Shiv, Gamera, Greg, Mike and Tim - thanks for the compliments.  Great group build it was, enjoyed sharing ideas (and the odd tribulation), tips, info, and being inspired by the work of others, truly what a group setting is all about.  Adding the vlog, such a cool notion, made it a unique experience.   I think there was mention of some kind of prize at the end, but honestly, I'm more curious about what subject the editors have in mind for the next GB.

I  know some things to do differently next time - rely on the clear type home made decals whenever possible, even if it means changing the underneath paint colour.  Also pre-drill holes before decal application and final assembly.  Said holes could have been made larger too for the rigging.

regards,

Jack

Jack, that's a fine looking model, congratulations!  

Tim Kidwell

Uh, didn't anyone tell you, you can enter but you can never leave? No, sir, once you're in the WWI Aeroplane GB, you're in until the last day, no matter how many planes you build. 

[Tim, as Rod Serling]

"Consider if you will...unsuspecting aeroplane modelers, trapped in a Group Build from which there is no escape...." Dee dee dee dee, dee dee dee dee...

I know I should be working on my DH9a instead, but this is so much fun!

jeaton01

“This highway leads to the shadowy tip of reality: you're on a through route to the land of the different, the bizarre, the unexplainable...a road whose limits are only those of mind itself. Ladies and Gentlemen, you're entering the wondrous dimension of imagination. That signpost up ahead. . . .

...The FSM WW1 Aeroplane Group Build Zone."

jeaton01

I know I should be working on my DH9a instead, but this is so much fun!

Jack... COWABUNGA DUDE... that is just freakin' awesome.  

i have to say that this GB excelled in 2 thing.  Awesome build and some real envelope pushing techniques.

jeaton01

I know I should be working on my DH9a instead, but this is so much fun!

John, that might have to be my next avatar pic. As my wife said, "That's intense."

Update: After sanding with 1000-grit sandpaper and a coat of Future (aka Pledge Multi-Suface Floorcare), the D.VII is looking less like I painted it by blowing Tamiya acrylic through a soda straw. Stay tuned ... decals, decals, decals.

Jack - I think there was mention of prizes on another forum that was doing a similar build. On the other hand, we now have Tim Serling, and that can only be a good thing, right?

John and Marc -  thanks for those positive comments, I appreciate them.

Tim Kidwell

I think the plan is to unveil our surprise next week. Again, thanks for coming along on this ride with us, and I'll talk to you guys soon!

That was back on page 47  - but yea, prize / surprise - well they sound the same. 

---------------------------

Before I forget, here is a few links I found of walkarounds for the Austrian built Albatros.  The first one was very helpful in pointing out which end of each rigged wire required a turnbuckle:

http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/572-albatros-diii-oeffag-25324-in-oberschlei%C3%9Fheim/

http://albdoku-linner.blogspot.ca/

http://www.austrodaimler.at/fotogalerie/aviatik/albatros-erstflug/

http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Ger/Alb_DIII_OFFAG/

regards,

Jack

Ah, the surprise! Yeah, well, that one is taking a bit longer to pull together than I'd anticipated. STAY TUNED!

Tim Kidwell

Ah, the surprise! Yeah, well, that one is taking a bit longer to pull together than I'd anticipated. STAY TUNED!

Kind of like your Fokker?

* ducks for cover *

Woooooooooow. It's been so long since we heard from you, I thought you'd dropped out of the build.

*drinks whisky shot*

*pours one for Aaron and drinks it for him*

LOL John, that's awesome!!!

Umm, now I'm thinking Aaron as Boris Karloff from 'Thriller' though...

Perhaps along the lines of this?  We could also do a Michael Jackson type thing with that title....

LOL, that's awesome!!!

Though I think Aaron might make a better Vincent Price, don't think he hosted a series though.

I'm not 100% comfortable with where this is heading....

You're uncomfortable? Aaron's eaten a whole horse and it looks like I've been on a diet of grubs and bamboo.

Quick update: After sanding, a coat of Future, more sanding, and another coat of Future (and almost dropping the model which gave both Aaron and me near heart attacks), it appears I have the worst of the paint issues smoothed out. I'm going to build some machine guns to take my mind off of the fuselage.

Oh, and look here, I have another story to edit for the November issue ...

Good deal, Tim! Glad you were able to save your paintwork. Really glad you didn't do the "gravity test" with your bird. It's less fun than it sounds. Look forward to seeing some Spandau action soon.

I barley have time to get online these days so no time to do what must be done... someone has to put those faces on Ginger and Mary Ann!

I had never seen a WNW Gotha built in the flesh...so to speak... and one of the club members brought in his.  OMG what a behemoth.   Thought I would share some pics.  I didn't take 'em.  These do not do this monster justice.

That is a beaut! It and the Handley remind me of a detail in the great Faulkner short story "Turn About".

Spoiler Alert.

Some American air service guys get acquainted one evening with a young British Naval officer. They come to the opinion that he's kind of a toff. So to put him in his place they invite him up for a flight the next night. He gets stuck up front in the pulpit. Things seem to go pretty well, until on the flight back the pilots see the Brit lean way out and down over the side. They figure he's losing his dinner.

The officer stays that way until after they've landed and driven to the dispersal area and shut down.

Then he pops upright and says:

"great piece of landing there old chap, didn't think you'd make it".

Of course they want to know why, so he leads them around under the wing where there's a "hanger" bomb.

There's also a groove in the dirt all the way back to the runway grass, made by the fuse.

Tim - glad to hear that you got the paint issues under control and that she didn't hit the floor. For the guns, if you plan on using the kit PE jackets, a good anneal will make a world of difference when it comes to rolling 'em.

Marc - there was a time I considered taking a crack at that monster, but the size would leave me no room to display it, so I opted for the Fe2b instead (still a good size kit with an 18" wingspan). Hopefully one day I'll get to see one of those Gotha kits in the flesh.

Tim: Yikes! Glad you didn't drop the model, seems about the worst thing that can happen- except maybe leaving it in a hot car and melting. Glad you guys had your paint issues in hand and am waiting for the next photos.

Marc: Wow! I guess she would be a monster in 1/32nd scale but still gee the sheer size is still staggering. And a very clean sharp paint-job there too.

Wow guys - excellent stuff.  And completely non-model related.  This group has some great talent!  <Note to file - don't include post showing picture of self >

Tim - glad you held on to the D.VII - I'd hate to have seen your build crash and burn as it were.

Marc & others -  go and get yourself a Gotha.  It is a fantastic kit.  It's big and a fair amount of work, but it is actually an easier build than some kits.  Just figure you're building about a Wing Nut and a half.  My avatar - while not nearly as interesting as Tim's newest candidate - is the one I built.  If I can do it, y'all can.  As you can see, it is huge - I had to add a little aileron to walk thru doorways at home.

Chuck that is smokin' hot.

Chuck, that Gotha is gorgeous. But I've got an old 1/72 vac version I've been avoiding for years, simply because of it's size. In 1/32, I think it'd have to have its own room.

Got paint on the Morane "Bullet," a home-mixed CDL with Tamiya acrylics for the fabric areas. I post-shaded with oils to give a little depth and wear, but the rib tapes (actually mostly cane battens on this particular wing-warping design) will be black decal strips, so that'll give everything a little more definition.

Haven't yet decided whether to go with hot-rod red or basic black for the metal areas, but it shouldn't be long now.

Greg,

Love the finish on the Morane. Can you send your CDL recipe or is it a state secret?

Cheers, Aaron

gregbale

Haven't yet decided whether to go with hot-rod red or basic black for the metal areas, but it shouldn't be long now.

Thanks, Aaron. It's just X-2 Gloss White (about half a color cup full) with a drop or two of XF-60 Dark Yellow. The shading is burnt sienna.

Hot rod red it is!

YES!

Hey guys, Greg's taking requests ...

gregbale

Thanks, Aaron. It's just X-2 Gloss White (about half a color cup full) with a drop or two of XF-60 Dark Yellow. The shading is burnt sienna.