Author Topic: RAF BE.2c (1/72, Airfix) (Read 42580 times)

PrzemoL · « **on:** April 15, 2016, 09:20:00 PM »

After a double detour from my main modelling of WW1 subjects I am finally back to business. The announcement of Airfix release of BE.2c back in the last year was a very welcome surprise. When the kit finally landed in my hands I could not wait to start working on it.
http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/raf-be2c-night-fighter-1-72.html
My general impression is very positive. The overall dimensions, shape, etc are in perfect agreement with scale drawings from WD42. The quality of plastic is also very good - ribs imitation on wings and tailplane are fine, trailing edges thin enough. Even the ailerons, though moulded together with wings have the gravitational drop!
Airfix also took some steps to facilitate the biplane assembly with quite solid pins on main struts and cabane struts having integral pieces of top wing moulded together to ensure a proper geometry. There are also jigs for additional control of main struts assembly. The kit is planned to be easily built out of the box.
The cockpit interior is not so attractive, though. Just basic bits though this does not need to be an issue if one wishes to insert pilots figures - everything can well be hidden.
But since I do not fancy adding pilots I could not stand such basic cockpit. And if you wish to improve it the real problems occur. Starting with overly exagerrated wall thickness - and if you thin it down, all the interior bits with original quite nice tight fit start forming a rattle. Almost everything has to be corrected!
Also, the model represents a generic BE2c case but the Robinson's one had some modifications as is nicely depicted in two close-up photos included in WD42 - there is no hand fuel pump mounted externally at the rear cockpit, the front cockpit opening has a different shape, the instruments layout also seems to be different - yet more field for improvement of the model.

So here is the first report

Thinning down of cockpit walls

Internal structure built from scratch

Enlarging of a back plate for front cockpit

Correction of front cockpit fuel tank - the night fighters has the front seat removed (apparently) the tank will be visible
The tank was too long, cut the central part and glued the outward bits together. Also the slope at the front was too small...

The bits for the pilot office

The seat from Part, its supporting plate with rudder bar (a double affair - a real bar and the second bar under the seat with tips protruding through the cockpit sides) and stick with aileron control rod

Now for some paint and assembly!

RAGIII · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2016, 09:32:21 PM »

Great choice of subject. It is good to see your amazing work again! Outstanding start on the details!
RAGIII

Gisbod · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2016, 09:39:38 PM »

Stop it Prze,

You're making my eyes hurt!

Guy

BigBlue · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2016, 10:33:33 PM »

Glad to see a new Prze build! Great start.

Chris

uncletony · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2016, 11:39:21 PM »

Wonderful start Prze!

IanB · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2016, 06:33:38 AM »

Great to see you back Prez, and particularly with this one. Mine is on it's way from Hannants as we speak, including the Eduard PE set for it. I'm looking forward to seeing what needs improving, although I will be building a standard machine.

Ian

Des · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2016, 07:57:30 AM »

A great subject you have Chosen Przemol, the modifications and scratch building you are doing to the interior will improve the kit tremendously, looking forward to seeing how this build progresses.

Des.

Ernie · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2016, 11:49:20 AM »

It's great to have you back with the BE.2, Prezmo! Nice to see the improvements
that you are doing which will make the model so much better. The Part seat is
a beauty and will add a lot to your cockpit upgrading. Looking forward as always
to following your build, my friend!

Cheers,
Ernie

markleecarter · « **Reply #8 on:** April 19, 2016, 12:16:45 AM »

Looking forward very much to see how you progress with this - beautiful work so far! I am part way through this kit myself and just trying to tackle the rigging so can't wait to see how you approach it.

I have been looking at as many pictures as I can find and it seems quite clear from the instrument panel and shape of the front cockpit that Airfix have built a model of the plane that was hanging up at the Imperial War Museum Lambeth and which now seems to be either at Duxford or Hendon (or maybe it's back at Labeth - anyone know?) It is interesting how that interrupted coaming on the front cockpit makes it look quite different from many other machines (including Robinson's).

Good luck with the build!

Dave in Dubai · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2016, 12:35:42 AM »

Wow Prz, that matchstick is huge!

coyotemagic · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2016, 01:12:31 AM »

Beautiful work, Przemo! Amazing detail in this scale.
Cheers,
Bud

PrzemoL · « **Reply #11 on:** April 22, 2016, 08:14:39 AM »

Thank you, everybody.

Markleecarter, you are right. There were so many variations of front cockpit coaming, including the fully covered ones, that it would be hard to allow for in one single kit. Funny thing with Airfix is, that they truly depicted non-Robinson non-night-fighter version and then decided to feature Robinson's famous bird as one of two kit decal options. If one really wants to model it, then modifications are necessary - luckily there are those two amazing close-ups of that aircraft ready to inspect in the WD.

And the build was going on in recent days. The cockpit is almost completed, only some electric cables in the rear pit and a few lines running on the walls of the front one are missing - the latter ones will only be added when the fuselage is assembled and the cabane struts together with tank rear wall and the bulkhead are in place - inserting them would ruin any details on the walls.