Mein Duff

Does anybody have any recommendations for a fairly detailed 1/4 scale Lewis Gun Kit?
I have the Balsa USA kit which leaves very much to be desired for what they are charging.
I could have made my own easier out of my junk box for what I received.
Of course I could scratch build my own but need to move to other details on my SE5 or it will never get done.
Thanks

Teus

Don't know the quality but Mick Reeves sells also one in 1/4 scale: [link=http://www.mickreevesmodels.co.uk/~mickreev/Bipes/p2bipe.html]HERE[/link].

abufletcher

I was shocked to discover that there's no WB Lewis at 1/4 scale! Anyway, no matter what kit you start with you've going to have to do a fair amount of modification/scratch building to get a gun worthy of your SE5. Note that the usual exposed barrel Lewis typically seen on RC models, for example, the N11 isn't right for the SE5. Most (all?) SE5s used the variant with the cooling jacket.

Here's my modified 1/6 scale WB kit. In the background is a drawing from the Windsock mini-datafile 3 on the Lewis.

Mein Duff

Excellent Job as usual Don...thanks for the good info...the SE5 used the Lewis Mk II gun
Balsa USA has the 1/4 kit...lacking a lot IMHO.
Also Mick Reeves does have a kit, that Teus kindly points out...wondering if his kit has any more pre-detailed parts or is it also a bunch of wood left to bash?
Has anybody any comments or pics of that kit and a completed sample?

abufletcher

I just realized I HAVE the MR Lewis kit! It came with the Strutter kit. I hadn't even opened up the plastic bag it came it. But I'll do that right away and post photos here of the contents of the Lewis kit.

*****

OK, here's what you get with the 1/4 scale Mick Reeves Lewis gun kit. The basic receiver is built up from vinyl cutouts. I certainly wouldn't take it for granted that these shapes are 100% accurate. Then you add the barrels made of wood and aluminum and add the little bits and bobs. The ammo drum is vacuum-formed vinyl (?) and to my eye the edges of the details aren't sharp enough. This kit would build into a reasonable (and reasonably light) "sport scale" version of an early Lewis, but precision scale modelers can do better themselves working from a good set of drawings.

geezeraviation

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AZM also has a 1/4 Lewis kit but just as your BUSA leaves a lot to do so does this one. Also it is the sans cooling jacket version which has been pointed out to be maybe correct maybe not, it depends on the particular aircraft you choose to model. Also theres always the put your money down and take your chances issue that seems to plague many people who attempt to do buisness with Jaime. I've always gotten what I ordered from him, I just wasnt always happy with what I got. Here's a pic of the one I buillt from thier kit.

geezeraviation

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Sorry about the extra pic, I tried to delete it but it didnt work.
Doc

abufletcher

I like that other photo, Doc! In terms of prices you sure can't beat the 12 pounds price for the MR kit, compared with $49 for the AZM kit. But then again, you could probably scratch-built a Lewis mostly from scraps around the shop. This has got to be the easiest of all WWI MGs to scratch build...because ultimately it was a very simple gun.

Mein Duff

Doc.. so yours is the AZM kit?...thanks for posting...and ABU thanks for the Mick Reeves kit pics....that is a good deal at 12 ponds, but as you said, the amo-drum does look a bit crude.
But as you said being one of the easier guns to model it shouldn't take long.
After reviewing all this I will probably use what I can from the Balsa USA kit, since I already have it, and the others don't seem like much of an improvement over this. I will be diving into my scrap boxes it look like for a while

Doc , I knew you had a an SE5a...is that 1/4 scale? would you mind posting some pics of it? also, is it scratch built or a kit?

abufletcher

I strongly suggest you enlarge the drawings from the DF or the Wylam Lewis drawings from Scale Aircraft Drawings Vol. 1 to confirm that the outlines and proportions of the BUSA kit are correct. The drum on both the AZM and BUSA kits looks wrong to me (too fat to be the single layer drum and too thin to be the double drum).

gabriel voisin

I hope it helps,

gretings Matz

Mein Duff

Thanks Matz...anything helps ...especially with measurements !!

gabriel voisin

I cansend you the drawings as an original scan, I've the drawings as blueprints.
If yes, please send me you privat mail.

Matz

3136

I don't know if this is any use to you, it's the un-jacket version.

abufletcher

Matz, the first image you posted are the Wylam drawings from the MAN book. But I don't recognize the drawing of the drum. What's the source for that drawing? Also what drawings do you have in blueprint form?

The last set of drawings (posted by our obliging mate down under) looks more like factory drawings (but in the info box it seems to say "New York"). The basic outline of the receiver in that drawing looks very close to the MR Lewis kit, so I'm wondering if his kit is based on drawings from the RAF museum.

3136

That is a Savage arms print, it downsized when I uploaded it.
If you pm me your email I'll send the bigger pic.

abufletcher

It's easy to forget that the Lewis MG was of American origins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Gun

BTW, does anyone know the function, i.e reason behind the design, for that asymmetrical top to the receiver (behind the drum)? It's so characteristic of the Lewis, but I can't see the reason behind it.

3136

Hey Don,
it's an odd design, I'm not sure, but a guess would be to deflect a spent hot case from flying back at the operaters face. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ene6LievhIE
Cases are bloody hot when they land down your shirt [:@]

abufletcher

Very informative video! Thanks for posting that. By the way, the pressed-formed outer shape of the drum is perhaps not all that much different in appearance to the vacuum formed look of the MR kit drum. With a little work, that might very well be the best option in terms of a kit.

gabriel voisin

@3136,

no, your drawing was made by Stan Teachman,....I've the drawings also as a hard copy.
Good drawings with all the dimensions.
Don, I have the Wylam drawings as a blue print and not out of  a book.

Matz

abufletcher

Very cool! [8D]

abufletcher

I spent the last few minutes "farming" that video posted above for still details of the Lewis...and here they are. This drum is the "single" rather than the double drum used on most fighters. Standing up while flying to reload wasn't a lot of fun.

FireBee

My Feedback: (34)

Abu, here is link with story of why New York.

Arthur Savage, born in Jamaica, schooled in England, USA. He also owned the largest cattle ranch in Australia, taken hostage by aborigines for over a year, moved ti NY.

http://www.savagearms.com/history/

Awesome info guys. Someday I will do a 1/3 scale.
Learned last night at our club Christmas party the Military Aviation Museum in Va Beach now flying their SE-5.

geezeraviation

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Mein Duff, Yes it's 1/4 scale, it's a BUSA and I had very little data on the airplane when I built it. The kit was a raffle prize at a dawn patrol event I attend each year. I had it fully framed and was starting to cover it when I first got a Windsock Datafile for it. The fuse is shaped wrong just foreward of the cockpit and there are many other "less than scale" issues. I added enough detail to make it look interesting, completely redoing the radiator frame and shutters. I used the AZM cockpit kit and Lewis gun kits (seperete kits) a Wms Bros Vickers gun and wheels and originally fitted a Zenoah G38. It has since been refitted with an SV50 that I got from TBM (my sympathies to anyone else that bought one) which ran hot and shook harder than any gas engine I ever owned (it ran hot in the open on a test stand too), it was then converted to electric and flown three times then was hung up in the shop in July two years ago. I just recently got my hands on a DA 50 and am converting back to gas with a reliable engine. It flies really well.
Doc

geezeraviation

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sorry the pix are so crummy, its a kinda crummy old camera.
Doc