SPA Modeler

I agree with Carlos, I love cars of that era too! I'm thoroughly enjoying this Thread, keep up the brilliant work Bruce!

Hi John! Thanks so much for your response. I sincerely sincerely sincerely appreciate your ideas, support, advice. What a great photo!

The lower surface color is typically called turquoise and I did add light blue to the RLM 65 to create a custom shade with a bit more to it. The firewall/engine is a rough surface. I could take it down and polish it. I accentuated the texture by splattering darker paint on it. I needed a day off from this project so I took it. Most of the time I think my work is at best marginal with occasional flashes of decency. One thing I learned well from you was to go to color coat as quickly as possible. Having many layers tends to increase the chance of spoiling the finish. The engine work is fine. And I like the paint on canvas effects so far. Hopefully by adding both the chin plate and lower wing brace as well as a few details (stirrups and grab holds) the lower fuselage will become acceptable. At the moment I see only flaws and bad decisions. The T shape is much too deep. I should fill it in, but I grew tired of trying to come up with “laces” to hold the pieces of canvas together at the seam. I could not lick it (I tried glue and string first).

One of my resource photos for wear and tear:

Duke Maddog wrote:I agree with Carlos, I love cars of that era too! I'm thoroughly enjoying this Thread, keep up the brilliant work Bruce!

Duke! You are too kind. I sincerely appreciate your presence and encouragement.

Keep it going Bruce! I know the feeling of not being happy with the results of my work. Lots of effort and not much to show for it. When I feel that way, I usually leave that part and work on something else. Usually, when I come back to it, I'm in a more reasonable mindset and I might think hey, it looks better than I thought. I guess the main point is that I know that I don't do good work when I'm frustrated or in a negative mindset so it is best for me to leave and return when I feel more positive.

Thanks, John. Your words mean a lot to me. I just received a smashed corner box but otherwise unharmed kit set of a WNW Sopwith Camel. These kits are going for astronomical prices online!

Congrats on getting the WNW Camel, Bruce! And thanks for all the pictures you've sleuthed up and posted.

On the experience I've had, which includes the WNW DH9A and some 1/48 Eduard WW I airplanes, 1/32 is the way to go. I have most of the old Revell 1/72 WW I airplanes, and there will be no rigging on them whenever I get to them. I have a few around built in the 60's and they've always satisfied me just fine without rigging.

I've started the rigging on the SE 5, so far just the wires on the cabane struts, although I predrilled most of the holes before adding the top wing. There will be lots of cleanup when all the wires are in. I'm using E Z Line and CA.

I clearly have too many models under way right now, project boxes all over the place. But, I'm so impatient that the only way I seem to be able to not rush the finish of a model is to have others to work on while paint or glue dries. Well, I could mow the lawn...

Bruce that is an excellent detail shot. You’d never see something like that on a museum aircraft. And congrats on getting the WnW Camel! I can only imagine the costs for any of their kits right now. And that will only get worse as they become more scarce over time.

John, your SE.5 is progressing nicely! I’m just about at the point of being able to add the struts and upper wings.

Well today ended up being a case of going ahead three stages instead of the planned two.

First up I added the metal tubing for the fuel tanks



Then I had intended to add only the struts into place on the lower wing and fuselage, and I sure proper positioning using the top wing. But that wasn’t working as intended, so I ended up gluing the top wing in position as well. So the wings are in place, just a bit sooner than intended






Next up, adding the landing gear, tail skid, and prop...

Looking good, Carlos. I like to do the wing rigging before adding the landing gear, on WW I stuff they are always easy to damage during handling. But you may not be as clumsy as me. Here's where I am today, right wing almost all rigged, two more wires to go.

Thanks John. Rigging before adding the landing gear sounds like a good idea. At least most of the rigging. Your SE.5 is looking good!

Nice work guys!