1:32nd scale Bristol F.2b

[NigelR]

That's a nice set of figfures to complement the build.

I used a 'Pyrogravure' (essentially a very small soldering iron) to heat and form the fur on the camels and texture for the saddle blankets and tassels.

I still have my Pyrogravure that I bought from Historex Agents in about 1973........

[kensar]

Very nice work all around, Mike.  And a good collection of figures.  The camel detailing looks very good.

[Tim Mixon]

Mike,
Those figures are going to add so much to the build. Really impressive and delicate work on them. Looking forward to seeing the finished result!

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Here's the basic fuselage.
The linen effect decals were airbrushed with a tint of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) with a few drops of 'Tamiya' Desert Yellow (XF59).
Additional weathering was applied using 'Flory Models' Sand and Dark Dirt clay wash.
Also 'AK Interactive' Kerosene (AK2039) and Oil (AK2019) washes around filler caps etc.
The engine upper access panels are temporarily located for the photographs,

Mike

[NigelR]

That's looking really nice Mike, very well done.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Here's the basic fuselage, wings etc weathered.
I wanted to keep the weathering subtle, given this aircraft was operating in Palestine, not the Western Front.
The linen effect decals were airbrushed with a tint of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) with a few drops of 'Tamiya' Desert Yellow (XF59).
I've used 'AK Interactive' weather pencils Sand (10009) and Smoke (10003) to very lightly highlight around the fuselage stitching and along rib tapes.

Mike

[KiwiZac]

I really like the weathering Mike, it's seems just right for that theatre!

I am concerned about the fabric - it looks like muslin or sacking cloth, was there some kind of reaction between the decals and a setting solution or varnish?

[Mike Norris (UK)]

I really like the weathering Mike, it's seems just right for that theatre!

I am concerned about the fabric - it looks like muslin or sacking cloth, was there some kind of reaction between the decals and a setting solution or varnish?

Hi Zac,
Yeah - naff photograph.
I've replaced it now,

Mike

[NigelR]

Very nice looking weathering Mike, subtle but effective.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The propeller and observers Lewis machine guns.
The 'Proper Plane' propeller has 'Tamiya' Buff (XF55) linen wrapping at the blade tips.
'Tamiya' Weather Master Set A (Sand) was sponged lightly along the curved leading edges of the blades (to represent sand erosion).
The lift cords for the twin Lewis machine gun mount were made from silk thread,

Mike

[KiwiZac]

The propeller looks gorgeous, lovely job Mike! Very sharp.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
A couple of additions to the model.

The filler on the top of the fuselage, forward from the pilots cockpit, had a copper pipe fitted in the neck of the filler.
That pipe was routed towards and down through the fuselage and into the cockpit.
Holes of 0.4 mm diameter were drilled into the filler neck and through the fuselage.
Annealed copper wire of 0.28 mm diameter was bent to shape and secured in the holes with thin CA adhesive.





The radiator shutters were controlled by the pilot, using a lever inside the cockpit, routed through the side of the fuselage to a bell-crank.
This was connected to the operating bell-crank located on the right side of the radiator cowl.
The two levers were connected by two crossed cables.







Mike

[NigelR]

Lovely detail work Mike, looking really good.

[Tim Mixon]

Really nice attention to detail Mike. 

[PrzemoL]

Fantastic details...

The last photos reminded me ofa discussion I had here when building my Biff about the radiator shutter mechanism. It is true that it is present in the TVAL replica. But I have not seen a single photo from the WW1 period showing that mechanism. Have you found anything which might confirm its existence, Mike?