WNW FE2b Late

[Ian from Doncaster]

I started this just around christmas time but put it away several times whilst I built a few smaller kits.  I couldn't resist opening it at first, and did the prop straight away.  I reckoned British prop laminations were of very similar (if not the same) wood types, so there is little point in trying to reproduce laminations here.

I built the engine, but have left off some of the attachments and extra detailing until later in the build when I fit it on the frame.  I added some throttle linkages, extra pipes but there is still some way to go.  The pic shows the weathered copper blotchier than it is in reality - not my greatest photo here!

This week I started on the "office", preparing the wooden components for painting and working on the seat assembly.  I've said several times before, but I enjoy the modular way of building these kits - some of the sub asemblies can be completed from sprue to almost finished in a matter of hours.  I've also wound about 200 copper wire eyelets for rigging attachments, but they're for later....

[Des]

Very nice progress so far Ian, your propeller and engine look superb and by the looks of things your cockpit interior is going to be first class as well.

Des.

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks Des   The cockpits alone are almost complete models themselves.  Two years ago I would never have imagined building models like this.....

[Chris Johnson]

I'll be watching this with interest Ian as sometime in the not too distant future, I plan to buy this kit also. The boom rigging is what's giving me pause.

Cheers,

Chris

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Lovely start...especially that engine and the floor boards.  Those suckers look like wood for sure! 

Excellent...Dan

[pepperman42]

Great progress. Your wood, leather and corrosion effects are excellent.

Steve

[Pete Nottingham]

Great progress, stunning work, superb job Ian.

Cheers

Pete.

[GAJouette]

  Ian,
Outstanding progress my old friend. The interior looks fantastic and the Beardsmore is very impressive.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[N.C.S.E]

Great work there, very dishearteningly for someone working on ostensibly the same kit.

[phs Paddy]

Great work there, very dishearteningly for someone working on ostensibly the same kit.

Don’t be disheartened N.C.S.E. but be encouraged. What an outstanding job Ian’s doing gives you a target to work towards. It doesn’t come over night but just think of the things you’ll learn, the fellowship you’ll have with these grand folks and the fun your going to have getting there. 

Cheers,
Paddy     

[Whiteknuckles]

Great copper effect Ian and the interior is looking pretty good!!

Andrew

[RAGIII]

Your wood floor boards certainly added the needed touch to your pit! Well Done!
RAGIII

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks for all the comments folks   Despite looking complex, this kit is a straightforward build so far - breaks down into manageable chunks although I suspect the rigging will be somewhat time consuming! 

NCSE - go for it - the only way to get more skilled is to practice.  You are way ahead at age 15 of where I was 2 years ago, and I'm 43.!  I am still way behind many of the craftsmen on here, but there's room for all   I've improved many times over by following the examples of others.

Got the oils on some of the wooden bits - the observer's floor, storage unit, radiator panel etc.  I followed the WNW instructions for woodgraining - brushing a light coat of oils on a sprayed base colour.  The wood will receive acouple of coats of klear in a few days when dry.

I also prepared the nascelle halves.  The insides have a panel which is CDL, this is humbrol 71.  The wood base is humbrol 93, and the rear section is humbrol metalcote polished steel.  The outsides are primed in matt black, with the rear halves again in metalcote steel.  The instructions call for a dark grey, but as this steel colour is darkish in appearance I decided not to overspray with grey.  This may be not wholly accurate, but I prefer it.  There will be some repainting after the nascelles are joined, as well as more work on the black covering.  The inside of the front of the nascelle is stated as CDL on WNW instructions, but I prefer to depict this complex curved structure as wooden.  The oils will go on later.

I cut out and painted a few more of the cockpit fittings, and hopefully later tonight I'll finish the oils on the remaining wooden parts.  Although it will be Tuesday or Wednesday evening (UK time) before I can assemble the cockpit, I am quite pleased given that I only began the cockpit from sprue cutting on Thursday evening this week.

[GAJouette]

  Ian,
Outstanding work my old friend. Love the wood with it's subtle grain. Well done. Thanks Ian for an outstanding thread that's a joy to follow.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[pepperman42]

Nicely done. Your wood tones are perfect. They have that "government furniture" look to them.

Steve