Airco DH II 1/48th

New project before i get down to scratch building another spaceship.

Here's the usual box and sprue shots, seem to have a fair bit of flash to clean up. the destructions are .... errrr ..... basic!
Will be wiring the motor as best i can and attempting the rigging, which is a considerable amount







Here's a 1:1 to show the rigging ..... ohhh boy!!

Great looking subject, Colin. Have built SMER cars and 1 plane and they seem to be OK. I'll be watching this, especially for the rigging.

Good luck.

Good luck Colin esp. with the rigging. That's why I gave up on my Eduard version, the rigging is a nightmare and I don't yet have enough experience with rigging to tackle it.

Check this one out. Best one I have seen so far. Superb.



I have the full build up on that one as it appeared in Model Airplane Int. back in May 2006. I could scan it for you if you would like it Colin.

Well anything I end up with is going to look like a 3 year old did it compared to that!

The bars set high now...... Oh boy oh boy oh boy!

I've found reference pictures for the rigging but if there's any decent images in the magazine then I'd welcome some help thanks Al, this is my second serious attempt at rigging so experience is lacking.

OK..... I'll scan the whole article and send it too you Colin.

Skid wrote:OK..... I'll scan the whole article and send it too you Colin.

Received with thanks Al.

The model in the article is a lot more detailed than this effort I'm building, at least I can get it "as good as I can" without having to compete with the article build quality.
There's more separate struts in that kit than parts in the whole of my model lol.

Made a bit of progress today.

Had to get me another set of these diddy drill bits, think they range from 0.2mm - 1mm.


Finished the engine and prop, giving the whole thing a used look where the prop would get covered in oily residue after each flight. Added some pipework to the engine.


the drills work a treat, there's holes galore now where the rigging needs attaching.


cockpit painted and ready to attach to the lower wing so i can start the rigging process
not much detail in the pit, i intend to add a padded base to the seat and scratch a little windshield to go over the machine gun.

Looking Good   

Moving along well, Colin. Painting looks great, especially the engine and prop.

I use those drill bits a lot, which means I break a lot of them. LOL Plane is looking great.

Thanks chaps.

Buck, i've already broke one from this set .... just the weight of the pin vice leaning over snapped it.

got the assembly in a state ready to start the rigging.


using some quality cotton thread that i've dragged through PVA (elmers) glue and left to dry, it stiffens it up a tad and helps to stop it fraying, not too bad for scale as well.

You are cracking on Colin and it's looking good too.

I like your rigging line tip!

I used to buy those drill sets but break one and you're Dickie up a gum tree!! For that reason I now buy these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lot-0-3mm-10-Pcs-Micro-HSS-Twist-Drilling-Auger-Drill-Bit-For-Electrical-Drill-/261502422524?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item3ce2c24dfc

Cheap as chips and sharp too. Do a search for Micro Drill Bits and you will find other sizes as well. I find .3 .5 .7  and 1mm to be the most useful.

Thanks for that link Al, most useful.

Cool! You're a fast worker, my head spins like the "pusher" prop! The pusher type were really dangerous to fly in, being unwieldy and easy targets for fighters. I haven't built any WWI planes in a long time, and always wondered if thin monofilament fishing line would work.
Great work on the engine, they ran "rich" and leaked something fierce as well.

I was going to use monofilament Ron, I have all types being a fisherman, but I just didn't fancy matt painting it afterwards as it always looks so shiny, this cotton seems to look more like twisted cable to the eye.
Thanks for the positive comment.

 

Started the rigging...... boy oh boy!

I used a little bit of plastic tube (the outer sleeve of an inner usb cable wire) to try and re-create the control arm and raise the cable up off the wing surface a bit.
both front and rear needed it doing.



this is where i am at the mo, both sides the same.
it seems easier to build the basics then rig the internal area before adding the rest of the bits.


Looking at these close-ups there's a lot of tidying and straightening up to do paint wise

 

Excellent work!

Wow that is cool. Nice work.

Control arms, cable and rigging look great    Great job

Excellent and complex work! When done you can be proud of a job done very very well!

You're making this rigging thing look easy, Colin. Good job.

Thanks for the comments.

here's where i am as of todays escapades

Rigging looks awesome.

That looks pretty darn good to me Colin. Well done for tackling a difficult subject.