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

Nachtflieger

 

 

Nate, you got a brand and size for these eyebolts?

Hmmm... only 4 eyes for 6.25.  I'd have to mortgage my house to buy enough.  They do look perfect though don't they.

Doogs, I think you're on to something there

wing_nut

Gap them I didn't think of that.  They are from RB Motion.  They make all kind of cool stuff for races cars.  Used a lot of their stuff on the Lotus 25 a while back.  They are 1/24... smallest they had... so i may not be able to use the full lend but they are sweet little guys aren't.  Check out the coil over shocks that work.  the extended ones are barely an inch long.

http://www.rbmotion.com/sparks.html

 

Aaron... cool... black it is

Wow - that stuff is top class all the way!

These look like they'd make some awesome turnbuckle eyebolts maybe:

http://www.rbmotion.com/rod.html

Smallest size:

Ball dia.: .031"/.78mm

Eye bore: .0135"/.34mm

Stem: .011"/.28mm

Gap them I didn't think of that.  They are from RB Motion.  They make all kind of cool stuff for races cars.  Used a lot of their stuff on the Lotus 25 a while back.  They are 1/24... smallest they had... so i may not be able to use the full lend but they are sweet little guys aren't.  Check out the coil over shocks that work.  the extended ones are barely an inch long.

http://www.rbmotion.com/sparks.html

Aaron... cool... black it is

I would guess it was the dull silvery color of cables, but cables do darken fairly quicky when exposed to the elements. It is also possible it received a protective coating of oil or similar since I don't think stainless would have been an option at the time.

I know a lot of guys that use monofiliment line use a black sharpie to color it, so black is probably ok if you like it.

How you gonna gap those?

Seriously, those are too cool! Where'd you find those suckers?

Look at the fun things that were in my mailbox today.  Spark plugs for the engine

This is likely a stupid question but if you were to ask my wife... that is my forte. Is all rigging bare cable that would have that kind of dull steel color?  I like the look of the black Ultra Wire but if it just never was that color I need to use something else.

I'm no expert either, but have read a few books on the subject and the points you picked out I don't recall ever coming across.  Just like Aaron replied, many combatants (and future aces) from both sides  were serving with the land forces at one time before becoming pilots.  Even the famous Red Baron was with the cavalry before he transferred in 1915.  Also the air forces of both sides were considered as part of the army.  
At the end of 1916 both sides were looking for new ideas on how to change the way the war was being fought.   The allies were still entertaining the idea of the tank being the key while the germans designed the tactic of infiltration.  Light and mobile,  Sturmtruppen would break through defensive lines and fight in the rear.  Ground attack aircraft would be used both at start and to help hold any gains made by these elite troops.
The battle of Cambrai, November 20 1917, was a major British offensive.  About 300 aircraft were assigned in the ground attack role.   Initially they were very effective,  but the toll of ground fire and german air reinforcements  became costly.  Sometimes as high as 30% so that in less than a week entire squadrons were wiped out.
The only reason I can think  that audiobook stated the germans were more effective was that the J.1 was the first true aircraft designed specifically for ground attack, plus they were given to units assigned for that role, named Schlachtstaffeln or Schlastas for short.  These units were assigned to armies or even divisions  for maximum effect and co-operation.   Cambrai was the first time they were used in large numbers and had an effective role during the german counter attacks.
So there you have it.  Like you said that presentation was pretty general, and in some points a bit too generalized.
regards,
Jack

I'm not much of an expert (interested hack would be a better description), but I have never heard that. It sounds unlikely to me since I've never heard one side was particularly more effective at ground attack than the other. Since aviation was new you can find pilots drawn from all branches of the army, mechanics, cavalry, infantry etc.

The French are generally credited as the first to use aircraft for ground attack as early as 1914, but the British and Germans were not far behind. This was more harrassment and attacks of opportunity though, real coordinated attacks for tactical support didn't really occur until 1917.

As far as organization the British considered it a job for fighters, but the French and Germans preferred 2 seaters and were fielding ground attack units in 1917-18. Germany and Britain both had dedicated armored ground attack aircraft by the end of the war with the Junkers J.1 (late 1917) and Sopwith Salamander (late 1918) 

It doesn't specifically deal with your question, but here are a couple of interesting threads from the aerodrome about air to ground combat in WW1. Some of these guys really can be considered experts, a few have even written books.

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/other-wwi-aviation/41797-effectiveness-ground-attack-great-war.html

http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/other-wwi-aviation/45878-effectiveness-ground-attack-great-war-part-2-a.html

Question for those who know WAY more about WWI than I do.

I'm listening to an audiobook on the history of air warfare. Sadly ti's pretty general, and there's not much I didn't know before, but the WWI essays did include some interesting info re: the different approaches the different combatants took to air power. One claim struck me as very interesting, but since it's an audiobook I can't go dig through the footnotes, so I'm hoping someone here knows.

Anyway...it got to talking about dedicated, role-specific aircraft and the development of tactical strike and close air support aircraft, the development of the Junkers J.1, etc, then went on to mention that the Brits and the French wanted their pursuit pilots to play the tactical strike roll, which the fighter pilots hated. This led to uncoordinated and largely ineffective trench strafing and the like.

Whereas - and this is where I'm curious - the Germans trained infantrymen to pilot their close support aircraft, which much better effectiveness.

Really? Is that the case? 

Closer and closer! The Mosquito should be moving off the bench tonight, so today I washed and air dried the Pup:

Also think I settled on building up this ship-based specimen. A bit more contrast and visual interest than the other Pups.

Was just discussing that with Mia (she's my color coordinator). We both reaaaallly like that one, but there's no lozenge scheme on it's wings. Will probably do a lozenge-y version, and see if i can pick up a weekend edition at the next show (I passed on one yesterday for about 6 bucks - retard) to use the awesome pre-cut masks that came in this box to do that striped one.

Make sense?

Cool!  Are you gonna do that b&W striped one of the box?

Hmmmm...it's working for me, maybe it's still hanging out in my cache? Try HERE instead, click for a larger version.

clicky clicky no worky worky

Ahhh yes, found some boxart:

clicky clicky

Welllllll as expected I was able to score some WWI flying goodness at Downeastcon yesterday:

Albatros D.V

Haven't had time to digest all of the markings options (there are several), and how in the heck I'm going to rig this little monster...REALLY hope I can shoehorn this one into my build schedule in the alloted time!

Dupes the WWI n00b

That will look really good with the black fuselage, and lozenge wings. Looking forward to seeing it. I'm seriously thinking of changing my build from the LVG to an Albatros.

Nate

I'm approaching the home stretch on my WnW Pfalz - eagerly anticipating jumping into their SE.5 next (but I ain't quite as scared as Doogs. ).

Seriously buddy, you're gonna have a blast building that kit!

Marc, great choice! I love the wood grain section smack in the middle of the fuselage, surrounded by all that black. Can't wait to see it!

Mark, you picked the 2nd least silliest out of them all, should have gone With the silliest!

Also Wing_nut using Wingnut Wing decals

I got #30016 "The Bavariins"   I am going to be doing "D"

wing_nut

Just got the markings decals for the Albatros from WNW.  These are be the best printed decals I have seen in a long time.  The coloring is perfectly even and in dead perfect register.  The carrier film is one of the thinnest I have ever seen.  And for any single item on a decal, like a cross or placard,  the clear edge is nearly non-existent.   Jeez I can't wait to start this bad boy.

The decals sheet for my Pup looks similarly impressive...with my Mossie in the home stretch now, I'm just a few days away from starting. Excited, yet terrified of taking on a biplane!

Which one did you get Marc? I got one of their sheets, and I agree it's an excellent decal!

Nate

Just got the markings decals for the Albatros from WNW.  These are be the best printed decals I have seen in a long time.  The coloring is perfectly even and in dead perfect register.  The carrier film is one of the thinnest I have ever seen.  And for any single item on a decal, like a cross or placard,  the clear edge is nearly non-existent.   Jeez I can't wait to start this bad boy.

bondoman

My Scharnhorst shipped on Tuesday from England. Woohoo!

your doing the original one right Bondo, the one from Jutland???

My Scharnhorst shipped on Tuesday from England. Woohoo!

Sean, I am eagerly anticipating that D.VII with the WnW treatment. Built the Eduard kit (still have another in the stash) - was a bit high-priced, but still a joy to build.

Great work on your Pfalz as well! I'd heard of the weathering techniques for the ribs you mentioned and wanted to give one of 'em a try on my next build. It really went a long way towards giving depth to a single color.

WOW Sean.  I just went through all the galleries.  Nice work.  I saw some excellent shot of wing before final assembly that show the seams.  The shot of the interior of the wooden engine compartment with oil soaked into the wood.  Jeez that's nice

What did you use to wrap the exhausts on the engines?