank or not.

The two references are the ‘Wingnut Wings’ instruction manual and the ‘Windsock’ Data File No.61 - Brandenburg W.12 (Peter M Grosz), dated 1997.

The ‘windsock’ Data file has line drawing that show Aircraft Serial No. 1395-1414 had a integral fuel tank fitted in the centre section of the upper wing.
A fuel transfer pipe from the tank was fitted on the underside of the wing centre section and was connected to a pipe attached to a fuselage cabane strut and into the fuselage.



The ‘Wingnut Wings’ instruction manual only shows the underside fuel transfer pipe on the colour profiles of the various model colour schemes.
Neither the upper wing fuel tank or transfer pipes are represented in the kit.



Many photographs of the W.12 aircraft show the under wing fuel transfer pipe.
But I could not find any photographs showing the upper surface of the wing with a fuel tank fitted.
There is no mention of this tank in either the data file or the kit instruction manual.

So, are the older data file drawings incorrect or is the kit correct, apart from instruction manual illustrations?

Given the lack of information available to confirm a fuel tank in the upper wing, I’ve chosen to go with the kit, but disregard the illustrated pipe in the instruction manual.

Mike

[wmcgill]

Hi all,
An interesting conundrum.
There appears to be some contradiction for this aircraft regarding whether the upper wing was fitted with a fuel tank or not.

The two references are the ‘Wingnut Wings’ instruction manual and the ‘Windsock’ Data File No.61 - Brandenburg W.12 (Peter M Grosz), dated 1997.

The ‘windsock’ Data file has line drawing that show Aircraft Serial No. 1395-1414 had a integral fuel tank fitted in the centre section of the upper wing.
A fuel transfer pipe from the tank was fitted on the underside of the wing centre section and was connected to a pipe attached to a fuselage cabane strut and into the fuselage.



The ‘Wingnut Wings’ instruction manual only shows the underside fuel transfer pipe on the colour profiles of the various model colour schemes.
Neither the upper wing fuel tank or transfer pipes are represented in the kit.



Many photographs of the W.12 aircraft show the under wing fuel transfer pipe.
But I could not find any photographs showing the upper surface of the wing with a fuel tank fitted.
There is no mention of this tank in either the data file or the kit instruction manual.

So, are the older data file drawings incorrect or is the kit correct, apart from instruction manual illustrations?

Given the lack of information available to confirm a fuel tank in the upper wing, I’ve chosen to go with the kit, but disregard the illustrated pipe in the instruction manual.

Mike

Mike,

The W.12 fuel tank is inside the top wing (and therefore invisible from the exterior), while the fuel line is shown in the instructions at the bottom of page 11.

[Dutch522]

Back in 1991 Peter Grosz included the cockpit shot from the Datafile in the "Cockpits" section of WWI Aero No. 131, along with a hand-drawn sketch by Roy Meyers indicating what the various controls and instruments were. One is labeled "Air Pump and Gravity Tank Selector", while another is labeled "Tank Selector?" So one would assume there was a gravity-feed wing tank and an internal tank (pressurized? or why else an air pump on the same toggle?), at least on the later 2000-series machine the photo illustrates.



FWIW,

Dave V.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Dave and Wmcgill,
Many thanks for the heads up.
1. That'll teach me to check the kit instructions more thoroughly.
2. The cockpit illustration is something I didn't have access to.

Here's a few shots I've found for the auxiliary fuel tank in the upper wing,

Mike

[RAGIII]

One has to Love this Forum! Glad to see others helped out with your usual Meticulous research!
RAGIII

[Mike Norris (UK)]

One has to Love this Forum! Glad to see others helped out with your usual Meticulous research!
RAGIII

Hi Rich,
Never to old to learn 

Mike

[Tim Mixon]

Great start Mike. The engine looks fantastic with your additions.  Eagerly awaiting your next update. 

All the best,
Tim