The group build to end all group builds - THE GREAT WAR

Theuns

Please don't get too discouraged!  If nothing else think about the problems you are having and try to work out in your head ways to deal with them.  When you get back to your D7, do so with a plan.  Many years ago I started work on a 1/72 scale Heinkel 51b floatplane.  It is a pre WW2 German biplane.  I had it together and was trying to paint it.  The paint really messed up to the point where I decided to strip the paint and redo.  In the process, literally the model just fell apart.  I got discouraged and just put it back into the box.  I never quite forgot about it though, and a few months later decided to see what I could do to fix it.  Long story short, that time allowed me to go back to it fresh and it turned out 20 times better than it would have if I had kept going.  It actually won several awards at contests.

Note that all the rigging is with finely stretched sprue.  No nylon thread used. (Also note that this kit was done about 25 years ago)

Now to get back on topic!  Here is the first installment on my Seimens Schuckert D.III  !   Have a busy Saturday planned this weekend.  (no, NOT WOMEN!)    Local club is hosting a model contest here in Memphis.  

So here are the pics.

There you have my start.  Been quite busy lately with trips and doing the local club newsletters.  If you are interested in our little contest, drop me a line and I will get you some info.  I know that there will be a fair number of sellers at the event.  

Have a good Memorial Day weekend and remember those that gave their lives and why we have it!

It's just a case of having to build up my skills with Biplanes, that's all. I will beat this D-7 into submition and depending on how much I am in the mood to battle, I will get a 1.72 Airfix nrw tool Swordfish before even atempting the SE5. I also have a 1/72 CR 42 in the stach.

Maybe the skill level needed for the small D-7 is way highr than I have now LOL!

Theuns

You know, besides rigging, structs are probally the most problematic when building biplanes. Often times, they aren't even of the correct length so that the top wing will not sit properly.  Many people use a jig of some sort to fit the top wing/structs on.  It's such a problem that they even sell commerrcial ones.

Here's some articles that may be of help.

http://agapemodels.com/?p=602

http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/aligningandriggingabiplanegp_1.htm

http://www.internetmodeler.com/2006/march/aviation/aeroclub_jig.php

Good luck with the SE5.

It's my total lack of any sort of skill when it come to fidly struts ect in 1/72 scale. I have a 1/32 Wingnut wings SE5 on the way and only hope I will be able to finish it off to ant level of acceptence in a few years time.

Theuns

Sorry to hear that Theuns, what was the problem? The kit or biplanes kits in general?

Please ignore my post, the Fokker was a total failure and has put me okk fiddly bi-planes for a while :-(

Theuns

Hi guys, any space for me and my Revell 1/72 Fokker D-VII (and maybe a wingnut wings 1/32 SE5A later on)?

Theuns

Hey Ernest! Thanks man!! This has been a great GB so far. When I look at all the completed builds and see the top-notch quality of workmanship on display here, it makes me feel part of a very elite group of modelers, as well as just overall great fellas!

Holy Smokes Mike!!  That's such a beautiful build!!   The rigging is so intricate, its amazes me how you can do it!  Everything about your SE.5a is superb!!  Its another fine addition to this group build and also to your display shelf!!  KUDOS dude!!

Thank you much, guys! Can't tell ya how much I appreciate the comments - this one was a blast to build!

What Jack said!  Beautifully done Mike, I like those letters on the tires.

What's not to enjoy?  Nice piece of eye candy..er ... plastic candy... oh hell, you know I mean.

Mike, that looks really sharp!  Great job on the rigging, and with that shading on the undersides, I think overall it could  pass as the real thing. Very nice! 

regards,

Jack

OK guys, I'm calling this one done. This kit was a blast to build, and I have to say it looks pretty cool sitting next to my 1/32 Pfalz. It's got me itching to hop back into my WnW Albatros, but I that'll have to wait until I finish up a few other GB commitments. Anyway, here's some pics. Hope you enjoy!

Hey Eric, I think the Glencoe Pfalz D.III was originally made by Aurora.  

 As for building a good one...well I'll give It my best shot!

A Glencoe Pfalz? Who made that one originally? (I'm working on the Glencoe USS Oregon and it's so old that it's origin has fallen into myth. Come to think of it, Oregon served in WWI - you'll at least get a pic.) I've got a WNW Pfalz at home that is too pretty to build - at least not until I'm more comfortable with weathering bipes. So please build a good one. I think you'll find that rigging isn't at all that hard. Getting a good set between the two wings may be a time to request divine guidance.

Eric

Heavens Eagle

Hey Ernest, a place to start on what you might need to put that engine into the Glencoe kit would be to compare the Eduard and Glencoe fuselages to each other.  Size, shape, and holes etc.  that should give you a pretty good idea of just how much you need to change the Glencoe kit.

Been working on the Roden Seimens Shuckert D.III the last week or so.  Have the louvered panel under the fuselage and just behind the engine all opened up.  To do it right, a lot of it ended up VERY thin, but the innie/outie louvers look fabulous.  I have seen photos of this part with the openings done incorrectly and they don't look right.  It looks quite different when done correctly.  Have the handholds on the fuselage rear sides cut and moved as well.  Basically whoever cut the mold got the positions crossed between the sides.  They are supposed to be slightly below center line and angled slightly down.  Instead they are slightly above center line and angled up.  The fix is to make identical cuts around then and swap them to the other side. Worked quite well.

Might try to put together a post tomorrow and show you all what I have done.

DOH!!   Should have thought of using the Eduard fuselage as a pattern, thanks Paul!!  The work probably isn't that hard, but I think I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about the bipe since its way outside my comfort zone!  I'll try getting back to it soon!

I'm dying to see what you've done with the Siemens Shuckert! 

Hey Ernest, a place to start on what you might need to put that engine into the Glencoe kit would be to compare the Eduard and Glencoe fuselages to each other.  Size, shape, and holes etc.  that should give you a pretty good idea of just how much you need to change the Glencoe kit.

Been working on the Roden Seimens Shuckert D.III the last week or so.  Have the louvered panel under the fuselage and just behind the engine all opened up.  To do it right, a lot of it ended up VERY thin, but the innie/outie louvers look fabulous.  I have seen photos of this part with the openings done incorrectly and they don't look right.  It looks quite different when done correctly.  Have the handholds on the fuselage rear sides cut and moved as well.  Basically whoever cut the mold got the positions crossed between the sides.  They are supposed to be slightly below center line and angled slightly down.  Instead they are slightly above center line and angled up.  The fix is to make identical cuts around then and swap them to the other side. Worked quite well.

Might try to put together a post tomorrow and show you all what I have done.

Mike, I didn't realize you were working on another bipe!  The SE.5 is looking very nice!  I also am digging the realistic looking wooden prop!  How did you do that?  

No update on the Pfalz . To be honest I was getting a little frustrated with the Glencoe kit due to all the work involved in bringing it to decent standards.  Fitting the Eduard engine requires that the opening in the fuselage be lengthened and new risers scratch built.  I guess I'm a little out of my element with this type of AC kit; should have just stuck to armor!  Anyway, I set the Pfalz aside to work on some other armor builds, but I WILL get back to it before long!

Great looking SE5 so far Mike. The wood grain work on the prop is very subtle and convincing.

Top notch work on this Mike.  very glad to see this one back on the front lines.

OK fellas, I know it's been a while since I've had any progress to post on this guy (almost a year), but thanks to a load of extra time at the bench, been able to make some major headway on that 1/32 WnW SE.5a. There is no external rigging done yet, but it's time is drawing near, and there's a ton of it on this bird (I got away easy on the DR.I ). Still need to gloss and apply the markings on the upper wing (which fits like a dream), and then the rigging can begin, so here is where it stands so far, along with the finished prop and wing-mounted Lewis gun.

I figured you wingy guys would know all about these replacement engines!!  

Me, I was just so stoked to find these little gems!

Contrary to popular belief... I am still on this side of the grass  Checking in and nice to see that is still a heart beat here too. 

Still plugging away at your 1st A/C Ernest.  Love those Vector engines.  They are real gems.

Amazing work, both pictured and purposed.

gotta get my current build off the bench and see what I can do to ...er... with a biplane of the

1st war

WHAAA WHOOO!

Said in my best Maxwell Smart voice ...."Ahhh, the old swap the Eduard for the Vector trick!"

Good call, Ernest. She's lookin' real good. The IP looks fine - all that added detail is making a huge difference. Keep us posted!

To mount the Eduard engine, I'd do it by making another bulkhead using the Eduard part as a rough guide.

Managed to get a bit more done on the Glencoe Pfalz D.III.  The cockpit is almost done, I'm waiting to complete engine work before adding all the little bits and pieces that I scratched.  Most likely I'll just knock them off fitting the engine. 

Using the Eduard kit as a guide I added sidewall runners using .010 x .030  and .010 x .040 Evergreen styrene strip:

Did more work on the cockpit assembly:

Scratched an instrument panel using the Eduard PE sheet as a guide.  For the dial I used some generic decals from Decalcomaniacs.  Not the most accurate but better than trying to paint those gauges by hand!

The Glencoe kit has a very simple represenation of the Mercedes III engine.   My first inclination was to scratchbuild some extra detailing so I searched the web for photos of the real engine.  Upon finding some very good pics, my first realization was that the kit engine is really quite horrid, bearing only a passing resemblance to the real thing! .   I also found photos of a Pavla 1:48 resin replacement engine so I did a little research on this and found that Vector made an even better resin replacement!!  Here's a photo of the little Vector engine I pulled from the web:

I decided to take a look to see if any online stores carried either the Pavla or Vector engines and was pleasantly surprised to find that Great Models had the Vector engines in stock and also on sale!   So I pulled the trigger and splurged, ordering two sets!  My intention is to use those nice engines in the Eduard Pfalz and Dragon Fokker D.VII kits.  Then instead of using the lame Glencoe engine I can use either the Eduard or Dragon kit engine for this Glencoe kit!  One of the reasons I've put this kit aside was to wait for the Vector parts to arrive, which they did on Friday!

I assembled both the Glencoe and Eduard engines and put them next to the unassembled Vector resin replacement!  There's no question that Glencoe's just plain sucks , but Eduard's isn't really that bad.  The Vector engine is just superb and its a shame that most of it won't be seen, but what can be seen will be quite nice!

Next step is to figure out how to mount the Eduard engine in the Glencoe fuselage.  Once that's done I can finish up the cockpit details and start painting the interior!

Holy moley Paul, that is an obscene amount of work you got planned for that Roden kit - and painting your own lozenge!? You are a heck of a lot braver than I. I'll stick to the decals for now. It'll be quite some time before I could muster up enough courage to tackle that task, that's for sure. I can't wait to see this build!

Ernest, man, where to start! Checked out your builds on the Ostfront GB - I seriously don't know how you treadheads do it. Both of those pieces look phenominal, and the third is off to a great start. That rust effect is mind-blowing! I have an AFV Club LeFH18M that I plan on tackling once my armor weathering skills are up to snuff, and you can be sure I'll be using your builds as inspiration (as well as picking your brain for advice and techniques!)

Shame about the lack of WWI stuff at the show you went to, but what was on display was first rate. It's really got me anxious to see how you've progressed on the Pfalz.

I don't know about Ukrainian kits, but the kits and after market from the Czech Republic are all amazing. I even have one kit made in Poland and it is as sweet as any WNW 1/32 kit.  Only difference is it is in 1/48th.  Will have to do a review on it with photos.  Definitely worth the money I paid even though it is smaller than the 1/32 kits it is every bit as detailed and nice.  The instructions are on an equal or better than basis to any WNW instructions.

.      ( make note! must do kit review on Mirage Halberstadt CL.II or Great War folks will can my butt!)

Nice photos of that Sopwith Pup and the Spad!

I sure agree that large decals are best avoided. I'm trying to dispense with as many decals as possible even if I'd like to have a manservant do masking work for me. Personally I don't like the looks of the lozenge camo - just too busy - not a purple fan either. But, it does look like the Germans used late war and gunked up all those neat looking planes they were making, so there's no choice. Painting a scheme like that does sound like a tall order though. Has there been any further chat about those MicroSculpt lozenge decals? They're silkscreen printed, supposedly in 48 scale but they come in large pieces that you cut to order. As I recall Wingnut thought they'd look fine in 32 scale. They also make a "linen" decal for allied planes. The Siemens is such a sweet looking plane that it's tempting to look the other way and do it anyway. (What I really need, can't figure why, is a Morane Saulnier monoplane. The craft simply embodies funk. Of course that means breaking Rule #7 - never buy a kit made in the Ukraine.) 

Eric