Wacky Russian triplane (with legs and a bit o' color)

If only that were true....

I'll be the first to admit I have a bit of a temper, and more than once a model has been on the receiving end of it.  My Avro 504 a while back was a recent vicitm.  Unfortunately, it's claimed another plane.

Yup, you guessed it.    This little Russian plane is now just a pile of little plastic fragments.

It was a combination of things.  A bottom wing that I put WAY too much time into only to come out terrible, wing struts that were too thick, a nasty orange peel after a night wasted painting, and a snapped wing all added up to total model destruction.

No, I don't plan to rebuild.

No, I don't plan to build another.  Not now.  Not for a while.  Perhaps not ever.

I really hate to do this to you guys, and the fact that this is the second build I've destroyed like this is simply unacceptable.  I apologize. 

I think it's time to take a break.  Sorry guys, but unfortunately, this build is over.

I was finally able to crack out the airbrush and lay down the main colors for this beast.  Along with that I added a few of the major struts and, after painting, built up a respectable undercarriage.

The plane is, alas, not a complete scratchbuild.  The wheels, prop, and engine are scavanged from the same Avro 504 the cowl came from. 

Here's a mockup of the next wing in it's proper position.

Imagine the third wing just ahead of the prop, the same distance from the center as the rear one.

This little beasty is definitely coming along!

Mmm.... who knows?  Perhaps it's the Batplane, version 1.0?

"QUICK!  To the Batplane!" 

Okay, tiny update.  I bowed to the fates and decided to scavange the engine parts from an Avro 504 kit.  I plan to use the prop, engine, cowling, and wheels from the Airfix kit.  So far I only have the cowling attached, as everything else is stuff I need to add after painting.

Oh yeah, I primed it too.  

I just need to add one or two minor details, and then it's off to the paint shop.  Then I have to finish two more wings, paint them, and then begin major assembley.  Man this is such a backwards plane.... 

Hey I was looking at your pics of the real thing. maybe those truss wires should be a piece of wire that you bend in a zig zag and glue on the surface, rather than go thru?

Also, if you could find the Airfix Avro 504 it would yield the engine, cowl, propeller and probably cockpit bits. It would still be an ambitious scratchbuild.

Ambitious as get out dude.

Okay, she's a bit farther along now:

Since last time I've added a control panel, a fairing over it up front, I backed off the rear of the cockpit, and oh yeah, added wings.

I think they are pretty close to scale tickness, but are VERY flimsy.  This is one of those builds when rigging will actually help keep the model rigid.  Well, I hope so, anyway.

The control panel was simplicity itself- a piece of plastic painted black was covered with a piece of paper bag with dial holes cut out of it.  Simple, and the result is suprisingly realistic.

Next up?  Well, its a biggie.  I need to start on the engine.  And because I have nothing to scavange from, it's another "start from scratch" assembly.

Ah, well.  At least is looks like an airplane now.....