Pfalz-built Morane Parasol, 1/48

**Wyvern** · #1 10-24-2010, 05:59 PM

Pfalz Flugzeugwerk had a pre-war license to build Morane's L-type monoplane, and continued to do so after the war started, delivering small numbers of a two-seater that was virtually identical tro it's French-built cousin, and a single-seat fighter version. The fighter was armed with a single syncronized Spandau, and like the Fokker Eindecker, was issued in ones and twos to two-seater squadrons to act as escorts.

der Kampflieger produced a great kit of the Morane L last year, with detailed cockpits, engine and six marking variants. One variant builds the single-seat Pfalz fighter.

The model was a straight-forward build, with the detailed engine being the most painstaking assembly, even in 1/48th. I was hampered by having to move my work area around a lot, and having to take several long breaks in the build process, due to pesky real life. So, it took me nearly four months from first cut to complete. Hard luck and judgement calls continued to dog the aircraft; I was going to try for a near-scale level of rigging, using nylon-coated jewelry wire. My reasoning was the the coating would make it easier for glues to adhere to. It doesn't. Also, the gauge or temper of the wire had WAY too much memory; almost impossible to straighten out. And then, the wire-festooned fuselage, which looked like a spastic spider with really skinny legs, proved irresistable to my younger cat; I found her dragging it down the hall, wires grasped in her mouth, the fuselage bouncing along beside her. While doing the wing, my older cat got ahold of it and chewed the wires up.

So the model ended up with just a few representational wires left, and it looks badly sprung, like it had a REALLY hard landing. I did a poor job aligning the landing gear struts, as well, adding to the whole "tired airplane after a bad landing" look. Still, I'm not unhappy with it, and will be building it again. Without the cats. And I can heartily recommend the kit to WW1 modelers.

Some pictures for your amusement:

**Gixergs** · #2 10-24-2010, 06:05 PM

Pretty little plane and given the severe anti aircraft cat activity it's suffered she's looking mighty fine,mighty fine indeed.

**wag** · #3 10-24-2010, 08:13 PM

Looks very good. Sometime soon I want to build Warneford's A/C.
Wayne

**Don Boose** · #4 10-24-2010, 09:39 PM

Good-looking model. The Morane was was graceful-looking airplane in all its manifestations.

Don

**Paperwarrior** · #5 10-25-2010, 04:59 AM

Excellent build. You've done a great build. Thanks for sharing.

Jeff

**gomidefilho** · #6 10-25-2010, 08:58 AM

Very interesting. The Moranel Type L is a first military aviation used in Brazil, Army Aviation use two in recon duties and ground atack against rebel forces in Contestado Conflict in southern Brazil in 1913, is one of first use of military aviation in Americas.