1:32nd scale Bristol F.2b

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Dutch and Nigel,
I'll be leaving the tubes  unpainted.
As Nigel says, the tubing can sometimes detract from the rigging as there were none on turnbuckles or streamlined wires.
That said this is just a test to see how the final model will look,

Mike
 

[Tim Mixon]

Mike,
Congratulations on your IPMS Best of show award!  That Crocodile is simply amazing! 

[PrzemoL]

Great progress, Mike - as always!

As for the shutter control mechanism, I intended no criticism, just the curiosity, what others think about its presence or absence...
I will have to look at the photo Davos indicated in my paper version of the Windsock. The copy showing in my screen here is too unclear for my eyesight. It would be a nice discovery if that Aussie Biff indeed had the controls.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Mike,
Congratulations on your IPMS Best of show award!  That Crocodile is simply amazing!

Hi Tim,
Thanks, but a different Mike Norris  .
I think you refer to the 'Crocodile' tank model,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Great progress, Mike - as always!

As for the shutter control mechanism, I intended no criticism, just the curiosity, what others think about its presence or absence...
I will have to look at the photo Davos indicated in my paper version of the Windsock. The copy showing in my screen here is too unclear for my eyesight. It would be a nice discovery if that Aussie Biff indeed had the controls.

Hi PrezmoL,
I now think the aircraft did not have the shutter control fitted.
I've done a bit more research and the following photographs are of A7194, with No.1 Squadron (AFC) and No.111 Squadron (RFC).
You can see there is no radiator shutter control fitted.
So for the sake of authenticity, I won't be adding the controls to this model,

Mike

Youtube link to original film showing A7194 being rolled out with No.1 Squadron (AFC).

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ww1+film+of+aircraft+taking+off+and+landing&sca_esv=573962864&ei=tVkuZbrxK62yhbIPt4mMgA4&oq=ww1+film+of+aircraft+taking+off+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIHd3MSBmaWxtIG9mIGFpcmNyYWZ0IHRha2luZyBvZmYgKgIIADIFECEYoAFIsHNQqBFY3FJwAHgCkAEAmAFtoAGpGKoBBDM0LjS4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgQQABhHwgIEECEYCsICBRAAGKIE4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6a27262c,vid:dwrIf_5gEEM,st:0

[NigelR]

Excellent, if somewhat frustrating, research Mike. Thanks for the link to the film, very useful info.

A quick question - where did you get the MFH tubing? From MFH in Japan?

[Dutch522]

Hi Nigel, pending Mike's answer—hopefully there's a source in the UK—I just thought I'd add that I found it here in the States at UpScale Hobbies in Indiana for $4.95 plus a dollar or so P&P. Unfortunately the were out of stock on everything but the cream-colored tubing, which will probably mean painting it or using a marker, but I'm looking forward to giving it a try anyway.

And thanks Mike for letting us know about it!

Dutch

[PrzemoL]

Great progress, Mike - as always!

As for the shutter control mechanism, I intended no criticism, just the curiosity, what others think about its presence or absence...
I will have to look at the photo Davos indicated in my paper version of the Windsock. The copy showing in my screen here is too unclear for my eyesight. It would be a nice discovery if that Aussie Biff indeed had the controls.

Hi PrezmoL,
I now think the aircraft did not have the shutter control fitted.
I've done a bit more research and the following photographs are of A7194, with No.1 Squadron (AFC) and No.111 Squadron (RFC).
You can see there is no radiator shutter control fitted.
So for the sake of authenticity, I won't be adding the controls to this model,

Mike

Youtube link to original film showing A7194 being rolled out.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ww1+film+of+aircraft+taking+off+and+landing&sca_esv=573962864&ei=tVkuZbrxK62yhbIPt4mMgA4&oq=ww1+film+of+aircraft+taking+off+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiIHd3MSBmaWxtIG9mIGFpcmNyYWZ0IHRha2luZyBvZmYgKgIIADIFECEYoAFIsHNQqBFY3FJwAHgCkAEAmAFtoAGpGKoBBDM0LjS4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgQQABhHwgIEECEYCsICBRAAGKIE4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6a27262c,vid:dwrIf_5gEEM,st:0

It is a pity to see that the shutter control mechanism question remains indeed an enigma and that it was probably not used on WW1 aircraft. Pity, it would make for a lovely small addition to the model. But I am sure your decision on not mounting it is right and will make your model closer to reality.
Many thanks for the footage - great stuff!

And good luck with the rest of your fantastic project.

And I would also echo the question where to purchase the clear tubing as I am slowly running out of my amber polyimide one...

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I ordered the 'Model Factory Hiro (MFH) 0.4 mm diameter Black and Clear tubing some time ago and from 'Hiroboy' in Japan (link below).
However, it seems to be out of stock just about everywhere right now, although larger diameter tubing is available.
I've got a 'let me know when in stock' added to the 'Hiroboy' site, so I'll post here if it comes back into stock,

Mike

https://www.hiroboy.com/Coloured_Tubing_CLEAR_04mm_02mm_P957--product--3330.html

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Construction so far.
Now it's onto the pre-rigging stage before fitting the upper wing,

Mike

[PrzemoL]

Hi all,
I ordered the 'Model Factory Hiro (MFH) 0.4 mm diameter Black and Clear tubing some time ago and from 'Hiroboy' in Japan (link below).
However, it seems to be out of stock just about everywhere right now, although larger diameter tubing is available.
I've got a 'let me know when in stock' added to the 'Hiroboy' site, so I'll post here if it comes back into stock,

Mike

https://www.hiroboy.com/Coloured_Tubing_CLEAR_04mm_02mm_P957--product--3330.html

Thank you!

[Tim Mixon]

[/quote]
Hi Tim,
Thanks, but a different Mike Norris  .
I think you refer to the 'Crocodile' tank model,

Mike
[/quote]

Ooof!  Who would think that there would be more than one extremely talented Mike Norris in this limited modeling community?
Sorry,

Tim

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi Tim,
Thanks, but a different Mike Norris  .
I think you refer to the 'Crocodile' tank model,

Mike
[/quote]

Ooof!  Who would think that there would be more than one extremely talented Mike Norris in this limited modeling community?
Sorry,

Tim
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
Not a problem 
I had to add 'sandbagger' to my Facebook name, as there was confusion there as well,

Mike

[NigelR]

This is looking really good Mike, a lovely build all round.

Thanks for the info on the tubing. I saw it was OOS at Hiroboy, but at least it's something they have carried in the past.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Upper wing fitted and pre-rigged.
In total there are:
6 cabane strut bracing wires
2 drag wires
8 incidence wires
8 landing wires
16 flying wires (8 pairs).
Pre-rigged using 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament and 'Gaspatch' 1:48th scale Brutish late turnbuckles (for streamlined wires).

Now it's onto final rigging to the lower wings before adding the aileron control cables,

Mike