Steve's Models

[Sailor Steve]

Yesterday I put on the tail fin. The one from the 'N' kit was just the right size, so no problem there. I then cut the lower wing sections from the wing stock and sanded them to shape. I then used a straightedge and a Sharpie to mark the rib lines, and a round sanding stick to make the indentations where the dope causes the fabric to shrink between the ribs. I then realized that I had a kit with the correct chord, so I stole those wings and cut them to the same shape. Then I had to putty in the ailerons. Then I realized that the ribs on that plane were uneven, and the 'BB' ribs were evenly spaced. I finally ended up using the original wings I had made myself. Oh well...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-41LowerWings_zpsd5ca261c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-41LowerWings_zpsd5ca261c.jpg.html)

[BossMark]

Tirpitz now finished pictures to follow, and I was wondering why Tamiya dont do a 1\350 model of HMS Hood I would really like a model of that ship I know they do a 1\700 waterline version

[Jimbuna]

Tirpitz now finished pictures to follow, and I was wondering why Tamiya dont do a 1\350 model of HMS Hood I would really like a model of that ship I know they do a 1\700 waterline version

Trumpeter do a 1/350 version but she's not cheap.

http://www.wonderlandmodels.com/products/trumpeter-1350-hms-hood/

http://www.hmshood.com/hoodtoday/models/trumpeter/trumpeter.htm

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trumpeter-05302-HMS-Hood-Plastic/dp/B000EEFODA

[Aktungbby]

Sunday I scrounged through my parts box and found a set of tailplanes that were the right size. Actually they were a little too big, which allowed me to sand them to the proper shape and size. I then spent the better part of two days filling, puttying and sanding the cockpit area.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/3-301TailplaneandBody_zps7fa2603a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/3-301TailplaneandBody_zps7fa2603a.jpg.html)


Some of us have 'puttees' on our ankles but if that ol' Baron gits me on my six, I'll sure need some of yours!:D LOOKIN GOOD!:up: doggonit that was fun!

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear installed, including tail skid.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-51LandingGear_zps86783d7e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-51LandingGear_zps86783d7e.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Upper wing cut out and sanded to shape, main paint coat applied.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-61UpperWingPaint_zps8abda353.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-61UpperWingPaint_zps8abda353.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Nose painted, markings applied, pilot and observer installed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-81DecalsampPilots_zpsa49457e5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-81DecalsampPilots_zpsa49457e5.jpg.html)

[BossMark]

@Jim thanks for the links

[Jimbuna]

@Jim thanks for the links

Your welcome.

That plane is looking real nice Steve:cool:

[BossMark]

Your welcome.

HMS Hood ordered, should be with me late next week.

[Sailor Steve]

A couple of pictures is okay, but if you're going to keep it up I would really appreciate it if you started your own thread.

[Sailor Steve]

Upper wing mounted. This one was a bit different. Since the cabanes slope at odd angles I had to do the struts first, then make sure the wings were properly aligned, then build the cabanes, one piece of brass wire at a time.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-91UpperWingmounted_zps8447866f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-91UpperWingmounted_zps8447866f.jpg.html)

All that's left now is the guns, some touch-up paint and the rigging.

[Aktungbby]

Great stuff! Rather a large spinner over the prop hub for aerodynamics; was that unique to this plane only?

[Sailor Steve]

No, but only just. There was at least one Bristol Scout with a big spinner. The drawback was severely reduced cooling airflow over the engine. On the other hand it must not have been too bad because there is no evidence that they ever removed them.

[Sailor Steve]

And another one's in the bag - or in this case, the case.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-101Done_zpse289b1e2.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-101Done_zpse289b1e2.jpg.html)


RNAS serial number.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-102Done_zpsf7fd8af6.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-102Done_zpsf7fd8af6.jpg.html)

Originally the wing-mounted gun was fired by the observer. Later they rigged them to a trigger so the pilot could fire it. The observer still had to change the drum for him.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-103Done_zpsf2a14b2f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-103Done_zpsf2a14b2f.jpg.html)

This part I'm really excited about. I bought some blank decal paper some time ago, planning on a special project. I was worried about getting it right, but now the worries are over. As an experiment I used my favorite desktop publishing program, PageStream, to make a batch of Morane-Saulnier logos. I imported a couple of good close-up photos, and used PageStream's built-in drawing program to trace both MS and Pfalz emblems, since Pfalz built exact copies of MS aircraft and even made their own variant of the MS badge. I test-printed them on paper, and when it came out good I went ahead and printed them on the decal paper. To my surprise they came out even better, and after the ink was thoroughly dried I put a dab of Micro-Scale's Liquid Decal Film on each one - 30 bronze and 30 black of each emblem. Once that was dry I cut out two of the black MS logos and there they are. :sunny:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-104Done_zps4a8a293c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-104Done_zps4a8a293c.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: A Twofer - a pair of Nieuport N.10s. All of Nieport's early planes were low-wing monoplanes. A handful of N.IVs went with the Italian army to Libya in 1911 along with some Bleriot XIs. In 1914 the N.VI and N.X were among the planes doing reconnaissance for the French Armee de l'Aire. Nieuport took the N.X airframe and rebuilt it as a biplane, naming it the N.10b. These were further subdivided into the N.10 AV (observer in the front) and N.10 AR (observer in the rear). In both cases the only gun was mounted to the upper wing, and the observer had to stand to fire it. In the case of the AV there was a hole in the top wing for the observer to brace himself while shooting. The N.10b would eventually have the more conventional arrangement of the observer in the rear, with a rearward-firing gun mounted on a ring, but not until much later.

The kit comes with separate wing center sections, so the AV is an option, and one I couldn't pass up.

It didn't take long before pilots figured out that they could sit in the rear cockpit and fire the gun straight ahead, and the N.10c1, the first Nieuport single-seat fighter, was born. The second kit will represent the Chasseur, or fighter version.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-111Kits_zpsd5dbdc9d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-111Kits_zpsd5dbdc9d.jpg.html)

Nieuport 10s were used by France, Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan, Belgium, Finland and Serbia.

[Sailor Steve]

Interiors finished and ready for assembly.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-112Interiors_zps37c6a754.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-112Interiors_zps37c6a754.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Fuselages and Tailplanes. The two-seater has a Gnome Monosoupape (single-valve) rotary engine held in a front-and-rear brace. The single-seater has a Le Rhone rotary braced only at the rear.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-121BodiesampTailplanes_zpsb3bc493f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-121BodiesampTailplanes_zpsb3bc493f.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Lower wings, landing gear, primary paint coat.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-131LowerWingsLandingGearPrimaryPaint_zps829b41c1.j pg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-131LowerWingsLandingGearPrimaryPaint_zps829b41c1.j pg.html)

[Sjizzle]

realy nice work Steve i like your models

[Sailor Steve]

Thank you. I keep trying to improve them. I still have a long way to go before I've built everything I require for the game.

[em2nought]

Great stuff, your painting/finishing style reminds me of a Toy Soldiers book I had as kid. Wish I still had that book.

[Sailor Steve]

And blah blah blah... :O:


NO! Just kidding. I love getting feedback, especially when it's positive. Thank you. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

I didn't get anything done yesterday. Spent the day working on computer stuff and practicing music.

Today the upper wings are mounted, and the wood parts - struts, landing gear and tail skid are painted. All that's left are the details - propellers, pilots - decals and the rigging.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-151UpperWingswoodpainted_zps02545322.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-151UpperWingswoodpainted_zps02545322.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Decals are on, some more details painted. Still a ways to go.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-161DecalsandDetails_zpsaa06afcc.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-161DecalsandDetails_zpsaa06afcc.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I went ahead and finished the first one. A very early Nieuport Nie.10b. There were two versions, AV (observer in front) and AR (observer in rear). Even with the observer in the rear seat the gun was still mounted to the top wing, so he could only fire forward. I chose to do the AV, mainly because it's so much weirder than the other, and also because the kit offers the extra wing centerpiece with the cutout already there.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17110bDone_zpsa9b6862d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17110bDone_zpsa9b6862d.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17210bDone_zps76260608.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17210bDone_zps76260608.jpg.html)

Closeup of the tail markings
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17310bDone_zpsbed4e3ad.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17310bDone_zpsbed4e3ad.jpg.html)

I chose to give the observer a French Hotchkiss gun rather than the later and more common Lewis.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17410bDone_zpse7657a35.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17410bDone_zpse7657a35.jpg.html)

A bit of serendepity. I couldn't get the pilot to sit straight, and finally gave up trying. It wasn't until I had the observer installed that I realized that the pilot seems to be leaning over so he can see around the guy blocking his view to the front.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17510bDone_zpsd88f4402.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17510bDone_zpsd88f4402.jpg.html)

80 horsepower Gnome engine with front bracing. The single-valve pushrods are visible on the front of the cylinders.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17610bDone_zpsdc642022.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17610bDone_zpsdc642022.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

:06::06::06:

A bit of serendepity. I couldn't get the pilot to sit straight, and finally gave up trying. It wasn't until I had the observer installed that I realized that the pilot seems to be leaning over so he can see around the guy blocking his view to the front..
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-17510bDone_zpsd88f4402.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-17510bDone_zpsd88f4402.jpg.html)

Pas mon ami, c'est d'avoir trop de haricots pour le petit-déjeuner! C'est la guerre! Bon Travail! L'une de vos meilleures encore!:up: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Snoopy_wwi_ace_lb.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cc/Snoopy_wwi_ace_lb.jpg) No my friend it's the beans for breakfast! Such is war! Good work! One of your best!

[Jimbuna]

That observer really makes the model stand out for me Steve....very well done sir :cool:

[Sailor Steve]

The second one is done - a Royal Naval Air Service Nieuport N.10C-1. 'C' is for 'Chasseure' - "Chaser", or "Pursuit" to the Americans - Fighter.

The good handling and maneuverability of the N.10 led them to quickly develop a single-seat version, the father of all Nieuport fighters. It carried a Lewis gun mounted to the top wing, pretty much like every other Allied single-seater before they had synchonizers. The drawback in this early era was that the gun was rigidly mounted, and couldn't cock back to change the drum. It was difficult to accomplish, especially as the rotary engine didn't allow the pilot to slow down, so not only did reaching the drum require quite a stretch but there was also the 90-mile-per-hour slipstream to overcome.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18110cDone_zps3339000c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18110cDone_zps3339000c.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18210cDone_zps9fb3b566.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18210cDone_zps9fb3b566.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18310cDone_zps45f80858.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18310cDone_zps45f80858.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18410cDone_zps7fd7df5c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18410cDone_zps7fd7df5c.jpg.html)

The engine in this case was usually the 80-horsepower Le Rhone rotary. It was more reliable than the Gnome and despite the equal rating gave a few more horsepower.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18510cDone_zpsad3892f9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18510cDone_zpsad3892f9.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: A Fokker E.II. I don't really need another Eindekker, but I had a spare Eduard E.III kit left over and I found several pictures of an E.II that I really like. It will be an out-of-the-box build, as the E.II and E.III are pretty much the same, at least according to the source I trust the most. On the other hand, if all the other sources are correct then the E.II should also have the shorter wingspan. This is still unresolved and will likely remain so forever.

The Kit:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-191Kit_zps324f6c05.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-191Kit_zps324f6c05.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

The engine in this case was usually the 80-horsepower Le Rhone rotary. It was more reliable than the Gnome and despite the equal rating gave a few more horsepower.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-18510cDone_zpsad3892f9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-18510cDone_zpsad3892f9.jpg.html) It's Le Rhône (alt+ numpad 147) mon ami; I know you're a stickler for grammer!:O: Fabulous work!:up: and I like the 'wear' details on the edges of the fuselage too!:D Is the box cover illustration on your Eindeckker project the classic Richthofen-Hawker duel? The upper wing on the Nieuport was dicey in a steep dive; I used to lose it and die ingloriously in Red Baron from my own poor aerobatics. Unless of course, I was up against Guynemer in his Nieuport which was vastly superior to my Eindekker; in which case I simply got killed...every time!:wah:

[Sailor Steve]

It's Le Rhône (alt+ numpad 147) mon ami; I know you're a stickler for grammer!:O:
I know. I didn't know about the combination to find it, and I'm sure I'll forget by tomorrow. I do have three different sources on hand where I can grab things like that, but I didn't think it was worth it.
Is the box cover illustration on your Eindeckker project the classic Richthofen-Hawker duel?
No, by that time von Richtofen was flying an Albatros D.II. Otherwise he might not have won.
The upper wing on the Nieuport was dicey in a steep dive
That was mainly the N.28, in which the upper wing would be pulled away from its supports, causing the fabric to tear loose. According to at least one source it wasn't the dive that caused the problem, but the stress of pulling out.
http://www.airminded.net/n28/n28.html

The problem on the early Nieuports was the lower wing, which only had one spar. It had a tendency to vibrate around the point of the 'V' strut, and then to break completely off. They might not have known about the problem at all except a couple of pilots managed to land safely with one lower wing missing.

I haven't seen any evidence that this was a problem on the N.10, it being larger and stronger than the N.11-N.27.

[Sailor Steve]

Main assembly done. The landing gear and tail skid are from a Revell kit. The Eduard parts are more to scale, which is great for a display model, but they won't stand up to the rigors of gaming.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-192MainAssembly_zps2b61c05d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-192MainAssembly_zps2b61c05d.jpg.html)

[Fish40]

Really enjoy the builds Steve, great stuff!

[Sailor Steve]

Main paint applied. I'll explain the colors later.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-201Paint_zps146589a5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-201Paint_zps146589a5.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Mostly done. Rigging and a little more touch-up, and it will be finished tomorrow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-221Almostdone_zpsc618956d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-221Almostdone_zpsc618956d.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Those wing decals really make it stand out :cool:

[nikimcbee]

Mostly done. Rigging and a little more touch-up, and it will be finished tomorrow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-221Almostdone_zpsc618956d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-221Almostdone_zpsc618956d.jpg.html)

Russian Flag?:hmmm:

[Sailor Steve]

It's done. I said long ago that sources disagree as to the details of the E.I, E.II and E.III. According to the source I used the E.II and E.III are indistinguishable from each other, the main differences being the amount of fuel stowage.

From below this particular E.II would look just like any other, the bottom surfaces all remaining clear doped linen. The Windsock Datafile on the E.I and E.II has three photographs of this same aircraft. The first is the rollout pose taken the day the plane left the factory. It is CDL overall, with no wheel covers. The second is an in-service shot taken at the front. It is still CDL, but has the side stripes, and has wheel covers on it. The third is the airplane in pieces at the repair depot, and it is the one this model is taken from.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-231Done_zps872e93dc.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-231Done_zps872e93dc.jpg.html)

Ray Rimell, the historian and artist who did most of the paintings for the early Datafiles, says the upper color may be medium grey, dark grey, 'Feldgrau' (field grey) or Fokker Olive. He went with the olive, but notes that the color is "purely conjectural" on his part. He also says the same of the side stripes. In the photos they appear black, grey, black and white. He went with the obvious for his painting, but from descriptions of period photos the "black" could be black, dark blue or even purple. The "grey" could be red, yellow, green, light blue or orange. I used to have a triplane I made using a decal sheet that had red, white and blue stripes on it. I figured that I could use my imagination on this, and who could prove I was wrong? I decided on black, red, blue and white purely on a whim.

In this picture the Idflieg serial 'Fok. E.II 69/15 can barely be made out under the wing. What can't be seen is the Werke number up under the wing. Also the only pictures without wheel covers are from the factory and the repair depot. All in-service shots show wheel covers in place. Still, I liked the look and decided to have at least one eindekker with the spokes exposed.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-233Done_zpsd7f37c36.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-233Done_zpsd7f37c36.jpg.html)

Here the Werke number can be seen on the bottom of the tail. If you look closely you can barely make out the "Lift Here" markings, three of them along the bottom of the fuselage.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-234Done_zpsb9a0fd73.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-234Done_zpsb9a0fd73.jpg.html)

The model came with the nine-cylinder Oberusel U.1 engine, but it didn't have the valve actuator rods on the front of the cylinders. Sometimes I ignore that sort of thing, but this time I couldn't. I cut the rods out of very thin brass wire and glued them in. Unfortunately these block the engine from turning fully around. There is still some play so it moves a bit. Propeller by Integral, who made most of the props for the eindekkers.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-255Done_zps7e36c8e9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-255Done_zps7e36c8e9.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

That came out really nice Steve. I was going to say you could silver solder some brass wire for the spindly LG but I've been taking care of my parents this week and didn't have my password to log in away from home.

[Sailor Steve]

Another very old model, and it shows it. This is the S.P.A.D. A.2, a unique attempt at solving the forward-firing gun problem by putting the gunner in front of the engine while the pilot remains behind in the normal position. It was not exactly loved by the gunners, who were in real trouble if the plane nosed over on landing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SPADA21_zps40d5874d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SPADA21_zps40d5874d.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SPADA22_zpsbd771eb1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SPADA22_zpsbd771eb1.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SPADA23_zpsbbf11bed.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SPADA23_zpsbbf11bed.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: Rumpler C.I, probably the best of the first-generation German two-seaters.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-271Kit_zpsda6afe17.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-271Kit_zpsda6afe17.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Interior.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-272Interior_zpsef5e5f3e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-272Interior_zpsef5e5f3e.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Main assembly done, first primer coat applied.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-281MainAssemblyPrimer_zps576bfe35.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-281MainAssemblyPrimer_zps576bfe35.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Keep on truckin :cool:

[Sailor Steve]

Main paint done.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/4-291MainPaintDone_zps461638e9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/4-291MainPaintDone_zps461638e9.jpg.html)

The body and lower flying surfaces are pale blue. The metal parts, including forward deck and cowling, are light grey. The rudder is in clear doped linen. The blue is a point for much argument. For years I used the WW2 German underside Hellblau (sky blue), RLM 65. Recently I've been reading the Windsock Datafiles on different WW1 German planes, and it is invariably described as "blueish white", indicating a very pale blue indeed. My friend Peter is trying a mix of 15 drops white to 1 drop true blue. This plane is what I call "accidental" blue. I was hand painting some part or other, and I needed a very light blue. Rather than find a cup to mix it in I just used the cap from the bottle of white paint. I figured that it would be so pale that it would just end up being white once the color in the cap was mixed back into the bottle. I was wrong. I bought a fresh bottle of White, but kept the mixed one just in case. That is what I sprayed on this plane. I may make it darker in the future, or go back to RLM 65. One thing I won't do is make it any whiter.

[Sailor Steve]

Upper wing mounted, pilot in, markings on. I didn't do any work on it at all yesterday. I couldn't put the wing on until the pilot was installed, and I was out of pilots. I've ordered a set of WW1 aircrew, and I'm still waiting for them to arrive. Recognizing that they might not be here for another week or two, I scrounged some WW2 pilots. They don't look the same, but once one is painted and beneath the top wing it's hard to tell. I haven't put in the observer yet for that very reason. I have one painted, and unless the set I ordered comes in tomorrow's mail I'll use the one I have.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-11UpperWingDecals_zps19ef4a71.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-11UpperWingDecals_zps19ef4a71.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Rumpler C.I.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-41Done_zpsf61f8d3b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-41Done_zpsf61f8d3b.jpg.html)

Three-quarter view. One of the reasons I chose this particular plane was the tiny serial number on the tail.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-42Done_zpsfeffe1e0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-42Done_zpsfeffe1e0.jpg.html)

Again the inboard bracing wires cross each other, front to rear.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-43Done_zps5aee72b6.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-43Done_zps5aee72b6.jpg.html)

Propeller by Germania Luftschraube.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-44Done_zps6fbb08f7.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-44Done_zps6fbb08f7.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Very nice indeed :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Next up: The "other" eindekker - the Pfalz E.I. Whereas Fokker started with a used Morane 'H' and did a major redesign, the Pfalz was a precise nut-for-nut copy, and while a little faster than its Fokker counterpart was inferior in every other way. It was less maneuverable, less stable, and less forgiving, particularly when trying to recover from a spin. Peter Grosz, in the Windsock Datafile on the subject, quotes Vizefeldwebel Kurt Jentsch as saying the Pfalz was tail-heavy, taking two men to lift the tail whereas the Fokker could easily be lifted by one. Jentsch also said the Pfalz was heavy on takeoff had to be rigged precisely or else it would fly crooked, leaning to one side or the other. It also took 200 meters to recover from a spin the Fokker would never have gone into in the first place. Jentsch would also go on to say "The Pfalz monoplane was about as well suited for air combat as a cow was for playing the lute."

In the game we're a little more forgiving, with the Pfalz having a worse turn rate than the Fokker, and needing a higher die roll to get one. There are some things it's just hard to game.

The kit is a twenty-year-old resin piece from RagWings. There aren't a lot of parts, and assembly should be fairly quick and easy.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-51Kit_zpsb484aec3.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-51Kit_zpsb484aec3.jpg.html)

There is a newer kit, in standard injection-molded plastic, from AZ Models, the same company who make the Morane 'L' I built as a single-seater awhile ago. Unfortunately they are fairly expensive. I'm trying to find a cheaper one, as there are two different schemes I'd like to try. Since they are essentially the same exact airplane I am also trying to get their Morane 'H' model. In the meantime I'll be working on this kit. I also have two very old vac kits from Formaplane, but it was one of their early efforts and very basic. It would almost be better to scratch-build one than use that kit.

[Sailor Steve]

I didn't touch any model stuff yesterday. I planned to have it built then and finished today, there only being a handful of parts, but I had to get ready to play last night and then there was that three-hour Skype conversation. So yesterday became today.

It took about five hours to get it assembled and primed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-61AssembledandPrimed_zps5c733854.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-61AssembledandPrimed_zps5c733854.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Now it's finished. The Pfalz may not have been as good as the Fokker, but they sure went out of their way to make it look good. This included putting crosses on every flat surface they could find.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-81Done_zps3c263ee9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-81Done_zps3c263ee9.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-82Done_zpsbe45ef47.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-82Done_zpsbe45ef47.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-83Done_zps6fb8b23b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-83Done_zps6fb8b23b.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-84Done_zps5b3bbda1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-84Done_zps5b3bbda1.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

This included putting crosses on every flat surface they could find.







http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-84Done_zps5b3bbda1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-84Done_zps5b3bbda1.jpg.html) Fabulous job!:up: but did you miss one spot (Top fuselage) for the cross? The question begs: if the tail heavy Pfalz had dominated could Max Immelmann have done Immelmanns? 'Pfalz Scourge' just doesn't have the same ring to it:Dhttp://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=815&pictureid=7070 Immelmann in the cockpit of an Eindecker E.I, probably #13/15, in which he scored his first five victories. Powder burns at the top of the cowling indictate the gun has been fired. On the prop, the insignia of the manufacturer Garuda. Thought you'd like that propeller decal! http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Max_Immelmann_Fokker_EI.jpg/220px-Max_Immelmann_Fokker_EI.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Max_Immelmann_Fokker_EI.jpg) One thing about ol' Max; he loved having his picture taken... every time he got a medal!http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/graphics/immelmann.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Jumping right into a second Pfalz - the E.III. An improved E.II was in the works, but there were also about sixty A.I and A.IIs in use, 'A' being the code for an unarmed monoplane. Just as the E.I was a license-built copy of the Morane 'H' these parasols were copies of the Morane 'L', the same one I built awhile ago. The A.I was the 80-horsepower version and the A.II had 100 hp. They began to arm some of these 'A' types, redesignating them E.III.

The kit is also identical to the one I built earlier, the only difference being in box art, instructions and decals.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-91Kit_zpse5d0ef05.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-91Kit_zpse5d0ef05.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Paint & Frustration: I got this one mostly assembled yesterday. Today I painted the basic color, then added the black. Pfalz used cane strips to seal the fabric to the ribs, and painted them black. Though the E.I turned out okay, this one I just couldn't get right. Some stripes were too thin, some were too wide and some smeared. I finally took off all the ink (and some of the paint) with thinner, and went online and ordered some black striping decals. I thought of using decal stripes to represent the unpainted ribs that show through the fabric ages ago, but they don't make them in brown. I forgot all about it, and now I'm wishing I had got some black stripes for the E.I. At least this one and the E.III will have them.

Meanwhile I'm on hold until they come. I'm torn between starting another project or just working on rules for a few days.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-101PaintampFrustration_zps99768c77.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-101PaintampFrustration_zps99768c77.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Four days later the decal stripes came, several widths from very narrow to vary wide. New problem - the very narrow ones are still too wide. Solution - the one I should have come up with long ago: Make my own! I used my publishing program to make stripes in both black and brown, and printed them onto one of the blank decal sheets I bought. The top of the wing is finished, less a little trimming and cleaning up the black paint I somehow managed to smear. The fuselage markings are some of the wider strips from the sheet I bought.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-141DecalStripesampSmearedPaint_zpsf817678c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-141DecalStripesampSmearedPaint_zpsf817678c.jpg.htm l)

[Sailor Steve]

Markings applied and smears cleaned up. I also spent a lot of time putting the stripes on the underside of the wing, something I didn't get done yesterday.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-151Markings_zpse5639287.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-151Markings_zpse5639287.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

I've a strong feeling this model will be well worth the effort when it is completed :cool:

[Sailor Steve]

Pfalz E.III.

Identical to the Morane 'L' except for the markings.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-161Done_zps0b67ba2c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-161Done_zps0b67ba2c.jpg.html)

While there were a handful that came from the factory armed, most of them were converted from existing A.IIs. No personal markings, no serial numbers.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-162Done_zpsc6a5cac0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-162Done_zpsc6a5cac0.jpg.html)

I couldn't get the decals to work for the edging, so I had to resort to pens. Still a little rough in extreme closeup, holding it your hand you can't tell.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-163Done_zps5825f24c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-163Done_zps5825f24c.jpg.html)

Better than the French original for having a synchronized belt-fed gun.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-164Done_zps4c1a2c65.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-164Done_zps4c1a2c65.jpg.html)

Propeller by Garuda.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-165Done_zps30422469.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-165Done_zps30422469.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

Now that looks scary.

[Sailor Steve]

Now that looks scary.
To be up in one or to have one on your tail?

[Buddahaid]

To be up in one. It's damned near a parasol and just when will the wing give?

[Sailor Steve]

It is a parasol, and I think they were pretty well braced. I looked through the Datafiles on both the Morane and Pfalz versions, and couldn't find any instances of one coming apart in the air, with the exception of the result of battle damage. On the other hand, and to my great surprise, I did find that at least one pilot was killed after going into a spin. I would have thought the parasol design to be inherently stable, but apparently if you did manage to spin one they were exceeding difficult to recover. That trait was shared by most wing-warpers, the Fokker eindekkers being the notable exception.

[Sailor Steve]

Next I'll be backtracking a little bit. After building the Pfalz E.I I started re-thinking my next kit. I built a Morane 'H' many years a go by converting a Revell eindekker kit. I didn't know too much about the subject and was unaware of how much longer the Fokker was than the Morane and Pfalz versions. I was aware that AZ Models also made the Morane 'G' and 'H', and the Pfalz E.I, the difference again being the box and decals. I was thinking of building another Pfalz because of some markings I like, but they are a bit on the pricey side. I found a Morane kit for a very good price. When it came I found out why: The previous owner had already cut some of it apart. The 'G' was a two-seater and had slightly longer wings, and the sections had already been removed. No problem there, as I planned to do the same myself.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-171Kit_zpsc2313c70.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-171Kit_zpsc2313c70.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Ready for paint.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-181ReadyForPaint_zps389430b1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-181ReadyForPaint_zps389430b1.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Almost done. Tonight I play music, tomorrow is the final details and rigging.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-191AlmostDone_zpsc7b928c2.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-191AlmostDone_zpsc7b928c2.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I dug the Pfalz out to help as a rigging guide. Got it 3/4 done and found I'd drilled two of the holes in the wrong place. Ripped it all apart and started over. Didn't have time left for the detail painting, and the pilot's not in yet. Took a side-by-side photo and then found you can't see the rigging on the Morane.

Too bad. It will show up in the final pictures.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-201Rigging_zps64f6a589.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-201Rigging_zps64f6a589.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Morane 'H'. I did the British version solely because I like the rudder with the serial number but no national colors. This means it has the Lewis gun rather than the Hotchkiss. It still has to use deflector plates as no Allied service had a synchronizer yet.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-211Done_zpse77b6899.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-211Done_zpse77b6899.jpg.html)

I was running short of pilots, and I found that there are not very many available. I bought a set of 48 WWI 'pilots', knowing that the set was mostly ground crew and other standing figures, but I figured 12 seated pilots would be enough for now, and the price wasn't too bad. It turned out that one of the seated figures was actually a cavalry officer, so now there are 10 pilots. They are all in interesting poses, though, and rather than a combat pose this one appears to be leaning against the side of the cockpit looking at something (or talking to someone).
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-212Done_zps2d6bd06f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-212Done_zps2d6bd06f.jpg.html)

The pilot doesn't show up real well in close-up, but you get the idea.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-213Done_zps8cfc5943.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-213Done_zps8cfc5943.jpg.html)

Again the seven-cylinder 80-horsepower Gnome Monosoupape engine.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-214Done_zpscd35091b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-214Done_zpscd35091b.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: The Bristol Scout. There were four models - A, B, C and D, and the C/D were the best of the early British conversions, putting a gun on a racing plane. They were fast and maneuverable, being more than a match for the eindekkers. Originally designed as an unarmed scout, meant for the pilot to fly into enemy territory and mark enemy troop positions on a map, the plane was limited by the wingtop Lewis gun mount, which required a lot of effort to change the drum (and it had to be changed every two or three bursts), and by the fact that only 80 Scout Cs and 210 Scout Ds were built. This is roughly the same number as the German eindekkers, but armed scouts came months later and better planes were soon available.

The model is available in several forms, and can build any Scout made. This one gives markings for early RNAS aircraft, which is why I chose it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-221Kit_zpsb22bb11b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-221Kit_zpsb22bb11b.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

The kit has a very nice set of parts for the interior. The floorboard, seat and rudder pedals are standard plastic, the 'wood and wire' framing on the side and the joystick are etched brass. The 'above' shots were all blurry, so you can't see the leather seat cushion, but the pilot will be blocking that anyway. They also include seat belts, but that only works with a "parked" airplane.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-222Interior_zps69bc6452.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-222Interior_zps69bc6452.jpg.html)

The instrument panel is a lovely little three-piece assembly. The backing is plastic, the instruments are printed on a clear plastic sheet, and the panel on top of it is etched brass. The whole thing glued together nicely and for the finishing touch I used some Micro Krystal-Klear for the glass bezels. I took about eight pictures just to get the two I used.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-223Dash_zps27b17c3c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-223Dash_zps27b17c3c.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Fuselage assembled, engine, wings and tailplanes mounted.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-231EngineWingsTailplanes_zps9d7cf707.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-231EngineWingsTailplanes_zps9d7cf707.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear installed, first paint coat. The cowling is just stuck on for test fit. I also haven't decided which upper wing to use - the one with or without the cutaway rear. Time will tell.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-241LandingGearPaint_zpsf47cd59b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-241LandingGearPaint_zpsf47cd59b.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I settled on having the gun mounted on the top wing rather than the forward deck, so I ended up using the wing with the cutout. Also got some more painting done.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-251TopWingMorePaint_zpscbf520c9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-251TopWingMorePaint_zpscbf520c9.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Markings, propeller, wing protectors.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-261MostlyDone_zps9b4bfb33.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-261MostlyDone_zps9b4bfb33.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

It's been four days, and not much has been done. Not that I haven't been busy - I have the main rigging done, the gun mounted and some other details. One of the problems has been that for some reason they didn't include the ailerons on the lower wings, so I've had to scribe my own. Many WW1 planes only had one set of ailerons, on the top. Photos reveal that from the beginning Bristols had ailerons on both wings. It turns out the protector hoops below the wings, that help keep the wings from breaking if the landing is a little crooked, were further forward than I had them. I pulled the hoops back off and scribed the ailerons. I haven't yet put them back on. The gun is mounted but not painted, and I still need to put in the control horns and the control rigging.

The box says "Precision Kit", but this one has problems. The wings don't line up properly, nor do the landing gear. There are very precise little photo-etched control horns, but they're too weak for gaming so I'll have to use brass wire. A lot of work still lies ahead.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/5-301PartlyRigged_zpsa3ef2008.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/5-301PartlyRigged_zpsa3ef2008.jpg.html)

[nikimcbee]

Hey Steve,
Did you ever finish that battleship, USS Olympia?, you were working on? I saw on in the hobby shop a month ago and started thinking about yours.

This kit:
http://www.activepowersports.com/lindberg-hl402-06-1-240-uss-olympia-plastic-model/?gclid=CJbm16C31r4CFZSBfgoduwgAKg

[Sailor Steve]

I've never had a model of USS Olympia. If I mentioned that ship at some point I don't remember. Color me confused. :-?

[nikimcbee]

I've never had a model of USS Olympia. If I mentioned that ship at some point I don't remember. Color me confused. :-?

:hmmm::dead: memory fail on my end? I thought you had a photo etched/Resin kit of one of those classic Great White Fleet BBs. I think you're like me and you collect kits (that need to be built:03:). I'll laugh if you forgot you had one... or I could be thinking of somebody else?:/\\k:

[Sailor Steve]

I had to go into my closet and dig out all my recently purchased resin kits, all in 1/700.

HMS Royal Sovereign
HMS Mars (Majestic class)
HMS Dreadnought
SMS Weissenburg (Brandenburg class)

I have a 1/720 Graf Spee and a 1/200 u-boat, and that's about it. For my naval game I plan to paint a whole lot of different ships from all eras, but those are and will be 1/2400 scale, so they are tiny.

[nikimcbee]

I must have been thinking of the Dreadnought.:hmmm: Atleast you have a model ship inventory now. Your welcome.:D

[Sailor Steve]

I must have been thinking of the Dreadnought.:hmmm: Atleast you have a model ship inventory now.
Not like I'll ever get to actually build any of them. On the other hand I keep seeing new ones I want. :damn:


Your welcome.:D
Cool! I'll be by for dinner tonight! :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

I was only able to rig a little at a time, but it's finally done. The model represents an early Scout 'C', in early RNAS markings. This particular aircraft lived out its life in home defense over England.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-31Done_zps1d435ac1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-31Done_zps1d435ac1.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-32Done_zps94630c9f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-32Done_zps94630c9f.jpg.html)

Close-up showing spare drum stowage for the gun. This is rare, and later they always stowed the drums inside the cockpit.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-33Done_zpsd59495b1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-33Done_zpsd59495b1.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-34Done_zps0226ac35.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-34Done_zps0226ac35.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I was going to post this Sunday, but spaced it. It was one year ago, June 1st 2013, that I started building models again in earnest. In that time I've had bursts of energy that left me building a model every week, and I've had times of no energy that left me not touching one for up to more than a week at a time.

So far I've built 26 new planes for our game, averaging just over two per month. I've repaired and rigged 11 old ones, not counting the original repair jobs I did two years ago. I also built several 1/2400 scale ships, all for tabletop gaming, but haven't touched those since late last year.

All this and I still haven't built all the planes for the first period of the game (July 1915-May 1916), but I'm close. Then again, there are six periods in the game. I have two repairs and three new ones to go. After that the planes will start to change a lot. New ideas, new concepts, new strategies and new designs. I'm looking forward to it. But then I know what's coming. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

This is another very old model I built twenty or more years ago. The last of the British racer conversions, the Sopwith Tabloid. I touched up the paint a little and rigged it, but nothing else, so it's a little rough.

The engine is fully enclosed, which made it pretty fast for only 80 horsepower.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SopwithTabloid1_zps7368a4a5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SopwithTabloid1_zps7368a4a5.jpg.html)

Absolute minimal markings.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SopwithTabloid2_zps53704142.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SopwithTabloid2_zps53704142.jpg.html)

Manufacturer's label on the tail.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SopwithTabloid3_zps623f4f5f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SopwithTabloid3_zps623f4f5f.jpg.html)

The Lewis gun was mounted to the side, firing through deflector plates. Mounted to the top of the wing it was impossible to change the drum.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/SopwithTabloid4_zps6ffdc4e3.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/SopwithTabloid4_zps6ffdc4e3.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Had a fun game last night. Our first scenario involved a very-late-war photo recon mission by an American DH.4 escorted by two SPAD 13s. I was attacking in an Albatros D.IIIa and we also had a Fokker D.VIII parasol. We managed to bring down the recon plane and chase the SPADS away.

Our second scenario involved a German bombing raid at the beginning of the war, and three of the four defenders were all planes I've built recently. The bombers were seven Albatros C.III two-seaters with no escort. Because of the numbers and/or size of the bombers they are always represented on paper.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/1Bombers_zpsf6b12d9a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/1Bombers_zpsf6b12d9a.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/2Bombers_zps0fab8777.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/2Bombers_zps0fab8777.jpg.html)

I rolled very poorly and was stuck in my Morane 'L' parasol.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/3Morane_zpsa8611ecb.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/3Morane_zpsa8611ecb.jpg.html)

Nine-year-old Silas was in my brand-new Bristol Scout.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/4Bristol_zps78b96727.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/4Bristol_zps78b96727.jpg.html)

Silas's grandpa, my friend Peter, flew my Nieuport 10b.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/5Nieuport10_zps75fe30d4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/5Nieuport10_zps75fe30d4.jpg.html)

In between us was Silas's dad, Iso, using Rocky's Nieuport 11. This is the French group in formation.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/6Allies_zps1a6a084a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/6Allies_zps1a6a084a.jpg.html)

The three of us started with a head-on pass. Iso rolled badly and didn't see the huge bomber formation. He just followed me around without shooting at anything.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/7TheAttack_zpsc77f281d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/7TheAttack_zpsc77f281d.jpg.html)

After the head-on we climbed and broke around to attack from the rear. One of the bombers shot Iso. Automatic sighting for him!
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/8BreakingOff_zps5844b9e4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/8BreakingOff_zps5844b9e4.jpg.html)

I made the rookie mistake of changing my empty drum while heading away from the bombers, which meant that I then had to chase them from far behind. Peter and Iso turned all the way around first, then changed their drums while chasing the bombers. I was still trying to catch up while they were making a new attack. That's Silas and Iso in the picture.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/9SecondWave_zps1edc5c32.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/9SecondWave_zps1edc5c32.jpg.html)

Meanwhile Silas in the Bristol got the only kill of the game.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Gaming/10ScoutGetsAKill_zpsae3de058.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Gaming/10ScoutGetsAKill_zpsae3de058.jpg.html)

Iso was shot out of control, but managed to regain enough to make a safe landing. Peter then had his engine shot out, but glided back to an empty field. Silas made a third attack, but was so badly shot up he decided to break off his attack. This left me to go after the bomber on the far left of the formation, which was so badly damaged I figured it would only take one shot to put him down. I got close enough, made the shot...and my gun jammed! Reloading again would have taken long enough to allow them to enter their own territory, and we have rules about how far you can chase people without getting lost, so I headed home and the game ended. :dead:

Still, it was a lot of fun and a night well-spent. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: A Pfalz E.II. The fastest and best-climbing of the Eindekkers, it still suffered from stability problems.

I did the conversion many years ago, using a Revell Fokker E.III kit and rebuilding the landing gear and tail planes to represent the Morane/Pfalz style. I didn't know at that time that most of the Pfalz eindekkers were white, and I didn't know that the Pfalz was 2-1/2 feet shorter than the Fokker. That's only 1/3 inch or 8mm in 1/72 scale, and it might not be enough to notice. Still...

Anyway, this is the model as I left it all those years ago.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/PfalzEII1Pre-Rebuild_zpsc7bc0a48.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/PfalzEII1Pre-Rebuild_zpsc7bc0a48.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

A couple hours soaking in a bowl of thinner and a thorough scrubbing later, it looks like I'll be considering this as new construction rather than just a repair job. The thinner took off more than just the paint.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-52ReadyToStart_zpsdbb56a19.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-52ReadyToStart_zpsdbb56a19.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

It's easy to measure in 1/72 scale when you have an architect's ruler.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-53FuselageTooLong_zps9c964d0d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-53FuselageTooLong_zps9c964d0d.jpg.html)

Cut two scale feet off the rear.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-54TwoFeetShorter_zps5fd47098.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-54TwoFeetShorter_zps5fd47098.jpg.html)

Sand the fuselage to shape and re-attach the tailpiece. Sand the tail to blend and the fuselage is good to go.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-55Reassembled_zps467e3f74.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-55Reassembled_zps467e3f74.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Rebuilt the landing gear from scratch, glued the wings back on, found some properly-scaled tailfins in the spares box, built a new tailskid and it's ready for paint.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-71TogetherAgain_zps3573307f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-71TogetherAgain_zps3573307f.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Painted.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-81Painted_zps5f941034.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-81Painted_zps5f941034.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Didn't get anything done yesterday due to jam night. Today I scribed the wing rib lines and got the main decals on. Next are the tiny little Pfalz serial numbers, then the pilot, prop, and rigging.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-101MainMarkings_zpsd96b7227.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-101MainMarkings_zpsd96b7227.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Pfalz E.II is done. Only three pictures, because I kept taking them over and over and not getting them to come out right. The E.II is only slightly different from the E.I anyway, having a 32-foot wingspan rather than the E.I's 28-foot span. This resulted in six bracing wires per side rather than four, and the nine-cylinder 100-horsepower engine instead of the seven-cylinder 80hp model.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-121Done_zpsded6f3b9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-121Done_zpsded6f3b9.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-122Done_zps0b223e6b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-122Done_zps0b223e6b.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-123Done_zps4a3d6fd8.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-123Done_zps4a3d6fd8.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next project: An early Nieuport 11. A smaller, handier version of the N.10, the N.11 was nicknamed "Bébé", or "Baby". First deliveries began in November 1915, and the plane entered front-line service in January 1916. It was faster and more maneuverable than the eindekkers, its only drawback being the lack of a syncronizer. Most of them were armed with the British Lewis gun mounted atop the upper wing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-131Kit_zps4ae55578.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-131Kit_zps4ae55578.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

This looks like it's going to be a straight "out of the box" build, with a couple of exceptions. Primary assembly is fairly straightforward - cut the pieces from the tree, trim the flash and glue them together.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-132PrimaryAssembly_zpsdfe4aa84.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-132PrimaryAssembly_zpsdfe4aa84.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

The N.11 I've settled on was a bit different from every other Nieuport. It had the oil collectors behind the cowling replaced with large faired panels, apparently from a Bristol Scout. This required puttying in the fuselage sides, sanding, more putty, more sanding and still more of both. This took most of the day, and it's still not done. It's almost there, though, and tomorrow should see landing gear and primer coat, if not more.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-141PuttyForNewNose_zps5e3a1125.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-141PuttyForNewNose_zps5e3a1125.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

New side panels mostly finished, landing gear installed and first coat in place. The paint is a bit more yellow than I usually use, and I mixed it especially for this plane and French planes to follow. In the 'Colours And Markings' section of the Nieuport Fighters special volume 1, historian and color expert Ray Rimell writes about what he calls the French 'Yellow Period' (mid 1916-early 1918). He says they started adding aluminum powder and yellow pigment to the dope, keeping the same general color but protecting the fabric. Of the color itself, Rimell says it "...could vary from a rich egg yolk shade through to a near beige, or buff to a whitish yellow depending on age and/or weathering." I'm not sure of the exact shade on this particular aircraft, but then it seems that nobody is. I've been using three different shades of desert tan or sand for British, French and German planes, varying them by adding a little white or a little brown from time to time. In this case I took the French mix I've been using and added some 'Chrome Yellow', the color used on the wings of US aircraft in the 1920s and '30s.


http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-151WheelsandPaint_zps66849d8a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-151WheelsandPaint_zps66849d8a.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I spent part of yesterday sanding and repainting, and then gave up. Today I took some thinner and a rag and completely stripped all the paint off. I then repainted the yellow, finally obtaining a surface I thought was smooth enough. Then I masked and sprayed the personal marking on the nose - a solid medium blue. Tomorrow I'm finally ready to put it together.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-171FinalPaint_zps04d0e71d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-171FinalPaint_zps04d0e71d.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Nieuport 11. The model represents a very early British version, delivered in French markings. The only indication of its nationality is the RNAS serial number on the sides. When the nose and upper wings were painted blue is uncertain, but according to Ray Rimell in the Datafile special on Nieuport fighters, for awhile at least it was flown by Flight Commander Kenneth Stevens Savory, who called it the Blue Bird. It was also unusual, and possibly unique, in having the Lewis gun mounted on the forward deck and firing through the propeller. The French were by this time using the Lewis in favor of their own Hotchkiss gun, and all Nieuport 11s were delivered with the gun mounted to the top wing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-211Done_zps420aff93.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-211Done_zps420aff93.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-212Done_zpsed8b4ff1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-212Done_zpsed8b4ff1.jpg.html)

Evident in the photograph I built the model from is the starboard aileron which was apparently damaged and a new one either installed from the spares supply or canibalized from another aircraft.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-213Done_zps2fe2fd89.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-213Done_zps2fe2fd89.jpg.html)

This last picture gives a good view of the unusual side-panels, engine and the deck-mounted Lewis gun.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-214Done_zps9837c147.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-214Done_zps9837c147.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

I like that one. The Nieuport 11 has been my favorite for a long time.

[Sailor Steve]

It's always been high on my list too. Performance aside (and its performance was superlative for the time) some planes are just too cute for words. I could build a dozen N.11s and still want more.

Maybe someday. <sigh>

[Sailor Steve]

Next up: Another twofer - The Fokker E.IV and Pfalz E.IV. With the coming of the highly maneuverable Nieuport 10 and 11 Germany lost control of the air. They had no real answer available, and the best they could come up with was to try to make the eindekkers better. Oberursel mated two of their seven-cylinder U.0 engines to produce the twin-row 160hp U.III, a copy of the Gnome Lambda-Lambda. The engine was heavy and unreliable, losing speed rapidly with altitude. The E.IVs were not much faster than their single-row counterparts, less maneuverable, and were much more difficult to handle. The only advantage they had was that they were the first fighters to carry twin guns, making them very dangerous if they managed to get you in their sights.

The two planes were not really all that similar, but since they were built for the same purpose and were the last of the eindekkers, I've decided to build them together.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-221Kits_zpsce1527ca.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-221Kits_zpsce1527ca.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Main fuselage and engine assemblies done.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-222FuselageandEngine_zps36e68164.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-222FuselageandEngine_zps36e68164.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Main assembly on both models is complete. I just need to add a couple of details and the painting can begin. This is going to be fun...at least for me.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-241MainAssemblyComplete_zps2b5062b4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-241MainAssemblyComplete_zps2b5062b4.jpg.html)

[Fish40]

Love the builds Steve! You must have a whole Air Force assembled by now:haha: Great work!

[Sailor Steve]

Danke, merci, gracias, arigato.

Oh, and thanks. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

First primer coat. I came across a major frustration. Neither kit allows for the engine to turn. I spent a lot of time the first day using wire and tubing to make sure they not only turn, but spin freely when you blow on the propeller. Once mounted I put the cowlings on, and in both cases the engine would scrape the cowling. No amount of grinding, filing and sanding would make it work, and after a couple of hours I gave up on both. Everything is glued together and nothing moves at all. Now I have to adjust the guns on the Fokker to make them look right. The real ones were partially covered and the kit guns don't fit correctly. Still, I'm a lot closer.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-251Primer_zps3a388816.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-251Primer_zps3a388816.jpg.html)

[DragonRider]

Great work on these models they look fantastic I just would not have the time to do one of these.
It’s nice to see the stages of you assembling and painting them Good work Steve :yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

The Fokker E.IV was different in having the guns partly buried under an extended aluminum upper deck. As can be seen in the last picture the kit sort of shows this by making a pair of troughs the barrels glue into. Unfortunately the cowling doesn't line up properly, the blocks where holes should be and the fact that the barrels look awful anyway all add up to a very poor representation. First I found some better-looking guns, with full breeches. Then I tried building up the deck with paper, but it wasn't enough. I didn't take a picture at that stage. Today I dug out the troughs completely, so the breeches will extend into the cockpit as they did in real life. Then I puttied in the forward troughs so the barrels will rest a little bit above the deck. After that is sanded and blended I plan to install the guns and then use the paper to recreate the upper deck in the proper shape.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-271FokkerNose_zpsa9704b0b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-271FokkerNose_zpsa9704b0b.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Guns mounted at proper elevation and angle.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-281FokkerGuns_zpsc8d66c6d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-281FokkerGuns_zpsc8d66c6d.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

It's taking a bit more work than I expected. I switched from paper to scrap plastic for the thicker pieces. The cover for the guns is on, and the side panels and the oil collectors, but there's still some more filling and sanding ahead. I still hope to have them finished for Thursday's game.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-291NoseRedone_zpsfcd36c5e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-291NoseRedone_zpsfcd36c5e.jpg.html)

At this late stage I just found out that Small Stuff, who already make incredibly detailed 1/72 engines with separate actuating rods and rocker plates, are now offering an Oberusel U.III for only $12. It's too late for this one; even though it really needs it I'm not going to pull the cowling off and replace the clunky kit engine. On the other hand I have another one coming up ahead that uses the engine. I'm going to order one, and maybe a couple others, anyway. If the future plane comes with a good engine, who knows? I might redo this one anyway.

[Sailor Steve]

Basic paint applied. As usual the Fokker will be CDL, the Pfalz white. I have to let the paint dry overnight before I can mask and spray the noses - Fokker aluminum and Pfalz black, also as usual. I chose this picture angle to highlight the differently-shaped vent holes they made in the cowlings to try to keep the double-row engines cool.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/6-301BasicPaint_zps5e748bf3.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/6-301BasicPaint_zps5e748bf3.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Main paint is finished.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-11MainPaint_zps4a271d21.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-11MainPaint_zps4a271d21.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Decals applied, and secondary paint. I found pictures of a Pfalz E.IV with a cool paint scheme, and it's starting to show.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-21Decals_zps19d89e16.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-21Decals_zps19d89e16.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I did get them finished for yesterday's game, but didn't have time to photograph them. Here they are today.

Fokker E.IV.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-31FokkerDone_zps2d3fe894.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-31FokkerDone_zps2d3fe894.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-32FokkerDone_zps6bf380b4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-32FokkerDone_zps6bf380b4.jpg.html)

The markings belong to Oberleutnant Ernst von Althaus.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-33FokkerDone_zpsb351952e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-33FokkerDone_zpsb351952e.jpg.html)

I never have been able to get the machine-turned aluminum panels to my liking. Still, from a distance they look alright.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-34FokkerDone_zps83b598f2.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-34FokkerDone_zps83b598f2.jpg.html)

Pfalz E.IV.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-35PfalzDone_zps88a8fc47.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-35PfalzDone_zps88a8fc47.jpg.html)

The model represents the aircraft of Leutnant Friedrich Grünzweig. He seems to have painted the plane himself.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-36PfalzDone_zps0d4ef8a9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-36PfalzDone_zps0d4ef8a9.jpg.html)

I found a set of air and ground crew in interesting poses.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-37PfalzDone_zps35a524f1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-37PfalzDone_zps35a524f1.jpg.html)

This plane also had dozens of small air holes drilled into the sides of the cowling for extra cooling.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-38PfalzDone_zps9f742c44.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-38PfalzDone_zps9f742c44.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I'm done with Period 1 of our game, and this will start at the beginning of Period 2 (June-December 1916).

First up is a BE.2e. It recieved a more powerful engine, and the upper wing was reshaped while the lower wing was shortened, changing from double-bay to single-bay construction. This led aircrews to be somewhat worried the plane might come apart in the air. These fears proved to be ungrounded, but the plane was forever nicknamed the 'Quirk'. The observer remained in the front cockpit, leaving the plane relatively unprotected, and while better than the BE.2c it was never really good enough for front line combat.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-41Kit_zpsa088f799.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-41Kit_zpsa088f799.jpg.html)

This is a low-pressure plastic kit from Pegasus, and has a lot of flash to be cleaned but otherwise looks quite good.

[Sailor Steve]

Basic assembly complete. I had hoped to have the landing gear on as well, but I had some other things going on as well. I'm only a month away from the 100th anniversary of the first naval (non)engagement of the war, and I wanted to play out the possible scenarios with my own naval game, but I haven't really even started on the ships and models for that fight. I'm trying to make time to get all that done.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-51BasicAssembly_zps12ff2059.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-51BasicAssembly_zps12ff2059.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear and paint applied. This is one of the first examples of the use of Protective Coloring #10, commonly just called PC-10. As the name implies, it was partly for camoflage but mostly to protect the fabric from the sun and help it last longer.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-61LandingGearandPaint_zps840a6ec1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-61LandingGearandPaint_zps840a6ec1.jpg.html)

[Fish40]

Nice!:yeah:

[Sailor Steve]

I didn't do anything with the model on Monday, being too busy working on a couple of other things plus getting ready to go play music. Yesterday I was busy recovering from the playing and the trip to the gym that morning. Today I got the pilots painted and the fuselage details that will be unaccessible once the upper wing is on. I then cut four cabanes out of brass rod and got the wing on straight. I then thought about the struts. It's hot here in the summer and the thin plastic struts are susceptible to the heat. It turns out resin is even worse, so I have to fix a couple of my recent models and be more careful about leaving them in the car at the hobby shop. Brass rod is great, but many struts of the era had an aerofoil shape, wide from the side but narrow from the front, and pointy at the ends, and I don't have the equipment to shape brass that way. I would use plastic but I've run out of the spare stock I bought so many years ago and no one makes it anymore.

So I did a little online research and came up with pretty much nothing. Then I got to thinking (always a dangerous pastime) and it suddenly hit me - There was one material I hadn't tried for various reasons, but I had a supply of it right here in my home, and it may be enough to last me a lifetime; if not, I can get plenty more for an insanely cheap price at the local supermarket. It's called "wood". A long time ago I though about balsa, but it's fairly expensive and while it's great for flying models, for something the size I need it's not very strong. I needed a hardwood, something that won't bend, won't break and is still easily workable. But where to find such a wood in a size that's measured in millimeters? Then it hit me: TOOTHPICKS! I had some in the cupboard, and another little bottle is somewhere between $1 and $3, and the bottle contains at least a hundred of them.

So I got out the toothpicks, measured and cut one. I cut off the pointy ends because they're too pointy, put the handy-dandy sanding wheel on the Dremel tool and ground the square toothpick down until it had the proper aerofoil shape, then used a sanding stick to shape the ends and smooth the rest. One of the problems with brass is that if you cut it just a tiny bit too long the only way to shorten it is to cut it again, and then your run the risk of making it just a tiny bit too short, and there's no fix for that. With the toothpick if it's just a tiny bit too long you start gently sanding the end, just a little, then check it again.

Eureka! Voila! Presto! Perfection!

I only got the two struts for one side done when the Dremel started slowing down. I took off the battery pack and put it on the charger, and used some brown paint and a lot of thinner to make a stain. Now I not only have good solid struts, but they have real wood grain! I only did one, so the picture shows one stained and one not.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-91Toothpicks_zps28f1ca50.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-91Toothpicks_zps28f1ca50.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Nice work...you've learned well :cool::)

[Sailor Steve]

All done but the rigging. The kit didn't come with a gravity tank, and every single photograph shows one. I fabricated one out of a World War 2 drop tank. A little cutting, a little gluing, a little grinding, a little sanding...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-101AllButTheRigging_zps5150a7a2.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-101AllButTheRigging_zps5150a7a2.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Shortening the lower wing and having only one set of struts meant that they added an extraordinary amount of rigging to give the plane strength. All that extra rigging has taken three days to install, but today it's finally done.

The BE.2e. I can see why they called it 'The Quirk'.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-141Done_zps7d0f0dcf.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-141Done_zps7d0f0dcf.jpg.html)
This picture also shows off the new set of British propeller logos I recently puchased. Markings are by Tibbenham Aviation Company.

This aircraft represents one that was forced down and captured by the Germans. The only photographs I know of were taken after the capture, and show iron crosses on the wheel covers, something I left off the model. The other markings represent squadron and personal markings, and they had three different pairs of those. The 'A' on the tail was a squadron marking, as was the stripe on the sides.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-142Done_zps5ccd2c4b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-142Done_zps5ccd2c4b.jpg.html)

The BE.2e still had the observer in the front cockpit, giving him a limited range of fire. They did try different mountings, the most popular being a swiveling pintel which allowed the gun to move a little more freely and the gunner to look down the sights, a luxury not available on a regular pintel mount. In this case I chose to represent the "goalpost" mount, which allowed the gun to slide back and forth, which did help some.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-143Done_zps5d4e6d9f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-143Done_zps5d4e6d9f.jpg.html)

This close-up shows the "star and crescent" marking on the engine cover, which I'm pretty sure was a personal marking, and the barely-visible clover, probably also a personal emblem.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-144Done_zps4a7a58a0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-144Done_zps4a7a58a0.jpg.html)

One of the oddities that made me want to do this version was the fact that the photos clearly show that the upper wing was bare linen rather than PC-10 paint, which indicates that the upper wing was damaged at some point and replaced with an older wing from when the entire plane was still CDL. Even more odd is that half the starboard aileron was apparently replaced again with one that was painted PC-10. This also indicates that the aileron came in two sections, something not mentioned in any of the sources I've seen.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-145Done_zps7e6355a5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-145Done_zps7e6355a5.jpg.html)

I need to work on the rules for Thursday's game, so I probably won't be starting my next project until Friday.

[Aktungbby]

Great rigging job! Any chance the Turks got hold of a British Captured aircraft which would explain the star and crescent for use in the Mesopotamia campaign?
Wikipedia- "By the end of 1915, two offices were established to govern Ottoman military aviation. The 13th Branch was part of the Ottoman General Staff; the 9th Branch was part of the Minister of War's office.
By 1916, the growing air force had 81 pilots and observers and about 90 airplanes. Eventually, Germany would transfer 460 airplanes to the Ottoman Empire; some 260 went to the Ottoman units and the rest remained in German units. Some 400 German aviation personnel served in Ottoman forces.
By the war's end, the Ottoman aviation squadrons had become a potpourri of about 200 supplied, purchased, and captured aircraft from Germany, France, Russia, and Britain. Even a general enumeration was overwhelming: seven types of Albatros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albatros); four types of Fokkers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker); three types of Gotha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothaer_Waggonfabrik) bombers; two types each of Rumpler (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpler) and Caudron (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caudron); plus LVG B series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVG), Halberstadts (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halberstadt), Pfalzes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pfalz_Flugzeugwerke), Voisins (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voisin), DeHavillands (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeHavilland), Nieuports (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nieuport), a Bristol Bullet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Bullet), a Farman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farman), a Morane-Saulnier L Parasol (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morane-Saulnier_L), and a Grigorovich G.5 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigorovich_(design_bureau))." I suspect your rehabbed BE2e might be a Turkish loaner. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Ottomaanse_Vlag.png/150px-Ottomaanse_Vlag.png (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ottomaanse_Vlag.png):hmmm: http://www.ww1medals.net/tur%20aircraft%20wiki.jpg http://www.nzmr.org/foote/Fighter-Plane2.jpgthis BE2e for example was used by New Zealand forces in Palestine in 1917; http://www.nzmr.org/aircraft/A02060_BE2.jpg And this BE2e was used in Gaza night bombing by Australians- all sides used each other's aircraft and the 'Quirk' was certainly in the Middle East. It was definitely not the aircraft of choice!

[Sailor Steve]

Any chance the Turks got hold of a British Captured aircraft which would explain the star and crescent for use in the Mesopotamia campaign?
Probably not in this case. The first test conversion of a BE.2c to the new configuration was completed on February 14, 1916. 'C' and 'D' models were being converted prior to delivery in late May. This aircraft, 5836, was assigned to the RFC in France on June 26 and remained there until brought down in Germany on August 29.

It was definitely not the aircraft of choice!
Not there, not on the Western Front, not anywhere. :dead:

[Buddahaid]

Nice model Steve. I've always like that general colour scheme and what a mess to rig!

[Sailor Steve]

Next project: Another Albatros C.III. I originally bid on one on eBay, then saw a different kit for a better 'Buy It Now' price. I bought the second one, expecting someone to outbid me for the first, at which point I would let it go. No one did, and I ended up with two. I built the first one as an early version, without the synchronized forward gun. This one will be a later version, with the pilot's gun and with very cool personal markings.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-181Kit_zps006cbd1c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-181Kit_zps006cbd1c.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

Sailor Steve: with very cool personal markings The last war WITH very cool personal markings, IMHO very cool!http://www.earlyaeroplanes.com/buttons/furball_ia.GIF for some of us really old warbirdshttp://www.darwinsgamecloset.com/images/Dogfight19632.jpg Although he never flew the Albatross, #4 on the WWI list-tied with Voss- Josef Jacob, commander Jasta 7, certainly had 'interesting markings'...for anyone with Udo von D: 666 fallen angel proclivities :D http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2002/08/images/profile_fokker_dr1_04.jpg DRI#450/17 Whatever HIS religious affiliation insignia-wise, Jacobs was the last Pour Le Merite (BlueMax) winner to die in 1978-age 84>http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/be/Josef_Jacobs.jpg/220px-Josef_Jacobs.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Josef_Jacobs.jpg) Strangely, religion was a wide-open issue as Erhard Milch, Knight's Cross, of mixed Jewish ancestry, also commanded Jasta 7 and in WWII was a Generalfieldmarshall under Goering and Speer. One of the very few high ranking officers to serve with Jewish ancestry, He did time for war crimes.

[Sailor Steve]

Interior finished. This kit, from Meikraft, is very poorly designed. The dimensions all seem to be right, and the details look good, but everything is tied to the sprue with very thick connectors that have to be carefully trimmed and sanded to get rid of the huge lumps. Not fun at all.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-191Interior_zps2b8ab0ba.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-191Interior_zps2b8ab0ba.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Fuselage, tail assembly and lower wings in place.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-201BasicsDone_zps458bf34b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-201BasicsDone_zps458bf34b.jpg.html)

[DragonRider]

Hi Steve You Might find this interesting.

http://news.uk.msn.com/airworthy-ww1-planes-unveiled

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks for the link. That is way cool! :D

A flying Bristol Bullet! They mention it twice, but the second time it's accompanied by a picture of the SE.5a! :dead:

Even worse is their grammar: "It had a speed of up to 50mph, faster than any of the German Fokker Eindecker monoplanes." The comma makes it seem that the top speed was only 50 mph, which is about 30 mph slower than the eindeckers. The comma is very misleading. In another section they mention the M.1c's true top speed of 130 mph, which was indeed about 50 mph faster than the E.I.

[DragonRider]

Yes us English we can never speak the language the right way :D :up:
I have been lucky to see a few first and second world war aircraft flying overhead as its the Farnborough air show going on :up:

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear assembled, first primer coat in place. The earlier C.III I did was pale blue over linen. This one reverts to the totally bare scheme of doped linen and varnished wood, so I used the linen color for the base coat rather than grey.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-211LandingGearPrimer_zps3ca18c1d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-211LandingGearPrimer_zps3ca18c1d.jpg.html)

[TorpX]

"It had a speed of up to 50mph, faster than any of the German Fokker Eindecker monoplanes."

I noticed that, but just figured that they forgot to put a 1 in front of the 50.

[Aktungbby]

Hi Steve You Might find this interesting.

http://news.uk.msn.com/airworthy-ww1-planes-unveiled

Extremely interesting! Major Charles Pickthorn, who flew nearly the entire war both as an observer and pilot, commanded 84 Squadron at the war's end. Wounded in his third victory, 3/6/17, his fourth, 3/11/17, won him the Military Cross, largely on the celebrity of his opponent. Crown Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia, himself in command of Fliegerabteilung (Artillerie) 258 (artillery aerial observer squadron) often flew as a fighter pilot with Jasta 2 (Boelcke) in an Albatross D.I (somewhat outdated) painted black with skull and crossbones. Forced down with a foot wound, the unfortunate prince was shot by Australian troops attempting to regain German lines- he died in April, in hospital. Major Pickthorn's last victory, and into the ranks of acedom, was on 11/10/18, the day before the war ended. More pics of his victorious SE-5a aircraft! http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-07-21-DSC_0120-thumb.jpg (http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-07-21-DSC_0120.jpg)http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-07-21-DSC_0128-thumb.JPG (http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2014-07-21-DSC_0128.JPG)http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Fried._Karl_of_Prussia_4910526328_a7eeec449b_o.jpg/220px-Fried._Karl_of_Prussia_4910526328_a7eeec449b_o.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fried._Karl_of_Prussia_4910526328_a7eeec449b_ o.jpg)Freidrich Karl; unfortunate #4: Iron Cross First and Second Class.

[Sailor Steve]

Gun ring installed and wood grain started. The kit didn't come with a gun ring, so I had to cut one out of sheet plastic, and sand it a bunch to get a good circle. The wood grain is going to take some sanding before it's ready, but it needs to be completely dry so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-231GunRingWoodGrain_zpsb8d644ad.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-231GunRingWoodGrain_zpsb8d644ad.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Normally I try to keep the best parts for last, but in this case the decals had to be applied before the upper wing went on. Back when I first accidentally ended up with two Albatros C.III kits, I found that the Meikraft kit had a really cool dragon decal for both sides of the airplane. I started doing some research and discovered that this was wrong. Originally there was only one photo of the plane, showing the starboard side with the cool dragon. It turns out that in 1996 the great aviation artist Bob Pearson had talked about doing a portrait of the airplane. He was contacted by a collector who informed him of the crocodile on the port side and shared his pictures.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=409450172503169&id=353328611448659

Other artists have since done profiles as well as action paintings. The plane belonged to Lt. Erwin Böhme and his observer, Lt. Lademacher (one post on the web says Lademacher's first name was Fritz, but there is no other source and the poster gives no reference). They served on the Eastern Front, in Kagohl 2, Kasta 10, Kavel Aerodrome, in early 1916.

Böhme was one of two pilots later asked to join Oswald Boelke's new Jasta 2. The other was Manfred von Richtofen. Böhme was 37 at the time. He and Boelke became best friends. It was Böhme who suffered the unfortunate collision that killed Boelke, and legend has it that it was von Richtofen who talked Böhme out of committing suicide over the affair.

There is some minor controversy over the colors of the 'Dragodile'. Some people feel it should be pale green, but Bob Pearson and Ray Rimell are both convinced the portraits were white. The main clue is the point where the animals meet the fuselage cross backgrounds. There is no observable difference between them, indicating that they are the same color, i.e. white. The final clue is from a letter that Erwin Böhme himself wrote to his fiancé, describing the plane. He called it "Schutzgeist", which translates to "guardian ghost", or "spirit". This may mean that it was white like a ghost, or it may mean nothing. Still, it's all there is.

Pearson did some drawings in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales, and I since nobody does an accurate decal I ended up printing the drawings onto decal paper. This is what I've been working towards ever since I did my own Morane and Pfalz logos. I first printed them onto regular paper and carefully cut them out. They were a little large for the model. Was Pearson's drawing out of scale? Was the model kit a bit too small? Probably the latter. It doesn't matter. I resized the drawing down about 10% and it was almost perfect, though the Dragon's legs were too long.

I printed the pictures onto the decal paper, and they looked great but when I transferred them they were clear, not white. I used my publishing/drawing program, PageStream, to add a white background, but they still came out clear. I traced an outline around the drawings and made it white, hoping to use it as a background. It also came out clear. My fourth attempt was to put the clear background onto the model and use its black outline as a guide, and just paint the white. Then I found I had some small white decal sheet. I printed the drawings onto that but they were a little blurry. I went ahead and put them on the model, let them dry thoroughly and then put the clear version on top. It came out pretty well.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-251Dragon_zpsfc7a608d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-251Dragon_zpsfc7a608d.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-252Crocodile_zps54069419.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-252Crocodile_zps54069419.jpg.html)

I painted the tongues red daubing on the paint with very thin brass rod. I used the same method to touch up the edges with brown paint. I still need to fix the white backgrounds and to smooth out the paint so it doesn't look so lumpy in the pictures.

[Sailor Steve]

Pilots, guns and cabanes installed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-281PilotsGunsCabanes_zpsf87e179e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-281PilotsGunsCabanes_zpsf87e179e.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Looks great :cool:

[Sailor Steve]

Upper wing and radiator mounted.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-291UpperWingRadiator_zpsb6c449c9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-291UpperWingRadiator_zpsb6c449c9.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Nothin' left but the details.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-301AlmostDone_zps20cd4bd0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-301AlmostDone_zps20cd4bd0.jpg.html)

[MajorArtNZ]

That looks like a nice kit!
Glad that Kombrig release some really interesting subjects.

Great images all round! :)

[Sailor Steve]

That looks like a nice kit!
Glad that Kombrig release some really interesting subjects.
I now have several, and they are all gorgeous. I just wish I had the time to build one of them.

Great images all round! :)
Thanks! :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

I posted pictures of the finished model yesterday, and decided I didn't like them. A couple were out of focus and I thought the propeller looked sloppy. I bought a special paintbrush several months ago, thinking it might be good for the streaked look Fokker used later in the war, and I wondered if it wouldn't do a better job. it did.

Here is the usual front quarter portrait.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-311Done_zpsfa05684a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-311Done_zpsfa05684a.jpg.html)

Left rear quarter, showing the crocodile.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-312Done_zpsb2f50a7e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-312Done_zpsb2f50a7e.jpg.html)

Right quarter, showing the dragon.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-314Done_zps14da9387.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-314Done_zps14da9387.jpg.html)

The beasts had dark-colored tongues, almost certainly red. I have no brush capable of that kind of fine work, but I had an idea. I dipped a .020 brass wire in the paint cap and 'tatooed' the paint onto the tongues. The result actually left it looking like there are teeth in front of the tongue. I then looked at the Albatros factory logo. It was a picture of a black bird with a man's head. Behind is a red sun with a yellow flame sunburst and 'Albatros' in black over the flames. I couldn't make a decal that size that would show anything, and I already have decal sheets with the general idea all in black. I tried the wire daubing for the red and yellow and got a result I can live with.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-313Done_zps30c92546.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-313Done_zps30c92546.jpg.html)

Close-ups.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-315Done_zpsfc546df4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-315Done_zpsfc546df4.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/7-316Done_zpsb2217ea5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/7-316Done_zpsb2217ea5.jpg.html)

Oh, yeah - the new brush.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2014-8-1FanBrush_zpsd33b6e44.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2014-8-1FanBrush_zpsd33b6e44.jpg.html)

[mapuc]

Your Models are real eye teaser

Markus

[Otto Fuhrmann]

Those are absolutely fantastic. I bow to your skill with the brush.
I spent about an hour going through the entire thread looking at your photos and it was time well spent!

[Sailor Steve]

I thank you both for your kind comments.

[Sailor Steve]

Next project is another Austro-Hungarian Hansa Brandenburg C.I, this one representing the problem of the Austrians also not being able to synchronize the Schwarzlose gun. Their answer, like the Allies, was to mount it on the top wing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-21Kit_zpsfa7d9420.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-21Kit_zpsfa7d9420.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

It's been almost two weeks since I posted here, and it's been almost two weeks since I did any work on the new Hansa. I got the fuselage together, cut away part of the nose and grafted on a new one, and got the lower port wing sanded and the halves glued together, and then got busy with research for the '100 Years' thread, and haven't gotten back to it.

Then a friend turned me on to a site I had never heard of - War Times Journal, which is of course dedicated to all things World War 1. They used to make pewter ships in 1/3000 scale, which was smaller than I'm interested in. Now they are making ships in several scales, including 1/2400, which is the scale of all the ships I already have. The thing is that they are using a 3D printer and doing what they call Rapid Plastic Prototyping, which I gather means they don't even make the models until somebody orders them. This stuff is amazing! Better even than GHQ's metal models, and at 1/3 the price. Also there is no assembly required, because the printing process allows for undercut body parts and gun barrels. They even have the intake funnels I was talking about earlier.
http://www.wtj.com/store/

I ordered a pair of American Atlanta class cruisers from 1887, because two was all there were, and a pair of models of the ugly French turret ship Hoche, because it was rebuilt later and looked much different, and one model of the British cruiser Apollo, of which there were eight but I can't afford them yet. All are beautiful, highly detailed, accurate and yes, I'm excited.

Here are the models in clear plastic, as delivered...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-14Kits_zps93ce21f8.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-14Kits_zps93ce21f8.jpg.html)

...and primered and ready to add the masts. No other work is needed.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-151Primered_zps9b4aafc1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-151Primered_zps9b4aafc1.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Awesome considering the small scale :cool:

[Sailor Steve]

First up are the two American ships, the Atlanta class of 1887.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-171Done_zps94f8a922.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8171Done_zps94f8a922.jpg.html)

Boston is finished as she originally appeared when new - black hull, yellow ochre upperworks, full masts. I started to rig them, but got tired and wanted to get them done. What rigging is there is my hair.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-172Done_zps828db183.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-172Done_zps828db183.jpg.html)

Atlanta represents the ships as they looked near the end of their service lives - white overall with yellow ochre funnels and masts, the latter only being enough to carry wireless aerials. Also clear are how the two main 8" guns were offset, allowing one of the 6" guns to fire directly forward as well as to the side. http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-173Done_zps3b5085a0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-173Done_zps3b5085a0.jpg.html)

Starboard side view of both. I printed out a whole sheet of period flags I downloaded and resized. Unfortunately the white part prints as clear, so I may need to get some white decal paper and redo them.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-174Done_zpse22664bd.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-174Done_zpse22664bd.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-175Done_zps54b0ce51.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-175Done_zps54b0ce51.jpg.html)

[Jimbuna]

Amazing and at such a small scale :cool:

Gold Star for the innovative use of rigging material :)

Speak later on today mate :03:

[em2nought]

This stuff is amazing! Better even than GHQ's metal models, and at 1/3 the price. Also there is no assembly required, because the printing process allows for undercut body parts and gun barrels. They even have the intake funnels I was talking about earlier.
http://www.wtj.com/store/



I could almost afford some of those!

[Sailor Steve]

The 1890 French armored Turret/Barbette ship Hoche. I posted a photograph of this ship earlier to show how ugly some of these early French designs were. The models are one piece, with no assembly required. The gun barrels are a part of the ship, which is impossible to do with any standard molding techiques. I added the mast extensions and yards from .008 guitar string, the finest wire you can buy in short, workable lengths.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-201Hoche_zps2d1838eb.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-201Hoche_zps2d1838eb.jpg.html)

Hoche carried a pair 340mm (13.4") guns in single turrets fore and aft, and two 274mm (10.") guns in single open barbettes high on the sides. As a secondary battery she carried eighteen 138.6mm (5.5") guns in single mounts along the sides, plus an anti-torpedo boat battery of ten 47mm guns in casemates and open mounts, and another ten 37mm Hotchkiss revolving cannon. Further, she had a torpedo tube in the bow and two on each side.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-202Hoche_zps77e1c384.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-202Hoche_zps77e1c384.jpg.html)

Needless to say, Hoche was slow and top-heavy, and recieved a complete rebuild in 1898.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-203Hoche_zps56b7129d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-203Hoche_zps56b7129d.jpg.html)

Starboard-side view.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-204Hoche_zpse0985306.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-204Hoche_zpse0985306.jpg.html)

And to show just how finely molded these models are (well, I suppose they're not molded at all, but printed)...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/8-205Hoche_zps6080455e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/8-205Hoche_zps6080455e.jpg.html)

[em2nought]

The 1890 French armored Turret/Barbette ship Hoche.

Here's another guy that does some interesting era ships or ships that never were http://www.shapeways.com/designer/squint181 mostly in 1/1800, but some in 1/2400 too.

[Sailor Steve]

Cool! Sometimes I like to say "I'm only interested in what was, not what might have been!" But in cases like the Lexington class battlecruisers or the Montana class battleships it's fun to find out how a fight might have gone with the Admiral (Hood) class battleships if all four had been finished, or the German 'H' class.

This looks like the same process with the same sort of detail. Thanks for the link. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, after more than a month off doing things like building ship models, research, reading, typing but mostly honing my musical skills, I finally got back to the Hansa. I had the fuselage together back then, but never took a picture. Now, after several days of sanding and filling, the lower wings are finally on.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-61FuselageampLowerWings_zpsb062e8aa.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-61FuselageampLowerWings_zpsb062e8aa.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Another two weeks have gone by, and I've been splitting my time between doing research for the '100 Years' thread and working on music. I finally sat down a couple of days ago and started sanding the tailplanes for the Hansa. The first two I did show some gap between the two halves of each piece, so I tried to avoid that this time. The easiest thing would have been to trace the outlines onto thing sheet plastic, mark the ribs and sand them down, which does give a very thin piece indeed. I wanted to see if I could get this one a little better so I spent a lot of time sanding the halves very thin, being as careful as I could not to overdo it and grind through them, which would have left me going to the alternate plan.

The tailplanes are finally on.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-201Tailplanes_zps0e34351d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-201Tailplanes_zps0e34351d.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

And after another week's delay the landing gear are mounted.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-271LandingGear_zps4f236628.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-271LandingGear_zps4f236628.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

First primer coat, some more putty and sanding.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-281PrimerampPutty_zpsa7201d3c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-281PrimerampPutty_zpsa7201d3c.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-282PrimerampPutty_zpsea5d0c62.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-282PrimerampPutty_zpsea5d0c62.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

First regular paint coat.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-291CDL_zps68dba779.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-291CDL_zps68dba779.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Wood fuselage.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/9-301WoodGrain_zps4252c62b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/9-301WoodGrain_zps4252c62b.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Crew observer's gun and engine details added.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-41Details_zpsdbaf3e96.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-41Details_zpsdbaf3e96.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Cabane installed. Now for a whole lot of sanding to make the upper wing. The square made of plastic sheet bits glued together will soon be the box radiator this particular plane used.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-51Cabane_zpsf779dc6c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-51Cabane_zpsf779dc6c.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Twelve days to get the upper wing made, but it's in place now.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-171UpperWing_zpsf561878c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-171UpperWing_zpsf561878c.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Radiator, forward gun and gravity tank in place.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-181RadiatorGunGravityTank_zps4c3b0578.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-181RadiatorGunGravityTank_zps4c3b0578.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

FINALLY!

After almost three months of fits, starts, stops, and working on other projects, my third Hansa-Brandenberg C.I is finally done! This one represents a slightly later version, built by Ungarisch Flugzeugfabrik Alles Geselschaft (UFAG), with the new "Universal" fuselage, which was designed to mount different engines and had pre-fitted mountings for cameras and bomb racks. It also was the first series to contain a gun for the pilot, in this case mounted to the top wing alongside the gravity tank.

The usual left front view.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-271Done_zps04ec4ade.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-271Done_zps04ec4ade.jpg.html)

The usual left rear view.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-272Done_zps1c65562f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-272Done_zps1c65562f.jpg.html)

The usual close-up right side view.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-273Done_zpsa8dedf0f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-273Done_zpsa8dedf0f.jpg.html)

Right front close-up showing pilot and observer. A part of the aircrew set I found contained two copies of an observer in full high-altitude gear dropping a bomb...or maybe he's making a low-altitude gas attack. Either way I removed the bomb from one of them and made him the pilot, cutting off the head and right arm and refitting them in a forward-facing pose.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-274Done_zps16e5e32a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-274Done_zps16e5e32a.jpg.html)

Upper view showing pilot's gun and gravity tank. I was going to use the gun housing known as the "baby coffin", but I found some pictures of the exposed version of the Schwarzlose, still wearing the jacket over the barrel, and thought it was too good to pass up. The small grey box on the right side of the gun is the ammunition housing.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-275Done_zps31b32e7e.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-275Done_zps31b32e7e.jpg.html)

I used a flash on this one to show off the crew. The high-altitude helmet has its own goggles so the regular goggles are perched on top.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-276Done_zpsf9017bdc.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-276Done_zpsf9017bdc.jpg.html)

Left front close-up showing the crew and the observer's Schwarzlose pushed out of his way.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-277Done_zps3c6192d4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-277Done_zps3c6192d4.jpg.html)

Another view of same from the left rear.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-278Done_zps60b5f9de.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-278Done_zps60b5f9de.jpg.html)

[Fish40]

Looking good Steve!

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project: 'Big Ack', the Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8. Designed by Frederick Koolhoven, who would manufacture aircraft in his native Netherlands in the years before World War 2, the F.K.8 was meant to replace the aging B.E.2. It was a large, stable aircraft, but with the 120-horsepower Beardmore engine it was slower than the plane it was supposed to replace. This would be remedied when the newer 160-horsepower Beardmore came out, but it ended up being a stopgap until the arrival of still better two-seaters. It's main advantage over earlier models was finally having the observer in the rear cockpit with a fully-flexible Lewis gun.

The kit is a low-pressure injection molding from Pegasus.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-28Kit_zps63c45066.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-28Kit_zps63c45066.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

The interior is fairly basic, and I saw no need to add anything special, since no one will ever see it once it's together.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-291Interior_zps9b6a184d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-291Interior_zps9b6a184d.jpg.html)

[Eichhörnchen]

Crikey! I presume that's come down from the attic, Steve? I last saw a Pegasus kit when I built the Fairey "Fulmar", back in the early 1990's probably. Or maybe they're still going? (I'm right out of touch now with aeromodelling) I think it was a one-man-band company, run by a guy named Chris Gannon.

I don't know what you mix your paints on (when you're not airbrushing) but a very good and cheap material I've discovered (good for both water-based and spirit-based colours) is the so called "lining paper" sold by d.i.y. stores for helping smooth out old plastered walls before hanging new wallpaper. You want the type with a coating on one side (a slightly textured matt acrylic surface this) on which you can mix up just about anything without it soaking through. Then you just throw it away and cut another piece. I usually just cut them out in A4 sized sheets, VERY much cheaper than tear-off waxed or parchment palettes, which I used to use...

[Eichhörnchen]

http://i.imgur.com/FpWnjto.jpg?1

I built this vacform model from a "Contrail" kit back in about 1984 (I hope you don't mind me sticking it on here). It looks to me as though you use nylon line for the rigging too? I was always fascinated by the inter-war aircraft, in particular these exotic types which, if they hadn't built all those concrete runways for B-17s and Lancs during the war, might have had a longer history in both military and civil aviation.

[Sailor Steve]

Crikey! I presume that's come down from the attic, Steve? I last saw a Pegasus kit when I built the Fairey "Fulmar", back in the early 1990's probably. Or maybe they're still going? (I'm right out of touch now with aeromodelling) I think it was a one-man-band company, run by a guy named Chris Gannon.
They've been out of business for quite some time, but a handful are still available through FreightDog models in Britain.

I don't know what you mix your paints on...
Mostly I use them right out of the bottle. If I do need to mix something, it's usually a very small amount and the box top works just fine. If I need more I do the mixing in bottles and then keep them for the next plane.

I built this vacform model from a "Contrail" kit back in about 1984 (I hope you don't mind me sticking it on here).
Not at all. And it looks real good! :yep:

The only time I ask someone to start his own thread is if he's doing what I do; posting lots of pictures of an ongoing project.

I still have a half-finished Contrail kit of the Consolidated P-2-Y, the father of the Catalina.

It looks to me as though you use nylon line for the rigging too?
Yep. It's a very thin line, .003 I think.

I was always fascinated by the inter-war aircraft, in particular these exotic types which, if they hadn't built all those concrete runways for B-17s and Lancs during the war, might have had a longer history in both military and civil aviation.
Oh yeah. some forty years ago I did some conversions of the old Monogram P-6E kit into early Curtiss P-1s. Not too long ago I found that there is a small firm making resin models of the same. I want to get some, among other things, but right now I'm tied up doing WWI models for gaming.

[Eichhörnchen]

I never did get into resin kits and now many of the vacforms have been superseded by unexpected injection-moulded releases I don't build them either; I must have quite a few obsolete kits in the loft (attic).

Some of these "short run" kits like those of Pegasus and Merlin Models have also since appeared as state of the art kits by bigger names. There were aircraft we never expected to see as injection-moulded kits, but they materialised nonetheless. I think "Matchbox" were very brave way, way back with some of their quite obscure releases.

[Sailor Steve]

I ended up doing other things yesterday, so today I devoted to working on the model. Got the tail section done this morning, then the lower wings, and finally the landing gear just a few minutes ago.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/10-311WingsTailWheels_zps5c5a1cd1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/10-311WingsTailWheels_zps5c5a1cd1.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I had hoped to have it painted today, but real life intervened. I did get the upper wing assembled and the gravity tank mounted. The tank that came with the kit was too short, so I ended up sanding some sprue to the correct size and shape, which took awhile. Last came the odd radiatior they carried in their early days. Painting is the very next step, so definitely tomorrow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-011TopWingGravityTankRadiator_zps3f551b65.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-011TopWingGravityTankRadiator_zps3f551b65.jpg.html )

[Sailor Steve]

Basic paint.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-021BasicPaint_zps6f7877dd.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-021BasicPaint_zps6f7877dd.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Aircrew in, top wing mounted, struts painted. On the F.K.8 the struts were wrapped in cloth soaked in glue, and painted the same color as the rest.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-031AircrewTopWing_zps7b22647a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-031AircrewTopWing_zps7b22647a.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Got the decals on. I had hoped to have the rigging at least part-way done, but the decals kept giving me trouble - falling apart, mostly. Even after I had given them an overcoat of liquid decal film they still wanted to come apart. One set wasted. The second set got two coats, and that seemed to work. To match the serial number I had to find a sheet with some numbers on it that were the correct size and shape. That took more looking than I had expected. At least it's done now. Just a little touch-up and the rigging.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-051Decals_zps7f88df6b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-051Decals_zps7f88df6b.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

Nice model. Do keep it up as I may not always comment, but I do always look. :salute:

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks, Scott. It would seem that a lot of people look.

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice job Steve :up:

[u crank]

Thanks, Scott. It would seem that a lot of people look.

We do and just because we don't comment all the time doesn't mean we don't enjoy your posts. They are great. Keep 'em comin'. :salute:

[em2nought]

Yep, love these old birds. I check this thread every week. The pilot figures are wonderful, where do you get those? I hope to someday build some fiddler's green card models, and I'd love to use some of these figures.

[Sailor Steve]

Pilots are always a problem. If I were building display models I wouldn't worry about it, but for gaming they just don't look right without them. Thirty years ago we had a guy locally who had a bagged set of WW1 goodies - pilots, seats, cameras guns, propellers, engines and more. Also kits used to come with pilots. These days the dedicated display model is more popular so aircrew just aren't made, at least for the smaller scales. There are lots of cool posed crew members for larger dioramas.

The ones I've used for the more interesting recent poses came from this set (http://www.hobbylinc.com/orion-france,-germany,-russia-great-britain-pilots-plastic-model-military-figure-1:72-dds72003). Unfortunately out of 48 figures only 10 of them are actually pilots, and they are a bit large. The good news is that the other figs make for some pretty good diorama material.

The best pilots I've found available now is this pair from PJ Productions (http://www.pj-production.be/en/figures-1-72/31-wwi-pilots-seated-in-ac.html). They are great, but there are only the two, so you end up with a lot of planes with pilots in the same poses. Still, it's better than having none at all, and they are great figs.

[Sailor Steve]

It took a little longer than I wanted, but it's done. At least this one didn't take three months!

At the time the F.K.8 was the largest two-seater in the RFC inventory.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-091Done_zpsa4cb9119.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-091Done_zpsa4cb9119.jpg.html)

Most of them had the PC10 dope extend all the way down the fuselage sides. The model represents one of the first deliveries.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-092Done_zps38672a3c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-092Done_zps38672a3c.jpg.html)

The observer is either waving to the camera or trying to warn another plane of the Hun fighter diving on him.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-093Done_zps0e6b7271.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-093Done_zps0e6b7271.jpg.html)

The kit rudder represents the later version with a flat overhanging balance. I converted it to the early version with the triangle balance. It's difficult to move the control surfaces against the pressure of the wind at high speeds like 80 mph, so a small extension forward of the hinges lets the wind push on both sides equally, balancing the force required to move it.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-094Done_zpsc69165bc.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-094Done_zpsc69165bc.jpg.html)

Close-up showing the bulky early radiator. The stenciling on the real plane read "Machine Must Be Put In Flying Position When Filling And Draining Radiator". My stenciling comes from an 'N' scale railroad decal sheet I picked up long ago for just this sort of thing. I don't know what the tiny stencils actually say, but they look right and add to the feel of the model.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-095Done_zpsc51d55cb.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-095Done_zpsc51d55cb.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

That one came out great Steve.

[Jimbuna]

Aye, certainly one of the best of many great ones yet :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Next is the Albatros C.V, the first of the so-called "second generation" German two-seaters. They had engines of 200 horsepower or more and a fuselage that was carefully designed around the engine to make better airflow and thus a faster plane. For the most part they certainly looked sleeker.

The Albatros was indeed faster than contemporary fighters. It's major drawbacks were that it was heavy and had a mediocre climb rate and a very poor turn rate. Worst of all was the 220-horsepower Mercedes D.IV engine. It was an inline 8-cylinder motor which produced a great amount of torque, but this caused the engine itself to twist under heavy loads and lead to crankshaft failures. They ended up building only 125 production models, plus the three prototypes. The first 75 were built in three batches of 25 each. Improvements led to the last 50 being designated C.V/17, with the ear-type radiators being exchanged for one in the upper wing, rounded lower wings and balanced ailerons and elevators to match the rudder. After that they were superceded by the C.VII.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-101Kit_zps6ec6e462.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-101Kit_zps6ec6e462.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

This kit comes with a complete etched-brass interior. Even though it will be entirely invisible when the pilots are in place, I figured for what I paid for it I'd better at least try to build it. That plus I'll have the pictures to look at and show off, so it's worth the effort.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-111InteriorStarted_zps9bdf453c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-111InteriorStarted_zps9bdf453c.jpg.html)

First was the framing. It's all one piece; all I had to do was cut the tiny parts holding it to the sheet and fold it to shape. They did such a good job with the etching that I didn't even need to use a straight-edge. Just a gentle push with the fingers and it folded all by itself. The central bulkhead, between the pilot and observer, was part of the same piece, so it folded up and holds the whole thing together. The fore and aft bulkheads are separate, but I have a flat-head tweezer that made it easy. A shot of superglue on the bottom and sides, use the tweezers to put it in place, then hold it by the frame with the left hand and a shot of accelerator with the right, and it's done in ten seconds.

The fuel tank consists of three parts. The sides fold up like one of those card models that used to come printed on cereal boxes, and the ends wrap around with no trouble. Another shot of glue and accelerator and they were done. Then glue them both to the top of the tank. The pilot's seat was one piece, except for the separate cushion. I'm kind of regretting that I didn't take pictures of the parts before I assembled them. Still, so far it's easy enough.

[Buddahaid]

I just noticed the photo-etched parts in the previous picture and now I see you're already building. Huzzah!

[Sailor Steve]

The interior went a lot faster than I expected.

Finished interior.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-113InteriorFinished_zps8bdc1048.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-113InteriorFinished_zps8bdc1048.jpg.html)

Instrument panel.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-114InstrumentPanel_zps679070c3.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-114InstrumentPanel_zps679070c3.jpg.html)

Test fit. It's going to take some grinding to get it in properly, but it's pretty much there.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-115InteriorInstalled_zpseecaec15.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-115InteriorInstalled_zpseecaec15.jpg.html)



There's no engine in this one for the simple reason that in the Albatros C.V the engine was completely enclosed in the fuselage. there's nothing to see.

[Sailor Steve]

Basic assembly completed. There are quite a few brass parts for the outside as well.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-121BasicAssembly_zps516428c3.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-121BasicAssembly_zps516428c3.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

First primer coat. The hole in the starboard bottom wing is for the compass.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-131FirstCoat_zpsc3944ce4.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-131FirstCoat_zpsc3944ce4.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Painting's mostly done. Wood grain applied. It's lighter than usual because sources say they didn't stain this series, just applied a clear varnish. Metal parts are light grey. The compass is installed in the starboard wing.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-141Paint_zps2e585d2b.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-141Paint_zps2e585d2b.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

This ones shaping up to be one of your best it seems.

[Sailor Steve]

Radiator block, exhaust and pilots installed, plus some detail painting.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-151ExhaustRadiatorPilotsCompass_zpsdd024bca.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-151ExhaustRadiatorPilotsCompass_zpsdd024bca.jpg.ht ml)

Compass installed. It consists of three tiny discs on the bottom, a ring with a cross for the needles, a clear sheet above that, and then three more tiny rings. They didn't warn me to paint the third disc white or the needles black, and once the clear film was in place and the top rings mounted it was too late. After I had it together I painted the film itself white and when it was completely dry I drew the needles with an ultra-fine marker pen. After it was installed I filled it in with a drop of Micro-Scale's Krystal Kleer, a semi-liquid film for filling in windows on airplanes and railroad engines.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-152Compass_zpsb58bf2ab.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-152Compass_zpsb58bf2ab.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Guns, cabanes and radiator cover mounted. Exhaust stack covered in rust.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-161GunsCabanes_zps67a43d57.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-161GunsCabanes_zps67a43d57.jpg.html)

The guns were fun. They are part of the etched brass set, and each one has five or six parts, including the jacket. Plastic guns that come with most kits are lumpy and wrong. I have a bunch of very nice lead guns that I usually use, but I thought I'd give these a try. I was surprised at how easily they went together. I added barrels that I cut from syringe needles, so they are not only scale but they are hollow. Both guns have the problem that once the stock is assembled there is no way to insert the barrel into the solid brass stock. This meant that the front part kept breaking off. That's fine for the front Spandau, because the whole thing is glued to the fuselage. The Parabellum, on the other hand, sits on its little pole mounting and has nothing to keep it from breaking off as soon as it gets handled, which will happen in a game. I was forced to just use one of the lead ones.

Here are a couple of close-ups of the Spandau.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-162Gunclose-up_zps2c6614ef.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-162Gunclose-up_zps2c6614ef.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-163Gunclose-up_zps156de640.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-163Gunclose-up_zps156de640.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Top wing on, markings applied. The kit only came with the crosses, and I didn't have any decals in my collection that were close to the style in the photos. I thought about having no serials, since a lot of Albatrosen didn't. I thought about looking for some online, but even if I found some the project would be delayed for a week or more, and I didn't feel like stopping at this point. I still had some decal paper left, so I found a font that was very close to the pictures and printed my own.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-171TopWingMarkings_zpsbfaf3954.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-171TopWingMarkings_zpsbfaf3954.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Done!

The usual front quarter view shows the minimal markings.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-191Done_zps91472898.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-191Done_zps91472898.jpg.html)

Rear quarter view shows the serial numbers. Many Albatrosen had no numbers at all, and later some got squadron markings in the form of an arrow or a large number on the spine. I liked this version, with numbers on tail and fuselage.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-192Done_zpsc569633c.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-192Done_zpsc569633c.jpg.html)

Closer view reveals nothing more, except you can see the compass.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-193Done_zpsabc2a240.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-193Done_zpsabc2a240.jpg.html)

Close up gives an idea of how much larger the C.V was than earlier two-seaters. The prop measured 3.4 metres (11.15'). This required a large and strong landing gear as well.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-194Done_zps70575198.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-194Done_zps70575198.jpg.html)

Propeller by Axial.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-195Done_zpsa7d65ac1.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-195Done_zpsa7d65ac1.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

Your first two-decal prop if I'm not mistaken! It's a very esthetic looking aircraft to begin with and one of your best!

[Sailor Steve]

Thanks! What I really wanted to use but don't have is the early Axial logo, which was in the shape of a dagger.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/AlbatrosCV_zps7365ad29.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/AlbatrosCV_zps7365ad29.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

http://www.nostalgicreflections.com/ (http://www.nostalgicreflections.com/) ?? I know you've got this site already and they don't have it....http://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_31_33 (http://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2_31_33) HEY Can I use that shade of grey engine paint on my VIIC Revell model:D Do you have a single bristle sable brush-I suspect painting the dagger on may be the way to go. http://web4.hobbylinc.com/gr/tam/tam87048_285.jpg (http://www.hobbylinc.com/tamiya-high-finish-pointed-paint-brush-ultra-fine-synthetic-87048)for my sub's rust but good for blue eyed German pilots too! :03: GREAT WORK!

[Sailor Steve]

HEY Can I use that shade of grey engine paint on my VIIC Revell model:D

Testors Lichtgrau (RLM 63). I use US Neutral Gray for the tires, so for WW1 "light grey" I try to use something noticably lighter.
Do you have a single bristle sable brush-I suspect painting the dagger on may be the way to go.
Single-bristle? No, I don't, but I also don't have the steady hands I used to. Actually I never did, not for that kind of work. Also there is the "Axial" lettering inside the dagger. I could have made the logo in my publishing program and printed it out, but I didn't think of that until just now. :dead:

[Aktungbby]

You should have this on your bike already; but also useful for detail work as when your forearm is positioned above the work, you only need move the hand and not mess with the whole arm controlwise. http://images.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/89a/d20/213/57539/product_page/profile-t1-plus-aerobar.jpg Plus one of these since I don't like mag glasses on my face. I use both for scribing brass inlays on black powder rifle kit patchboxes etc. which often makes my neck ache! http://www.abledata.com/product_images/images/13A0151.jpgA 'gooseneck' magnifying lens...$20.00 tops!:D

[Sailor Steve]

I'm so nearsighted that my natural focal length is about six inches. I take off my glasses for reading or building and it's like a natural magnifier.

[Sailor Steve]

Next project: The AEG C.IV. Not considered 'modern' at all, it relied on the tried-and-true 160-hp Mercedes D.III and it recieved very good reports from the men who flew it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-201Kit_zpsf2e58da0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-201Kit_zpsf2e58da0.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

I'm so nearsighted that my natural focal length is about six inches. I take off my glasses for reading or building and it's like a natural magnifier.

Me too and it's the one blessing about getting older.

[em2nought]

Do you have a single bristle sable brush
Sharpened toothpicks make pretty good fine detail brushes. You don't have to clean them either. :03:

[Sailor Steve]

It's been eight days since I posted. The day after the 'Kit' picture was taken I had the fuselage together. I waited to take a picture until I had the whole basic assembly together. And I waited because I was busy. Sunday I had the tailplanes on but didn't take a picture because I wanted to get it all together. And then I got sick. Now it's finally together.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-281BasicAssembly_zps5ea46fcd.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-281BasicAssembly_zps5ea46fcd.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

First paint coat.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/11-301FirstPaintCoat_zpsa0eedfdb.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/11-301FirstPaintCoat_zpsa0eedfdb.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Painted. Apparently A.E.G. took the whole 'camoflage' thing seriously, and sprayed their planes right at the factory. All were done by hand, and every one was different. Colors are uncertain, and may have been two-tone green and may have been lighter. I'm still considering lightening it up a bit. Also the three prototypes may have been clear-doped linen, but the experts seem fairly certain they were light blue. It makes sense that they would keep that for the undersides, so I repainted those as well. I matched Vallejo paints from a WW1 color chart, so they should be close. This was my first experience spraying acrylics, and I have to say that thinning and cleaning up with water is a vast improvement over enamels and turpentine-based thinners.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-11Paint_zpscbd8b366.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-11Paint_zpscbd8b366.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Markings on. This seems to be one of the earliest examples of the cross with a white outline rather than a full field. This is odd because there are photos showing machines with newer serial numbers but the old cross design and vice versa. Again rather than try to find numbers in my decal box or waste time and money buying new sets, I opted to create the numbers in my favorite desktop publishing program and print them onto decal paper myself. The more I do this the more I like it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-21Decals_zps64079fd7.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-21Decals_zps64079fd7.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Guns and crew installed. I'm having some trouble with the cabanes since they splay outward rather than inward. Inward means they meet in the middle and it's easy to trim them to the right height. Outward it's hard to get them all equal withouth overcutting and having to replace one or more. It's not hard but it takes time. I thought of building a jig, but If I didn't get that perfect I'd spend a lot of time redoing it as well, so I just fiddle with it until it's right. I could by a fully adjustable mechanical jig, but they are way out of my price range right now.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-31GunsCrew_zpsa44c9c19.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-31GunsCrew_zpsa44c9c19.jpg.html)

[em2nought]

Most of your models are made from the plastic that Gullows uses for detail parts on balsa model? I've never seen any of those in hobby stores in the US, looks pretty tedious the cut out the parts just right instead of just freeing them up from a sprue. I'd have to have a room with high ceilings so I could have the sky full of those things instead of stored away in a box. :D At least some of them. :03:

[Sailor Steve]

Most of your models are made from the plastic that Gullows uses for detail parts on balsa model? I've never seen any of those in hobby stores in the US, looks pretty tedious the cut out the parts just right instead of just freeing them up from a sprue.
Vacuforming is an old and valued technique. Yes, injection-molded plastic is easier to start with, but there are literally hundreds of aircraft types that no injection company has ever touched. Every one of those I build is one that is available in no other form. I either put up with the cutting and sanding or I don't build that airplane.

I'd have to have a room with high ceilings so I could have the sky full of those things instead of stored away in a box. :D At least some of them. :03:
Since I have more than 100 WW1 planes and close to the same number of WW2, that might be difficult. Also don't forget that I build these for gaming, so I have to be able to transport them to the game. I have built many display models in the past, but they were all either sold or given away. I also live in a small one-bedroom apartment and have no room to display anything.

[Sailor Steve]

The top wing has given me an endless amount of trouble, but it's finally on. I've had to repaint portions of the plane where the holes weren't aligned properly and I had to cut new ones.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-61TopWing_zps432b4faf.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-61TopWing_zps432b4faf.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

Looking pretty sweet. Is the underside painted sky? I don't see it on fuselage sides.

[Sailor Steve]

Yep, undersides are pale blue.

[Sailor Steve]

This is rapidly descending into a huge nightmare. For the last six days I've added a little bit of rigging at a time, only to have one part not fit right and have to start over again. Three days ago I finally got the port wing done. I started on the starboard wing two days ago, and had so much trouble I let it sit for a day. Today I was doing the other half of that side, and having to back up and start over. I was struggling with it when the whole thing jumped out of my hands and onto the floor. Four of the eight struts were hanging by the rigging, three were still intact and one was missing completely. A thorough search turned up nothing. I tried refitting them but the rigging no longer lined up correctly. I ended up tearing out all the struts and removing all the lines. I'll be starting over tomorrow. :dead:

[Buddahaid]

Sometimes I have days like that and just seem to drop, or knock over, everything I touch. Then I wonder why I put myself in these situations only to find out there's usually nothing else I'd rather be doing. Oh well. Tomorrow will be better.

[Aktungbby]

Sometimes I have days like that and just seem to drop, or knock over, everything I touch. Then I wonder why I put myself in these situations only to find out there's usually nothing else I'd rather be doing. Oh well. Tomorrow will be better.

Waita sec!...;Jeff falls down the stairs. My captain wipes out a stanchion on the ship o' fools; Steve drops a plane; I fall on my own 1/2 step; and you have bad gravity days...all in the same week....I GOT IT...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwPc0kK9VHU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwPc0kK9VHU) :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Today was better. I got all the struts back in and replaced the missing one, then got the entire port side rigged. It should be done by Tuesday. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Well, it took two more days than I had hoped, but the A.E.G. C.IV is finished. Not the best I've done by a long shot, but it'll do.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-181Done_zpsf13517d9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-181Done_zpsf13517d9.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-182Done_zpsd3eb9221.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-182Done_zpsd3eb9221.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-183Done_zps06230090.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-183Done_zps06230090.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Next Project is an Aviatik C.III, from a resin kit.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-191Kit_zps56059a0d.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-191Kit_zps56059a0d.jpg.html)

This one has caused me no end of headaches. There is almost no information on the plane. My older books have information that seems to be wrong, and Windsock Magazine never did a Datafile on it. The Datafile on the Pfalz Eindekkers quotes an interview they did with an old German crewman, who said "The old Aviatiks were white." Ray Rimmel, who is probably the leading expert on such things, says that there was an experimental phase during which German planes might be clear linen, white or pale blue. Other people disagree, saying they were probably all Clear Doped Linen. Some of the photographs look white to me, but I'm no expert.

I just purchased a copy of Aviatik Aircraft of WWI, by Jack Herris. He doesn't really cover the color controversy, but he does have the actual serial numbers for each production run, which at least makes it easy for me to make the decals with the right numbers.

This brings up a new problem. When I built my Aviatik C.I I said that older sources said that most of them had the observer in front, which limited the rear firing arc but also let them fire forward. Older sources said that the early C.IIIs were also set up that way but most of them had the observer in the rear. Herris says that is true, but not in the way most people expect. There were two production runs of 25 aircraft each, and all 50 of them had the observer forward. The final production run, in 1917, was 200 aircraft, and they all had the observer in the rear. The problem is that they were all ordered as trainers, and had that set-up because the newer planes they were training to fly on were configured that way. All the photographs of the first 50 show the guns in front, so he's probably right.

This means that now I not only have to convert the plane, because the model is based on the only survivor, 12250/17, which is in a museum in Poland, but I have to change it in the rules, and that means that I'm building models of a plane no one will ever want to take, because there are better options available. Oh well. I'm much too pedantic and much too fixed on historical reality to fake it.

[Titanicgeek]

That looks nice! I only built one model and its a model of the RMS Queen Mary.

-Titanicgeek on stand by! :salute:
:subsim:

[Sailor Steve]

Welcome to my obsession, Titanicgeek.

Well, one of them anyway. :sunny:

[Sailor Steve]

Interior finished. I reversed the cockpit floor to facilitate puting the observer in front and the pilot in back.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-201Interior_zpsd089ea51.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-201Interior_zpsd089ea51.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

R U going with the two- gun observer forward position one on each side of the engine? http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/img/620/pkn/cd1401014.jpghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Aviatik_C.III_%27C.12250-17%27_%2814390280152%29.jpg/800px-Aviatik_C.III_%27C.12250-17%27_%2814390280152%29.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Aviatik_C.III_%27C.12250-17%27_%2814390280152%29.jpg)Edit just found this-sort of rare as most of the shots are of the port sidehttp://www.thenews.pl/c6392d0e-a193-417c-b900-4c8c9856948c.file

[Sailor Steve]

Apparently that was the case for all 50 combat models, so yes, it'll be just like my model of the C.I.

[Sailor Steve]

Fuselage together, lower wings and tail mounted.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-211FuselageWingsTail_zps5a75b28a.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-211FuselageWingsTail_zps5a75b28a.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear and tail supports installed. I had hoped to get a coat of paint on it as well, but I had other stuff to do, so it has to wait until tomorrow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-221LandingGearTailStruts_zps0486eee5.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-221LandingGearTailStruts_zps0486eee5.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Cabanes mounted, first primer coat on.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-231CabanesPrimer_zps8b6c1115.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-231CabanesPrimer_zps8b6c1115.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

I sprayed another coat of lichtgrau for the metal parts and upper deck today. After it was dry I did the fabric. My Aviatik C.I was pure white, based on the comments I mentioned earlier. Some people disagree with that assessment. The one in the museum is tan, but it looks painted to me, and not like doped fabric. I got to wondering just how "white" white might be. If the fabric was bleached it might be almost white; enough to draw comments but not really pure white. I started mixing and got it lighter and lighter. Then I sprayed it and thought it was too white. Rather than add just a couple drops of tan I put in too much for my liking, and then I was out of white and I'm not going to wait until I can buy some more. It's a little darker than I wanted, but still I call it "Not Quite White."

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-251Paint_zps56f3db83.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-251Paint_zps56f3db83.jpg.html)

[em2nought]

Gah, I can't stand it I want to play Rise of Flight, and Wings over Flanders Fields, and Canvas Eagles, and build card model Albs and pups, and build a Graham Lee Nieuport, and, and, and... :subsim:

[Aktungbby]

How could you overlook Buddahaid's and my faaaaavorite?!!! I even played it in college:smug:http://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic204982.jpg

[Sailor Steve]

Crew in, gun mounted, cabanes on and exhaust stack in place. I had all the decals on two days ago, except the serial number under the tail. I wanted to print my own again, but I couldn't find a font that looked right. Today I finally scrounged some from my spares box.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-281CabainesCrewGunExhaustMarkings_zpsfaa06076.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-281CabainesCrewGunExhaustMarkings_zpsfaa06076.jpg. html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/12-282CabanesCrewGunExhaustMarkings_zpsc0d378ab.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/12-282CabanesCrewGunExhaustMarkings_zpsc0d378ab.jpg.h tml)

[Buddahaid]

I like the gunner position and the whole look of this one.

[Sailor Steve]

After four days of doing other things (including getting set up to play SH3 again) I finally got the top wing on.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-1UpperWing_zpsc02ecdd9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-1UpperWing_zpsc02ecdd9.jpg.html)

[Aktungbby]

A deceptively fabulous paint job!:up:

[Sailor Steve]

And the last one I started in 2014 becomes the first one finished in 2015.

Aviatik C.III

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-81Done_zps007fd74f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-81Done_zps007fd74f.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-82Done_zpsa543325f.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-82Done_zpsa543325f.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-86Done_zps37e352b0.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-86Done_zps37e352b0.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-83Done_zps5dbc6ade.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-83Done_zps5dbc6ade.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-84Done_zps782d61e9.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-84Done_zps782d61e9.jpg.html)

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/2015-1-85Done_zps694f5499.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/2015-1-85Done_zps694f5499.jpg.html)

[Buddahaid]

Nice looking model. I can almost smell the castor oil. :O:

[Sailor Steve]

Next up: A DFW C.V.

It was a rather unremarkable aircraft on paper. Others were faster, climbed better turned better. The men who flew it, however, commented on its handling, saying it was a joy to fly. Whatever else may have been involved, the Deutsche Flugzeug-Werke (German Aircraft Company) C.V ended up being built in greater numbers than any other German aircraft during the Great War. DFW built 2005 of the type, Aviatik 1400, LVG 400, and Halberstadt 150, for a total of 3,955 C.Vs. At the end of the July-August 1917 reporting period there were 1057 DFW C.Vs at the front; 51% of all German aircraft in combat service. Though the numbers dropped later in the war they still averaged about 40%.

With the aircraft in service for more than two years and being built in such large numbers by different manufacturers, there are a great many possible variations in paint schemes and markings. Also, somewhere between 11 and 20 of the first aircraft were built with a different nose and no spinner on the front. I wanted to do one of those, but they only amount to one-half of one percent. I would still do it, but kits are few and far between, and if I can't do a later version as well I don't want my only one to represent a very rare variant. I find it odd that there aren't more kits available for one of the most common German aircraft of the war.

The model is another old vacuform I acquired last year.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-91Kit_zps2f73e337.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-91Kit_zps2f73e337.jpg.html)

[em2nought]

The rigging sure does add to the model, and that prop came out really nice.

[Sailor Steve]

I photographed the kit on a Friday. Saturday I cut out the fuselage halves. Sunday, a week ago, I fabricated a floor and put in seats. Monday I put the fuselage together. I didn't take any pictures because the interior was so basic I didn't think it was worth it. Tuesday I cut out and sanded one of the stabilizers. Wednesday I did the other. Yesterday I did one lower wing. Today I did the other and put it together. The rest of the time I've been fiddling with mods for SH3.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-181BasicAssembly_zps408c7743.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-181BasicAssembly_zps408c7743.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Landing gear installed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-191LandingGear_zps5278cdd2.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-191LandingGear_zps5278cdd2.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

Cabanes, tail struts and game tube in place.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-201CabanesTailstrutsGametube_zps0462e409.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-201CabanesTailstrutsGametube_zps0462e409.jpg.html)

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice :yep:

[Sailor Steve]

I spent a couple of hours today sanding the top wing to the proper thickness. In the end I barely had time to put on the first coat of paint.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-21%201%20First%20Coat_zpszkriftdq.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-21%201%20First%20Coat_zpszkriftdq.jpg.html)

[Sailor Steve]

It's been five days since I reported on this. Let's see...what have I got done? That was last Wednesday. Thursday was game night, and I didn't do anything that day. Friday I spent recovering from being up all night. I had decided some time ago to do the early one without the spinner, so Saturday I glued a piece of plastic sheet on the nose and let it dry for 24 hours. I spent a lot of time yesterday sanding it to the proper shape, priming it and resanding until it looked the way I wanted.

Today I sprayed the topside paint on. The earliest versions seem to have been all one color, and the experts seem to agree it was probably green. I don't know anything, but you can never go wrong with green.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a325/SailorSteve/Models/1-26%201%20Topcoat_zpss1hwcy2k.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/user/SailorSteve/media/Models/1-26%201%20Topcoat_zpss1hwcy2k.jpg.html)