VV's Biggles aircraft collection

[PR19_Kit]

Magic stuff there.   

I love those '30s Sikorsky flying boats and your adaption for the Tarpon looks superb. I didn't even know Special Hobby did an S-43, I'm surely tempted.

[ericr]

Magic stuff there.   

I love those '30s Sikorsky flying boats and your adaption for the Tarpon looks superb. I didn't even know Special Hobby did an S-43, I'm surely tempted.

yes, very beautiful whiffing

the Special Hobby S-43 is not very easy but not that bad in my memory?
and there are not many alternatives, for that beautiful flying boat

[VickersVandal]

Thanks for the positive words, all.

the Special Hobby S-43 is not very easy but not that bad in my memory?
and there are not many alternatives, for that beautiful flying boat

It is a bit of a pig of a kit. I had to force myself to finish it. The Karaya resin kit was far more enjoyable to build.
However, as far as I'm aware, it is the only available kit of the S-43.

Now, there is a stack of half-built Sopwiths to be finished off for the Biggles collection. I'd better get cracking!

[ericr]

Thanks for the positive words, all.

the Special Hobby S-43 is not very easy but not that bad in my memory?
and there are not many alternatives, for that beautiful flying boat

It is a bit of a pig of a kit. I had to force myself to finish it. The Karaya resin kit was far more enjoyable to build.
However, as far as I'm aware, it is the only available kit of the S-43.

actually it is the swrod kit I made : not sure if it's the same?
My skills are only allowing me basic building, so maybe I am more resilient to imperfections 

[VickersVandal]

Yeah, it's the same kit just sold under a different name.
I'm certainly not a perfectionist about kits and accuracy, but there were enough fit issues that this one really gave me the irrits. Getting the undercarriage on and aligned was a nightmare! I needed 5 hands. No locating holes, pins or anything.

[ericr]

I was lazy  : I made it with retracted wheels 

and actually I remembered that there are alternatives, but i'm not sure they're more comfortable : the Dekno resin and a vacform.

Still, from the pictures yours is beautiful and hides the difficulties 

[VickersVandal]

This classifies as a Biggles build. This one is for my brother, who can't build his own for health reasons.
A 266 squadron Camel based on the cover art for the Dean Edition of Biggles of 266.
More likely, any Camels in the stories, had they been real, would have had bare metal cowls, but having grown up with that book I always thought of Biggles as flying a red-nosed Camel.

It was a blitz build so it's pretty shoddy and missing control lines and such but it's Camel-shaped so it'll do  .

[zenrat]

You rigged it.  That's good enough to earn a big  from me.

What scale?

[VickersVandal]

72 - the only scale I build in apart from cars and the occasional 1/144 jet.

[NARSES2]

That's a nice build, thought it was 1/48 until you told us 

[VickersVandal]

Thanks. Yes, for some reason the pictures belie the size on this one.

[VickersVandal]

Just a public service announcement - bit of a WW1 group build going on at the Biggles Forum starting tomorrow for anyone who'd like to gawk 

http://www.bigglesforum.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=92

[Captain Canada]

Great job on that little beauty ! What are your tips for the rigging ? Looks excellent !

[VickersVandal]

That one was stretched sprue. My tip on rigging is.....don't ever use stretched sprue!!
It was hellish to get them tensioned. I don't plan to try it again.

I normally use either elastic EZ-line or nylon filament ("invisible" mending thread) with through holes in the wings. If you haven't done any rigging before, I suggest EZ-line anchored with CA glue assisted by accelerator.
Also check out Merlin Jones' tips (if they can still be accessed): https://sites.google.com/site/themodellingmancave/modelling-information/tips---construction

[VickersVandal]

Another heads-up for a group build on the Biggles forum - WW1 themed:

http://www.bigglesforum.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=92