1:32nd scale Caudron G.3 (Anzani engine)

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
My next build.
The Copper State Models 1:32nd scale Caudron G.III with the Anzani engine.
A Belgian Caudron G.III trainer, operating from Juvisy-sur-Orge, France during 1918.

At the moment I'm working my way through the bird cage of structural and control cable rigging for my build log,

Mike

[AngryJazz]

Very much looking forward to this one Mike 

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I had built and painted the engine and was about to add ignition leads to the spark plugs.
However, at this stage of the engine build I found an apparent error in the molding of the front bank of engine cylinders.
As can be seen in the following photograph, the spark plugs on both banks of cylinders face left.



The kit instruction manual at step 67 shows the cylinders with plugs fitted at the left and the right.
Further to that, Step 68 shows the engine with what appears to be two spark plugs fitted in each cylinder.
Also, the Caudron G.3's in the RAF museum, Hendon, UK and and in the Brussels Museum, Belgium show two plugs per cylinder.





As the engine halves J8, 9, 10 and 11 are keyed, they can only be fitted together one way.
Therefore, the locations of the spark plug on the models engine are confusing.



So, modification to the cylinder spark plugs may be required.
Lacking definitive information, I'll go for single, left facing spark plugs on all cylinders,

Mike

[Edgar]

Hm, that is rather strange, I will check the plastic engine, from what I remember, 5 cylinders on the left (if we are looking on an engine)should have spark plugs on the right. and 5 cylinders on the right should have cylinders on the left.
At least that is how I remember it. I will check

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I've had contact from Edgar and others and have found more reference photographs.

The only references available are period photographs, museum engines and aircraft and the kit instruction manual.
Period photographs show limited, if any, engine detail.
As most know, museum displays can be misleading due to reworking and display requirements, so they are not always authentic.
As examples, the Caudron G.3s in the RAF Museum in Hendon, UK and the Museum in Brussels, Belgium have two spark plugs fitted to each cylinder on their Anzani engines.

However, photographs of Anzani engines clearly show the spark plugs fitted to the right side of the left cylinders and left side of the right cylinders.
This configuration matches the illustrations in the kit instruction manual, but not on the completed model of the engine.

Therefore, the completed model engine would appear to have four spark plugs located on the wrong side of their cylinders, being on two front cylinders and two rear cylinders.
Those spark plugs are highlighted in the following photograph and are the ones that I will either re-position or replace,

Mike

[Borsos]

Nice to see you building that one.

I have been in Hendon RAF Museum yesterday and my Camera is still hot from taking photos. I found the oil pipe/fuel pipe (?) coming off the firewall an interesting feature that I haven?t seen on Le Rh?ne powered Caudrons. Is it portrayed in the kit?

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Rather than have some kit molded spark plugs and some replacement plugs, I chose to replace all plugs.
That way there would be no mismatch of plugs.
The kit plugs were cut away and replaced by Albion Alloy's 0.5 mm diameter Aluminium tube (MAT05).
These will have copper wire ignition leads added,

Mike
 

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Nice to see you building that one.

I have been in Hendon RAF Museum yesterday and my Camera is still hot from taking photos. I found the oil pipe/fuel pipe (?) coming off the firewall an interesting feature that I have not seen on Le Rhone powered Caudrons. Is it portrayed in the kit?

Hi Boros,
The Anzani kit does not have that fuel supply pipe to the carburettor detailed.
Also, not the copper oil supply pipes at the top of the crankcase housing.
I've yet to work out where those pipes go to.
Also, notice the carburettor control rod from the bulkhead to the carburettor,

Mike

[NigelR]

Excellent research work Mike. It's this part of modelling WWI subjects that I find both enjoying and frustrating! IMO it's worth the effort though, so well done.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The basic engine is complete.
I've replaced the spark plugs and added ignition leads.
I've also added what I assume is an oil supply pipe to the engine crankcase.
The carburettor fuel supply pipe and control rod can only be added after the cabin has been assembled,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The propeller is completed.
A Waring and Gillow wood laminated propeller from Proper Plane (WP-046).
Kit decals used and hub plates painted with Mr. Color Super Iron 2.

Now its onto rigging the Carlingue (cabin),

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The basic cabin component parts.
Weathering was done using Flory Models Dark Dirt clay wash.
Leather and wood effect using Windsor & Newton Griffin Alkyd oil paints (Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber and Van Dyke Brown),

Mike

[AngryJazz]

Great attention to details - looks great 

[NigelR]

That is indeed looking really good Mike, lovely work so far.

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I've now rigged the rudder, elevators and wing war control lines to the cabin.
Turnbuckles are the new 1:32nd scale resin turnbuckles (RD005) from Proper Plane.
The line used is 0.08 mm mono-filament and the tubes are cut from Albion Alloy's Nickel-Silver 0.5 mm diameter tube (NST05).

Now it's onto assembling the cabin,

Mike