Frog Bleriot XI.
Starting the disassembly, of parts which weren't quite properly aligned.
The kit was missing half of the parts for the tail wheel, so let's see if it can be re-created as per the diagram.
Progressing in the right direction....
Wheel from the spares, and pieces of sprue re-purposed. A strip of PE bent to match.
Starting to come back together. The engine also painted, and the fins on each cylinder emphasised with silver paint, then a gloss black wash. Difficult to see, but it was impossible before 😉 I'll fill that dimple at the back of the engine, too!
I'm trying to create the illusion of light passing through the fabric of the wings, so, here we go....
Tape strips aligned with the ribs on the upper surfaces
Lighter paint applied and tape strips removed. I don't have the skills to create shading to each side of the rib positions, so it still looks flat, but it still adds some interest.
Top sides looks fine, so won't touch it.
Tapes and lighter paint used on the sides, for light passing through the fabric.
Re-built and some re-painting done. Apologies for it being a tad too dark.
I had fun painting the propeller 🙂
A lot straighter than before, and re-painted too.
First ever attempts at adding rigging, using stretched sprue.
Now it looks more like a plane.
I hereby declare it finished.
Hozzászólások
42 4 June 2023, 13:45
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks for your 'likes', Mates. More progress next weekend, all being well
4 June 2023, 18:50
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Alec. I'm rebuilding all the front end, and making replacement parts for the rear wheel. More photos later....
10 June 2023, 14:15
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks for your 'like', 223, and everyone. More progress to follow 🙂
10 June 2023, 14:18
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Ben. One day I'll try to do rigging, then come back to this one once again.
11 June 2023, 06:59
Bruce HuxtableSo, should I try to add the much shorter rigging lines for the fuselage openings....?
17 June 2023, 13:34
Robert PodkońskiFantastic work, Bruce! (Makes me think of starting the same kit - the one I own is made from pink polistyrene 😄 )
17 June 2023, 14:19
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Robert. It has taken a long time til I dared to try to do this justice. Definitely lots of fun and satisfaction from a tiny kit 🙂
17 June 2023, 14:26
Alex KI enjoyed watching your efforts with this, I really like what you did with this kit (while having lots of fun!) - and congrats on your first attempts at rigging! Good job! 👍 👍
17 June 2023, 16:25
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks, Alex. First time round I was all thumbs, but now it all worked out much better. Yes, lots of fun and satisfaction!
17 June 2023, 16:52
Ludvík KružíkVery nice. This historic model still has its charm. And your new rigging has really benefited the model. 👍
A biplane is definitely an interesting challenge - two wings = twice the work of building a model ... but the result is worth it. 😉
18 June 2023, 07:13
Ludvík KružíkIt was meant as hyperbole.
The fact is that an extra wing alone doesn't add much work. The extra work (compared to a conventional monoplane) is the installation of the inter-wing struts and especially the rigging. The complexity of the support system (and thus the amount of extra work) depends on the particular machine. For example, Fokkers (due to their rigid construction) had a relatively simple strut system and minimal rigging. The opposite is the Airco DH-2, for example, with a subtle structure reinforced with a very large amount of rigging.
18 June 2023, 08:26
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks for your feedback and encouragement, everyone. Ludvík, guess what I started this morning?
18 June 2023, 10:16
Bruce HuxtableNot any biplane, Ludvík....a DH-2! I've made an album. Hope you like 🙂
18 June 2023, 19:12
Bruce HuxtableMany thanks everyone, for you likes and feedback. All much appreciated 🙂
19 June 2023, 07:15
John HughesI've considered stripping the wire out of an old radio aerial to use as rigging. It's very fine gauge and stronger than sprue.
19 June 2023, 10:33
Bruce HuxtableThat's a good suggestion, John. I was wondering about this too, but was worried about keeping it dead straight... I sense an experiment on another (easier) model 🙂
19 June 2023, 12:33
John HughesI was wondering if it would be possible to loop the wire from wing to wing, tensioning the loop at the end, i.e. to use one length of wire to do several runs of rigging.
19 June 2023, 13:06
Album info
The top lattice of the fuselage had a cork-screw twist, so the model was difficult to straighten. Now I want to try to improve those early efforts. Lots of fun for only a couple of pounds!
