Monday, April 29, 2013

Gee Bee Ascender -Scratchbuilt 1/72 scale-

 

(The completed model is here:)
http://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2013/05/gee-bee-ascender-172-scale-scratchbuilt.html

The Gee Bee Ascender.

Less traditional spellings of the last word of its name have been frequently quoted by my disrespectful friends.
Not the chubby racer that the household name Gee Bee would normally evoke, but an experimental plane of canard (duck, in French) configuration (stab first), reputedly built from some Aeronca parts, and propelled by an Aeronca engine of mere 26 hp, according to Aerofiles.
In case you are interested, Bill Hannan dedicated an article in one of the issues of his publication Hannan’s Runway. It was translated and reprinted in Le Fanatique de l' Aviation, No 161.
And yes, you skeptics, it flew, and well.
There is a Youtube clip here:
The model is being scratchbuilt using the common techniques; the images as usual tell the story. As you can see, the engine and prop are tiny. Small wood blocks were carved to get the contours on a couple of places on the fuselage.
A door was opened and an interior was created.
The tiny registrations of the rudder were made with a dry transfer sheet, character by character, on a clear decal sheet, then applied to the model. Something you do not want to do often.
In the image bellow you can barely make the text (white on white):
The area behind the engine has been painted a metal color.
The landing gear added with pieces of brass tube simulating the shock absorbers.
The nose wheel sub-assembly has an aftermarket Aeroclub white metal item, a wire inserted in it and a bent piece of aluminum sheet pierced through to represent the wheel holder:
The wing spar has been added and the front wheel painted:
Interior bits being readied:
Ready to go inside:
and closer to completion:
The logo minuscule decals were printed and applied:

Friday, April 26, 2013

Detroyat's Morane Saulnier M.S.225 completed -Conversion Heller 1/72 scale kit-

Here it is finally.
For those interested the complete building article -in this same blog- is here:
http://wingsofintent.blogspot.com/2013/04/modified-heller-ms225-michel-detroyat.html
As said before, an in spite of their shortcomings and age, Heller kits are are a pleasure to work with.
The 225 looks good aside its companion, the 230 -see images here- and now Monsieur Michel Detroyat can't complain about lacking aerobatic machines.