Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Kitbash / Frankenstein GB => Topic started by: Robomog on February 07, 2025, 06:39:51 AM

Title: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 07, 2025, 06:39:51 AM
Hi all

Second hat in the ring.......

This is a project that I put together some time ago but never got around to starting.

Essentially it is a pusher biplane fighter made from a load of disparate parts I found in the parts stash.

So these......

(https://i.imgur.com/2FyOZbu.jpeg)

Will become this.......

(https://i.imgur.com/DAIYoFr.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bBEf6xd.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PImue4x.jpeg)

It's  a true frankenstine

Fuselage - Fokker D7
Wings - couldn't place these
Prop - SE5A
Engine - white metal not sure if this is radial or rotary but it looks OK
Main undercarriage  - Hawker Hart
Nosewheels  - unknown jet
Guns - resin afterparts

Perhaps someone could ID the wings because I can't trace them...

(https://i.imgur.com/JAvOtvx.jpeg)

They have rounded tips and the elevator seems to go the length of the wing.

More when it happens.....

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 07, 2025, 09:34:31 AM
Hi all

I forgot to mention the Harvard tailplanes that are going to become twin rudders and also I haven't decided what nationality it will be, I might do something obscure, it depends what I can find in the decal stash  ;D ;D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: apophenia on February 07, 2025, 12:58:53 PM
This looks absolutely bonkers, 'Mog!  Love it!  :-*
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Frank3k on February 08, 2025, 01:04:02 AM
It looks good! If it's German, are you going to call it the "Arschender"

I would move the main gear more towards the engine.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: raafif on February 08, 2025, 05:46:09 AM
 :smiley: I immediately thought "better not shoot the fin/rudder off" so twin fins is good ;D
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 11, 2025, 12:21:24 AM
Hi all

Thanks for the comments guys

Frank3k - I see what you did there  ;D. And yes, the undercarriage is going to be moved backwards for  reasons I'll explain below.

When I put the mockup together it became immediately obvious that the white metal engine might not have been the best choice of part as it dragged the model down at the back. The white metal seat probably didn't help either.

Moving  the undercarriage rearward made the weight difference less pronounced, but I still needed a fair bit of lead in the nose to get it to sit forward before the fuselage was closed up .

(https://i.imgur.com/rFG3YdX.jpeg)

The first bits of reshaping and filler have been done.

(https://i.imgur.com/WgZSBl2.jpeg)

Thanks for looking.......

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: robunos on February 11, 2025, 03:16:22 AM
Oh, this is just . . . perfect !
You know I'm going to steal this and make a OWB version . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 11, 2025, 03:38:59 AM
Thanks mate, much appreciated.

Feel free to borrow all you want.
 
You have plenty of spare wings  ;D ;D ;D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 13, 2025, 09:27:45 AM
Hi all

Construction is going on a pace.

I found some better, more streamlined, tailplanes for the Jet Auster which freed up the auster tail planes to use as rudders.

(https://i.imgur.com/ie2KKoW.jpeg)

The major PSR IS done now and the bottom wings are on

(https://i.imgur.com/UyrJjyT.jpeg)

A bit of filling to do.

Currently making the struts ready for the installation of the top wing.

(https://i.imgur.com/r8Fzbfz.jpeg)

More when it happens......

Mog
>^-.-^<



Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Dr. YoKai on February 13, 2025, 09:29:49 AM
Streamlined I-struts/ Very elegant!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: robunos on February 15, 2025, 02:38:51 AM
Ooh, nose rudders, should make the handling a little sporty . . .  ;D

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 15, 2025, 03:50:55 PM
Hi all


Aaaand,  as if by magic, the top wings are on

(https://i.imgur.com/oXuVVDR.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/y3nXAIZ.jpeg)

Once this has dried a little fettling of the joints and it will be ready for the foreplane

Thanks for looking......

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Old Wombat on February 15, 2025, 11:54:34 PM
Shouldn't that top wing (& struts) be fitted around the other way? ???
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 16, 2025, 01:00:17 AM
Well spotted OW !

When the photos were taken it was on the wrong way round. I didn't spot the mistake until late that evening and spent the next session correcting said mistake  :o

Rest assured its pointing the right way now  ;D ;D

PS  The struts are correct, the finished wings are going to have a rearward rake  :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Old Wombat on February 16, 2025, 01:45:50 AM
 :smiley:



(There was supposed to be a "?" after the word "struts" but I forgot to type it. :-\ )
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 16, 2025, 04:27:44 AM
Welcome to my world  ;D ;D ;D ;D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Kerick on February 16, 2025, 04:31:21 AM
But it looked like forerunner of the Beech Staggerwing!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: robunos on February 17, 2025, 02:47:08 AM
De Havilland DH.5 has entered the chat . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 19, 2025, 04:02:52 AM
Hi all

Thanks for all the comments.....

Aaaand by the power of Greyskull  the foreplanes have appeared !!

(https://i.imgur.com/X2lYETQ.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/FTxGKSQ.jpeg)

And a short time later molested by a primer can

(https://i.imgur.com/MJedfv8.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iTZu0PU.jpeg)

This has thrown up a few faults but on the whole not to much to rectify.

Paint shop next, like the Jet Auster not to sure of colour scheme but I'm looking at some combination of light blue and white

Thanks for looking.....

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Kerick on February 19, 2025, 10:54:44 AM
I have to keep reminding myself its headed in the opposite direction! So cool!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 19, 2025, 07:31:36 PM
This reminds me of some of Brians’s old work
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Dr. YoKai on February 19, 2025, 09:04:39 PM
This reminds me of some of Brians’s old work
:smiley:  It does, it does. So what's the paint going to look like?
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 19, 2025, 09:42:22 PM
This reminds me of some of Brians’s old work

Thanks GTX, that is a massive compliment

Dr. Yokai.  Not sure of the colour scheme at the moment but I'm leang towards light or mid blue with white stripes. But again not sure whether to do a plain stripe behind the markings or a sunburst sort of pattern or lots of stripes for that matter.

Currently looking up WW1 colour schemes for inspiration


Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on February 26, 2025, 07:53:28 AM
Hi all

More teasing

The Biplane is also out of the paint shop.

I've decided it's going to be german late war and I've sourced the decals.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ihd1bEQ.jpeg)

Like the Jet Auster the next post will probably be the final article

More when it happens....

Mog
>^-.-^<


Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: apophenia on February 26, 2025, 10:07:39 AM
That looks great, 'Mog! A very pretty scheme  :smiley:
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Frank3k on February 26, 2025, 12:39:05 PM
That's a great color scheme!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 26, 2025, 01:35:45 PM
Go you good thing.  This is going along great
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: robunos on March 10, 2025, 02:26:14 AM
Seconded . . .

cheers,
Robin.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on March 11, 2025, 05:10:12 AM
Thanks guys.....

And before you know it,  we are complete!!!

(https://i.imgur.com/ACHkRcO.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/mnt37IY.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bCMuNxL.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/G2qk7e5.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WiVZnEw.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Nl4Qkza.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/opGndA9.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/bXseofD.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hkw7kPs.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jau1iHs.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/aLm71dU.jpeg)

And of course the scale shots with Arthur Brain and the Yellow Landrover (a bit of an anachronism I know  ;D)

(https://i.imgur.com/TueJ9gL.jpeg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SXI14ou.jpeg)

This build is screaming out for a back story and I have identified some key points but I can't string all the bits together yet so I have published the build now and hopefully the backstory will follow along shortly (maybe  ::))

In the meantime this has been one of those enjoyable builds that has just "worked"  No problems,  no parts constantly failing, no masking fails, basically everything came together just so and it looks good for it,

But, as always all comments and criticisms gratefully accepted

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: robunos on March 11, 2025, 05:49:04 AM
That IS good . . . swap the pilot and guns round the other way, and it would work as a tractor as well. . . .
cheers,Robin.
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Old Wombat on March 11, 2025, 11:29:57 AM
Another good 'un! :smiley: :smiley:
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on March 14, 2025, 04:31:31 PM
Thanks for the comment chaps, much appreciated

Still can't get my head around  a backstory  :(

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Old Wombat on March 14, 2025, 06:00:06 PM
Well, given the design, perhaps a "backwards" story, or a "front" story, might be more appropriate? ???
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: The Rat on March 15, 2025, 12:31:42 AM
The word 'spectacular' was invented for just such a model!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Kerick on March 15, 2025, 11:25:48 PM
Awesome job!
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Robomog on March 16, 2025, 09:12:50 AM
Thanks guys  :smiley: :smiley:

OW :- I see what you did there  :D ;D ;D

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: Franken bi-plane
Post by: Buzzbomb on March 16, 2025, 07:25:10 PM
Quirky, works well  :smiley: