Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Completed GBs => Group and Themed Builds => Brian da Basher/Brian Perri Memorial GB => Topic started by: robunos on June 03, 2020, 05:29:10 AM
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Okay . . .
For this GB I'm going to be building a Handley-Page Heyford as a One Wing Biplane ( you knew that was coming . . . )
(https://i.postimg.cc/bwxdQNYp/00-box.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
It won't look quite like that once I've finished . . .
And take a look at those spats ! . . . and for some reason, the kit gives you TWO sets !
(https://i.postimg.cc/43Xywknt/00-Spats.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Humourous food involving back story to come in due course . . .
That's all For Now, Stay tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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And take a look at those spats ! . . . and for some reason, the kit gives you TWO sets !
One pair of spats for parades and the other pair for regular duties? :smiley:
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;D
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4 spatted monoplane!!!
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According to the destructions, which set you use depends on which variant you're building, but as far as I can tell, the only difference is the panel line detail . . . ???
cheers,
Robin.
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According to the destructions, which set you use depends on which variant you're building, but as far as I can tell, the only difference is the panel line detail . . . ???
cheers,
Robin.
You will find that one set is deeper than the other. The change was bought about by bogging down, so the tweak was to cut them down.
Still I am really looking forward to how this looks.
I wonder if it will resemble its 2nd cousin, twice removed, the Fairey Hendon
(https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/abpic-media-eu-production/pictures/full_size_0235/1353757-large.jpg)
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This should be fun - the Heyford has a lot of potential. Loosing the lower wing would probably be the easiest, but losing the top wing and
keeping the fuselage and engines in their original positions would be pretty cool... :smiley:
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yes indeed ! :o ;D
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Sorry Gents, but I'm keeping this one simple, the high wing version it is . . . ;)
I also want it to contrast with my low wing O/400 . . .
Okay . . .
Here's the progress so far. Don't know why, bit I started building this model in a strange order. First up, the tail surfaces complete and assembled,
(https://i.postimg.cc/Hk2fy09t/01-tailfeathers.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
then the engine nacelles. The struts are moulded integrally with the nacelle halves, I've left them on for now, once I have the basic airframe assembled, I can work out how to arrange the undercarriage . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/mgRvkpCD/01-nacelles.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Regarding te wings, I'm only using the top wing on this build, for a change. There are five parts to assemble, two Lower Outers, from tip to fuselage side, two Upper Outers, from tip to dihedral break, and finally one Upper Inner, continuous across the fuselage. I assembled the outers first,
(https://i.postimg.cc/VNZp7YTr/01-wing-outers.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
but before adding the inner section, I reinforced it with some stiffeners, coffee stirrers in this case.
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydJ5tM4f/01-wing-inner-upper.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Finally, the assembled wing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/25SgFqHN/01-wing-done-bottom.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/d1zXY5JJ/01-wing-done-top.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
But what, I hear you ask, of the fuselage ? Well, 'tis a long and complicated story . . . There are no less than five pieces to the fuselage, lower nose in left and right halves, a lower rear portion, a one piece top decking, from nose to tail, and a tail end cap. I glued the nose halves together, let them dry, then joined them to the lower rear portion. Dry fitting the top decking, there was a gap along the sides. To fill this gap, I've added strips of plastic card to the sides of the decking, these will act as a backing for the filler I will put into the gap after fuselage assembly, but before then everything inside the fuselage must be painted dark grey, as it can be seen through the cockpit and gun position openings . . .
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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You will find that one set is deeper than the other. The change was bought about by bogging down, so the tweak was to cut them down.
Thanks for that, on a second inspection, I can see the difference . . . :-[ :D
cheers,
Robin.
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Is one of those; what to do with it kits? Good to see this build starting.
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Yes and no . . . . ;D
I always have an idea in my head, how I want the model to turn out, but it doesn't always come out that way when I actually start to build it . . . sometimes things change, sometimes a lot . . . ;) :D
In this case, I need to build the fuselage, attach the wings and tail feathers, and then I can play with the parts to see how the undercarriage is going to work out, so that I can get the right look, and be strong enough to support the model.
So . . .
Here's the fuselage assembled, and the area around the gap masked off, ready for filling.
(https://i.postimg.cc/RCpCm7J2/02-filling-masked.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The filler applied,
(https://i.postimg.cc/C52w40Vw/02-filling-in.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
and now dry, with the excess removed, along with the masking.
(https://i.postimg.cc/BbbqD6kh/02-filling-done.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Wings attached,
(https://i.postimg.cc/hPJDtX9v/02-wings-on.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
followed by the tail surfaces.
(https://i.postimg.cc/rFv80qJJ/02-tail-on.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Once the joints have dried, I can start to look at how to arrange the undercarriage . . .
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Neat! :smiley:
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Okay . . .
So, I started to look at how the spats would attach to the model. On the OOB model, they attach to the lower wing, but I won't have that, so I had to come up with an alternative, that 'looks right', and is strong enough to support the finished model. After playing with the engine nacelle and half a spat for a while, I came up with the following. Remove the rear interplane strut, shorten the remaining struts slightly, add a cross strut at the bottom, for some extra gluing area, and attach the spat to the bottom. The pictures explain it better than I can . . .
The struts, before and after,
(https://i.postimg.cc/2jGqrQjD/03-spats-start.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
and half a spat dry fitted.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FzT1p4CR/03-spats-initial.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This looked okay, but when I tried it on the model, it was awful . . .
After giving it some thought, I decided to sleep on it. Having slept on it, or rather not slept, having laid awake till 2 am thinking about it, I came up with a better idea. the spat would mount directly below the radiator, with the struts attached to it's inboard side. Here's the photo of the dry fit.
(https://i.postimg.cc/1XmfDtH2/03-spats-final.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I think that's much better looking, and the spat will be attached much more securely.
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Working through the issues.. that's the way. Appears to be taking on the feel of that period of aircraft.
Hopefully you will have enough ground clearance as the fuselage is quite deep.
Bomb bay moving to the fuselage now that the lower wing bays are out of the picture ? Can always change the operational role.
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It'll be a rough ride as the oleos were in the front strut. ;)
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Working through the issues.. that's the way. Appears to be taking on the feel of that period of aircraft.
Hopefully you will have enough ground clearance as the fuselage is quite deep.
Bomb bay moving to the fuselage now that the lower wing bays are out of the picture ? Can always change the operational role.
Yep, I've checked the clearances, enough for the weapons load underneath, and prop tip clearance with the tail up.
Weapon load is external under the centre fuselage, up to 2,500 lbs of Carolinum Bombs,
( see http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9192.msg170473#msg170473 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9192.msg170473#msg170473) ), usually the Mark XVI, or two of the smaller Mark XXVIIs, but for this build, it will be a 'Special Weapon' . . . ;)
Two of the squadrons were also qualified in torpedo attacks, and their machines were equipped to carry and drop them.
After I'd assembled the fuselage, when it was too late, I came up with the idea of fitting some of those small magnets inside, so I could attach different weapons underneath . . . :icon_twisted:
cheers,
Robin.
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It'll be a rough ride as the oleos were in the front strut. ;)
Internally sprung wheels, like a Gloster Gladiator . . . ;) :D
cheers,
Robin.
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It'll be a rough ride as the oleos were in the front strut. ;)
Internally sprung wheels, like a Gloster Gladiator . . . ;) :D
cheers,
Robin.
;D
I had the same thought after posting.
The Lysander seems to the largest aircraft to use the Dowty wheels, I wonder how big they could have
gone with the concept, what the weight limit would have been for the springs.
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Okay . . .
Now it's the part we've all been waiting for . . . Spats Time !!!
Here are the wheels, painted ad matt coated,
(https://i.postimg.cc/sXHgwsK1/04-wheels-ready.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
the halves of the spats were assembled, surrounding the wheels, then left to dry down.
(https://i.postimg.cc/mDgrYtY0/04-spats-built.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The assembled spats were then attached to the nacelle struts,
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CH5fh6R/04-spats-attached.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
and when these were dry, the engine nacelles were attached to the wing.
(https://i.postimg.cc/vmMTmPc8/04-spats-on.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I added a radius strut, from the spat strut bottom end, to the fuselage lower corner.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Mp1XqkZr/04-struts-on.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
It's purely cosmetic, but just adds that touch of realism.
And finally, the model sitting upright on it's wheels . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/904FkKNb/04-undercarriage-complete.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
I haven't fitted the tailwheel yet, it's a surprising small and delicate affair, completely out of place compared to the main wheels. I'm looking for a larger wheel, which I'll cut down, and attach to the fuselage as a semi-recessed wheel . . .
That's All, Folks, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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It'll be a rough ride as the oleos were in the front strut. ;)
Internally sprung wheels, like a Gloster Gladiator . . . ;) :D
cheers,
Robin.
;D
I had the same thought after posting.
The Lysander seems to the largest aircraft to use the Dowty wheels, I wonder how big they could have
gone with the concept, what the weight limit would have been for the springs.
Sorry, only just saw your post . . . :-[
I don't know, but I don't think the Heyford was that heavy, for it's size, after all, it was still just a metal framed, fabric covered biplane . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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(https://i.postimg.cc/904FkKNb/04-undercarriage-complete.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
That looks great!
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Yes, does look great. Everything as it should be.
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Really working out well.
Vaguely Frenchish, but akin to the Bristol Bombay as a comparison.
Great work.
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Definitely looking good, there. I can't wait to see what finish you put it in.
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Seriously intimidating spats !
Like what you're doing here
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Nice! 8)
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Thanks, Gents . . .
Those spats will look a little less intimidating once painted, they stand out so much now, because of the grey plastic against the green . . .
All those 1930s heavy bombers have look about them, and I think I've managed to capture it here, I need to make spatted tailwheel, though.
Once again, I'm taking the easy finishing option, all over NIVO, and two colour roundels and fin flashes. The individual aircraft letters and stripes on the spats are quite colourful though . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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That looks just right. :D
Vaguely Frenchish, but akin to the Bristol Bombay as a comparison.
Yup. French Bombay. My thoughts exactly. :smiley:
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That looks just right. :D
Vaguely Frenchish, but akin to the Bristol Bombay as a comparison.
Yup. French Bombay. My thoughts exactly. :smiley:
The Amiot Pondicherry perhaps. ;D
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The Amiot Pondicherry perhaps. ;D
;D ;D
I get the Bristol comparison but those Bombay spats do look a little on the anaemic side beside those awesome HP foot-coverings :smiley:
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This is looking great. Is the two tome green on the wings part of the plastic? Because it would look good as a camo pattern.
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Vaguely Frenchish, but akin to the Bristol Bombay as a comparison.
Yup. French Bombay. My thoughts exactly. :smiley:
The Amiot Pondicherry perhaps. ;D
The universe working in mysterious ways again... :icon_fsm: I was reading about Pondicherry and French India just yesterday. One of those Wikipedia rabbit hole things where you're left with a dozen open tabs. ;D I think it somehow started with an article referencing the population density of Long Island. :icon_surprised:
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... I think it somehow started with an article referencing the population density of Long Island. :icon_surprised:
;D ;D
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Okay . . .
After a lot of head scratching, I finally figured out what I wanted to do with the tailwheel arrangement, so, having found a suitable wheel, I commenced the surgery . . . this is the result.
(https://i.postimg.cc/qR971gKJ/04-tail-wheel-cut.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
And a dry fit of the new tail wheel . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/j5W56yL3/04-tail-wheel-sit.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
That's All For Now, Stay Tuned . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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This is looking great. Is the two tome green on the wings part of the plastic? Because it would look good as a camo pattern.
It's the moulding of the kit . . . I wasn't too happy with this kit, Revell seem to have 'improved' the tool when they re-popped it, the sprue gates seem to be a lot thicker than I remember when I built the Matchbox version, and as you said, the strange 'two-tone' moulding . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Like that tail wheel configuration. Low drag feature for this oh so sleek bomber. ;D
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... I finally figured out what I wanted to do with the tailwheel arrangement...
Riiight, so the fuselage is the spat. Nice one :smiley:
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... I finally figured out what I wanted to do with the tailwheel arrangement...
Riiight, so the fuselage is the spat. Nice one :smiley:
You know, when I came up with the idea, I didn't really think about it that way, but now you mention it . . . ;) ;D
I was just looking through my books, for inspiration, came upon an unbuilt 1920s / 30s airliner that had this type of tailwheel, already had a spare wheel, it's from my Walrus build, so just kinda went for it and hoped . . . :o :-[ ;D
But honestly, I had to do something, the kit tailwheel looks like it belongs on a Tiger Moth, not a bomber . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Looks like it'll need some kind of suspension;
- some kind of trailing arm with a coil or V-spring?
- vertical arm with either coil or vertical volute spring?
???
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The tailwheel looks fine - are you going to leave it at that height or put the axle inside the fuselage?
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Current plan is just to wrap a strip of plastic card around the wheel to simulate a fork . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Okay . . .
Just got this one finished before the deadline. Handley Page Heyford, 'Operation Sauerkraut' spring 1935.
(https://i.postimg.cc/fy18xvVv/heyford-05.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/wM1Wyrjv/heyford-06.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/LX6QR5dj/heyford-07.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8zRZ6MNh/heyford-08.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KzqqYbFw/heyford-09.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/xjZpD96b/heyford-10.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLyDCXyx/heyford-11.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/L6ZCmGWQ/heyford-12.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/25TTHYqy/heyford-13.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/500gTrv3/heyford-14.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/8CTtBczx/heyford-15.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
The Story.
Flight Lieutenant deBasha perched on the steps of the crew bus, finishing his pipe, as he watched Ginger, his co-pilot supervise the pre-flight preparations for tonight's mission. Running the contents of the briefing he had just received through his mind, he still didn't know whether to laugh or cry . . .
All of his Service career, he had been waiting to heat up this damned Cold War, between Britain and France, on the one hand, and the Boche on the other. Now, having finally got the chance to deliver some ordnance to the enemy, what was his payload; Atomic death by Carolinum Bomb ? No !, cabbages !! 'Operation Sauerkraut', the Desk Jockeys called it . . .
Apparently the whole affair started about 18 months ago, when a well-known chemical company noticed that the world famous pesticide that it manufactured, had stopped working, when tested before leaving the factory. Further research provided a shocking and sinister answer: the pesticide worked perfectly well, but the captive population of cabbage white butterflies,bred for the purpose of testing by the company, had, through prolonged exposure, become totally immune to the pesticide.
At first, this was a mere scientific curiosity, however, once the military found out, a plan was hatched to weaponise the insects.
The area of immediately to the North of thr Ruhr industrial region was the main cabbage growing area of Germany. If this region was infested with pesticide-immune caterpillars and butterflies, the cabbage harvest would be destroyed, and since the Germans lived on cabbage . . .
The details were comparitively simple. A special crop of cabbages would be grown in Britain, and the 'Super' butterflies would be allowed to lay their eggs on them. Once this had occured, the cabbages would be harvested, then dropped into the German cabbage fields from the air. The eggs would hatch, the caterpillars would devour all the cabbages within reach, then turn into butterflies. These would then spread out, and lay more eggs in turn. The result would be an uncontrollable plague of cabbage destroying insects. The effect on Germany would be devastating . . .
Like the plan, deBasha's mission was also simple. He would fly along one of the well-used routes taken by RAF reconnaissance aircraft, Northwards along the Rhine, on the French side, of course, from Cologne as far as the Belgian border. However, instead of at that point turning West for home, he would 'accidently' turn East, over Boche territory, and deliver his payload of brassicas. Once the 'dirty deed' was done, he would 'realise his error', turn West and fly back to base.
With luck, no-one would connect deBasha's 'mistake' with the butterfly plague . . .
deBasha was woken from his reverie by the sound of the approaching 'Bomb Lorry'. These articulated vehicle were used to bring the aircraft's payload, either bombs or recce pods, out to the flight line. This one however, was carrying the special 'Dispenser', that would drop the infected vegetables on the Boche cabbage fields.
(https://i.postimg.cc/QCKbxWfK/lorry-8.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/DfWkbjDL/lorry-9.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
Looking like of one the rockets in the 'Buck Gordon' movies he liked to watch, this device was specially built to release the cabbages precisely over the target. As a further surprise, as the cabbages were ejected from the Dispenser, they were to be sprayed with a liquid containing the spores of the Club Root fungus, another deadly pest of brassicas . . .
(https://i.postimg.cc/66DsVVJS/payload-6.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/BnBdGdL9/payload-7.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/fTXG83Mb/payload-8.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLSV2sJB/payload-9.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
To this end, he wasn't to fly this mission with his usual crew, except Ginger. He would have no gunner on board, and his Navigator's place was taken by two strangers, indentified only as Brown and Black. Brown, at least, wore RAF blue and had a Navigator's brevet sewn on his tunic, but Black was definitely a 'Boffin'.
The briefing was quite explicit, once navigated over the target by Brown, deBasha must hold a precise heading and altitude, while Black and the Dispenser did their nefarious work.
By now the Bomb Lorry had arrived at his Heyford. He watched for a moment, admiring the driver's skill as he manouvered, reversing the trailer between the Heyford's spatted undercarriage, and placing the Dispenser in the correct position under the fuselage. Half a dozen 'erks' then appeared, then supervised by Black, hoisted the Dispenser into place, and attached it to the Heyford's belly.
(https://i.postimg.cc/50RgVmSM/lorry-6.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4nC1KN0L/lorry-7.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
His pipe smoked, deBasha picked up his flying helmet, goggles and parachute, and briskly walked, he was an Officer in His Majesty's Royal Air Force, he never ran, over to the aeroplane.
"Everything alright ?", he enquired of Ginger. "Yes, Skipper", replied the co-pilot. "Right-Ho, let's go and 'brassicate' the Boche !", he said, trying his best to sound enthusiastic . . .
That's All, Folks . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Neat Basher-esque back story but, surely, that's not a whif? ???
Looks far too realistic! 8)
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Very neat, very Brian great tribute
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Nifty is the word. Heyford configuration looks legit as early monoplane bomber. An improvement. :smiley:
Bomb lorry and interesting BdB style back story are right on !
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:smiley:
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Great looking plane - it reminds me of the Fairey Hendon:
(https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/abpic-media-eu-production/pictures/full_size_0235/1353757-large.jpg)
The back story is very Brian, too!
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Thanks all, I tried to do a good job, to honour Brian, and I think I did, but it nearly ended up in the bin after the disaster with the decals . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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That could proudly stand amongst any collection of the late 30's British bombers almost un-noticed as a whiffer
Really well done
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Looks like it came out fine in the end - Good work and a worthy tribute.
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Thanks again, Gents . . .
Regarding the decals, all was well until I came to apply the underwing, fuselage and fin serials. They silvered horribly, and worse, I couldn't get them off again! >:D :o
All I could do was paint over them and apply new ones. I didn't trust the other serial decals on the kit sheet not to do the same, which is why there are no underwing serials on the model, the ones I did end up using are from an old-tool Airfix Gladiator . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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That looks so natural that it could fool quite a few people!