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Building a Brisfit

history

On 30 Nov 1917 Canadian Capt. Andy McKeever and his Observer/Gunner 2Lt. Leslie Powell engaged a superior force of 9 German aircraft and were credited with the destruction of 4 in this, their last combat flight of the war. The aircraft they flew on that mission was a Bristol F2b Fighter, S/N A7288, and this is the aircraft I chose to model.

Immediately after a disastrous introduction to the Front on 5 April 1917 when Capt. William Leefe Robinson lost four of his six aircraft Flight to enemy action the F2b’s tactics were changed and the aircraft flown and employed much like the single seat Fighters, with spectacular results. The most successful “Biff” Pilot was McKeever with 31 credited Kills. His British Observer, 2Lt. Powell was credited with 19 kills, all but one scored from McKeever’s back seat.

I always strive for “Canadian content” in my Models, thus when the Biff came out of the stash, Andy McKeever’s mount was the natural choice.

the kit and accessories

Like all of Wing Nut Wings products, this Kit is, in a word, spectacular. From the classic Instructions Booklet to their on-line References and a technically superb bunch of sprues etc. all packed into a very attractive box this one is a winner. Despite the fact that this Kit is, in my opinion, one of the best packages available from this incredibly quality driven Company, I did have a challenge or three mounting the bottom wing, getting the four cabane struts properly aligned, and determining the best sequence for the considerable amount of rigging, especially with the addition of the external flight control cables.

building and finishing

I added a pretty fair load of Aftermarket and scratch built goodies and bits to the Build. In the cockpit in step #1 I fashioned a pilot’s “Squeeze” trigger for the Vickers gun. The instrument panel was sanded flush, instruments added using scratch built components, Aeroclub instrument bezels, Airscale Instrument and kit decals, added copper and lead wire plumbing and Future instrument glasses. The cockpit, a full build, had the control cables added, more “plumbing, and the gunners canvas seat was scratch built. The pilots seat was modified with the addition of a stripe of PE open weave mesh from the spares stash. The regular single point seat belts were from the HGW Set.

The Rolls Royce Falcon engine turned into a build in itself. I chose to leave it totally exposed thus all is visible and much had to be added. Approximately a dozen components including a full wiring harness, several water and oil lines, several drain cocks, and numerous small components were added, most being from scrap at this point. Bare metal foil, cut into appropriate strips was used as cable clamps on the water and oil lines.

Paints used on the engine were various shades of Alclad II with Model Master Enamels used on the lines etc.

I also installed my own “Bungee’ cords on the model’s undercarriage using lead wire. A missing line from the air driven fuel pump was added using copper wire, a radiator drain cock and one for the oil tank were “scratched” and added and a scratch built Constaninesco Synchroniser drive gear assembly and generator added to the propeller hub assembly along with the associated oil line.

The extended exhaust pipes were scratch Built from the plastic shafts of Dollar Store Q-tips/Plastic Buds and careful heating and stretching produced the correct flared ends; the kit manifolds were used and supports added from fine wire.

The upper wing went on easily once the spacing and alignment of the cabane struts was achieved using the Aeroclub Biplane Assembly Jig, a tool I use on most of my Builds.

The model was painted with Modelmaster enamels, both the PC10 and grey being mixed to my own interpretation of the colours. I did a complete Pre-Shading however found the final results too muted therefore did a full Post-Shading of the main surfaces using chalk pastels and pigments after the decals were applied and a sealing coat of Modelmaster Acryl Semi Gloss was added. The decals were Pheon's 32005 Bristol Fighter Aces in France Set and worked perfectly as usual. Kit Decals were used where required as well. Some pin shading was done with a very thinned out semi gloss black mix, oil stains and some dirt added to weather the aircraft, and minimal chipping added with the “hairspray” method. The rigging was done with various diameters of Mono fishing lines starting with the wings, then the flight control cables, and finally the empennage.

The last step was the Observer’s Lewis Gun to which I added a ring sight, foresight and wind compensator device. Last, bungees were added to the Scharf Ring assembly and she was finally complete after 11 and ½ months of on and off building!

conclusion

A magnificent kit well up to the Wingnut Wings standard we’ve come to expect, probably one of if not their best. Though not recommended for a beginner the instructions are clear and a slow considered approach will produce a very fine model. I thoroughly enjoyed the Build and may try a Post war “Bif” in the future.