1/32 (or 1/35) Caproni Aereo Leggero

[Frank3k]

This originally started as the MicroMir 1/32 Pensuti-Caproni Triplane



I knew going in that this was going to be a tough build (small model, three wings, tons of rigging, MicroMir) and things started going pear shaped with the three part cowl and only got worse when I tried to make the wire spoked wheels; the PE wouldn't fit after bending to shape. OK, I'll make solid covers instead. Next, I decided to try the wing struts. It looked buildable, especially since the main struts had a small square section that would key into the main wing (hopefully...) providing some stability. That didn't work because the struts bent out of shape at the joint and could barely support their own weight. I could have gone on, but I saw this heroic build. Yeah, not going to struggle with this. After all, it's a hobby...

So borrowing some inspiration from Kit (from Whatif) and Robunos I turned it into a one wing triplane, with extra long wings:



I added the white bracing strips as part of the backstory. After seeing the Fold Flivver Caproni decided to make a light aircraft in the same vein. Since the Flivver used the same engine as the Pensuti-Caproni Triplane, why not resurrect the design with a simpler, longer wing?

Wingspan is about the same as the Flivver now, although the fuselage is a bit shorter. I also made a new rudder.

[Old Wombat]

 

[Kerick]

I can’t imagine building one of those with all that rigging and struts! Clearly you made the best choice. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do for the paint job.

[Frank3k]

This went from a frustrating 3 month (or longer!) project with all the rigging to a week long project.

The wheel spacing on the landing gear would concern even a Bf 109 designer, so I may have to add wing skids.

This is what I have so far. The green on the wing decals came out far darker than I'd hoped. Not fixing it, though. The tail decal is from the kit. I think that green is too light.

 Still need to add wing struts and skids to the wing undersides and some sort of rigging on top, then seal everything.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Nice work Frank.  Looks like Robunos has some competition for the converted bi-planes category. 

[robunos]

That is indeed the very essence of One wing Biplanes . . .      
You've done an excellent job there, will be even better when it's finally complete.
Now, is this available in 1/72 ?? 


cheers,
Robin.

[Frank3k]

There was a 1/72 Roseplane vacuform and this scratchbuild from "Gabriel Stern"

[apophenia]

Excellent choice, Frank! And a One-Wing Triplane is born 

[Frank3k]

I finished the rigging and I think I'm done; I'll wait for everything to dry before I photograph it in sunlight.







I have to adjust the wires on the main wing since they're a bit curved.

[GTX_Admin]

 

[raafif]

   All bi-, tri-, quad-, quintuplet & multi-planes should be reduced to monoplanes !  I hate rigging 

[Frank3k]

Despite the relatively little rigging on this one, I've managed to knock off two or the elevator lines.

[Frank3k]

I'm declaring this one finished. I photographed it outdoors with what passed for sunlight today (thick overcast):



With our French mechanic for scale. He's about 5'8" (1.73m) in 1/35 and 5'2" (1.58m) in 1/32 yet he still looks big next to the plane:







So I'll call this a 1/35 plane, so he doesn't feel bad.

Overall, it was a fun build, considering that it's a Mikro Mir kit. What would have been 3+ months of work and frustration turned into about a week of pretty enjoyable construction. I thought about spreading out the landing gear, but I'll leave it as a design flaw.

Thanks for all the comments!

[robunos]

Looks great now it's finished, changing the undercarriage would lose the character of the model . . .


cheers,
Robin.

[apophenia]

... I thought about spreading out the landing gear, but I'll leave it as a design flaw...

Spreading out the gear would make sense to our modern eyes. (Intuitively it would seem to balance out those longer wings.)

But, your narrow track immediately made me think of the Bristol Type 91 Brownie - not exactly the same layout but fairly long wings and a very narrow-tracked undercart. So, somehow that narrowness actually increases period believability 

[Old Wombat]

Certainly looks better as a monoplane than as a triplane!

Excellent work, Frank!

[Buzzbomb]

Very nice work again. Could right into the Magnificent Men genre.

[Dr. YoKai]

Came out very nice indeed.

[Frank3k]

Thanks for the comments. The Bristol Brownie looks like an easy design. How it got off the ground with an even smaller engine than the Pensuti Caproni is a wonder.

[Kerick]

That looks great! I wasn’t sure where this was going but it turned out very well.