Hi all,
I'm still waiting for a couple of things to arrive for the Hansa-Brandenburg W.12 model.
Therefore I'm making a start on another model, this time the Bristol F.2b 'Biff' or 'Brisfit' as it was commonly called.

This model will represents represents Bristol F.2b, Serial No. A-7194 of No.111 Squadron RFC, Deir-el-Belah, Palestine during 1917.

This particular Bristol F.2b, Serial No. A-7194 (along with 7190 and 7198) was delivered on the 25th of August to No.111 Squadron (RFC).
No.111 Squadron (RFC) was formed on the 1st of August 1917 at Deir-el-Belah, Palestine and was commanded by Major Shekleton.
The Squadron was formed from aircraft of No.14 and often escorted No.1 Squadron (AFC) on their missions.
During it time with No.111 Squadron (RFC), A-7149 was noted as having engaged the enemy on at least two occasions:

8th of October 1917 - 2nd Lt. R.C Steele (Canada) and Lt. John J Lloyd-Williams drove down the Albatros D.II, Serial No.636/14 of Oblt. Dittmar of Fab300.
This was the first German aircraft captured in Egypt. Pilot Steel was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

15th of October 1917 - 2nd Lt. R.C Steele (Canada) and Lt. John J Lloyd-Williams destroyed an Albatross D.III.
Initially the enemy pilot indicated he was surrendering, but then tried to make for his lines and had his wing shot off.

The squadron was always intended to be a single seat fighter unit.
In January 1918 the squadron handed over its Bristol F.2b aircraft to No.1 Squadron (AFC) after being equipped with the SE5a fighters.

No.1 Squadron (AFC) operated with No.111 Squadron (RFC) and later No.142 Squadron (RFC) as part of the 40th (Army) Wing (RFC).
The wing formed part of the Palestine Brigade (RFC), the other part of the Brigade was formed by 5th (Corps) Wing (RFC), comprised of No.14 and No.113 Squadrons (RFC).

Bristol F.2b, Serial No. A-7194 was transferred from No.111 Squadron (RFC) via Kantara to No.1 Squadron (AFC) on the 11th of January 1918.
During its time with No.1 Squadron (AFC) it flew regular missions with different crews through February and March, before crashing on take-off on March the 28th.

NOTE: The change in the aircraft colour scheme and style of the serial number when serving with No.1 Squadron (AFC).

Mike

No.111 Squadron (RFC) in 1917.






No.1 Squadron (AFC) in 1918.

Hi all,
Here's the basic Rolls Royce 'Falcon' V12 in-line engine.
It still needs additions, such as ignition leads, controls and pipes and weathering,

Mike

I was a long-time simmer before I realized the bottom wing doesn't touch the fuselage. Looking forward to this build!

Hi Rick,
Yes not a usual design feature.
By the way, I'm loving the 'Riiiick Rawliiiings' videoes

Mike

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I am very envious of your model making skills so if I can return even a small amount of the joy I get from seeing your builds, I would be glad!

Hi all,
The basic Rolls-Royce 'Falcon' V12 engine is complete.
There are other parts that can only be fitted once the engine has been installed in the fuselage.
I've added representations of carburetor/magneto controls and fuel supply/drain pipes.
Although the rear of the engine will hardly be visible once installed.
I've also added oil pipes, spark plugs and ignition leads.

All with a combination of:
0.2 and 0.3 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube (controls, spark plugs)
0.3 and 0.5 mm diameter Brass tube (fuel supply/drain pipes)
0.4 mm diameter flexible tube (black) (oil pipes)
Steel coloured silk thread (ignition leads).

Weathered with oil paint and enamel wash.

Mike

Amazing! That whole piece is like, what, two inches long?

Hi Rick,
Actually 1 3/4" long

Mike

That's quite the detail for such a small model.

I'll second Rick's sentiments, Mike, seeing your builds is one of the main reasons I check the forums on any regular basis. Your attention to detail is genuinely awe inspiring.

Cheers!

I'll second CaptSopwith's seconding of my comments!

Hi all,
The cockpit is nearly completed.
The pilots seat is a replacement from 'Gaspatch'.
I've added the control cables for the ailerons, rudder and tail plane incidence control.
The elevator cables are external, so not in the cockpit as such.
Also I've added the trigger cable on the control column for the pilots Vickers machine gun.
Finally I added control rods from the pilots throttle quadrant and the radiator shutters control.
Weather was done using 'Flory Models' wash (Grime).

The cockpit assembly is now fitted into the closed up fuselage.
However I do have a problem to solve.
I got distracted, so unfortunately, I fitted the cockpit into the fuselage without any bracing wires fitted.
I now have to try and fit them all through the cockpit opening in the fuselage.
It happens,

Mike

Hi all,
I've added the cockpit bracing wires.
These are 0.2 mm diameter Nickel-Silver rod.
Each was cut to the required length then secured in position using CA adhesive,

Mike

Beautiful work! Loving the wicker basket seat.

Hi all,
Photographs of this particular aircraft show what seems to be an ‘in-field’ modification to the two upper access panels over the engine
The blister on each panel was needed to clear the panel from the engine upper coolant pipes.
On this aircraft the blisters were cut away in order to provide an opening for, I assume, additional engine cooling, as the aircraft operated in the warmer climate of Palestine.
Also the upper right access panel will be displayed open and therefore the two upper panels need to be modified accordingly.
It's not clear if all of the aircraft in this squadron had the in-field modification carried out on the two upper access panels over the engine.

Mike

Wow! Going great!

Mike, will you have a tutorial on weaving the basket seat? Your work is over the top mate!

Wow, amazing work as always!

Hi all,
The basic modification to the engine access panels, although not yet finished.
The upper access panels have had their blisters removed.
Also, the panel locating tabs were removed and their locating recesses filled.
These panels were secured together with an added 0.5 mm diameter Brass rod to represent the centre hinge.
The three lower panels have had their air intake scoops reduced in thickness to look more in-scale.

Mike

Looking really impressive Mike. Well done so far.

Hi all,
The basic decal and fuselage painting are done.
I used ‘Aviattic’ Bleached Clear Doped Linen (ATT32044) for the undersides.
The Off White Linen (ATT32241) for top surfaces and the rest PC10 Medium Linen (ATT32090).
All applied on a gloss white base coat.
The painted forward fuselage and panels were airbrushed with 'Hataka' lacquer paint and mixed to match the PC10 decal colour.
'Hataka’ black top paint Vert Fonce (C124) with Medium Green (CO19) to a ration of 50/50 and thinned with approximately 35% ‘Mr. Colour’ self levelling thinner 400.
The white serial number was created using cut masks from de-tacked 'Tamiya' masking sheet.

Still a bit more to do for weathering and detail painting before construction continues,

Mike

Nice! I'll have to admit I only glanced at the box and thought it was dark grey, but that green looks great! I feel like if the panel stitching wasn't molded into the plastic, you would find a way to actually stitch the canvas pieces together!

Hi all,
Just the basic figures assembled for the model.

‘Kellerkind’ RFC mechanic middle East (54/107),
‘Copper State Models’ Aussie Digger (F32-052),
‘Master Box’ Camel and rider from box set (MB3564).

I used a 'Pyrogravure' (essentially a very small soldering iron) to heat and form the fur on the camels and texture for the saddle blankets and tassels.

Mike

Hi all,
Here's the basic fuselage.
The linen effect decals were airbrushed with a tint of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) with a few drops of 'Tamiya' Desert Yellow (XF59).
Additional weathering was applied using 'Flory Models' Sand and Dark Dirt clay wash.
Also 'AK Interactive' Kerosene (AK2039) and Oil (AK2019) washes around filler caps etc.
The engine upper access panels are temporarily located for the photographs,

Mike

Very nice! But I'm afraid...I do have to ask...that...that isn't a Sopwith camel, is it?

Hi Rick,
The header to this post details the history of this particular aircraft.
It's a Bristol F.2b 'Biff' or 'Brisfit' as it was known,

Mike

Hi all,
Here's the basic fuselage, wings etc weathered.
I wanted to keep the weathering subtle, given this aircraft was operating in Palestine, not the Western Front.
The linen effect decals were airbrushed with a tint of 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) with a few drops of 'Tamiya' Desert Yellow (XF59).
I've used 'AK Interactive' weather pencils Sand (10009) and Smoke (10003) to very lightly highlight around the fuselage stitching and along rib tapes.

Mike

This guy!

Waaaahhhh - missed the link

Mike:

Hi all,
The propeller and observers Lewis machine guns.
The 'Proper Plane' propeller has 'Tamiya' Buff (XF55) linen wrapping at the blade tips.
'Tamiya' Weather Master Set A (Sand) was sponged lightly along the curved leading edges of the blades (to represent sand erosion).
The lift cords for the twin Lewis machine gun mount were made from silk thread,

Mike

Hi all,
A couple of additions to the model.

The filler on the top of the fuselage, forward from the pilots cockpit, had a copper pipe fitted in the neck of the filler.
That pipe was routed towards and down through the fuselage and into the cockpit.
Holes of 0.4 mm diameter were drilled into the filler neck and through the fuselage.
Annealed copper wire of 0.28 mm diameter was bent to shape and secured in the holes with thin CA adhesive.





The radiator shutters were controlled by the pilot, using a lever inside the cockpit, routed through the side of the fuselage to a bell-crank.
This was connected to the operating bell-crank located on the right side of the radiator cowl.
The two levers were connected by two crossed cables.







Mike

Amazing!

Hi Mike

I noticed in the photo that the copper pipe enters the fuselage forward of the three rivets strip, but in your model it enters aft of the three rivets strip. Was this intentional?


Best Regards

Hi Rob,
Yes it was as the instrument panel bulkhead is directly under the correct point.
I wanted to avoid snagging the drill and breaking it in the fuselage.
Well spotted though

Mike

Oh, I just considered it a "Field Mod"! The boys are always finding improvements 😁

Hi all,
I've rigged the following flight controls cables and bracing wires:
Twin rudder cables, twin elevator control cables, single tail plane adjuster cables, upper fin bracing wires and tail plane bracing wires.
Materials used were:
‘GasPatch’ Elite Accessories metal turnbuckles Type C (1:48th scale).
'‘Stroft GTM’ Mono-Filament 0.08 mm diameter line.
'MFH’ 0.4 mm diameter Clear tube (P-957).

Now it's onto more construction work,

Mike

Mike, I have a question. You may have answered this before but I can't remember. How do you set the tension on the cable monofilament? Do you use some heat?

The model is looking great!

Best Regards

Hi Rob,
If required, I use the heat from a small electric soldering iron.
Move the heat along and close to the line, keeping it moving all the time.
Of course not touching the line or the model!!

Mike

Hi all,
I've rigged the crossed bracing wires for the landing gear and between the wing and fuselage.
Materials used were:
‘Steelon ’ mono-filament of 0.12 mm diameter line.
'Model Factory Hiro’ 0.4 mm diameter Clear tube (P-957).

Mike

Hi all,
I've added the fuel tank pressure pipe from the 'Rotherham' wind driven pump.
The pipe is 0.275 mm diameter Copper wire (annealed),

Mike

Hi all,
Construction so far.
Now it's onto the pre-rigging stage before fitting the upper wing,

Mike

*

Hi all,
Upper wing fitted and pre-rigged.
In total there are:
6 cabane strut bracing wires
2 drag wires
8 incidence wires
8 landing wires
16 flying wires (8 pairs).
Pre-rigged using 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament and 'Gaspatch' 1:48th scale Brutish late turnbuckles (for streamlined wires).

Now it's onto final rigging to the lower wings before adding the aileron control cables,

Mike

Fun Fact: in WOFF, this is almost exactly how my Brisfits look at the end of any given mission...

Hi all,
The wing rigging is complete.
Includes the:
Twin flying wires (8 pairs)
Single landing wires (8)
Interplane strut incidence wires (8)
Drag wires (2)
Cabane strut bracing wires (6)
Aileron control cables (2).
Created with 0.08 and 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament, 'Gaspatch' 1:48th scale metal turnbuckles (Type C) and resin streamlined wire end fittings.

Now onto fitting and rigging the ailerons,

Mike

Excellent work. The Bristol F2B was always one of my favorite WW1 aircraft.

Hi all,
Aileron control cables added.
Materials used were:
‘Stroft GTM ’ mono-filament of 0.08 mm diameter line.
'Model Factory Hiro’ (MFH) 0.4 mm diameter Clear tube (P-957).

Mike

Hi all,
The final bits fitted, Engine exhaust pipes, propeller and observers Lewis machine guns.
So the aircraft model is done.
Now it's onto the figures and display base,

Mike

Superb. You could easily photograph these in a way where people would say "That's a real plane!"

I hope you have a grandson or two that get to visit you and your creations. If I walked into your man cave when I was a ten year old I'd have been star struck. Maybe some Boy Scouts over for a visit. Seems a shame for these not to be seen by more folks, particularly younger ones. Would make a wonderful coffee table book for us old coots.

Hi Hentzau,
I have two grandson's, one 17 and the other 21.
Too interested in girls these days.

Mike

Ah, another visit to the Sandbagger Museum of WW1 aeronautical!

Very nice indeed Sir! Still a lot of Wingnut kits on the top shelf I see!

Hi Rob,
Yes and others - 'Lukgraph', 'Aviattic', 'Copper State' and 'Eduard'.
I should live long enough

Mike

Your shelving choice seems so sterile compared with your subject matter. I can picture a hinged door with an oval cut out for each scene, and then a suitable airfield painting wrapped around behind each aircraft. Could probably still keep them in their display boxes. I guess the term is shadow box diorama. I wonder if you might ever do a crash scene with an aircraft that is otherwise poorly fitted body wise. I can't wait to see these latest figures painted. Love that there's going to be a camel. Next Lafayette aircraft should have a lion cub or two. Regards!

Hentzau;

In reference to your comment. He has done several camels already.

Best Regards

Hi Rob,
I think he meant four legged, not two wheeled

Mike

😳

Hi all,
The figures are now done.
The two mechanic figures were from 'Kellerkind' (54107) and 'Copper State Models' (F32-052).
The Camel and rider were from the 'Master Box' Commonwealth AFV Crew (S3564).
The decorations on the camels saddle cloth were created from the 'Xtradecal' White parallel stripes (XPS2) decal set.
The decorations on the camels breast strap were created from:
'Xtradecal' White parallel stripes (XPS2) decal set
Cut from scrap lozenge decal from a 'Wingnut Wings' Fokker D.VII kit.
The harness rope is copper wire painted with 'Tamiya' Dark Yellow (XF60) then dusted with dark earth pigment,,

Mike

Hi all,
Bristol F.2b, Serial No. A-7194 of No.111 Squadron RFC, Deir-el-Belah, Palestine during 1917.

Thanks for your comments and support throughout this build,

Mike

Awesome work Mike, and great composition too!

Well you did it again, another fantastic model! Your work is incredible, and great photos.!

Another spectacular build. Appreciate the originality of the desert setting, it added another dimension to your collection.

So Mike, what are the visitation hours to the "Sandbagger Museum" and what is the admittance fee? 😊

Good way to subsidize your hobby and your web site.

Best Regards and keep safe!

Wow, each new build I'm like "this is my favorite", and then you build the next one. If ten year old me had a catalog of Sandbagger builds he'd have never even opened his Tamiya catalog.

Holy cow! This just rolled through my YouTube feed and I spotted a familiar face at :33

https://youtu.be/dwrIf_5gEEM?si=WJxl6wBRA-ilwOFi

Hi Rick,
Yes, that's when I think A7194 was operating with No.111 Squadron RFC in 1917.
Tail and wings were a different colour scheme and it had a propeller spinner,

Mike

No.1 Squadron (AFC) 1918



No.111 Squadron (RFC) in 1917.