World War One Whifs

[stevehed]

Let's hope we can inspire Fred to more than just thinking about his WW1 kits. As for the Po-2 it's working out quite fine. I'm told it has issues as a Soviet plane but it's perfect whif fodder. Usual adjustments to the lower wing cut out and I managed to bend the fixed tail fin but nothing to cry about. Been adding some of the fiddly bits like exhaust pipes, windscreens and a home made gun ring for the gunner. The Austro Hungarians resorted to making gun rings from wood to save strategic materials so I thought Avia might have suffered some shortages. They've invented a half ring with the support leg running inside the slide on bearings. Half the ring makes for half the bearings, at least that's the theory. Or maybe, it saved me mucking about with tiny pieces of rod and trying to balance a copper wire ring on top of them. The radiator from the Revell Fokker DVII fits and I've sourced a better prop from the Airfix Hannover. Not too sure of the oleo undercarriage legs on a Central Power machine so I'm substituting a more conventional set. Once the paint is dry and satin varnished it will be all go for the top wing.

[stevehed]

Put in a final sprint and got her finished. Interplanes proved a good fit and when they had almost set I upended the kit onto the upper wing to ensure everything was in the right place. Once happy I let the struts set and next day fitted the wing. Changed the cabane struts fron N to V's as a labour saving device. With V struts you can tie off a single long length of rigging thread. Secure with CA and the lengths either side are sufficient to rig to the interplanes. The undercarriage is a spare from the Type 93 Japanese trainer with the wheels from the Eduard Fokker DVII where you get 5 pairs. Main bombs came with the kit and look Germanic while the anti-personnel bombs are Airfix Hannover. So here she is, the Avia C1 of the Bulgarian Air Force, circa November 1918. It replaced the 3rd Aviation Units earlier mix of former British and German recce types. Although the new machines were better able to carry out daytime operations the 3rd still carried out regular night bombing raids on transport and troop concentrations.

[zenrat]

 

[NARSES2]

I like that sir, well done 

[stevehed]

Thanks again gents.

[AURI]

I always like WWI whif 

[stevehed]

This is my latest entry in the ATF GB. It is based on the Airco DH4. In the Profile Publications issue on this aircraft there is a photo of a DH4 floatplane prototype. It flew well but the Admiralty decided to wait on the Fairey IIIC entering service. The HB W29 monoplanes were causing the RAF flying boats considerable trouble so as a stop gap it would have been logical to provide an aircraft capable of escort duties and offensive patrols. The easiest solution would be the proven DH4 floatplane. In August 1918 the RAF re-organised the naval units into squadrons. No. 230 was formed from 327 and 328 Flights which operated Felixstowe F2 flying boats and No 487 flew Sopwith Camels on escort duties. Twelve DH4 floatplanes were built and sent to Felixstowe. Six operated with 487 with the rest used as replacements. Operational flights began in September. With a top speed approaching 120mph the DH4 and the W29 were well matched but all records of the British types war patrols were lost in a fire in 1934.

Apart from the scratched floats most of the build was OOB. Subtle changes were rounding the corners of the frontal radiator and adding wooden shutters which are apparently standard to most DH4's except the early versions of which the Airfix kit is one despite the potted history. The underwing gravity tank was going to get in the way of the rigging wires so I made one from sprue and stuck it on the top wing like the Avro 504. Twin Vickers as opposed to the kit's single and a small windscreen. The kit prop is an early short length type so I modified a spare from the Novo/Frog Vimy. Last, I left the bomb racks in place as it was fairly common for anti-Zepp patrols to take off with bombs in case they spotted a submarine. I thought a similar logic might apply to oversea long range fighter patrols although I haven't added any this time.

Airco DH4 Floatplane of 487 Flight, 230 Squadron, RAF, circa October-November 1918.






Build thread https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/airfixtributeforum/2020-airfix-what-if-group-build-stevehed-s-float-f-t55173.html
Merry Christmas, Steve

[Old Wombat]

Merry Christmas, Steve!

Nice job on the DH4!

[NARSES2]

That looks very neat 

[zenrat]

Nice.  Scrtatchbuilding floats is impressive.  Good job.

[stevehed]

Thanks Gentlemen. it's funny but once upon a time I'd didn't like floaters. Got quite a few 30's style floats in the stash. But now I'm hooked.

[Mossie]

You can't tell, looks the part.

[Glenn Gilbertson]

What an excellent model - and good backstory, too!

[63cpe]

Excellent whiffery and a very plausible back story. Great stuff!

Really have to do a WW1 Whif aswell. Thanks for the inspiration.

David aka 63cpe

[stevehed]

Thanks Again. Looking forward to another string bag whiffer on the site.