1/48 Bristol Boxkite - A Big Leap of Faith

[Robomog]

Hi all

I've finally got my mojo together to attempt this one, it's been one of those kits where you screw up the courage to build it, get the bits out of the box, read the instructions, look at the amount of bracing, harrumph a bit and loose your bottle. Everything goes back into the box and the box goes back into the stash cupboard.

This time it is different, when stringing the Franken Biplane I realised that my eyes are not what they were. With bright lights, a desk lamp, my reading glasses and clip-on times two magnifiers I could bump along just fine but this is at the edge of my vision for tiny things, there will come a time when this would not be possible.

So the gloves are off, the nettle is grabbed, the mojo is pumped and I'm off !

So here's the kit.........



And the parts (much prepainting is being done here)...........



Except the wings, I've departed from the instructions here, they tell you to build the centre section first then attach the wings, fair enough it's good practise in that everthing can be lined up from it, but that made it difficult to fill or sand the wing joints so I have constructed the wings first.

 I'll deal with the construction side of things later

I did a lot of research on this one especially regarding the colour of the fabric, if you look at the Boxkite  from above you see a fairly off white colour but if you look from below I.e. with the light shining through it, you can see the rib structure as well.

I did a lot of testing to no avail, but was saved by AK Interactive they do a trio of colours clear doped linen , Grimy Grey, Warm Gray and Buff. To cut a long story short the Grimy Gray was ideal for the linen colour and the Warm Gray for the underlying ribs on the underside.

So the here's the first coat of Warm Gray, at the time I thought I was going to do a rib affect on the top as well so I sprayed all the wing surfaces



Followed by two or three nights masking.........



And then the final coat and removing the masks



And wonder of wonders very little break through on the masks, VERY pleased with the rib effect

Now the wings are done its time to start construction.

More when it happens......

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Claymore]

Wow, you are a brave man! 

[Buzzbomb]

Oh yeah.. nice work on the wing tapes, they look fab.

You are almost inspiring me to see if I can get this Op Shop version from the same series up and running

[Old Wombat]

Brave man! 

I'll be watching to see how you go.

[Robomog]

Thanks chaps.

Buzz :- I have that kit also. Its all there but no box or instructions, it's fate is dependant on the outcome of this build 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Frank3k]

Looks daunting, but great job on the wings and tape.

I have a bagged version of the Renwal 1/72? Antionette 1908 kit that was originally packaged with their "aero-skin" material that you had to apply over the ribs: https://www.oldmodelkits.com/blog/plastic-model-kit-history/a-history-of-renwal-aeroskin-kits/

I don't have the aero-skin (or instructions), but I may build it some day

[Robomog]

That's a curious set of kits, even without the "skin" it must be worth something just for its vintage.

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all

Still working on the wings

Now that the underneath is solved I've turned my attention to the top. From the research I did the struts are a sort of light orange brown colour of which I wasted more than a few hours trying to replicate. I stumbled on the solution by accident ( or by desperation) I found a pot of Revell brown, the colour on the pot was a mauveish brown and did not look as if would match at all and probably got over looked but I was desperate. Long story short I popped the top gave it a stir and bingo ! Correct colour.

Another night's repainting the struts ensued.

Also from the research some Boxkites had the main ribs showing  on the top of the wings others were linen covered, I've gone for the latter to give it a bit more colour.

Incidentally the Inpact kit is the "Military" Boxkite with the extended top wing as shown by Austrailian replica and not the aircraft from "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" which had  equal length wings as shown by the Shuttleworth replica.

Here's the treatment of the top of the wings.

More masking.......



Which once again was successful with very little breakthrough





And now construction begins

The kit has a metal tray that forms the bottom of the cockpit area, but in all my research there was nothing to prove that ti's was the case so I have replaced this with a cross piece and hung the rudder pedals off of that.

The position of the joystick is also debatable some pictures show it to one side, others in the middle between the pilots legs, I have opted for the latter.





I have placed the joystick in position for the photos, it will be fitted properly later

Thanks for looking.

Mog
>^-.-^<

[GTX_Admin]

Looking good

[Frank3k]

You're making an ancient kit look great! Fantastic job on the wings, too. The cockpit has a steam-punk look to it.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The center section with seats and tankage looks like an auto chassis missing some wheels at this point in the build.

[raafif]

Lookin' good   You might want to have look at the Shuttleworth's flying replica for details.

[Robomog]

Thanks for the comments guys 

Frank3k  :-  not sure if the copper finish on the tanks is correct, but it looks right 

Raafif :-  my research folder has pictures of the Australian and Shuttleworth flying ones and many of the replicas so it will be a conglomeration of all of them 

Jeffry :- please stop putting ideas into my head (even though they are good ones .)

Construction starts in earnest soon, watch this space


Mog
>^-.-^<

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Jeffry :- please stop putting ideas into my head (even though they are good ones .)

I am but an agent of the devil, though my duties are strictly ceremonial...

[Robomog]

  you do a good job I'm, looking for some fuel tanks and a frame to start a steam punk car, and I don't even build cars !!!!   

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all

The build starts in earnest,........

Started with the tail to get a feel for it,  which went OK,  like all biplane models if built its always a bit floppy and droopy to start with but with careful propping and taping and leaving alone it will all come together in the end. Fortunately the wings are of equal length so I could stand it on its end to dry



To do the wings I put glue on the attachment points on the upper and lower wings and left it to set  for around a minute before introducing the struts. By doing this the struts by and large stayed  upright and only drooped a little when I turned it on its side to attach the lower wing.



Having the military wing was a bit of a boon here as the end struts helped to stiffen the structure

To save my sanity a bit further down the line I decide to do some of the bracing now







I must have been a bit gung-ho or punch drunk as I braced the inner bays of the main wings forgetting that the framing for the tail and canard had to be attached.   Ho hum. 

Tail assembly next.

More when it happens.......

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Claymore]

To quote George Takei, ‘Oh my!’

That rigging/bracing is just insane!!! You must have the hands of a surgeon and the patience of a saint! 

[Frank3k]

The wings are looking great! I've noticed that rigging (like on the real thing) adds some strength and stability to the wings.

[apophenia]

The wings are looking great! ...

Indeed. This is an epic build, 'Mog! 

[Buzzbomb]

Now we are getting to the Wow part of this build.

Like it 

[Robomog]

Edited 13/07/25

Thanks for the comments chaps.

Claymore :- yes patience is very much a superpower here as is a good pair of tweezers, my fingers are like a bunch of bananas. This is why I elected to do some of the rigging now, doing the whole lot in one go would driive  me insane.  ;D

Apophenia :- thanks

Frank3k :- I'm not so sure,  but it is exerting some force, because if any of the struts comes unstuck it becomes pretty obvious,it also saves the parts from being lost. The rubber thread is a pain to work with but is far superior and robust than stretched sprue

Buzz bomb : -  hope so  ;D

Update soon,

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Robomog]

Hi all

Next phase of construction is complete, the tail is on !!!

But it didn't go on without a fight, partly my own fault, as I said previously the original instructions called for the center section to be constructed first and then attach the wings aaaand also attach the rear booms before  attaching the wings aaah !

Fortunately I had purchased a photo etch saw on a whim some time ago which was ideal for making a fine cut in the boom frames which then allowed me to spring the into place, with a bit of poly cement they have not lost any strength.   Fitting the tail was fairly straight forward. Just a little bit of masking tape to hold it in place then leave it alone and walk away.







More when it happens........

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Frank3k]

I should rewatch "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" now!

The movie is on Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F1Je6UlzOs

[Robomog]

One of my favourite movies, thoroughly recommend it   

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Claymore]

Looking great!