Multi-Seat 2026 GB - Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter 1/72

[DaddyO]

Thanks chaps 

Teeny lettering was a bit of a trial Stephen 
The lettering came from an old Pegasus sheet which are handy things to have if you are a bit of a rivet counter and can't bring yourself to use a 'similar' number for effect

As exp[ected the D-day celebrations were a bit of a wash out, but at least it wasn't raining while we were there. We did get up close and personal with a Spitfire, a Tiger Moth and a Stearman which were in one of the hangers so worth the short trip to the airfield.

Finding modelling a bit of a trial at the moment; Everything is fighting back and I'm just not getting any satisfaction from it. Not sure what the reason is, but despite having a spare day when everyone was out and nothing else pressing that needed doing I just bimbled around opening boxes and reading old magazines. Sometimes I think you just need to go with the flow and allow yourself some space. The model is currently sitting on it's jig with cabanes fitted ready for further developments . . .

[NigelR]

Finding modelling a bit of a trial at the moment; Everything is fighting back and I'm just not getting any satisfaction from it. Not sure what the reason is, but despite having a spare day when everyone was out and nothing else pressing that needed doing I just bimbled around opening boxes and reading old magazines. Sometimes I think you just need to go with the flow and allow yourself some space. The model is currently sitting on it's jig with cabanes fitted ready for further developments . . .

It happens. I'm struggling with my EI build at the moment - everything was fighting me and I was just spending too much time thinking about how I should do things like preshading and weathering instead of actually doing anything. But I seem to be back on track now.

[DaddyO]

Finding modelling a bit of a trial at the moment; Everything is fighting back and I'm just not getting any satisfaction from it. Not sure what the reason is, but despite having a spare day when everyone was out and nothing else pressing that needed doing I just bimbled around opening boxes and reading old magazines. Sometimes I think you just need to go with the flow and allow yourself some space. The model is currently sitting on it's jig with cabanes fitted ready for further developments . . .

It happens. I'm struggling with my EI build at the moment - everything was fighting me and I was just spending too much time thinking about how I should do things like preshading and weathering instead of actually doing anything. But I seem to be back on track now.

Cheers Nigel 
It sounds bad, but I'm glad it's not just me.

I know I'm a bit inclined to wild enthusiasm or bleakness depending on the phase of the moon or something. When enthusiastic every setback is merely a small challenge at other times I'm ready to burn everything . . . 
Been doing things long enough now to know that I can blow a bit hot or cold when it comes to most things (You can imagine what kind of sportsman I was - Brilliant . . . or not quite so)

Busy at work this week, but hopefully I'll get back to this one at the weekend.

[DaddyO]

Woke up early the last few mornings and decided to get something useful done on this one. Much fiddling and I eventually sorted a way of making the fairleads for the elevator cables behind the rear cockpit. After trying stretched and non stretched tube paired together and drilling stretched sprue I eventually settled on making a single tiny hole in a scrap of sprue and then giving it a final sand when in position - Still a bit overscale, but better than nothing.

Tail and fin are just pushed into place to check the holes all line up (they didn't but, do now)  Everything looks okay so just need to notch the extreme end for the rudder post/tail support and I get make that up and then get everything glued.

Here's the underside to give you an idea

Strutter tail mech , on Flickr

And here's a sneak peek of the famous Strutter monoplane 

Strutter mono , on Flickr

Oh yes inner cabanes are now glued in place so the top wing will sit square when it's added. Cowling didn't quite line up so that was glued and sanded before masking and spraying again. (I've decided against reproducing the 'sopwith' polishing on this one; just need to get it finished)

[NigelR]

Drilling stretched sprue? That way madness lies.......

She is looking good though, I really like the way the wood. PC10 and CDL work together. Making progress.....

Don't worry about not doing the Sopwith turning. I promise not to go on about it at shows.......(much)

[Brad Cancian]

Loving how this one is turning out! The details and paint are excellent.

These little Flashback strutters turn out pretty well in my experience - yours certainly is coming up a real treat



Cheers

BC

[DaddyO]

Drilling stretched sprue? That way madness lies.......

She is looking good though, I really like the way the wood. PC10 and CDL work together. Making progress.....

Don't worry about not doing the Sopwith turning. I promise not to go on about it at shows.......(much)

Cheers Nigel
I look forward to you 'not going on about it at shows' 

Loving how this one is turning out! The details and paint are excellent.

These little Flashback strutters turn out pretty well in my experience - yours certainly is coming up a real treat



Cheers

BC

Appreciate it Brad.

Got to admit I love your Flying Fox and having acquired the decals I was very tempted to make the same version, but decided against it on this occasion (still got a couple on the shelf though . . .  .) 

[Alexis]

Drilling stretched sprue? That way madness lies.......

She is looking good though, I really like the way the wood. PC10 and CDL work together. Making progress.....

Don't worry about not doing the Sopwith turning. I promise not to go on about it at shows.......(much)

Second on how it work together


Alexis

[DaddyO]

After another short, pretty unproductive and, to be frank, not very enjoyable session I've decided to call time on this one for the moment.

I'm just not getting any pleasure from going into the workroom these days, it just seems too much like 'another job on the list of things to do'.  So I have cleared the bench completely of stuff and will probably just box everything up and take a break from modelling for a bit. I want to be doing something in my little spare time that I really enjoy and look forward to rather than just doing it because it's there.

Paul

[NigelR]

That's a wise decision Paul. This is meant to be fun and if you're not enjoying it, what's the point. Part of the trouble with our online and social media world is that we create  pressure on ourselves to keep posting things online, and therefore we sometimes try to struggle through builds even if we aren't enjoying them. Best to take a break and come back refreshed. WWI aircraft are challenging builds because there are so many individual components and prep stages to go through before you reach the final stages and it feels like everything is coming together....

Personally I don't have a shelf of doom. If I get to the point that a build is not working out, it goes in the bin or gets recycled as parts. I know that if I lose interest I won't come back to it and I'd rather start something new. 

[lone modeller]

I wonder if your attention to very small details is part of the problem. Drilling stretched sprue for example.... I know that some modellers set great store on those finicky details, as I did at one time, but they can be very demanding of time and, most of all patience. I have got to the stage where I would like to build models of several types while I still have the ability and years to do so, so I tend to ignore some of the smaller stuff because most people:
a. do not notice the absence of such details;
b. do not really appreciate them even if they do see them;
c. do not know what their purpose was on the original machine anyway!

I make models because I enjoy the process and the finished result, but most of all I make them for me and if others wish to make adverse comments, my reply is "show me how to do it better via a real model".

Take some time out but do come back - possibly with a different subject to begin with to get the mojo active again.

Stephen.

[IanB]

I've just caught up on this build. Top quality all around, she'll look great when finished!
I looking forward to seeing it!
One small thing, on page one you mentioned exhausts. Rotaries didn't have exhausts, they vented directly to the atmosphere. What you refer to are the inlet ducts.

Ian

[Brad Cancian]

Hi Paul - I hear ya, sometimes a project can start to feel like a drag. Good plan to take a step away and come back when you're ready to get back into it.

I find sometimes a quick out of box "mojo" build can help when you feel like getting back into something. Most of my builds nowadays fall firmly into that category, hah!

Cheers,

Brad C

[ScottJ]

Greetings Paul... As usual, when I see you've started a project I will always keep a close watch on it.  So far your Sopwith is turning out excellent as usual.  You've made a great start and I really like the color scheme on this one.  As far as hitting "the wall", I'm about a month ahead of you.
Working on my first, and most likely last, resin kit I seem to have found myself in a perpetual loop.   A subject I was really interested in so was surprised to see a kit had been made of it.  Anyway, the experience has been akin to one step forward, two steps back... every solution seems to breed new problems.  Like you, I found that I wasn't enjoying sitting down at the table to put in some more aimless work.  I was making excuses to avoid working on it anymore and that's when I decided I was putting in the effort for all the wrong reasons. 
Summer is kind of a tough time (for me at least) to be in a most likely hot room working on a kit.  I've got two motorcycles in the garage that ask what I'm going to do daily (really... they do!!!) and other retired friends who are game to hit the pub and solve all the worlds problems (really... we do!!!) but I have a feeling that once the days cool off a little and I'm able to look at the project with new eyes I'll be inspired to pick up where I left off.  This has happened before as I'm sure it has for you.
Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out once your inspiration returns.
As a side note, I've picked up and prepped some laminated wood sheets so may try my hand at carving some wood props... that will be your fault Paul as I got the instructions from you....   Thanks a lot man!
Take care
Scott

[WD]

Paul,
       This is such a beautiful build, and I've been quite remiss in not coming to the forum these last few months and taking in everyone's work and completions. I really much go back to the beginning of this, and take it all in.
     I do know what you mean about stepping away. My personal issue is that I step away, and then lose perishable skills, etc.

Warren D