Ansaldo A.1 Balilla
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/0/9/1/1246091-114585-68-720.jpg)
My first attempt at a wooden propeller and a wooden fuselage.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/0/9/2/1246092-114585-84-720.jpg)
Decide to paint the Italian colours on the tailplane, one less decal to source.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/0/9/3/1246093-114585-29-720.jpg)
The interesting camouflage pattern was actually quite fun to do, its just a matter of applying the colours in the right order to get the right (not quite exact) effect. Practicing on a scrap piece of paper was definitely the way to go! Some kits supply the pattern as a decal apparently.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/0/5/5/1248055-114585-10-720.jpg)
Pretty much finished now, just the final varnish coat to do after the decals dry off properly. Might try the new MicroScale Satin finish if it arrives in the next couple of days.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/0/5/6/1248056-114585-68-720.jpg)
Scavenged decals were slightly bigger than what would have been in the kit, the 'A' is too wide, but it all looks pretty good. I used the Griffin decal from the PrintScale sheet to replicate the usual fancy Shield emblem that is usually on the bottom wing. The Griffin was used by Italian Ace Capitano Baracca's squadron late in his career/war, but he is more famous for using the prancing horse logo that would become more famous on Ferrari's.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/0/5/7/1248057-114585-34-720.jpg)
I do like the Italian flag colour design on the underneath of both wings.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/0/5/8/1248058-114585-34-720.jpg)
The Decal sheets after using the relevant bits and pieces. Time to visit the stash for the next project, something bigger this time I think.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/5/3/1/1256531-114585-51-720.jpg)
Thats it for this one, my 2nd bi-plane, and discovered how difficult it is to get the top wing perfectly aligned with the bottom
Komentarzy
9 17 June 2022, 15:59
![](/profiles/img/44957-709-s.jpg)
Congratulations!!! - and thank you for showing this. (I still dream of building one day the Joystick vac kit of the Balilla...) - Again, thumbs up! 👍 👍
17 June 2022, 18:38
![](/profiles/img/114585-509-s.jpg)
Thanks for your positive comments, its been fun to get back into modelling after a 45 year break ! The quality of modern kits is amazing though. Still need to improve my new airbrush skills and look forward to getting better at it. The quality of the models in this forum is amazing( I love the weathering effects!)
18 June 2022, 00:57
Album info
Built from a very difficult to source kit (well any sort of A.1 kit), eventually found a 2nd hand kit locally, missing a few things and a partially built fuselage. The missing Italian decals has required a bit of poetic licence to create something semi-suitable.