Hans

Greatgooglymoogly!
 
Some of those pics take my breath away Jay! If you take the RFI shots outside, we’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a model and the real deal. I guess that’s always our goal, and you’re accomplishing that in spades…
 

Here's something I thought I'd never see in 1/32 - Lukgraph are kitting the Potez XXV (also in 1/48).
 

 

 

Hello,
 
For some time I have been preparing to expand the scope of modeling activities. The period of the Great War became for me not so much a goal as a stop for further travel, but before I talk about where this journey is to end, I will stop at the fronts of the Great War, at least for some time.
 
Donat Makijonek is an extraordinary character, so unusual that without a doubt the life and activity of this pilot deserves at least a few models. This time, however, I will focus on the second period of his aviation career, of course calculated in a completely conventional way. A Pole in the service of the tsar, he was one of the thousands of Poles for whom the outbreak of war marked a new reality in the armies of the partitioning powers. From the end of the 18th century, Poland was erased from the map. Torn and divided by Prussia, Russia and Austria. The outbreak of war often meant a fratricidal fight between Poles incorporated by force into foreign armies. The tragedy of the Polish nation will have an unusual finale in the very life of Makijonek.
 

Sebastian Łydżba
 
As you can easily guess, Makijonek finally went to fighter aviation and this is the period the miniature will refer to. I will not present the full profile of the pilot now, there will be time for that during construction and of course in the final gallery. During the next posts, based on the sources that I have managed to gather, I will present Makijonek's silhouette and his biography to those interested. At the moment, I will write only the most important few pieces of information.
 
Donat Makijonek served as a fighter pilot in the 7th Istrebitielny Avia Otriad (7th IAO) under the command of Ivan Orlov. It is the period of service in this unit that brings him the greatest fame and achievements. He is considered the most effective Pole in the Tsar's service, and the number of victories varies slightly depending on the sources. Most often, however, 8 is assumed. Throughout his aviation career, he made nearly 600 flights. From the moment of service in the fighter unit, he flew the Nieuport 21 with the number 2453 and won the most victories on it, it will also become a modeling subject. It is known that in the last phase of service in the 7th IAO he also flew version 17, which led to various misunderstandings in the development. The example below shows one such error. Almost certainly the Nieuport with "Polonia" is version 21, equipped with a full cowl and a rather unusual propeller cap. According to the photos, it is clearly a hubcap, not a "cone de penetration" typical for Nieuports.
 

 
The life story of this pilot and his achievements, as I mentioned earlier, will be presented on an ongoing basis on the occasion of subsequent posts. The workshop will be slightly different from the previous one, but you will probably notice it yourself. I treat the model as an introduction to a larger work that I have planned as soon as I finish this Nieuport, and because this type of aircraft requires slightly different skills and approach, I treat it as blazing the trail. Thus, the started P-11 will wait at least a year. Earlier, I put together a quick camel to test wood painting techniques, building heads and a few other issues.
 
I will rely on quite a wide literature, I managed to collect a lot of books, newspapers, magazines and articles. I won't list them all because it's too much. I have Russian, Polish, but also Finnish and English sources. Unfortunately, already at this stage I see discrepancies in the information about this period of Makijonk's life and the planes he flew. The differences are also about painting. I will describe any ambiguities, maybe someone interested with more knowledge than me will want to supplement some information. Whether you like it or not, you have to make a decision, which is why I'm posting a painting scheme, which will be the starting point for building the model. This is probably the most correctly rendered painting, although as I wrote earlier there are some doubts.
 

 
Since the Makijonek's Nieuport 21 from the outside was almost no different from the 17 version, I will use the Nieuport XVII late from the Copper State Model in 1/32 scale. In addition, as support will be Niweuport XXI Russian Service of the same company and scale. I plan to use chemistry mainly AK (RC+oils), including Tamyia, Gunze. The decals are made to order. The propeller cap will also be made, but it will be time to write about it. Resin add-ons and metal screws by Gaspatch, 3D printed engine. If anything else comes up in the meantime, I'll be sure to let you know.
 
I start with the cockpit.
 

 

 
Best regards
Lukasz

Please join me in welcoming the team from ResKit as our latest sponsor!
 

 
As many of you will be aware, ResKit is based in war-torn Ukraine, but still manages to be one of the most prolific aftermarket producers in the modelling community. Not only that, but many of their products are aimed at improving LSP kits, helping our little niche in the hobby tremendously.
 
Welcome aboard, guys!
 
Kev

VAL with all detailed sets:
 
https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=105045&p=2571815#p2571815

No more ballerina stance !
 
 

You should be really pleased with how this has come out, Kev - it looks like you’ve used a high-end mainstream injection kit rather than a complex conversion which is huge kudos to your skills.
 
I love the finish too - spot on for a ‘warbird’ and seeing these regularly at shows in the UK I’d say you’ve got it spot on. 
 
Tom

Looks very good, Matt. And your photographic skills are much better than mine!
 
Hans

The kit is up on Infinity's website for 117 euros including (EU) VAT and does have photo etch in the box. For what you get, the price seems quite reasonable to me. It is a big model, with a length of 319 mm and a wingspan of 449 mm. It has 337 plastic parts and 55 photo etched parts, including seat belts. Folded wings comes in an aftermarket set for 17 Euros. 
 
Hans 

The kit is up on Infinity's website for 117 euros including (EU) VAT and does have photo etch in the box. For what you get, the price seems quite reasonable to me. It is a big model, with a length of 319 mm and a wingspan of 449 mm. It has 337 plastic parts and 55 photo etched parts, including seat belts. Folded wings comes in an aftermarket set for 17 Euros. 
 
Hans 

The kit is up on Infinity's website for 117 euros including (EU) VAT and does have photo etch in the box. For what you get, the price seems quite reasonable to me. It is a big model, with a length of 319 mm and a wingspan of 449 mm. It has 337 plastic parts and 55 photo etched parts, including seat belts. Folded wings comes in an aftermarket set for 17 Euros. 
 
Hans 

The kit is up on Infinity's website for 117 euros including (EU) VAT and does have photo etch in the box. For what you get, the price seems quite reasonable to me. It is a big model, with a length of 319 mm and a wingspan of 449 mm. It has 337 plastic parts and 55 photo etched parts, including seat belts. Folded wings comes in an aftermarket set for 17 Euros. 
 
Hans 

Just came across this on Facebook:
 


These two are apparently being release in the next few days.
 
Kev

That is stunning, Jay!

Hi Everyone,
 
So, after some exchanges on the thread on which 1/32 big bombers are 'missing';  We have 32nd B-17, B-24 and Lancasters (plural!). What's next? B-29?, several emails and calls, @europapete and I have decided to take a look at doing a joint scratch build of not one, but TWO Zeppelin Staaken R.VI s. 
 
We absolutely recognise the challenges ahead (the overtime alone will be a nightmare...) but we think it can be done.
 
At this stage we are just doing research because it appears no two airframes in the series were identical and so choosing ones that we have the best chance of getting right is crucial. 
 
We'll be posting here, not only to keep ourselves 'honest' in making the build happen but also in recognition the fact that there are many far more expert than us on such arcane subjects as this and the tools and techniques we might employ.  Right then...we are off to peruse a stack of books on WWI German bomber design...
 
Kind regards,
Peter & Paul
 
 

So now it's time for that surprise. There was a memorial erected at the site where the plane went down, but the tooth of time has done its work and a new memorial is now being erected. I am also taking part in this personally, I know such a boastful post but sometimes you have to have one. Thanks to the association that took it upon itself to erect the new memorial, we were able to reach the last living witness to the event. We also managed to interview 94-year-old Mrs Ziora, who was 10 years old at the time and was at the site. Mrs Ziora told us a very interesting story about the heroic fight of the Polish crew against the German infantry. Returning to the memorial, I liked the wings that will be placed there. 
 
Interview with Mrs Ziora.
 

 
Wings under construction.
 

 
And already at my place in front of the workshop.
 

It's been awhile, but I am back with more progress on the P.11.  The cockpit is now complete and is ready to be installed in the fuselage.  It was certainly fiddly, but it all comes together very securely. 
 
I added wiring and linkages where they were most visible in the pictures, but I definitely didn't go crazy adding everything. Even with the access panels open, it's a bit of a tight squeeze, especially once the gun breeches are added.
 

 

 

 
The Yahu instrument panel was a great addition, and looks great in place. I used the kit photo-etch knobs, since they were more correct than the ones included in the Yahu package.  You can also see the Bitzkrieg control stick and gun charging handles.  Also the additional dial decals added to the side panel, although it looks like I lost one of them.
 

 

 
The Viet starter had the hose added, and the two linkages were added to the engine control handles. Looks like I need to touchup that PE former.
 

 

 
Some basic wiring was added to the back of the instrument panel, since it is visible underneath the windscreen
 

 
Oxygen bottle was added and wired. Took a couple of tries to get the color right, but Tamiya XF-23 Light Blue did the job.
 

 
Compressed air bottle for the pneumatic system might be visible, but I have my doubts. We'll all know that it's in there though.
 
 
 
That's all for now, I'm hoping to get the cockpit installed soon and then switch focus over to the engine, since the engine bearer needs to be installed before the fuselage can be closed. Let me know what you think please.
 
 
Matt 

Unfortunately, I have to inform you that I can no longer continue pouring resin. Due to an old brain injury, I have tremors in my hands that meds don’t help.   I am trying to find someone who may want to continue my line, but so far no legitimate takers.   It was a good run, but all good things must come to an end.   Thanks as always, Harold

From the photos parts fit looks to be very good and the kit has a nicely detailed cockpit as well.

It looks fine to me, Carsten. I think the anti-glare panel of the aircraft gives the impression that the nose is more pointed than it really is. 
You are doing a great job on an interesting an unusual conversion.
 
Hans 

Hi everyone
 
I wanted to present you my latest model, which shows a miniature of the PZL P.11 prototype no. V. This aircraft was presented in 1934 during the 14th International Air Show in Paris. I built it on the basis of a 1/32 scale PZL P11c aircraft model kit by IBG, or two such kits in fact. This was due to the fact that there are quite a lot of differences between the prototype and the serial P11c aircraft, despite the fact that both aircraft have the same marking painted on the vertical stabilizer. All these nuances, it would seem, are quite important and together with the occasional silver-red painting, they make this plane stand out from all the other PZL P.11c. These differences were meticulously picked out from the analysis of archival photos and documents and I decided to show them all so that the final effect was as close as possible to the appearance of the prototype. Below is a list of these differences, although it cannot be ruled out that this is only part of them and perhaps in the future it will be possible to expand it.
 
- The horizontal stabilizer had elevators with a larger area and a different shape.
- Chassis with aero fairings and Dunlop low pressure wheels.
- Elevator trim tabs of a rectangular shape with an external drive.
- Longer recess for the barrels of hull rifles, extending to the firewall.
- Different division of plating elements in the truss part of the hull.
- Larger side panels for access to hull armament.
- Different layout and form of the entrance steps to the cockpit.
- Hull hand grips in the form of openings with flaps at the height of the windshield.
- Higher windshield without rear view mirror.
- Another form of upholstery of the periphery of the pilot's cabin.
- Covering with corrugated sheet additional panels on the upper surface of the wings near the fuselage.
- Different location of the Venturi nozzle on the hull.
- No longitudinal ventilation holes in the engine crankcase cover.
- No ventilation holes, so-called. "gills", in the fuselage behind the engine in front of the firewall.
- No radio station.
- Missing access panel to the radio station in the semi-monocoque part of the fuselage.
- No antenna installation on the fuselage and wings.
- No generator drive cover on the right side of the hull behind the engine.
- Missing one of the rudder drive inspection holes in the rear fuselage.
- No bomb launchers under the wings.
- No bomb release lever in the cockpit.
 
During the conversion, I made a lot of components from scratch and used a lot of commercial add-ons (Archer, Bitskrieg, Master, Yahu, Part and Edurad). I put a lot of work into reducing the thickness of the trailing edges in the lifting and steering surfaces of the model. From scratch I made an imitation of the entire riveting on the fuselage and partly on the wings and stabilizers. A different layout of the prototype's hull panels required re-creating most of the dividing lines. I also made an imitation of small deflections on the fuselage and wings simulating deformations on the skin as a result of technological and utility processes. For the purposes of the presentation, I made a small base inspired by archival photos from the exhibition in Paris.
 


 
And the model looks like this:





















 
The model premiered last weekend at the modeling championships in Bytom. He received the first place in his category and the prestigious "Black Diamond".

 
Now a small collection has been created

 
Best regards, Marcin :-)
 

From the photos parts fit looks to be very good and the kit has a nicely detailed cockpit as well.

Sprue G is ready
 

 
As is sprue H
 

 
and apparently "There will be a lot of good news next week, stay tuned"

Hi, 
 
here you are some photos of VAL :  https://www.modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=105045&start=5130
 

Next step: mask off the transition where the Pinocchio nose should begin or end. To get a clean transition, I moved the whole thing back a bit. Not at the original panel line, as I originally wanted. Here are two photos of it. I also masked the cockpit windscreen, as I want to fill the gap between the clear part and the aircraft fuselage as well.
 

 
I drew the demarcation at the panel line of the gun bay and filled the front gear bay with foam to prevent epoxy putty from running in.
 

 
And now comes the exciting part: modelling the nose. After 90 minutes of modelling and adjusting, I am very happy with the result.
 




 
The shape is 90% right. The rest will be brought into the right shape tomorrow with sanding. I think this was a huge step and I am more than happy with the result. Tomorrow: sanding!