Utter Heresy

[David Spencer]

Well, it was no idle threat.
The autumn/winter project is underway. A 1/48 Nieuport 11 ("Bébé"), by SMER.
Very crude, with a lot of trimming and filling needed.
Made harder by ongoing concussion symptoms, but I keep going and hope for an end before long.
Occasional updates as things develop (with the model).

 

[Blind Pew]

How could you?

Enjoy the project, it's nice to divert away sometimes...

 

[DEL]

OUTER HEBRIDES.......maybe I need new glasses

 

[David Spencer]

That looks fantastic

 

[DEL]

It's Seilebost beach on Harris. Basically by the time you're up in this part of Scotland almost all the beaches look like this.
Always good to go off piste every now and then and this looks like a nice wee project.
Cheers
Derek

 

[Nap]

Hi Dave

It’s good to have a change ,refreshes the mojo .....looks a lot of bits ! ......and a older kit poss ...a nice challenge

Enjoy and fly through the winter

Happy planey stuff

Nap

 

[David Spencer]

Back on the Tom&Dick for a week. Concussion symptoms sticking like glue. (UGHH..!!)
So the aircraft is getting daily attention.
Ordered a resin Lewis gun by Eduard, I have found suitable candidates for its stand supports in ICM spares (French WW1 figs, appropriately).
Lots of references to period photos and other people's finished models for rigging. So lots of little holes drilled for this.
Comfort Music on the stereo behind me.
(Beard is coming along nicely)

 

[David Spencer]

And here is the absolutely amazing Charles Nungesser, standing with his Nieuport 11 during WW1.
My air ace hero. I'd love to have met this guy.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Nungesser
Utterly unstoppable, and inspirational.
https://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/france/nungesser.php

 

[Ronaldo]

It's Seilebost beach on Harris. Basically by the time you're up in this part of Scotland almost all the beaches look like this.
Always good to go off piste every now and then and this looks like a nice wee project.
Cheers
Derek

Just don't go in the water or you will come out the same colour as the sea

 

[David Spencer]

Lower wing on, fuselage joined.
Lots of little jobs.
The daunting prospect of attaching the upper wing remains.

 

[Nap]

Your not hanging around with this plane ....looking forward to the rigging !

Have fun

Nap

 

[David Spencer]

Yeah, so am I .... !

 

[David Spencer]

The Lewis guns have arrived. They're so tiny!
Boiling the kettle to straighten the barrel, and scrabbling around in the spares box for mounting pieces.

Rigging will be interesting.
The neighbour's dog is reciting a poem called "Yap-yap-yap-yap!" Which happens to rhythm with "slap".

 

[NigelR]

You should've gone with the Eduard kit, this one is the ancient Merit kit from the 60s...... Nevertheless have fun! Stretchy thread like you have is definitely the easiest way to do rigging.

 

[David Spencer]

Top wing attached. Mostly okay, given that the central struts are a couple of mm short. I can live with that; this project is for fun.
Both Lewis guns stuck together, and one went better than the other. So, that's the one that goes on the kit.
(French café jazz/dance/hip hop mélange ... a fantastic band to see live)

 

[David Spencer]

Onto the brain-melting insanity of rigging now.
I'm trying out this elastic thread, and experimenting with stretching first: roughly 75% here, which seems more than enough, to avoid it snapping.
Fortunately, superglue seems to dry +/- immediately.
Wish me luck.......

 

[David Spencer]

Oh my GOD, it's a bloody nightmare....!!!
This is definitely a one-off.
I managed to fit two (TWO!) wires in an hour.
Now making dinner and listening to Jethro Tull.
At least me head is clearing a bit now.
This is a nice website:
https://thevintageaviator.co.nz/

 

[NigelR]

David, don't pre-measure the rigging wires. Instead, cut a length longer than you need. Attach this to one end with superglue (the upper wing first is best). Then pull the thread slightly taut towards the second attachment point and cut it slightly shorter than you need. Then attach the end to the second rigging point. I would say that 75% of the length is too short, this stuff only needs to be under slight tension to give a nice straight rigging wire. This is not "functional" rigging, so it does not need to be under a lot of tension. That should make it easier to attach the second end.

 

[David Spencer]

Thanks Nigel

 

[David Spencer]

It's getting easier, but this really is the last aircraft I am building.
Can't wait to be done, and then start on the Italian dio.