Hello all!

Well I managed to get my hand on one of these WnW Bristol kits. It looks amazing!! I can’t wait to get going on it. Any hints or tricks to building “string bags”? This will be my first WW1 and first WnW kit!

Hints or tips for Stringbags? Probably too many hints or tips to mention here... I'd really recommend one of the WnW build guides advertised on thier web site. In particular the one with the Gotha on the cover. Short of that, I'd follow the WnW instructions as closely as possible. I have this kit as well, along with several other WnW kits. I make sure I'm thouroghly familiar with the instructions before I remove any parts form the sprues, and often make notes and annotations for various steps (especially the color call outs), right on the instruction sheet. I'd decide ahead of time which marking scheme you want to build, as the steps are keyed to each profile/color scheme, and there may be parts that are used/unused depending on the scheme. These early WnW kits (I think this was the third or fourth kit released) had very close tolerances-- so close that a coat of primer or paint interfered with the fit of parts in the cockpit, so you may need to remove paint from joining surfaces. Take plenty of time when rigging your model, the primary reason first time WWI modelers get discouraged is usually the rigging. The best way to tackle the rigging is to break it up into smaller sessions, rather than trying to do all the rigging at once. I recommend EZ line from Berkshire industries, (a model RR supplier in NJ) and available on the WnW website. If you take your time and follow the instructions, you'll be awarded with an outstanding model experience. Here's a link to a WnW Bristol F2B over on Large Scale Planes, built by James Croasdale, a fellow Canadian.
http://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=997

And another by Dirk Polchow over on Hyperscale:

http://hyperscale.com/2010/galleries/f2b32dp_1.htm

Finally, here's a link to Des Delatorre's excellent WWI modeling site -- WWIaircraft models.com-- there's no F2B on his site, but Des has some excellent step by step instructions for building and rigging WWI aircraft models.

https://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Then of course, you have lots of Stringbag modelers here on Aeroscale to help too!

VR, Russ

Thank you Sir! Looking forward to starting this kit. Maybe I will post pictures as I go along....

Hi Chris

I'm looking forward to your Brisfit, because I have the post-war version lined up to tackle one day. For a build reference, you should also check out Lance Carroll's article here on Aeroscale:

https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/features/5158

All the best

Rowan

Thank you for the links and info gentlemen! The more I read about this kit the more nervous I'm getting about the struts for the lower wing!

Hello all,

I managed to get a start on the Bristol. I made my own eyelets out of copper wire and added some of the frame work on the inside. Then added rigging wires made from stretched sprue. I know you won’t be able to see most of it when the model is complete...but I know its in there!

Chris, Nice job! Just be careful of the clearances within the fuselage-- these early WnW kits were known for A very tight fit-- and a layer of paint was known to sometimes interfere with the kits fit.
VR, Russ

Thank you for the comments! I remembering you mentioning possible fit issues after painting.

Hi Chris

That added structure and rigging looks fantastic.

I've got to ask, though - isn't there a danger of damaging the rigging as you paint the interior?

All the best

Rowan

Hello Merlin,

There is a danger...but CDL colour will be airbrushed on and the wood grain painting will be done after. If I do knock them off I can just recluse them. But thinking about it now....I might just remove them.

Also here is a small update.........

I started to do the “wood grain” in the cockpit area with oil paints.....

Hi Chris

That's a fantastic wood-grain - I thought it was a full-sized reference shot at first glance!

All the best

Rowan

Me too!-- I thought I was looking at a museum aircraft being restored at first--great work!
VR, Russ

Thank you guys!

I’m letting things sit for a week or so so the oils have a chance to dry. Then I’ll coat them with a mixture of clear orange and clear yellow to give them a “varnished” look. The rest of the exposed wood.. i.e. struts and such will get the same treatment.

Chris,
A technique to speed up the drying time of oils that's worked for me in the past is to clear coat the oil painted surface with a couple of light coats of Testor's Dullcoat (I prefer spraying Dullcoat thinned with Testor's Thinner or Lacquer thinner through an airbrush for better control). Dullcoat is lacquer based, and dries rapidly, which also dries the Linseed oil out of the oil paint rapidly. The oil painted surface is then ready for the clear orange overcoat within minutes that way. But, looking at your incredible work so far, I'd say practice the technique first on some scrap plastic.
VR, Russ

Hello all,

Small update. I haven’t had much time to work on the Bristol. But I did manage to get some time today. I added EZ Line to the landing gear to represent the bungee cord that is wrapped around the axle and struts.....

Afternoon guys,


Small update. I got the wing struts all taped up. Hoping to put the decals on them tomorrow

Looks good!
Yes get rid of all paint on mating surfaces , if you don't it will add up and get ugly real quick.
Thanks for posting the link to my model. I cant really remember any pit falls , its one of the best of WNW 's. I'll watch as you go.

Hello all,

Wing struts are all done. I got the decals on last night and put the second and final coat of “varnish” on this evening.

Your Plywood is AMAZING.

Oils or acrylics ?

Captn Tommy

Hello Tommy,

It is all done oil colours. This was the first time I have tried wood grain.

Hello all!

Small updated. I managed to get the wing and tail preshading done over the past few days.....

Hello everyone!

I mixed up the PCL 10 colour. Olive drab, Khaki drab and a small amount of NATO brown. Almost didn’t notice that the colour wraps around the edges of the wings and tail. Saw it at the last moment of masking

Hello everyone!

I haven’t had much time for the Bristol. But what time I have had....has been productive....the cockpit rigging is done!

This is looking great. I cant get over that wood you did. I hope you get to do some more work soon.