1:32 scale Ansaldo A.1 'Balilla'

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The basic fuselage is now complete, apart from the windscreen and flying wire anchor points.
The final display will be the aircraft undergoing engine maintenance, so the engine front twin cowl panel will be removed.
I’ve added the coolant/vent pipe from the rear of the radiator header tank, made from 0.5 mm tube.
Two bracing lines were fitted between the forward fuselage cabane struts and an inverted tubular ‘V’ frame, which was attached to the insides of the fuselage and over the top of the engine camshaft. 
This was made from formed 0.8 mm diameter tube with ’GasPatch’ resin 1:48th anchor points.
A tubular retaining frame was fitted over the inverted ‘V’ frame and attached to the inside of the fuselage sides.
This was made from annealed 0.375 mm diameter copper wire.
I’ve changed the aircraft serial number by replacing the number 3 with the number 5.
The supplied decal for the particular aircraft is 16538.
However is seems the only ‘Balilla’ aircraft serial numbers recorded for No:70a Squadriglia were 16550, 16555, 16556 and 16558.
Therefore my assumption is that this aircraft serial number was probably 16558, not 16538.
Also this aircraft had two light coloured bar markings on the left of the turtle decal, just behind the cockpit.
The exact colour of these bands is not known or if they were repeated on the other side of the turtle deck.

 

Now onto the undercarriage before starting on the wings and rigging preparation,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LSP_Kevin]

That looks brilliant, Mike!

 

Kev

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Some modellers think photo-etch 'is your friend'   :eek2:
Here are the wing and strut rigging attachments plus the aileron control levers.
All are photo-etch and with self-aligning 'hinged' anchor plates for attaching the rigging lines.

 

Mike

 

[LSP_Kevin]

It's definitely not my friend!

 

Kev

[geedubelyer]

You know when someone builds a model that looks so good you just want one in your cabinet? This is one of those!

 

What a beautiful model Mike. It just keeps getting better and better. 

 

Cheers.

[Troy Molitor]

Looks daunting but your skill set will get this done.   Love the updates Mike.  

 

Troy 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I've finally applied all of the required decals.
Accurate cutting out of the decals is necessary for the wing coverings and alignment of edges is necessary.
Slight overhang of dried decal was gently sanded away.
Weather, although slight, was done using 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt fine clay wash, sealed with 'Alclad' Semi-Matte lacquer.

 

Now it's onto fitting the photo-etch rigging anchors before pre-rigging is carried out.

 

Mike

 

 

[Troy Molitor]

Wow.  Just love all your updates Mike.  The subjects always are pleasing to the eye but your techniques are cracking to see in action.     

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
An example of pre-rigging a twin flying wire anchor for the lower wing roots.
A combination of 0.08 mm and 0.15 mm diameter mono-filament and 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm blackened brass tubes.
All together there will be sixteen various types of hinged rigging anchors to pre-rig before the wings are fitted,

 

Mike

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Well that's the pre-rigging of the anchor points done now.

 

Mike

 

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Just a few updates.
The lower wings with the twin flying wire anchors are fitted.
Also two 'plates' have been made from spare photo-etch and fitted to the wing roots.
These plates may have been step plates or access covers to the rigging anchors.
I've assembled the landing gear (wheels only test fitted), but its yet to be weathered etc.
The 'bungee' suspension cord is EZ white (heavy) line and bracing wires added but not yet tightened.
I've added between the front and rear struts the axle restraining cables, made from 0.4 mm annealed copper wire.

 

Mike

 

 

 

[geedubelyer]

 

Crikey! 

 

It's difficult to imagine how challenging it must have been threading the line through those tiny lengths of micro tubing. 

 

What an inspirational build. 

 

Everything is so crisp and clean. 

 

Superb Mike, keep it up. 

 

 

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Unfortunately at this stage of the build I've realised that two of the four interplane struts have no reinforcing rods, which are needed as otherwise the resin strut will bend and break easily.
Normally I would make replacement struts from brass tube, but the end fittings of these struts are square in section, which would be difficult to replicate.
The customer service from Richard at 'Aviattic' is second to none so I'm hoping he'll be able to find replacements for me. 
While I'm waiting for replacement struts I've started on the figures.

The pilot figure is the ‘Copper State Models’ Italian flying ace (F32-030).
The mechanic is the ‘Model Kasten’ mechanic from Set B., as is the ladder.
I've altered the mechanic figure from German to a more generic figure and replaced the head with head H1 from the ‘Hornet’ bare heads-mature faces (HH/8) set.
I may reshape the head as it seems rather tall?
To stop the figure from falling off the ladder, I've pinned the right arm into the ladder to plank.

 

Mike

 

 

Edited January 19, 2021 by sandbagger

[geedubelyer]

9 hours ago, sandbagger said:

I may reshape the head as it seems rather tall?
 

Mike

 

A horse walks into a bar. The barman asks..."Why the long face?" 

 

The figure looks ok on my monitor Mike. The Hornet heads are renowned for being characterful and realistic. Should look great when painted. 

[sandbagger]

14 hours ago, geedubelyer said:

 

A horse walks into a bar. The barman asks..."Why the long face?" 

 

The figure looks ok on my monitor Mike. The Hornet heads are renowned for being characterful and realistic. Should look great when painted. 

Yeah initially it looked strange, but after priming it looks better.

My original photo showed the Hornet head on the Model Kasten figure and they were different in colour.

That and the angle I took that photo made the head look stranger than it does after priming,

 

Mike