Special Hobby Lloyd C.V in 1/72 Scale
By MIchael Kendix
Following my review of this kit in 2006, I had always meant to build this wonderful-looking model. For some reason, work and other things just got in the way. Finally, about a year or so ago, I started to build it. However, during that time, I lost interest then finally, about a month ago, I resumed and finished the build.
First, let me say that this is a fine kit – nothing much wrong with it – the parts fit mostly, it has great detail and the kit materials are well made. A high quality injection mold kit. However, the subject matter does present challenges aside from the usual biplane issues like mounting the top wing and rigging. For one, the wood surface is not the usual type of décor found on most airplane models and there are several sticking-out-bits that present a challenge in terms of trying to not knock them off the model as you build it.Essentially, I followed the instructions with a few deviations. First, you need to decide which version you want to make. I selected 46.01, which has the gun mounted on the top wing rather than a fuel container. There are also small differences in the color schemes such as the ailerons, which might influence the sequence of assembly – I left the ailerons off till almost the end – they kept on getting knocked off. The 46.01 scheme has the all-over wood veneer. If you want the autumn leaves pattern for the top wing, you should make 46.04.
The cockpit detail is good with its combination of photo etch, resin and regular plastic parts. Everything fitted fine and was painted up in the colors suggested in the instructions – no problems there. I left the rear gun off until right near the end though; I used the cooling jacket rather than the solid barrel cover. Having glued the engine to its mount and assembled the cockpit pieces, I glued them in the fuselage, closed it up and glued on the lower wing.Once the fuselage seams were filled, I began making the wood veneer surfaces. I used my usual method:
(i) Spray a base of Testors “Wood”, which is really a light tan color(ii) Combine various yellows, browns and reddish browns of gouache watercolor paints on a palette (beer bottle cap) and apply with a damp Q-tip, which gives the wood-grain effect. The received wisdom is that the wood grain on the wings runs chord-wise, not span-wise. (Not everyone knows that, you know.)
(iii) Spray a light coat of Tamiya’s clear yellow and clear orange, which gives further depth and variation.
(iv) Coat the whole thing with Clear/Future, which gives further depth, protects the finish and prepares for the decals.Next, I glued on the top wing, which went on fairly easily but the cabane struts were too long, so I made my own. I checked at this point, to make certain I had the angle of the interplane struts correct and that the interplane gap was the correct size. Things did seem a little crowded under the top wing so I may have made a mistake but it looked okay to me.
I added the landing gear, making sure to drill holes in the appropriate areas first for the legs and tail skid. At this point, following several coats of Clear/Future, I added the decals, which went on without any problems – no tears and I did not use any decal liquids – just water. I added the rigging made from straight 0.005-inch stainless steel from Smallparts, Inc., which I glued with Elmer’s white glue. Finally, I added the various guns, photoetch panels, grab handles, stirrups, and so on. I failed to manufacture the gun ring from the photo etch supplied in the kit. After trying a number of different methods, I made the gun ring from plastic rod that I taped round a dowel to shape and then plunged into hot water. Finally, I gave the entire model a coat of Testors Clear Flat but unfortunately, I was unable to add the windshield since there was too much going on under the top wing what with the wires and struts.Acknowledgement: my sincere thanks for advice and support from Peter Plattner. Also thanks to various members of the World War One Modeling list, supported courtesy of the University of New Hampshire. Thanks too, to Sandle Hobbies for supplying the review kit and my apologies for taking 7 years to build it!