Here the undercarriage framework is installed. I've weighted the axles to ensure when dry the units are square to the boom. Naturally, this process firms-up the fronts of the booms. Each side has four inter-fitting frames. I installed the two more structural sections first and followed-on with the remaining support sections.The fit was good, with only about 1mm adjustment which was probably just a little primer/paint at the ends.

And here everything's ready for the two pairs of wheels to be installed.

The rear section of the tailplane is installed, after a few of the more delicate rigging points are set, as the area is difficult to get to afterwards. Oddly, the attachment to the forward plane is a butt edge with no tab, but it works, with a little TLC.

The four rudders are in place. They've also been pre-drilled for through-rigging lines. There are bracing sections that link between the rudders for stability, but I needed to get the decals in place first so that nothing gets in the way afterwards.

I've applied the decals, which are the French national colour bands on the external faces of the outermost rudders, with serials on the inner faces of these same units. I've just applied softening solution here, so they haven't quite "drawn-in" yet.

There are still a dozen or so rigging eyelets to fit in the area, and then everything will be ready to rig. There's nearly as much rigging around the booms and the tail planes as in the main aircraft.

Close work, certainly. I don’t even think of it as an aircraft, more a continual series of technical challenges. Cheers for looking in.

WOW ! I'm speechless... in a good way.

There's something about these early flying machines that just draw me to them like a moth to the flame. I don't build WW1 stuff in 1/48 scale anymore. The eyes are not good enough and my fingers just don't allow me to do rigging at this scale... I do build them in much larger RC form however. 1/6 scale or so. But I'm too chicken to fly one, as I would surely crack one up during the inevitable "prang"...

Very well done my friend. 🙂

The rigging to the tail plane and rudders is now complete. There was also a deal of control rigging leading back from this area to the control stick that sits below and outside the cockpit.

I've spent a week and a half rigging this cat's cradle, but it looks the part, I think. I have the observer's MG to place, which is a combination of a couple of plastic sections and then several pieces of delicate PE, but apart from that and placing the spinners, this is the end of the construction phase.

Cheers, Greg. After a fairly intense session completing the rigging and touching up various points, I’ve been able to stand back a little and just look at it, and for all its quirks it is, as you’ve observed, a very elegant model.

I’ve completed the final sections for the MG placement and should have them in place tomorrow, so will try a few photos after that.