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

The interior went a lot faster than I expected.

Finished interior.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps8bdc1048.jpg

Instrument panel.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps679070c3.jpg

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/a3...pseecaec15.jpg



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.

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

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps516428c3.jpg

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

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psc3944ce4.jpg

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/a3...ps2e585d2b.jpg

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

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

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psdd024bca.jpg

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/a3...psb58bf2ab.jpg

Guns, cabanes and radiator cover mounted. Exhaust stack covered in rust.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps67a43d57.jpg

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/a3...ps2c6614ef.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps156de640.jpg

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/a3...psbfaf3954.jpg

Done!

The usual front quarter view shows the minimal markings.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...ps91472898.jpg

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/a3...psc569633c.jpg

Closer view reveals nothing more, except you can see the compass.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psabc2a240.jpg

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/a3...ps70575198.jpg

Propeller by Axial.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psa7d65ac1.jpg

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/a3...ps7365ad29.jpg

Testors Lichtgrau (RLM 63). I use US Neutral Gray for the tires, so for WW1 "light grey" I try to use something noticably lighter.
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:

cheap and simple