Small, unusual, interesting.....Finished.

Alec K
Following. Getting those delicate parts separated from the spruces will be fun 👍

Bruce Huxtable
Trying to make sense of the instructions, and cleaning up the rotary engine, are going to be interesting too 🙂

bughunter
Oh, in plastic? I have it in my stash in 1:48, but in resin. If you do not like to clean the rotary, there are matching Small Stuff engines available 😉

Bruce Huxtable
Let's see how it goes, bughunter. I was wondering about the armament, as it will be very visible.

bughunter
Yes, you are right. May be Gaspatch, or the wonderful little brass work by MiniWorld ? Not available in 1/48 for my birds 🙁 MiniWorld has also other weapon types, please check your references, which Lewis you need.
Lewis Mk III machine gun (Mini World A7207, 1:72)

Bruce Huxtable
Bughunter, you are a star. Many thanks for your advice and suggestions. Those Small Stuff engines are things of beauty for sure, and that Lewis gun set up is soo much better than the kit parts. I guess I need to do some homework...

bughunter
Thanks, glad that I could help!
If you want to see finished Small Stuff engines, you should check my projects. The little Fokker D.VIII Stripdown is equipped with a 1/72 variant, most of the others have the 1/48 versions.

Bruce Huxtable
I feel privileged to be allowed a peep into your wonderful display of finished works. Amazing 👍

Łukasz Gliński
Wow, Amodel + rigging sound like a serious challenge 😄

Bruce Huxtable
No-one mentioned rigging..... 😉 Def a step too far for me at the moment, Lukasz. But the Amodel challenge? Bring it on!

Robert Podkoński
Following with interest and pleasure, of course. You're a brave man, Bruce!

Bruce Huxtable
If it all went easily, I wouldn't learn, and I certainly don't have all the answers 🙂 Looking ahead, the wing struts are very thin, and installing the wings will be a challenge for me, for sure. So, for the moment, I'm going to enjoy finishing the cockpit and progressing the engine. I've been tempted and ordered a replacement Lewis gun, but will see what can be done with the three alternative machine guns the kit provides. I have plans for painting the canvas fabric.....

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks everyone, for your 'likes', I'll try not to disappoint 😉

Łukasz Gliński
These must be exhaust, but I'm not an expert. Have you considered exchanging them for some sort of pipe or thick wire?

Bruce Huxtable
That would explain the curved ends, I guess? I'm thinking about wire, but have never done this before, Lukasz. There's a first time for everything 😉

Guy Rump
Respect to you Bruce for attempting this. The rigging work looks difficult to say the least. 🙂

Bruce Huxtable
That's why I'm not going to attempt it, Guy. I'll be challenged enough with the kit parts. I may be tempted to try rigging a more robust model already completed, after this one is finished.

Thomas Espe
Interesting indeed, good progress.

Moreno Baruffini
Really interesting, a very good start, and very good pictures of all the steps! Go on Bruce! 👍🏻

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks, Thomas and Moreno. Tried to make the engine look more interesting, so tried adding some shiny wires 😉 I'm quite pleased with the prop.

Erik De Smet
I remember I built this too as part of my 14-18 collection, but never finished my album, which I completed now. You can hardly see anything of the engine once the front part is located.
And for the machine gun, I just put it loose in the front cockpit.
BTW I have read a story that the French sold this plane to the Russians, as they considered that engine lay-out too dangerous for their own pilots.
Enjoy the build

Bruce Huxtable
Hi Eric, I'm impressed that you cleaned up the thin pieces whist they are still on the very chunky sprue. Your finished plane looks very neat, and the rigging is perfect. I shall not dare to try rigging, so will only take mine so far. You air intake grills work very well too - good tip 👍

Gary Victory
Bruce, nice work. Shame about the paint being removed. Did you de-tact the tape first on the back of your hand..?

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks for the tip, Gary. I'll try that next time. I'm hoping I won't have to strip it and start again. Keep your fingers crossed!

Gary Victory
Fingers crossed for you Bruce. Also make sure you allow proper drying time before masking up. By the looks of it you are keeping your coats thin so that will help with drying time.
Looking forward to seeing your progress. 😉

Bruce Huxtable
I think you have hit the nail on the head, Gary. More haste, less speed.... Many thanks again for your words of wisdom 🙂

Gary Victory
No worries Bruce. 😉
Nice recovery and progress.

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks, Gary, and Daniel too. Slowly moving in the right direction 🙂 More fragile, thin struts to be added next....

Neil
Very nice work Bruce 👌

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks, Neil. I hereby declare her Finished 🙂

bughunter
The brass MG looks really nice in real! I guess you learned a lot in this project? Then the next _with_ rigging please 😉

Bruce Huxtable
Yes, learned soo much, and it was a very pleasurable experience. Slow but steady wins the race! Rigging will have to wait a while, but one day I'll give it a go.

Alec K
Well done Bruce. Hope you had fun 👍

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks, Alec. This Amodel had its challenges but that's half the fun!

Uwe Kaeding
Nice work Bruce - and, yes, the upper wing support struts are meant to attach to the front of the cupola pylon. I've built the SA2 version of this kit (SPAD S.A.2 | Album by Uwe Kaeding (1:72)) and it is a challenge, but rewarding.

Guy Rump
Great build Bruce. The woodwork looks very realistic. 👍

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks, Guy, my visits to Hendon RAF Museum paid off 👍

Moreno Baruffini
Many thanks, Bruce, I think it was one of the best build I followed and I think the result it's fantastic! Please go on with rigging!!!

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks for your kind words, Moreno. The kit's struts are very fragile, so I would be sure to destroy it in my first-ever attempts at adding rigging.... so, I will just have to learn Photoshop instead 😉 sorry to disappoint.... 🙁

Erik De Smet
Bruce, you could use Albion Alloys nickel Silver rod of .2 of .1 mm for rigging. It is stiff, can be cut with scissors, and glued with ca glue and will not put any stress on the struts. I used it for my Gladiator.
The Lewis gun is fantastic.

Bruce Huxtable
Erik, many thanks for your tip. I am very tempted, and it certainly would add lots to the finished plane. Yes, I am impressed with the quality of the MG, and how inexpensive it was. Def passing on bughunter's recommendation!

Marko
Hey Bruce, very successful construction of a strange but interesting biplane.

Robert Podkoński
This machine gun looks awesome!

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks, Marko. Lots learned, for next time 🙂

Bruce Huxtable
It was bughunter's suggestion, Robert, and I'm glad I got it. Makes a big difference.

cecil
Nice job with a challenging kit!

Bruce Huxtable
Thanks, Cecil. I learned lots, so hopefully next build will be neater.

Bas Tonn
Great model of a great flying machine. Amazing what people put in the air in those days

Bruce Huxtable
Hey, thanks. I enjoyed this A-Model kit, for the challenges as well as the unusual plane 🙂

Ben M
ah, a-model! Very nice result! Beautiful!

Bruce Huxtable
Many thanks, Ben, I still need to tidy up some areas though.....