Richard44 Posted September 4, 2023 Share #1 Posted September 4, 2023 (edited) Many, many years ago I was an avid builder of plastic aircraft kits. One of them was the Monogram model of the Wright Brothers Flyer (scale was about 1:40). This didn’t survive a house move so I made a second. This too did not survive, so number three was built, and I still have it. Slightly the worse after a couple of house moves. I was idly browsing the net when I saw an ad for a 1:72 brass model of the Flyer, so I thought why not. The model is produced by a Japanese company called Aerobase (aerobase.jp), and comes in a stout box with two sheets of PE, three A4 pages of diagrams and a black acrylic display base. A cast (?resin) engine and figure representing Orville are included. The diagrams are annotated with instructions, unfortunately these are in Japanese, though they seem to be adequate - but we’ll see. The model is interesting in that most of the pieces are attached to each other with tiny tags, with the diagrams showing glue being used only occasionally. There are only 21 pieces plus the ribs, so this will not be a long build log. The first step is to form the forward framework that holds the two elevators. This framework is in one piece and only needs simple bending to form the correct shape. Visible in the photo are the tags used to attach parts to each other (one next to the point of the knife blade), these are vertical (in the photo) here, while other tags, at angles, will be used when rigging the plane. The framework with the lower elevator in place. Both elevators in place. The ribs for the wing are to be fitted into tiny slots, and the diagram shows that these slots then need to be squeezed tight. I tried this but didn’t have suitable pliers so I used drops of gel CA instead. The lower wing partly complete with a rib ready to be fixed. The lower wing complete. Both wings complete with the interplane struts ready to be glued in place. The struts have locating pins top and bottom which make assembly relatively easy. The two wings assembled together, with some “authentic” wing warping visible in places. I tried to remove the warping, but there was a limit as to how much pressure I was willing to apply to the wing. The rudders that needed only a few bends to be formed. The assembled plane, though without rigging. The plane rigged, but no pilot yet. The kit came with some normal thread for the rigging, but I chose to use one of the fine, elastic-type threads, not EZ-Line but something similar (AK Thin). Rigging was a real exercise in patience. There was not a lot of room to get thread, tweezers and fingers in simultaneously. Several breaks were required to allow stress levels to drop. Mounted on the display base. Some of the diagrams weren’t as clear as they could have been, and the order of assembly appeared to be decidedly odd with the ribs apparently being added (Step 5) after the plane was assembled (Steps 2,3,4). Not what I did, as this would have been near impossible. Anyway, a neat little model. Cheers Edited September 4, 2023 by Richard44 Haliburton, Ryland Craze, CDW and 14 others 8 9 Quote Richard Next build: Completed builds: AL's Endeavour, Corel's Bellona, Amati's Xebec, Billing's Roar Ege, Panart's Armed Launch Ships' Boats - Vanguard 1:64 and Master Korabel 1:72 Alexander Arbuthnot, Christiaan Brunings, Pevensey all by World of Paperships HMS Pegasus by Victory Captain John Smith's Shallop by Pavel Nitikin Rumpler "Taube" 1911 by HMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted September 4, 2023 Share #2 Posted September 4, 2023 Nicely done! Not easy to do all that framing in PE, but you make it look easy. Great job! mtaylor, king derelict, Richard44 and 4 others 7 Quote Mike Current Wooden builds: Amati/Victory Pegasus MS Charles W. Morgan Euromodel La Renommèe Plastic builds: SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48 Five Star Yaeyama 1/700 Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32 Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72 IJN Notoro 1/700 Akitsu Maru 1/700 Completed builds : Caldercraft Brig Badger Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700 Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350 F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72 Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48 Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16 Terminated build: HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn) On the shelf: Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits Future potential scratch builds: HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted September 4, 2023 Share #3 Posted September 4, 2023 Oliver? You mean Orville, I hope. Good looking model the Flyer. I have a memory of seeing a full size one at the Air Force Museum as a kid that didn't have any coverings. I wonder if it's still there? Richard44, Ryland Craze, Canute and 2 others 4 1 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard44 Posted September 4, 2023 Author Share #4 Posted September 4, 2023 13 minutes ago, mtaylor said: Oliver? You mean Orville, I hope. Duh, stupid autocorrect. And I didn't see it even when proofreading! I'll correct it. Cheers Canute, Old Collingwood, Egilman and 1 other 4 Quote Richard Next build: Completed builds: AL's Endeavour, Corel's Bellona, Amati's Xebec, Billing's Roar Ege, Panart's Armed Launch Ships' Boats - Vanguard 1:64 and Master Korabel 1:72 Alexander Arbuthnot, Christiaan Brunings, Pevensey all by World of Paperships HMS Pegasus by Victory Captain John Smith's Shallop by Pavel Nitikin Rumpler "Taube" 1911 by HMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted September 4, 2023 Share #5 Posted September 4, 2023 1 minute ago, Richard44 said: Duh, stupid autocorrect. And I didn't see it even when proofreading! I'll correct it. Cheers No worries as it happens to the best of us. Egilman, Richard44, Canute and 1 other 4 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted September 5, 2023 Share #6 Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) From Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum Edited September 5, 2023 by Jack12477 king derelict, Egilman, mtaylor and 5 others 8 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egilman Posted September 5, 2023 Share #7 Posted September 5, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Jack12477 said: From Olde Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum Yep, the 1902 Glider, Glider #2 the first workable control system... A brilliant achievement, it was after their successful experiments with this glider that they realized all they now needed was a reliable power source... As an added treat, in pic #3, don't fail to peruse the reproduction hang glider hanging from the ceiling above Glider #2, that is Octave Chanute's 1896 hang glider... (made over 200 flights itself) Octave Chanute was a pioneer aviator and engineer... He also acted as a consultant to the brothers while they were perfecting their wing designs... (as well as being a witness to the Brothers first flight) Edited September 5, 2023 by Egilman Richard44, Jack12477, mtaylor and 4 others 7 Quote Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale Completed: M8A1 HST 1930 Packard Boattail Speedster M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433 F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: "Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted September 5, 2023 Share #8 Posted September 5, 2023 Chanute's Glider Richard44, king derelict, Old Collingwood and 3 others 6 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Javlin Posted September 6, 2023 Share #9 Posted September 6, 2023 That is super cool and so small!You did a great job with that one! Richard44, Old Collingwood, mtaylor and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canute Posted September 6, 2023 Share #10 Posted September 6, 2023 Was it Chanute who turned a houseboat into a catapult launch rail for hos powered effort? Old Collingwood and mtaylor 2 Quote Ken Started: MS Bounty Longboat, On Hold: Heinkel USS Choctaw paper Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1 Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section Member Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egilman Posted September 6, 2023 Share #11 Posted September 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Canute said: Was it Chanute who turned a houseboat into a catapult launch rail for hos powered effort? Nope, That was Samuel Langley from the Smithsonian and his Aerodrome.... His scale model flew successfully, but his full sized machine nosedived into the river.... I believe an engineering examination of the plans done sometime in the '70's decided that it couldn't fly as designed... It had no controls that would work anyway, and Langley missed the point completely, getting into the air had already been done in Europe, it was control that everyone was looking for... And the brothers were the first... Chanute never built a powered machine, he was getting old and felt it was going to take a younger man... But he actively supported the Brothers who consulted with him almost constantly... In fact the wired Pratt truss design of their wings is directly attributed to Chanute's guidance.... Landlubber Mike, Old Collingwood, king derelict and 5 others 8 Quote Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale Completed: M8A1 HST 1930 Packard Boattail Speedster M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433 F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: "Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard44 Posted September 6, 2023 Author Share #12 Posted September 6, 2023 Thanks for your comments Egilman. My short build log has turned into a very interesting history lesson. 😁 Old Collingwood, Canute, Jack12477 and 1 other 4 Quote Richard Next build: Completed builds: AL's Endeavour, Corel's Bellona, Amati's Xebec, Billing's Roar Ege, Panart's Armed Launch Ships' Boats - Vanguard 1:64 and Master Korabel 1:72 Alexander Arbuthnot, Christiaan Brunings, Pevensey all by World of Paperships HMS Pegasus by Victory Captain John Smith's Shallop by Pavel Nitikin Rumpler "Taube" 1911 by HMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egilman Posted September 6, 2023 Share #13 Posted September 6, 2023 My pleasure Brother... There's a lot out there over the Wright Brothers/Smithsonian Langley controversy... Law, politics and personalities.... Here's a synopsis about it... https://www.wright-brothers.org/History_Wing/History_of_the_Airplane/Doers_and_Dreamers/Wright_Smithsonian_Controversy/00_Wright_Smithsonian_Controversy_Intro.htm No less than Glenn Curtiss was involved and several directors of the Smithsonian as well... Eventually it Involved FDR too... Since the Smithsonian refused to admit their clams over the Aerodrome were false the Brothers sent their Flyer to be displayed in London... Rather than at the Smithsonian where it belonged... Lots of interesting history in that period... (and after the war the Wright Flyer was returned to the USA for display) Jack12477, Richard44, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Current Build: F-86F-30 Sabre by Egilman - Kinetic - 1/32nd scale In the Garage: East Bound & Down, Building a Smokey & the Bandit Kenworth Rig in 1/25th scale Completed: M8A1 HST 1930 Packard Boattail Speedster M1A1 75mm Pack Howitzer F-4J Phantom II Bell H-13's P-51B/C Temporary Suspension: USS Gwin DD-433 F-104C Starfighter "Blue Jay Four" 1/32nd Scale Terminated Build: F-104C Starfighter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote: "Relish Today, Ketchup Tomorrow" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canute Posted September 7, 2023 Share #14 Posted September 7, 2023 Good stuff, EG. Curtiss was a busy man. He worked with Dr. Alexander Graham Bell up in Baddeck, NS on some of the Doctor's forays in aviation. Baddeck is akin to Kitty Hawk for our Canadian folks. Richard44, Egilman, Old Collingwood and 1 other 4 Quote Ken Started: MS Bounty Longboat, On Hold: Heinkel USS Choctaw paper Down the road: Shipyard HMC Alert 1/96 paper, Mamoli Constitution Cross, MS USN Picket Boat #1 Scratchbuild: Echo Cross Section Member Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack12477 Posted September 7, 2023 Share #15 Posted September 7, 2023 (edited) Glenn Curtis Trivia: "Although his formal education extended only to eighth grade, his early interest in mechanics and inventions was evident at his first job at the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company (later Eastman Kodak Company) in Rochester, New York.[3] He invented a stencil machine adopted at the plant and later built a rudimentary camera to study photography.[3]" wikipedia Later known as the mimeograph machine Edited September 7, 2023 by Jack12477 Canute, Richard44, Egilman and 2 others 5 Quote Jack "No one is as smart as all of us" - Is ón cheann a thagann an cheird The craft comes from the head --------------------------------------------- Current build: US Constellation Non-ship builds: USCG UH-65A Dolphin M16 Multi-gun motor carriage diorama M4A3 Sherman Tanks dioramas 1936-1939 Mercedes Benz 540K 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II JSDF Light Armor Vehicle Figures: The Last Bridge: Raider Reaper Edge of Universe: Ianis The Last Bridge: Vadim with cart Completed build log(s): 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne, Willie L Bennett 1888 50 ft Gaff-rigged Ice Yacht Scratch Build The Sullivans (DD 537) Liberty Ship SS John W Brown USS England (DE 635), Artesania Latina Titanic Lifeboat Gallery: Swift , Armed Virginia Sloop, Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch , 18th Century Longboat , Marie Jeanne Other: Rhinebeck Aerodrome Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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