THE BRISTOL FIGHTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 260, 2 November 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE BRISTOL FIGHTER.

SCALE MODEL OF FAMOUS AEROPLANE. I have been quite surprised at the number of requests for plans of old wartime lighting ships recently. We have had the SES, the SPAD, the Nieuport and a number of others, so to round out the set here are plans of the Bristol Fighter. The leading dimensions are as follow: • Span, 39ft 3in; chord, oft Oin; gap, sft Gin; length, 25ft Bill; height, 10ft lin. Not only did the old Bristol Fighter do yeoman service on the Western Front from 1910 onwards, but for years after it was the service

machine for tlie North-West Frontier (riidJii). It has only of late years been replaced, being in commission for 17 years—a great record. Surely this "bus" is interesting enough to make the model builder desire a replica. It you follow, out the lines given in the diagram you will be able to make a very realistic little balea solid scale model. To begin, prick through the plan on to a suitable sized piece of balsa wood and then carve out the rough rectangular shape. Smooth up with 4 —o sandpaper and so proceed with oach serrate part. Colour and polish each part to a shiny eggshell finish by giving several coatings of coloured dope, first polishing with the lino sandpaper between coats. The more work you put into this part of it the hotter the finished model will look. I Wilt let out a secret here. The prizewinners at the various shows give a model 10 to 13 coats of dope. Thin coats they are, to be sure, and polished right oil' between, so that it takes about 10 to get the grain of the balsa filled. However, there is now a new preparation which I have used, called balsa grain filler. One application of this material will fill up,the grain very well and will harden so that a good polish can he

obtained afterwards. I always feel sorry when I see a model, otherwise well made, but spoilt because it is possible to see not only the graining of the wood plainly but often the original saw marks. You know that a piece of wood will look quite smooth until you polish it and then up will come all the hills and hollows in the world. The better the polish the better workmanship you must put under it. A dull finish often hides bad workmanship. Colour in the fuselage dark green, under sides of wings, tail and fuselage cream, other fittings to your fancy. The small drawing will help you ■with the details and I fancy that many of you will be pleased to have this little Bristol Fighter in your 'drome. Assemble the model, after all parts are finished, by pinning and cementing (remove pins after and bo careful that the holes don't show) and see that all

is true and square. I have prepared a kitset of the materials necessary to build this model, complete with colours, etc., which you may have by sending a postal note for 1/0 addressed to Propeller, care of the "Auckland Star."

T.W., Thames—The centreboard case is made just a neat lit l'or tlic tin on tlie /-footer. Joints must be made •watertight ■>y putting in red lead and nailing up well. S.StiC. Wellington—Yes, tlie gliding: movement is progressing: in Auckland. The club here has a /ogling primary, Jmilt by the members, and a new all-steel Waco glider. Its gliding angle is 14—1, which ncans that it will glide lilt rorwarU Tor •very foot It drops. This is quite good enough to do elementary soaring on. I understand there are several private neople making gliders, and I know of one lailplane being built. R.C., Whangarel—Yes, I liave the fullsized plans of the 1-5 h.p. petrol motor available now. Two penny stamps will bring them along. This motor will fly a model aeroplane Sft lo I oft wing span, and carries enough petrol to keep aloft aver half an-liour. Interested, Cambridge—Yes, I will give you plans or a really good soaring glider model soon. Club news rrom all over the Dominion has reached me, but I regret that space will not allow publication of notes this week.