Fork me on GitHub

Project Notes

#683 Blériot XI

Making a Blériot XI “keeper of the spare keys” - an Aerobase kit from Japan encased in epoxy resin (no electronics).

Build

Notes

The Blériot XI is a pioneering French aircraft from the dawn of aviation. The first example was used by Louis Blériot to make the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, on 25 July 1909.

The Kit

I found the microWING Series Bleriot XI Cross-channel 1909 Aerobase No. B003 at Tamiya Shimbashi and couldn’t resist.

kit

Build Log

It is a simple little kit with just one metal frame.

build01a

It goes together perfectly. Even the propeller rotates.

build01b

build02a

I decided to encase it in Crystal Clear epoxy resin using a 6.5cm cube silicone mold.

build03a

I found an old key chain to embed in the casting.

build03b

The finished casting after a quick trim and polish of the meniscus. No mold release was necessary.

build04a

build04b

build04c

The finished Blériot XI “keeper of the spare keys”

build04d

Credits and References

About LEAP#683 scale modelsCraftresin
Project Source on GitHub Project Gallery Return to the LEAP Catalog

This page is a web-friendly rendering of my project notes shared in the LEAP GitHub repository.

LEAP is just my personal collection of projects. Two main themes have emerged in recent years, sometimes combined:

  • electronics - usually involving an Arduino or other microprocessor in one way or another. Some are full-blown projects, while many are trivial breadboard experiments, intended to learn and explore something interesting
  • scale modelling - I caught the bug after deciding to build a Harrier during covid to demonstrate an electronic jet engine simulation. Let the fun begin..
To be honest, I haven't quite figured out if these two interests belong in the same GitHub repo or not. But for now - they are all here!

Projects are often inspired by things found wild on the net, or ideas from the many great electronics and scale modelling podcasts and YouTube channels. Feel free to borrow liberally, and if you spot any issues do let me know (or send a PR!). See the individual projects for credits where due.