Knights of the Sky II- The End

wing_nut wrote:

Nice jub Steve.  So now I know where the bar is that I have to shoot for.

Whoa now!  Just because I will go a mile to build a Camel,  does not mean you have to start drinking! 

Fantastic work Stephen, youve got building these things to an art form. This camel is amazing as usuall.

...Guy

StephenLawson wrote:

MrDrummy wrote: ". . .I'll be building Josef Jacob's 470/17, which is an all black scheme.  Stephen, if you're still around here, did this particular a/c have crosses on the bottoms of the bottom wing?  I've seen a couple of different profiles, and I'm not sure which is correct!. . ." I think I can help you with that.

Thanks, Stephen.  I've just started the painting process, so you're right in time!  I'm painting the thing with Tamiya's acrylic Nato Black as the main color, because it's not really a straight black.  That would just look a bit silly, now wouldn't it? :)  Anyway, I know that it has crosses on the tops of the top and bottom wings, but now sure about the bottom of the bottom wing.  Any history on this particular a/c? 

Thanks again!

Where I am at the moment-- top wing simply set in place for the photo.  I've got lots and lots to do, still.  On the profile that I have, you can still kinda see the old markings underneath the black paint, so I will attempt to recreate that effect.  We'll see what happens.

Judging from your white vertical bar you ar doing a repainted 450/17?

This is my intrepretation of 470/17  before Oct 3, 1918.

This is my interpretation of 450/17 in early June 1918.  It was again repainted by Sept. 1918 in the earlier March-May configuration.

Here is a link to more info on Jacobs (and others) Dr.I types.

my builds here.

Yes, Stephen, that is exactly the a/c that I want to do.  My profile, however, says that this particular aircraft is 470/17 instead of 450/17. 

I'm definitely going to go with you on this one!

My big problem now is trying to figure out what was on the tops of the wings.  I looked for photos of your model of this a/c, and can't find any on your site (though I did find a bunch of other amazing looking Dr. I's.  That white a blue striped one is AWESOME!  The little vignette of "Rickenbacker's 22nd victory is a show-stopper!)

Here is what I have, and what I am working with.  Do you think that this was what it looked like?  Also, were there crosses of any type on the bottom of the lowest wing?

THoughts?

MrDrummy wrote:

Yes, Stephen, that is exactly the a/c that I want to do.  My profile, however, says that this particular aircraft is 470/17 instead of 450/17.  I'm definitely going to go with you on this one! My big problem now is trying to figure out what was on the tops of the wings.  I looked for photos of your model of this a/c, and can't find any on your site (though I did find a bunch of other amazing looking Dr. I's.  That white a blue striped one is AWESOME!  The little vignette of "Rickenbacker's 22nd victory is a show-stopper!) Here is what I have, and what I am working with.  Do you think that this was what it looked like?  Also, were there crosses of any type on the bottom of the lowest wing? . . . THoughts?

Looks like someone has confused profiles.  Look at the bottom of the page of the link I gave you.  This is w/n 2075, Fok. Dr.I 450/17 was flown during May & June 1918 by Ltn. Josef Jacobs as commander of Jasta 7. This is a DML kit with decals from the Super Scale sheet.

my builds here.

A further note to the scheme of 450/17 at this time.  Jacobs had it repainted (the black here is newer that 470/17.)  The white crosses may simply have been unfinished. The black center strips to be added later. All we have in the public domain is the white crossed version.   The cross dimensions are the uneven aspect versions of this time period.

The primary mount was the Fok. D.VII 365/18 so the "god of the north wind" was transferred to it. 

His Fok. Dr.I 470/17 had open ended crosses (as described by Jacobs in his combat reports.)  

450/17 was destroyed on Oct. 3, 1918 when he had to crash land it.  Something happened to Fok. D.VII 365/18 and he quit flying it. 

470/17 was then gived the "god of the north wind" motif and he flew it through Oct 1918.  He was called to Berlin for the third type testing event and of course the war ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

See Stephen, that's why I love what you do--- you've got all the history too.  It's the most interesting part to me!

So no crosses on the tops of the bottom wing...  bummer, since I already did that.  Will have to paint them out!

What about the bottoms of the wings?

MrDrummy wrote:

". . .What about the bottoms of the wings?

Same configuration as the top wing.

Drummy or Stephen, could you post a link to the crazy painted DR.1's or the Rickenbacker Dio?

I love seeing your work Stephen and your dio's are something else.

...Guy

Luftwoller wrote:

"Drummy or Stephen, could you post a link to the crazy painted DR.1's or the Rickenbacker Dio? I love seeing your work Stephen and your dio's are something else. . .Guy

These are just a few but here you go;

Albatros Fighters

Fokker Dr.I

Nieuport Fighters

Zeppelin Staaken R.VI

Pfalz Fighters

Fokker D.VII

A longer list can be found here.

Thankyou Stephen, ive bookmarked those and will come back and look again and again. You have been building these things for a while now, im betting LOL.

Anyhoo, I finally got round to finishing of the Macchi M.5 floater. Ive draged with the final finishing off and dont really have a reason LOL. Heres the pics. I used some of Bobs buckles here and there and like the look of them a lot. I think ill be using them again in the future,

I hope you like it as much as i do. It was a good fun build.

...Guy

 Stephen, I really like the look of the battle tested Camel. Very nice weathering. That's another great build. The paint chipping on the cowling is cool.

 Guy, Excellent job. I really like the look of the rigging. the wood finish is great. Bob's Buckles look top shelf, they really add to the realistic look of the rigging. Are they easy to install?

Thx Mobious, Bobs buckles are great. All I did (Wether its right or not i dont know) was drill a small hole where the rigging has to go, then i tie one end of my rigging material (Smoke coloured invisible thread) to the loop on the buckle and superglue that end in the hole, after shortening the length slightly, by cutting with my scalpel. I tried 2 ways of sorting the other end. One was glueing the buckle in the hole 1st and then tyin off in place and the second was tying the thread to the buckle and then glueing in place. Both worked but i prefered tying to the buckle first and then gluing. The trick is to try to keep the slack to a minimum as you have to remove this slack by using heat. I used a cheapo soldering iron which worked well and the invisible thread will shrink tons. Which was lucky. LOL.

Id like to know how Bob does it. Probably far more efficient than my way.

...Guy

Looking good Mr. D.

Guy--WOW that is sweet. Needs to be floating though

Finally got the upper wing installed.  usingthe metal wire pins for the struts was a HUGE help.  Not only in getting it all togther very fast but it is really strong.  And this time I did not break off any off the struts while working unlike the dozen or so the last time.  Thnaks again for that tip Steve.

Guy- that is some fantastic work!  Like this one a lot, though everytime I look at the pics I see the top of the fuselage (hull?) and think of the handle of a hunting knife.  Must be the dots that look sorta like rivets holding the handle on.   Well done!

Justin and Marc- Excellent progress fellas!  You'll be finished in no time.

Stephen- That is some excellent info, and I have filed it away for my own Dr.I build.

Ha!  I was thinking the same thing about that Guy's float plane!  It looks just like the spatula that I use on my grill!  Ha

Guy, that thing really does look nice!  Great job on that.  Do you have any closeup shots of the Bob's Buckles?  I'd love to be able to see what they look like a little better.

Marc- That Camel looks great!!  How much longer do you think?

MrDrummy wrote:

Ha!  I was thinking the same thing about that Guy's float plane!  It looks just like the spatula that I use on my grill!  Ha Guy, that thing really does look nice!  Great job on that.  Do you have any closeup shots of the Bob's Buckles?  I'd love to be able to see what they look like a little better. Marc- That Camel looks great!!  How much longer do you think?

Your wish is my command, and i totally agree about Marcs camel.

...Guy

wing_nut wrote:

Finally got the upper wing installed.  usingthe metal wire pins for the struts was a HUGE help.  Not only in getting it all togther very fast but it is really strong.  And this time I did not break off any off the struts while working unlike the dozen or so the last time.  Thnaks again for that tip Steve.

Excellent Marc!  Glad it helped.

Guy,  beautiful build I would really like to see you do a build review on this.  I could help you publish it.  The one real failing of the kit is the lack of a beaching dolly.

Thank you Stephen, PM flying your way. I was toying with doing a beaching dolly. In a Black and white pic of a similar plane it just looked like a table with 2 wheels. The wheels would be the only problem. Like Marc said it would be great in a mini dio.

...Guy

Stephen and Guy,

Fantastic work gentlemen!   I continue to be amazed each time that I check in with this group not only with the work that is taking place, but with the tremendous amount of information being shared.

I am callingh this one done.  This build went infinately better than the 1st one back in KOTS I.  A couple of rigging mistake on my part that mucked up a cople of the struts right at the wing but not that noticable. I know it's there so it pisses me off a bit.  But I sure am likingthe WWI stuff so you will probaly see more of me in the A/C forum inthe future.

 Wing_nut, Beautiful job. Superb weathering. I really like the close up shot of the cowling. Very nice job on the rigging too. Excellent build and photos.

 Luftwoller, The turnbuckles look great on the Flying Steak Knife, I mean the Macchi M5. Very nice shot illustrating the added detail and quality that Bob's Buckles adds. Top marks on the Flying Boat. Thanks for posting the detail shots.

NP Mobious, glad to oblige.

Marc, that is a stunner. 1st class build. These things are addictive arnt they? Really look forward to seeing whats next up your sleeve. Glad your sticking around. Great pics too.

...Guy