Handley Page 0-400 WWI Bomber

Mike: This just keeps looking better and better.

If you're serious about a new camera talk to Skid. He has a new Nikon that takes really great photos and was less than $200. I'm thinking of putting my Canon away and going to the same camera.

Another little update after more kitchen update work.  The engine nacelles had to be removed after the last step  It turned out the struts from the side of the engines to the fuselage kept it just a little too far out to fit into their niches in the top wing.  I shortened them and remounted after the top center wing section was installed.  The upright mounts also had to be filed down slightly to level the wing section off.  The lower outboard wing sections were glued in trying to maintain the correct inclination angle.  There is a noticeable seam between them and the center lower section, but since that's where the outer wing pivoted close, I'll leave the seam.  I also completed the rigging for the wings inboard of the engines.  These will pose a bit of a problem painting because of their proximity to the engine struts.  I'll be ordering some of the charcoal EZLine very soon for future projects.

 

 




That's it for now.  Lord, this thing is big!

Thanks for looking.

Mike

Great work Mike, the rigging really does look spot on.

The real deal was 30.48m (100') wingspan, so I guess the model is around 420mm (16.5") wingspan, even in 1:72 scale!!!

Really enjoying this build. Nice clean workmanship.

Great to see a scale model of the "high tech" of its day, a hundred years ago! I'm thankful these fotos are here for us to see! Great work!

Another update - but getting closer to the end.  I believe the rigging is now complete and is painted.  Also, the undercarriage is in.  Most of the hard work is out of the way with only minor pieces remaining.  Building a large complex model has really been taxing on the nerves but, more importantly, the Mojo.  Luckily I had an abundant supply of WIP's to revert to.

It is a behemoth.  I'll include a standard 1/72 fighter in the final pics.











In the future, I have to find a way to place smaller blobs of CA on the target spot for rigging.  I tried placing it on the EZLine for one of the final cables, but this is what happens when CA touchs the EZLine.  This was just a touch to the very end of the line with thick CA.  It could be due to the smaller .03" EZLine.  I also found out that the accelerator works at different rates with different CA brands.  The stuff I just ran out of set instantly upon contact, but the newer brand needs 2 or 3 seconds to fully harden.



Thanks for looking and your comments.

Mike

It's looking brilliant Mike. Cracking job on the rigging.



At least you were spared the additional aggro of a complex paint scheme!!!

rigging does look good indeed

coming along nicely, shouldn't be too long now till the finished article eh?

I'm calling the HP O-400 complete (for now).  I didn't attach the 1650 Lb bomb or the figures.  I'm thinking I might do a diorama scene in the near future using this plane.  I just have to gather a few more pieces.



The diorama would include a scene similar to those below:



I've gotten a ground crew and officers and still looking for a dozer-like tractor of the period.  Since the figure collection includes a well-to-do lady, maybe a 1/72 Rolls and driver for the wife of the Wing Commander.


The build was more of a task than I thought it would be, but I'm pleased with it as long as I don't look at the underside.

Thanks for looking.
Mike

Cool. Nice looking plane. I like the diorama idea.

It looks even better now you have the props on Mike.

I too would like to see you make it into a dio.... at almost 14" wingspan, it will be quite a size.

How about this for the tractor then?

Tractor

The plane is so good, putting it into a diorama would REALLY make it special.

Really sweet looking reward for all the work !!
NICE !