Nice work fellas!

John, the DH.9 looks really impressive. Bang up job on the engine, and the clear orange definitely gives that varnished look to the 'wood'.

Chuck, can't wait to see some pics! Been eagerly anticipating this build!

Greg, now that's some serious work., and is one of the great things about group builds - the sharing of techniques like that. Fantastic stuff!

Tim and Aaron, thanks for another great vlog! You guys are a hoot to watch, and it was awesome seeing everyone's work. Those guys are setting the bar very high for the rest of us. Gonna have to step up my game just to keep up with you all.

Work has been steadily moving along on the E.III. Fuselage is buttoned up, seams are clean with the cowling farings in place, and construction has progressed to the main gear. A test fit of the wings to the fuselage was near perfect and has me seriously considering saving their installation for the absolute final steps, after everything else is completely assembled, painted, decaled, and weathered.

Happy weekend everyone!  As I  had hoped I was able to win back some ground, and get some pics of the progress.  Don't worry - the exhaust manifold is just sitting on the engine - it's not fixed in place yet.

The pictures of the prop show a quick view of using RB Productions "Laminated Prop Tool."  I had used this for the first time on my D.VII and liked it - I still need practice to get it right, but being inherently lazy this lets me get close without a bunch of masking, and avoids me having to admit I don't have enough talent to carve a prop - skills we are witnessing first hand here.

Hope you enjoy the pics.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Greg: Those stripes look great!

Chuck: All around great work there, engine, prop, cockpit - everything!

Greg, I think that stitching will add a lot, and will look good under some paint.  My old Smer Nie. 11could benefit from that technique.

Chuck, those loose tubes are the intake manifold, and on many rotaries I have seen they are a brass color.  The exhaust valves on all rotaries just vent right out of each cylinder head at the exhaust manifold, which is how the castor oil traveled out as well.  Monosoupape type rotaries had the intake valves inside the pistons, and no intake manifolds.   The color of the cylinders looks just right, that dark steel.  I am really impressed with how fine the steel is on the rotary cylinders from that time.  I hope my propeller looks as good as yours if I should ever get that far.

And yes, it was a fine video this week.  Just before the end I was nearly in tears, and the rendition of the theme song from the Magnificent Seven at the finishing credits seemed entirely appropriate, if hardly recognizable.

I think I'm done!  spent 2 hours Friday night rigging and about 4 on Saturday, then Sunday I coated it with flat.  Rigging is sure a exercise in patience and wishing I had a third hand!  Very happy with this Eduard kit.  I just started a 1/72 L-39 of there's, a weekend edition,  then I think I'm going to do Albatros D.V  with the dragon on the side.

Hey now!   Nicely done.   The 1st completion inthe build is a beauty.

Falconmod - Good job! Excellent looking bird. Congratulations on being the first to get the GB ribbon. I'll copy the 3/4 shot and post it under your name on first post.

Congratulations Sir!

Tim- would you include the scale in the description on the first page. Or maybe when they are posted finished?

My Felixstowe (unfinished) is 1/72.

GMorrison

Tim- would you include the scale in the description on the first page. Or maybe when they are posted finished?

All of the scales are included on the first page. Are they not showing up for you?

Falcon - Excellent job, sir!  Congrats on a great build - and so fast., too!

John - thanks for the engine info, that makes much more sense.  The manifold has a bit more color to it than shows up in the photo.  I hope I can get it to all come together in the end

FM: Wow, that's beautiful work, I love the shading on the wing spars on the underside of the wing.

Looking forward to the Albatros.

Falconmod    Congrats on the first strike! Elegant and beautiful. Is that fishing line for the rigging?

Chuck            Great engine, great interior, and that prop is a thing of beauty!

John               Love the Liberty engine! Can't wait to see more.

Tim, Chuck, Gamera, gregbale:   Thanks for the comments, for my first WW1 subject it has been a lot of fun,  and I'll say again I really like the eduard kits.  Coming form mostly jets the rigging was so far out of my norm,  but I hope the next one I do will be even easier.

gregbale -  it is actually .004 dia. smoke colored nylon quilting thread.  I got it at Joann fabrics, I'll post the actual name once I get home to read the spool.

And I only dropped it once!  

Tim Kidwell

GMorrison

Tim- would you include the scale in the description on the first page. Or maybe when they are posted finished?

All of the scales are included on the first page. Are they not showing up for you?

Just got caught up on the vlogs.  Pretty nice guys.  I like the way you worked us into the live action.  Thanks for that.

Got my fingers crossed for some bench time tonight.  I am falling behind.

Ok now that I am mobile figured that it is time for some WIP pics. here is the box and kit parts.

here is the Mercedes D III engine. I painted it flat black than used Alclad white aluminum and Alclad polished brash to dry brush it

The fuselage halves are done. I love the decals of the curtains on the windows.

the instrument panel. I put a drop of Micro Kristal Klear over the instruments

and the pilot seat. Nead a bit more work than will be ready.

Falconmod - grats on being the first completion.  Agree with what others have said, the rib work has nice shading, particularly on the undersides.  The prop also looks the part. 

shivinigh - great start... looks to be some very delicate dry brushing on the inside fuselage? - looks cool.

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

Finally threw some paint on the engine.  Only thing not happy with is the two PE placards on the port side.  Even with slow setting glue, it took too fast and couldn't get them properly leveled.  Should be alright though, as once it is situated in the fuselage will likely not even been seen.

regards,

Jack

Man, I'm very much enjoying all the updates flying in. You fellas are churning out some great stuff!

Chuck - great work so far! The 'pit looks superb and the engine looks like the real deal. Also, I'm gonna have to snag one of those PE prop masks. Tried making my own but it didn't go very well.

John - congrats on the first completed build, and it's a beaut! Nicely done, and miles ahead of my first bipe!

shiv - nice to see you've healed up well enough to get in some bench time. That's some excellent work on display. Always liked the Roland, so I'll be watching this one closely.

Jack - wooohooo!!! Progress pics! Been waiting a while for these, and they were worth the wait. That engine is the bomb!! Great work!

Chuck, great work. Love the look of the prop.

falcon, thats a beauty. Lovely paint job. And congrats on being the first completed.

Thanks for the  congrats guys,  it's been a fun and educational build for me.

shivinigh - I just got the same Roland kit last week and was just going to start it, I'll be watching your build with interest.  it looks like another great Eduard kit.  have you done any research into the color scheme, from what I've found there is some controversy over the violet/green Vs.  green/chestnut combination.

Wish Eduard would give something other than Mr. Color paint references,  mostly MM and Valleo ay my LHS

John

Hey, the nice work continues guys.

Shivinigh: Looks good, I love those curtains too!

Jack: I can smell the grease and oil! Love it! I wouldn't worry too much about the placards- I figure the production guys probably just slapped 'em on.

Gentlemen,

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Little crisis concerning my aileron decals, plus lots of work at the office.

The ailerons first: I botched 'em. After a long weekend of way too much excitement, I thought I'd relax with a little decal time. However, I discovered that my mental preparedness was way below the mark. So, the ailerons are not so good. Aaron and I ransacked his kit D.VII for replacement four-color decals, only to find that his were missing--luckily he's doing the five-color lozenge camo pattern. So, it was Chuck Davis to the rescue with some extra four-color camo from his D.VII. He didn't have the ailerons handy, but he had enough extra of the pattern to send me some.

So, now to remove the decals, make some new ones, and stumble on.

Work: We're getting the July issue all buttoned up this week. Plus, shooting new videos, editing others, and getting Aaron ready for his trip to AMPS. Busy week.

Jack - Rock on! I love the engine grime.

Shiv - That is coming along very well. Why did the C.II have curtains?

Guys, everything is looking fantastic!

P.S. Falcon, don't forget to get your ribbon (I like ribbon better than badge; don't know why. Call it what you will, it's yours!)

Tim,

  Where do I get the ribbon again?

John

John,

You should be able to download it off the initial post. There are two to choose from.

Tim

I have been looking through alot of sites and a couple books cause the curtains puzzled me as well but haven't found anything about them. Lots of pictures I have seen show the curtains just not a reason for them. The windows were for view sideways and down cause the Rolland had poor lower visibility due to it's wing design which made landing a hazard.

Falcon: here is a site to check out for a history and a list of what colours were used in what year. Also pilots and maps for area of operations.

HMJ11 LFG Roland C.II.htm

I am painting mine the the dark green and lilac that was used in april 1917

I got the paint on most of the aircraft, i used the recomended colour of Humbrol 155. I then lightened it and dry brushed the wing rids.

I have just put a layer of future on the wings. My plan is to add the decals and flat coat and then rig.