Knights of the Sky II- The End

Well I finally got a chance to take some pics. This is Revell's 1/72 Fokker D.VII, I'm building the box art version.

Scott, fantastic looking builds, my friend. I love the Pfalz. Uber colourfull, those crazy krauts. The brandenberg looks kinda cool too. Never seen that one modelled before and i like it.

Aaron, nice work so far. Is that the seven dwarfs DVII?

...Guy

Looking very good Aaron!  Your masking looks very well done indeed.

Bob- I just sent you a question on your buckles on Ebay, saw you were online here so thought I would mention it.

I've found an odd bit with this kit, it comes with lozenge decals for the underside of the wings, but it is not in color. So I've been doing a little paint by numbers, but still have a way to go. It would have been nice to get filled in decals.

Here is the top wing painted, and the lower wing with the plain decal.

Aaron,

That painting of the lozenge patern looks very nice indeed!  I wonder what kind of a sadist came up with that idea for a decal?  I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Aaronw wrote:

I've found an odd bit with this kit, it comes with lozenge decals for the underside of the wings, but it is not in color. So I've been doing a little paint by numbers, but still have a way to go. It would have been nice to get filled in decals.  Here is the top wing painted, and the lower wing with the plain decal.

More Power Scotty wrote:

Aaron,  That painting of the lozenge patern looks very nice indeed!  I wonder what kind of a sadist came up with that idea for a decal?  I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Should we tell him about butted sections of fabric & rib tapes now or later?  The idea was done specifically for the Udet scheme for the first 3 in one packaging of the Revell Fokker D.VII kit in the old Fighters of WWI series.  That incarnation was dated back in the late 1960's before the Microscale 4 colour lozenge.  Later in the seventies The D.VII had its own 3-in-1 series with Udet, Berthold and Göring's late war mounts  (June - Oct. 1918.)   Truth be told we only have real images of Berthold's Early Schwerin built D.VII.  We assume he flew a late production type later in the war.  That version is what this scheme portrays.

AaronW, don't let my comments disway you. You are doing a very decent job.  Most modelers would have quit by now.  Next time try the Microsculpt "lozenge" decals now available.

Hi Guys,

    Is it too late to join this GB.....I have a 1/32 Camel sitting on the shelves and would love to build it while I have the time......

 A photo of the E.V. pit. I had a major FUBAR with the port side decal, and had to replace both with ones cut from a Roden kit. Hopefully the colors wont be too out of sink with the Eduard set. The wood section was painted with Valejo TanYellow and Burnt Umber followed by a light wash of WN burt umber oil.

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By all means, to the Group Build Rob!  Who makes that Camel, so I can update the roster on page 1.

Mo- Bummer about those decals!  How hard would it be to remove them both, and start over?

Daywalker wrote:

Mo- Bummer about those decals!  How hard would it be to remove them both, and start over?

 Given the limited  visibility inside the pit, the decals should work out ok. I checked it out before joining the halves together. I hope I don't run into any self inflicted problems like that on the exterior.

 Anyweigh, I've orderded a set of Microsculpt for an Eduard DVII that I've had in the stash for awhile.

StephenLawson wrote:

Aaronw wrote: I've found an odd bit with this kit, it comes with lozenge decals for the underside of the wings, but it is not in color. So I've been doing a little paint by numbers, but still have a way to go. It would have been nice to get filled in decals.  Here is the top wing painted, and the lower wing with the plain decal.  More Power Scotty wrote: Aaron,  That painting of the lozenge patern looks very nice indeed!  I wonder what kind of a sadist came up with that idea for a decal?  I am looking forward to seeing the finished product. Should we tell him about butted sections of fabric & rib tapes now or later?  The idea was done specifically for the Udet scheme for the first 3 in one packaging of the Revell Fokker D.VII kit in the old Fighters of WWI series.  That incarnation was dated back in the late 1960's before the Microscale 4 colour lozenge.  Later in the seventies The D.VII had its own 3-in-1 series with Udet, Berthold and Göring's late war mounts  (June - Oct. 1918.)   Truth be told we only have real images of Berthold's Early Schwerin built D.VII.  We assume he flew a late production type later in the war.  That version is what this scheme portrays. AaronW, don't let my comments disway you. You are doing a very decent job.  Most modelers would have quit by now.  Next time try the Microsculpt "lozenge" decals now available.

Not going to sway me off this, I thought about scanning the decals and filling them in using paint or photoshop, then reprinting them. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, so I decided I'd try painting them. They are on the undersides of the wings so I figured it wasn't a critical issue if they were not perfect.

For the future I will be looking for pre-colored decals though, particularly because I really like the Fokker's with lozenge camo on the upper wings and want to add one at some point.

Also nice to know why they did the decals as they did, it may still be a pain. Knowing it was an attempt at making the most use of a set of decals is better than thinking some Revell exec has a thing for Torquemada.  

Daywalker wrote:

By all means, to the Group Build Rob!  Who makes that Camel, so I can update the roster on page 1. Mo- Bummer about those decals!  How hard would it be to remove them both, and start over?

Hey Daywalker,

  The kit is an old Hobby Craft 1/32 Sopwith Camel F-1.  Don't now if the kit is any good or not, but we'll find out.

Thanks for letting me join.  More later next week with the start of the build.

I have finally started my build

The injector pin marks are HORRIFIC on the inside of the camel, I dont know how to go about fixing them all without damaging the deatil.

After thinking I put some putty in the pin marks, gona fixem as much as I can, I cant deal with having them there.

 EV phone home, Sorry. A photo of the Fokker E.V.

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 The Eduard decals went on without much trouble(Whew!). I base painted everything Olive Green in order to avoid masking, then applied Future for the decals. I used Micro Set to get the decals in position and work any air pockets out with the aid of a soft clean rag, then Micro Sol to snug them down tight. I choose the Jasta 8 markings because of the Yellow cowling and striped stabilizers. The cowling is just loosely fitted for the photo.

 AaronW, I agree, The DVII in lozenge camo is very cool.

 Rob, looking forward to seeing progress on the 1/32 Camel

 Smeagol, nice start on the Camel. Looking forward to seeing progress on it as well.

That EV is interesting, is that a variation of the Dr.1 or something else? The olive & lozenge is neat looking too.

On the finish should most WW1 aircraft be flat or gloss? I know they painted the fabric with some kind of varnish but I don't know if it made the fabric glossy like plastic or left it flat or satin like fabric.

Aaronw wrote:

That EV is interesting, is that a variation of the Dr.1 or something else? The olive & lozenge is neat looking too.   On the finish should most WW1 aircraft be flat or gloss? I know they painted the fabric with some kind of varnish but I don't know if it made the fabric glossy like plastic or left it flat or satin like fabric.

 Thanks for the comment Aaronw. The Fokker E.V. was the predecessor to the DVIII. The E.V. saw limited combat during WWI, before being grounded due to wing failure. Upon investigation the construction of the wing was to blame. Modifications to the assembly and general strengthening of the wing led to the designation DVIII. The E.V. models were retrofitted and also were redisignated as DVIII. All this happened during the final months of WWI, with no DVIII's actually seeing front line service. So reads the instruction booklet.

 As for finish, I've seen many photo's of WWI replica aircraft and they do have a high gloss look, while most of the unrestored museum aircraft I've seen do not. I would imagine that if replica aircraft were exposed to the elements 24/7 it wouldn't take long to have a matted finish considering UV, heat, dust/dirt, rain, wind, and snow.  Heck, it doesn't take long for my car not to shine. Bottom line, IMO, the finish is the first step in weathering and really depends on what you prefer ie: a new shiny look, a slightly used look, or full out abused look.

 HTH

 Mo

Nice work on those Lozenges Aaronw, 'your a braver man than I, Gungadin!'

Smeagol, Looks like your getting into your stride with the build. I really wouldnt worry at all about the injection pin marks in the fuselage. You arent going to EVER see them.

Mobious, I love the EV. Ive been looking for one on ebay for a while now. The colour scheme on yours, makes me want one even more. Who could not like, black and white stripes, Lozenge and yellow cowl and wheels, Yummy.

...Guy

Smeagol- Lookis like you are up and running on your Camel, well done!

Mo- YOWZA!!!  That E.V is looking SWEEEEET my friend.  Love the markings, how did you get your Future coat so smooth?  It looks like glass.

 Thanks Guy and Frank, The comments are greatly appreciated.

 Guy, this is a great kit. Like all of Eduards offerings, little flash, crisp moldings, nice decals. and great subject. IMO the decals make a world of difference. I've had only 2 self inflicted problems. the one with the pit decals on the wrong side and the rabbit-eat-snake on the starboard side. I over worked the decal trying to get the air out and I fractured it as a result. It broke in 2 places, but wasn't too much trouble lining up after a little Micro Set was applied. Just a knucklehead move on my part. There are options for 4 aircraft, colored PE set and a nicely printed instruction booklet.

 Frank, the Future is a tip I've learned from you. It isn't quite as smooth as glass but the decals sure like it. Several thin coats, working with the light to get a good even coat. I also applied Future after the lozenge decals were applied to seal them and give a smooth surface for the rabbit/snake decal. Thought I'd try doing it that way to keep from disturbing the decals underneath.

 Progress on the EV, I have all the decals that would pose a problem, with the wing fixed, in place. In fact I got in such a hurry that I overlooked the PE bottom pan and MG's. The bottom I'll paint seperate and add later, the MG PE, I'll save for the WEED DVII. I used the plastic MG's and had to build them under the wing. Sorta like a ship in a bottle mini project.

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 Thanks for checking in,

 Mo

Mobious wrote:

". . .also were redisignated as DVIII. All this happened during the final months of WWI, with no DVIII's actually seeing front line service. So reads the instruction booklet. .Mo"

This not entirely true.  But it is the popular historical thought. 

  Thanks again for that more than helpful tip Frank. I'm a totally converted Future user. It makes the decals snuggle

 Stephen, I am curious, if you would please explain.

 I have another question regarding markings for a SPAD XIII piloted by USAS Ace Paul F. Baer. I believe he flew with the 2nd Pursuit Group, 103rd Aero Squadron. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 A few photo's of progress on the EV.

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Leme ask you guys, what color should I do the interior, the handle and pedals, the seat, etc.  I did the walls in a woodish tint as you can see, also what color for the instrument pannel?  (again, im new to this)

progress being I have almost finished painting the interior parts (besides what I asked, which is like 4 parts) I have started filling the injector pin marks on the wings (there are alot of injector pin marks everywhere.  I attempted at hacking a figure for the cockpit but though it says 1/32nd a 1/35th figure was WAY to large for the cockpit

Smeagol- Here's a link to a page with numerous Camel photos, hope it helps!

Sopwith Camel walkaround