Global Scale Modeller

Just thought I'd share these with you. It's a build I'm working on for SAM Magazine, so I hope Jay, the editor, doesn't mind!

This is a French racing plane from the early 1930s and the version I'm going to make - White 13 - was flown by Helen Boucher who was the fastest woman of her time. Now of course, we have the X-factor providing a constant supply of them.

It's a short-run type kit, so needs some work, which is a good thing. The cockpit was sparse, having only faint raised lines to simulate sidewall detail, so I completely scratch-built the ribbing and, on the port side, the flap lever and on the starboard, the throttle quadrant. I created a wood-grain effect on the floor and put some straps on the pedals as well as the appropriate cabling. I also made up some simple seat belts using a fine grain paper with some generic-looking buckles from the spares. (They're actually Luftwaffe ones!).

In case you're wondering, the injector-pin type circle on the centre console is actually the place where the retractable undercarriage air cylinder would be, but as the 450 has fixed spatted wheels, it doesn't require one, but I left it there anyway.

Nice work Gary, some great scratch building. Cool looking aircraft

Great start mate looking forward to this mate.

looking superb and as mentioned great scratch building also, definitely one for me to follow.

Tom

That's an awesome plane! Your cockpit detail is superb ( ), and I will enjoy watching this build.

Helen Boucher who was the fastest woman of her time

.....she sounds like my kind of woman

Is it only me that is reminded of the scene in the matrix where mouse tells everyone 'Morpheus is fighting Neo' and everyone rushes to watch, when seeing Gary post a new thread?

He's at it again!

Fantastic scratching and attention to details.

UKscalemodeller wrote: He's at it again!

Hurrah! I love this stuff!

So, a little more work on the Caudron.

I whittled out an area directly in front of the canopy and replaced it with a fillet of brass sheet to more accurately represent the curved area on the real thing. As I'm going to show the canopy open ie slid forward, it will sit over this are, although after using a ton of zap-a-gap (the darker area just in front of the brass) to level out the skin, it looks fine anyway.

Also, the instrument panel decal doesn't reflect the real one (according to the one and only pic I've been able to source of the C.450 instrument array) as there is a large 'Jaeger' dial, presumably a stopwatch (it goes from 0 - 60) which I made using a template and a very, very sharp white pencil. After a blob of Micro Kristal Klear, it looks quite acceptable. I even put the needle at one of its winning times! I'm in the process of scratch building the compass that would sit just at the top of the panel.







I love Alclad and want to have its babies.

Yes I got all excited when I saw an update for this one.

Loving the work on this dude.

The attention to detail blows my mind.

Nice work Gary

Looking forward to next instalment

Cheers

Ok... so you've done it... again!!

Nice work gary, and yes alclad is awesome stuff.

Where did you get the aircraft scale rule thingy?

Paul wrote:Nice work gary, and yes alclad is awesome stuff.

Where did you get the aircraft scale rule thingy?

He scratchbuilt it from a coca cola can, a twig and a piece of string...

RobertA wrote:

Paul wrote:Nice work gary, and yes alclad is awesome stuff.

Where did you get the aircraft scale rule thingy?

He scratchbuilt it from a coca cola can, a twig and a piece of string...

Ha ha that wouldn't suprise me

stunning work Gary

I am loving this build Gary. Hope you do a youtube video on it.

Stunning work. Great attention to details.

A little (BIG) update on the progress of the C.450. It's BLUE!!! New KLM Bright Blue to be exact, thanks to ExtraColor enamel. I looked at the various French Blues from other manufacturers and to be honest, this blue looked to be the best match, so I went with it. It also hasn't come out as a full gloss - which is fine - as I will get stuck in about it with the polishing sticks and cloths to give it a to-scale surface finish... if you know what I mean? Still at the 'considering' stage about painting the large numbers as opposed to using the decals, but I'll try one to see how it looks. Not much choice with the other markings, though.... I also added a channel for the sliding canopy since last we met.

That is a very pretty blue Gary

Coming along nicely.

That is stunning mate love the blue.

So, me being me, I wait until I apply the bonny top coat before deciding to do this. Just needs a little tidying-up here and there and we'll be ready for another top coat!

You FOOL!

Almost there... Just need to put a back panel behind the seat (or just tidy the existing area up), add the exhaust stubs which I made from 2mm aluminium tubing, the pitot tube and the seat harness. I've also fashioned the hatch from brass sheet and I'm currently trying to get the canopy to my liking. To disguise the variation in reflectivity between the decals and the paint, I'll need to give it another coat of either Alclad's Aqua Gloss or their Klear Kote Light Sheen.

Weathering will be minimal, if even that! I may run some wash into aileron and what panel lines there are, but that's all. Maybe the merest hint of worn paint around areas of high usage.

Beautiful plane and equally Beautiful color!
Like it a lot, great build.

Brilliant, love the paintwork.

My eyes have dried and fallen out.
That's ok... I couldn't believe then anyway!!
Shhh... The master is at work.

Gary.... That's a master class build bud.
Can't wait for the finish.

freaking amazing Gary

Hey Gary looking great nice kit!

__________

Jonas Bryant on youtube


On the bench:

Academy 1/72 B-17
Revell 1/48 F-15E Strike Eagle
Tamiya 1/35 SdKfz 251/1

She really is a stunner Gary.

Lovely choice of aircraft. Lovely model!

if i had only an once of your talent!