Thanks for all the nice comments.

Carl.

The turnbuckles are my own, I always make my own turnbuckles, a detailed description on how to make them is on my web site, page 7.

http://ww1aircraftmodels.com

The tolerances on this kit are excellent so far, looks like Wingnuts have made improvements in this area, I have had no problems with the fit of any parts.

You are correct in what you say, there appears to be a swing towards WW1 aircraft, and why not, they are beautiful looking aeroplanes.

Des

Des,
Thanks for the link to your excellent web site.I can see I'll be spending a lot of time reading through all the articles and future articles too.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

And you can see links to all GB participants here on page 7 about halfway down

Or under the GB home thread here on page 1 post #8.

Another up-date on the Pup. The cockpit area is now complete and has been fixed to one half of the fuselage. The seat and seat belts are fitted as well as another turnbuckle and cable across the front of the instrument panel ( not a real safe place to put one, right in front of the pilots face, not good if he has to do a bad landing). I have also done a bit of work on the rear of the fuselage ready for the tail skid.
I started work on the rotary engine but have hit a problem, the intake manifold (or intake header assembly as WNW calls it) won't fit, the pipes are too short and don't reach the intake ports on the cylinder heads, I will have to do a bit of serious thinking about this one.....
Here are some photos of the completed cockpit.

Des.

Beautiful! Go Des go!

Most excellent Des ! I really like the different tones of wood , makes this assembly stand out !

Great job so far. Disturbing news about the engine though.

Looks great. I have bookmarked your website also.

Thank you all for your kind words, they are much appreciated.

The engine is just about complete, still need to add the plug leads and to add "heat" stains to the intake pipes. I fixed the intake manifold problem by straightening the pipes a litte, then bending the pipes rearward to be in line with the cylinder heads, then put more of a bend in the top of the pipes. After all this there was still a gap between the pipe and the intake port on the cylinder heads so I cut some brass shim to 0.55mm x 1.9mm and inserted them between each pipe and the intake port, held it all together with a small drop of CA.





I have just about completed the rear section of the fuselage, still needs a coat of matt clear. Tail skid has a light wood colour, just need to finish it off. The fuselage is nearly at the close-up stage, this aircraft has the adjustable tailplane.





Here are the two fuselage halves ready for close-up. Both wings have had the pre-shading done as well as the tailplane. The colour here is CDL or Humbrol No. 121, same as the inside of the fuselage.



Hope to have some more done over the next few days.

Des.

www.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Des,
Outstanding project to date.Would the tail skid arrangement be the same on a Strutter as well? Been wondering how best to arrange the tail skid on my Strutter under construction for the Two Seater Campaign.

The engine sure looks excellent my friend,can't wait to see the finished element. Great photography too,I got to figure out how to get such clear close ups with my camera.

Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Brad, over on the Drome, has pointed out an error I have made in the pre-shading, I have added a centre spar which should not be there, the Pup only had two spars running where the struts mount. I will rectify this error hopefully without having to remove all the paint and starting again.
This is a big oops on my part............sorry guys...

Gregory. Thank you for your comments. I don't know the arrangement of the tail skid on the strutter, I'm sure someone here will be able to help you with that question.

Des.

Des!
great job as always! I like the engine very much! a real beauty!

Here is a photo of the corrected pre-shading, with only two spars. I managed to make the corrections without having to strip the paint off and start from scratch. Once the paint is dry I will give the wings a coat of clear.

Des.

Lookin Good Des: I like the engine, and for the problems you had with the intakes, it doesn't show. Good luck on the repaint, it looks great the way it is. You could say you have an exceptional pup in that the guy at the factory didn't get the word on the center spar until after it was done, so it is a one of a kind aircraft.
I am hoping I get mine today.

Addendum: The repaint looks as good as the original. Apparently the shop foreman wouldn't allow the third spar.

Just tuning into this now , excellent job Des ! I like the copper shade you used on the intake pipes . Is this acrylic or enamel paint ?

Des - Your work never ceases to amaze me. I call it hi-fidelity workmanship.
Ron

Thanks so much for all the kind words.

Terri.

The paint I used for the copper look on the intake pipes was Gunze No. 215 Mr. Metal Color - copper. (brushes on beautifully)

Des.

Progress has been slow this week, family matters have taken priority.
Here are some photos of the edging around the under side of both wings, plus the painted upper surfaces of the wings. The fuselage has been pre-shaded and also painted with PC10. I will need to gloss the wings then add the decals before fixing the eyelets to both wings ready for the rigging. So far there have been no problems with the build, everything fits beautifully (except the intake manifold)

Des.

www.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Des!
I saw your site! it is very well done !
I'll watch it closely!
ciao
Edo

Sweet little build you got going there.

I second that Des . In all this is turning out to be outstanding so far .

Looking good Des: I like the counter shading. I will try your methods on this build when I start on it. I picked up on your counter shading of the outer skin as well. Just subtle enough to see the variations.

Des,
Excellent project my friend. Love the counter shading,very subtle. Which marking will you be using? Thanks very much for this thread.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Gregory. The markings will be;

A6156 "OS", Whitehead built, 54sqn, Lt. O. Stewart, April - May 1917.

Des.

http://ww1aircraftmodels.com

Hi Des

Fantastic work! A real inspiration!

I'm going to have to build a little kennel... I got confimation that my RNAS Pup is being delivered tomorrow.

All the best

Rowan