Alec K Following. Getting those delicate parts separated from the spruces will be fun 👍
24 August 2021, 17:37
Bruce Huxtable Trying to make sense of the instructions, and cleaning up the rotary engine, are going to be interesting too 🙂
24 August 2021, 18:02
bughunter Oh, in plastic? I have it in my stash in 1:48, but in resin. If you do not like to clean the rotary, there are matching Small Stuff engines available 😉
24 August 2021, 21:06
Bruce Huxtable Let's see how it goes, bughunter. I was wondering about the armament, as it will be very visible.
24 August 2021, 21:21
bughunter Yes, you are right. May be Gaspatch, or the wonderful little brass work by MiniWorld ? Not available in 1/48 for my birds 🙁 MiniWorld has also other weapon types, please check your references, which Lewis you need. Lewis Mk III machine gun (Mini World A7207, 1:72)
25 August 2021, 09:23
Bruce Huxtable Bughunter, you are a star. Many thanks for your advice and suggestions. Those Small Stuff engines are things of beauty for sure, and that Lewis gun set up is soo much better than the kit parts. I guess I need to do some homework...
25 August 2021, 11:53
bughunter Thanks, glad that I could help!
If you want to see finished Small Stuff engines, you should check my projects. The little Fokker D.VIII Stripdown is equipped with a 1/72 variant, most of the others have the 1/48 versions.
25 August 2021, 13:02
Bruce Huxtable I feel privileged to be allowed a peep into your wonderful display of finished works. Amazing 👍
25 August 2021, 13:32
Łukasz Gliński Wow, Amodel + rigging sound like a serious challenge 😄
27 August 2021, 07:53
Bruce Huxtable No-one mentioned rigging..... 😉 Def a step too far for me at the moment, Lukasz. But the Amodel challenge? Bring it on!
27 August 2021, 08:39
Robert Podkoński Following with interest and pleasure, of course. You're a brave man, Bruce!
27 August 2021, 14:08
Bruce Huxtable If it all went easily, I wouldn't learn, and I certainly don't have all the answers 🙂 Looking ahead, the wing struts are very thin, and installing the wings will be a challenge for me, for sure. So, for the moment, I'm going to enjoy finishing the cockpit and progressing the engine. I've been tempted and ordered a replacement Lewis gun, but will see what can be done with the three alternative machine guns the kit provides. I have plans for painting the canvas fabric.....
27 August 2021, 14:16
Bruce Huxtable Many thanks everyone, for your 'likes', I'll try not to disappoint 😉
27 August 2021, 14:17
Łukasz Gliński These must be exhaust, but I'm not an expert. Have you considered exchanging them for some sort of pipe or thick wire?
27 August 2021, 14:34
Bruce Huxtable That would explain the curved ends, I guess? I'm thinking about wire, but have never done this before, Lukasz. There's a first time for everything 😉
27 August 2021, 14:41
Guy Rump Respect to you Bruce for attempting this. The rigging work looks difficult to say the least. 🙂
27 August 2021, 17:52
Bruce Huxtable That's why I'm not going to attempt it, Guy. I'll be challenged enough with the kit parts. I may be tempted to try rigging a more robust model already completed, after this one is finished.
Moreno Baruffini Really interesting, a very good start, and very good pictures of all the steps! Go on Bruce! 👍🏻
28 August 2021, 11:25
Bruce Huxtable Thanks, Thomas and Moreno. Tried to make the engine look more interesting, so tried adding some shiny wires 😉 I'm quite pleased with the prop.
28 August 2021, 11:38
Erik De Smet I remember I built this too as part of my 14-18 collection, but never finished my album, which I completed now. You can hardly see anything of the engine once the front part is located.
And for the machine gun, I just put it loose in the front cockpit.
BTW I have read a story that the French sold this plane to the Russians, as they considered that engine lay-out too dangerous for their own pilots.
Enjoy the build
28 August 2021, 14:43
Bruce Huxtable Hi Eric, I'm impressed that you cleaned up the thin pieces whist they are still on the very chunky sprue. Your finished plane looks very neat, and the rigging is perfect. I shall not dare to try rigging, so will only take mine so far. You air intake grills work very well too - good tip 👍
28 August 2021, 15:26
Gary Victory Bruce, nice work. Shame about the paint being removed. Did you de-tact the tape first on the back of your hand..?
31 August 2021, 06:40
Bruce Huxtable Thanks for the tip, Gary. I'll try that next time. I'm hoping I won't have to strip it and start again. Keep your fingers crossed!
31 August 2021, 06:48
Gary Victory Fingers crossed for you Bruce. Also make sure you allow proper drying time before masking up. By the looks of it you are keeping your coats thin so that will help with drying time.
Looking forward to seeing your progress. 😉
31 August 2021, 07:07
Bruce Huxtable I think you have hit the nail on the head, Gary. More haste, less speed.... Many thanks again for your words of wisdom 🙂
31 August 2021, 08:14
Gary Victory No worries Bruce. 😉
Nice recovery and progress.
2 September 2021, 14:02
Bruce Huxtable Thanks, Gary, and Daniel too. Slowly moving in the right direction 🙂 More fragile, thin struts to be added next....
Bruce Huxtable Many thanks, Neil. I hereby declare her Finished 🙂
4 September 2021, 11:44
bughunter The brass MG looks really nice in real! I guess you learned a lot in this project? Then the next _with_ rigging please 😉
4 September 2021, 12:13
Bruce Huxtable Yes, learned soo much, and it was a very pleasurable experience. Slow but steady wins the race! Rigging will have to wait a while, but one day I'll give it a go.
Bruce Huxtable Many thanks, Alec. This Amodel had its challenges but that's half the fun!
4 September 2021, 13:07
Uwe Kaeding Nice work Bruce - and, yes, the upper wing support struts are meant to attach to the front of the cupola pylon. I've built the SA2 version of this kit (SPAD S.A.2 | Album by Uwe Kaeding (1:72)) and it is a challenge, but rewarding.
4 September 2021, 13:27
Guy Rump Great build Bruce. The woodwork looks very realistic. 👍
4 September 2021, 14:37
Bruce Huxtable Thanks, Guy, my visits to Hendon RAF Museum paid off 👍
4 September 2021, 14:41
Moreno Baruffini Many thanks, Bruce, I think it was one of the best build I followed and I think the result it's fantastic! Please go on with rigging!!!
4 September 2021, 15:11
Bruce Huxtable Many thanks for your kind words, Moreno. The kit's struts are very fragile, so I would be sure to destroy it in my first-ever attempts at adding rigging.... so, I will just have to learn Photoshop instead 😉 sorry to disappoint.... 🙁
4 September 2021, 15:16
Erik De Smet Bruce, you could use Albion Alloys nickel Silver rod of .2 of .1 mm for rigging. It is stiff, can be cut with scissors, and glued with ca glue and will not put any stress on the struts. I used it for my Gladiator.
The Lewis gun is fantastic.
4 September 2021, 17:11
Bruce Huxtable Erik, many thanks for your tip. I am very tempted, and it certainly would add lots to the finished plane. Yes, I am impressed with the quality of the MG, and how inexpensive it was. Def passing on bughunter's recommendation!
4 September 2021, 17:19
Marko Hey Bruce, very successful construction of a strange but interesting biplane.
Bruce Huxtable
Alec K
bughunter
Robert Podkoński
Łukasz Gliński
Guy Rump
Moreno Baruffini
Erik De Smet
Gary Victory
Uwe Kaeding
Marko
Bas Tonn