Knights of the Sky II- The End

ruddratt wrote:

OK gentlemen, here's where my E.V stands so far. The 'pit is done. I decided to cover the seat in lozenge as mentioned in Stephen's write-up. Added as much rigging and wiring (done with stretched sprue) to it that I figured would be visible once she's buttoned up - turned out to be a lot more than I had origionally planned. The control yoke is scratchbuilt to closer resemble a Fokker type, as is the pressure pump. The engine is done as well (the kit engine is a gem!), basically OOB with the addition of plugs & cables (made from stretched sprue and fine copper wire). Comments and critiques are always encouraged.

Excellent work !!  Please let me add, don't forget the cables running back from the control column under the seat(to the elevators)  and the criss crossed wires going up to the ailerons 2 to each side. Also one instrument gauge on the pilot's right side.  It would represent an oil pulseometer.

Thanks for the kind words, fellas! It's been a fun build so far!

Stephen, good call on the cables. I installed the ones that attach to the pedals for the rudder control, and I have the criss-crossed ones attached to the control yoke (though I have to admit I didn't double them up, and placed their attachment points too close to the yoke instead of further back on the column - they're hard to see in the photos but they're there). Might be too late to get the elevator cables in as I've already buttoned her up, but I think there's still enough room to squeeze in the oil pulseometer you mentioned.

Bummer about not placing Dcapone but congrats on the Albatros. I read today that Squadron are going to do an Albatros in 1/32 with all the resin goodies and etch to boot. I thinks im going to have to have one of those beauties.

Mike the E.V is looking stunning, the engine looks like its ready to run. Awesome stuff.

Frank and Crusher, cheers for the kind words but ive hit a sort of stumbling block. I now see why the only Gothas i see modelled are the painted ones and not the lozenge decalled beasts. The decals appear to be total Poo poo. They are seriously delicate and have absolutely no reaction to Micro Sol. This isnt much good as they need to conform to some pretty odd shapes. Im going to have a quick search for some more as these are really unusable. I may be able to use the other decals (Non lozenge) though. If i cant find anymore 'Decent' lozenge decals ill need to paint the thing. Were these painted anything other than white?

...Guy

After a quick search, the closest i could find was this. What do you reckon? Stephen? Where for art thou?

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=ESP72038

...Guy

Here's a question, so I will go straight to the experts. I am building three kits in 1/72 of 1930's subject patrol/ bombers: a Supermarine Stranraer, Handley Page Heyford and a Cant Z 501 Gabbiano. Between them: 6 Lewis guns, and 3 Bredas that look sort of like the old US 30 caliber Browning w/o cooling holes in the barrel jacket. I figure these might be the one thing I buy AM, as they'll be a nice feature.

I see both Aeroclub white metal, and Toms Modelworks folded up PE for the Lewis guns. Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm leaning towards Tom as he is not far from me, but the website sez he's away for awhile.

Your thoughts, thanks!

Thanks for the compliment, Guy! From someone of your skill level, that means a lot to me!

Frank, just 3 colors my friend (4 if you count Future ). I started with a base coat of MM tan (FS 20400). When dry, a coat of Future clear. After that, I thinned some Pollyscale 'mud' color (505206 or 33440) a little beyond airbrush consistancy and applied a varying wavey pattern in streaks to the tan with a coarse (very irregular tip), wide (about 1/8"), flat brush until it looked right. I had to go over many areas more than once (probably 3-4 times) due to the paint being so thin, but as the layers built up, I applied less and less (in the same wavey pattern), letting the thinner create much of the pattern. A final coat of Tamiya clear orange sealed the deal. HTH buddy!

Mike- Thank you for taking the time to share that, I plan to "steal" that technique for my Albatros build!   You make it sound easy, but the results you acheive are simply fantastic.

bondo- Sorry, I don't really have any experience with those.  Hope some of the other fellas can chime in with some guidance!

 Loftwoller, the Gotha is looking great!

 dcapone, sorry to hear about the DVI not placing. The Abatross is really something! Very nice.

 ruddratt, WOW. That pit is very cool. The engine is very realisitc. Nice job.

 Looking forward to updates from, y'all

Ruddrat thanks and your model looks real.

Mobius,

Actually, the individual struts did not cause me any headaches, as I thought that they might as well.  I did touch the mounting holes up a little with a small drill bit to give them more bite though, and I may have set them deeper than one is supposed to, but I thought that the end result was acceptable.  I have the plane displayed in my office right now, and I do not know if I want to embark on a journey of rigging it, even though it would probably look good that way.  Maybe one day.

Mike,

 That E.V is looking fantastic!  I will be looking forward to watching you finish it off.

Luftwoller wrote:

After a quick search, the closest i could find was this. What do you reckon? Stephen? Where for art thou?...Guy

 Yea and Verily I say unto thee, for yon one of the second and sevendieth scaled Gotha. . .Ckeck it out.

http://www.orionminiatures.com

Verrilly, thou art a Geezer of the Diamond Variety, Mr Lawson. #

Ive emailed Orion about sending me that very same set. Im chuffed that its the right one. Sort of leaves me a bit hobbled with the build though as so much needs decalling before i can carry on....forsooth

...Guy

Daywalker,

I have had a change of heart due to committing to what will be a rather lengthy build and review, which I will try to complete before my refueing outage commences one month from today.  Anyway, I do not want to wait until May to start my kit for this build, so I am going to downgrade for now.  For my first build (I still want to add the Sopwith F.1 Camel later on), I will be tackling the 1/72 Eastern Express re-release of the Toko kit of a Hansa Brandenburg W 29.  This has been sitting patiently in my stash for a few years now, it looks like something that I can knock out in a reasonable amount of time, and it just looks different.  Please update me on the list when you get a chance.

 Just like KOTS part I, I am starting in 1/72 scale, but hope to finish in 1/48. 

Sad news folks Tom Harris , owner of Tom's Modelworks passed away on Feb. 25 , 2009 of lung cancer.  His PE was some of the earliest sets designed for specific WWI aviation kits.  The message on his website asks that we be patient while the family decides what to do.  I have known Tom since the early days. We have lost a good fellow.

In this image he is at left.

 That is sad news. Condolences to the family and friends.

 Mobious

ok,another quick update,been busy recently but it warmed up enough the other day to go to the garage and spray the fokker red.

now its mainly detail stuff and decals,then i have to break out my 1918 film grain filters for the photography

 MPScotty, Thanks for the tip on the struts. I drilled the locating holes a bit oversize and sanded the pins. It allowed for adjustment before the glued dried. The upper wing is attached! The decals are something else. The decals in the kit have a white haze which is streaked. I didn't use any micro-sol as per your earlier post. The dull coat helped tone it done quite a bit. Just wanted ot say thank you for the heads up and the tips. Here is a pic of the progress...

ludwig, that's some really nice work there! The streaking you painted looks outstanding!

mobious, you're making excellent progress on the DH.2. I have the same kit in my stash, but I've been waiting until I'm in the mood to do a LOT of rigging before I start it. You are a braver man than I! It's looking mighty sharp! Keep us posted!

Been making steady progress on my E.V. The fuselage is buttoned up and I was able to fix the undercarriage struts to it. Separated the tail flaps and repositioned them with the help of some scratchbuilt hinges. Work on the guns has also commenced (lots of parts and work involved on those suckers so I'm taking my time). Should have somemore pics up soon.

StephenLawson wrote:

ludwig113 wrote: heres a few bits and pieces i've managed to get my hands on over the last couple of months........... Excellent score ludwig!   The D.VII needs some attention in the fuselage depth and a larger rudder & fin.  The rest all get reasonably high marks.   Ignore the D.VIII rigging instructions for the cockpit.  The Spad has one access door too many on the right rear of the fuselage.  Most people didn't like the PE struts.  I liked them.  They are easy to flesh out.  The undersurfaces of the Dr.I wings need to be sanded down a bit. But still accurate and great kits to build.  All of the excellent busts were mastered by Mike Good (model Cellar & Jaguar figures) Model on!

Hi Ludwig (and others),

I am always amazed at the awesome builds on here and the unbelievable modeling work - VERY inspiring!

Those DML kits are really cool and the addition of those great busts make them rather 'special'.  However, I just wanted to clear something up about the busts:  Mike Good did indeed do those busts that are included in kits.  However, they were done in the early 90's and I (Model Cellar) had nothing to do with those.  Fast forward 10+ years: the Model Cellar is producing WWI aviation oriented figures in 1/48 and 1/32 scale AND busts in that same scale (1/12) done by the same sculptor - Mike Good.  We are producing the busts to expand the "collection" that was started with the Richthofen, Rickenbacker, Udet and Goerthe busts in those kits.  In the past year Model Cellar has released a Raoul Lufbery bust, 2 different Francesco Baracca busts (one with officer's cap and one with a bare head), and a Werner Voss bust.  ...all sculpted by Mike Good.  We have several busts waiting in the wings and several more in the 'pipeline'.  ...and we intend to keep adding to the collection. 

I know most on here are airplane builders, excellent airplane builders at that! ...and you may shy away from painting figures and busts, having to shade uniforms and get flesh tones correct etc.  Figures and busts seem to be their own little hobby.  Well, here is an idea: you can assemble the bust, spray it a bronze color, apply a wash of dark green, and a soft drybrush with brass or metalizer to highlight the fantastic detail - mount it on a pedestal and you have a great 'desktop model'.  It's easily done in a weekend and it's a quick project that gives you that "I finally got something finished" feeling !LOL!!  (a tip: do the Bronze color in enamels, let dry overnight and if you do the wash with acrylics (waterbased) it will not lift the enamel base coat - hence the ability to do it all in one weekend) Try it!  I'm sure you'll like it!

Visit our site to see the Lufbery, Baracca and Voss busts.

Regards,

Paul

www.ModelCellar.com

Mo- that DH2 is really looking sweet!  Again, your finiishing techniques are amazingly real, can't wait to see how you do that.

Mike- More pics coming?  That's awesome news!  i always enjoy seeing your work.

Paul- Great idea on the bronze busts, may have to try that on one someday.

ruddratt wrote:

ludwig, that's some really nice work there! The streaking you painted looks outstanding!

thanks,the streaking isn't painted i have to own up and say there decals. very nice but quite thin,still i only screwed up once on the wings , after that i worked out a really good way of applying them.

i'm waiting for the microsculpt decals to become available as i think this is the way to go, even if you use them as a base and apply your own streaks over the top.