1:32nd scale Caudron G.3 (Anzani engine)

[sandbagger]

6 hours ago, scvrobeson said:

Wonderful progress Mike! How are the Proper Plane turnbuckles? I saw that they're on the market now, but I haven't tested them.

 

 

Matt 

Hi Matt,

The wings and tail will be all PP turnbuckles so I'll let you know.

The few I've used so far seem good,

 

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The inboard twin flying wires are rigged.
Also the inboard single landing wires.
Both using 0.12 mm mono-filament and blackened 0.5 mm diameter tube.
The turnbuckles are Proper Plane resin 1:32nd scale Eye End type (RD-018),

 

Mike

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
More final completed.
Forward brace wires.
Inboard incidence wires.
Outer flying wires.
Outer landing wires,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

[scvrobeson]

Fantastic progress on the rigging. Every time I look at my Caudron in the stash, the rigging looks like a daunting project. You make it look manageable and wonderful.

 

 

 

Matt 

[Mal_Belford]

@sandbagger

You make this look easy...

 

and must say looks fantastic, love that wiring and details...yaih.

 

looking at all them details.

 

got "Lego" level ahead of me on my Arado 196 wiring on em floaters compared to yours...so by looking at yours try to pick up tips....never done that before.

 

 

Edited July 15, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
More wing rigging completed.
Outer interplane strut incidence wires.
Outer lift strut incidence wires.
Outer lift strut bracing wires.
Twin wing warp control cables.
Single wing warp control cable.
Lower to upper wing bracing wires.

 

Now the basic wing rigging is finished, it's onto assembly again.
I need to fit the two tail booms and tailplane before I can complete the rigging on those components,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
A bit more progress.
The tail booms and bracing struts are fitted.
The three different bracing wire sets for the lower wing to tail booms has also been completed.
The bracing wires from the lower wing back to the tail booms will be final rigged later, once the tail unit if fitted.

 

So now it's onto assembly of the tail unit,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Front end on its wheels,

 

Mike

 

[LSP_Kevin]

Intimidatingly good, Mike!

 

Kev

[Mal_Belford]

Yeah...i agree with Kev.

 

This build thread contains alot, build, painting, rigging, very nice weathering....and much more.

 

I like it very very much..

Edited July 18, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[scvrobeson]

It's looking spectacular Mike

 

 

Matt 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The tailplane of this aircraft could be adjusted to either increase or decrease the angle of attack (AOA) of the tail unit.
Lifting the tailplane leading edge increased the AOA and lowering decreased the AOA.
Bracing struts were fitted between the tops of the king posts on the tail booms and the fins and also between the fins.
As the fin/rudder assemblies were fixed to the tailplane, if the AOA of the tailplane was altered, it meant the fin/rudders would move up or down with the tailplane.
Although the centre strut between the fins could be fixed in position, the outer struts attached between the fixed king posts and fins must have been able to move with the change in tailplane AOA.
With the tailplane AOA in the neutral position, the three struts would most likely be parallel to the tailplane when viewed from above.
If the AOA was increased the fins and therefore the outer struts would move up and rearwards.
If the AOA was decreased the fins and therefore the outer struts would move down and forwards.

 

My assumption therefore is that the end fittings of the outer struts must have been able to pivot to allow the struts to move as required.

 

This is all conjecture, but based on the fact that I used the optional photo-etch adjuster brackets and have the tailplane secured in the brackets at a decreased AOA (tailplane tilted slightly downwards).
This means that the fin end of the outer struts are slightly forwards when viewed from above.
As the distance between the king posts and fins is slightly increased, the kit supplied struts do not fully span the gap between them.

 

To avoid any problems for those who have not yet built their Caudron, I would advise having the tailplane AOA fixed in the neutral (mid) position to allow the struts to fit correctly and be parallel to the tailplane.

 

Mike

 

Edited July 21, 2025 by sandbagger

[scvrobeson]

Great reference shots. Where are those from Mike? Thanks for the explanation on the tail surfaces.

 

 

Matt 

[sandbagger]

On 7/21/2025 at 3:30 AM, scvrobeson said:

Great reference shots. Where are those from Mike? Thanks for the explanation on the tail surfaces.

 

 

Matt 

Hi Matt,

They're from the Caudron G.III at the RAF Museum in Hendon, London, England.

I used them as guidance as they're is no full rigging information that I could find,

 

Mike

[scvrobeson]

I've run into the same exact issue, so I'll have to follow your lead and go look at the RAF Museum for pictures. Appreciate the help.

 

 

Matt