With just a week to go, I decided to take a few minutes from my secret bunker in an undisclosed location where I've been squirreled away working on, among other things, a Hasegawa 1/48 scale Mustang, a Tamiya 1/35 scale Abrams, a Trumpeter 1/48 scale F9F, and the big new Enterprise, to get the lay of the land. Looks like we've got a great crew lined up and I can't wait to see the results.

Inspite of Tim's best attempts to derail me, I've spent the last couple of nights perusing the instructions for my D.VII. I had no idea Fokker was a two-seater with British roundels and a pusher ... wait, hang on a sec [stomps down hallway and shakes fist at Tim].

That's OK Tim. It's a sign of your modeling insecurity that you need to resort to tricks. BTW, I just drove my car over that Airwolf kit you were so keen to build. I can't decide if it was business or pleasure...

It's getting real now! Next Friday, we fly!

My son has been inspecting the box art and claimed it as his own. He has also requested that the finished model be added to his "collection." As you all know, he has titled himself "Dark Power," so, I really see no way of refusing the request lest he unleash some sort of cosmic evil that will make my bathroom unusable. Fearful of the answer, I have not ventured to ask what comprises his "collection." Obviously, by July, it will include a D.VII.

Freem: thank Marc, he's the one who posted the comics and got me thinking about Snoopy!  

Cliff - great pics! Nothing like a good look at those birds to get the creative juices flowing!

John - sorry about that buddy. Didn't mean to cause you any anxious moments. I'm so used to the mags being mounted to the rear of the engine - forgot you're building the OEFFAG.

I remember a "Sopwith Camel" that was a snap kit.  I think it was yellow with stickers and had a battery operated motor that spun the prop. In fact while typing this I opend up a new tab and Googled "Monogram Snoopy Sopwith Camel" and there it was!  I had that kit when I was a kid.  It came out about 1970 or so.  Brought back some memories of the good old days, Gamera!

falconmod

Tim,

  Put me down for the DIII.

You got it! Welcome!

Tim,

  Put me down for the DIII.

falconmod

I think I'll hold off on the build until after the eight.  but as I 'm a hope plastic addict I may actually go and get another eduard kit and start another, I really like their weekend kits.  probably the albatros D V

Hi John,

Just to clarify, do you want me to put you down for the D.III or the D.V?

Cool Marc, I always cheered Snoopy on against that mean ol' Red Baron.

There was a kit of flying ace Snoopy released back in the '70s wasn't it?  

John: Yikes! 

Mike,

   I looked at the instructions and i do have the engine assembled correctly and in the fuselage facing the right way.    just about had a heart attack.

John

Tim,

  I think I'll hold off on the build until after the eight.  but as I 'm a hopeless plastic addict I may actually go and get another eduard kit and start another, I really like their weekend kits.  probably the albatros D V

John

 Nice photos.

7 days.  Hmm  seems just yesterday it was but 8 days.

In keep with the "This is supposed to be fun" mentality, this has been running in my paper this week...

(for entertaiment purposes only)

Seven -- that's right, SEVEN -- days to go!

Gamera: Thanks for the pics!

Did anyone else see the article in last month's Smithsonian Air & Space magazine about a collection of WWI birds? It wasn't bad, though there weren't a lot of close-ups of the airplanes. Still, some interesting photos.

In case anyone does need additional inspiration here are some photos of flyable replica warbirds from The Fighter Factory at the Virginia Beach, Virginia airport. They restore Second World War and Cold War aircraft but these are replicas recreated to look like Great War aircraft. Even though they're not 'real' I still think they're super cool! And these are only about 1/3 of them!

Oh, and yes, I am super-stoked for this GB!!! Got everything ready to go!!

....are we there yet???

wing_nut

Ooooo I love surprises... What is it?

If he told you, it wouldn't be a suprise, would it?!

Ooooo I love surprises... What is it?

The deliveries have started. Today was the new tip and needle for the Grex AB.  Turnbuckles and MG brass next and all will be ready for the start.  Gettin' my feet in the starting blocks

Good morning, all!

Eight days to go!

We've heard from a few of us about possible finishes. Would anyone else like to share their ideas?

If you guys haven't yet, check out Greg Bale's SPAD builds. He's doing some laps at the track in anticipation for this GB.

And, Aaron and I have a little surprise planned for this build. If it goes well, we might continue it for future FSM group builds. Now, where did I put my flare gun?

Marc, it does look like a neat tool, but at $30, plus the fact that it never seems to be available, I think I'm gonna try my hand at McGuyvering one out of styrene stock. We'll see how it works.

Tim, sounds fair. I too would love to see more of John's work, and this would be a great place for him to share it.

John, it looks real nice so far, especially for your first WWI bird - way better than my first! The wood grain is very impressive! One thing I noticed however, and that is you may want to check your instructions in regards to the engine. I'm pretty sure it's facing the wrong direction. The location of the magnetos called it to my attention.

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven't posted here yet today. I've been neck deep in editing the new NPRD video.

First: Only 9 days to go!

Second: John (Falconmod), Aaron and I really want to be inclusive, but we also want to be fair to the guys who have been waiting to build. The GB doesn't start until March 1st, so you've got a jump on the rest of us.

Aaron and I talked it over and here's what we propose: Don't do anymore work on your D.III and postpone starting up again until March 8th or until you see the first images come across the thread that basically correspond to where you're currently at in your build (whichever comes first). This gives the rest of us a chance to catch up.

My other suggestion would be to keep truckin' on the D.III, because it's looking good, and start a WIP thread. When you finish, if you're still up for building WWI planes and you think there's enough time left in the GB (deadline is a firm July 31), jump in then with another kit.

Either way you choose, my main concern is that you finish your build and you have an enjoyable time doing it. If that means coming along with the rest of us for the ride, then by all means. But now that you've shown us what you're working on, I definitely want to see the final result.

Let me know how you'd like to play it.

Third: To anyone else who is considering joining the build, we're making this one exception for Falconmod because it came out of the blue and we'd feel like heartless cads if we said no. However, now that we've dealt with it, we'll just put it out there that future entries have to be kits that haven't seen any prior work.

OK, I think that covers it. Back to editing video ... I mean, brushing up on my aerial combat tactics.

Tim,

  I just got a Eduard Albatros DIII OEFFAG 153 1/48 for my birthday this month from a friend of mine, and I just stumbled across this GB today, I 've already started so can I still join?  This by the way is my very first WW1 subject, I've always done jets so this is a Hugh change for me.

John

Thanks for the compliments on the prop guys.  

Phil, you should have no problem figuring which way is which.  

The D.Va kits comes with 4 different prop and I have leftovers from the other kits built so anyone need one just give a holla.

I glued up some blanks to make the props and will do a little SBS of how it goes.. if it goes well  Now I know what you are thinking... FOUL! EARLY START!  i have 2 WNW kits in the stash.  And... hmmm.. this is for the other one.  How that's it.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it

Mike, I saw that jig too and thought it looked very interesting..Hope you come up with an idea that works and would love to see that.  For me barley building any aircraft, much less WWI birds, it's not worth the investment   But for you seems it would get a fair amount of use.

Phil, those props look sweet! I know that Part of Poland makes PE prop bosses in different scales and was wondering if these wooden props also include them.

Marc, man, that is just ...... well, I'm at a loss for words. Can't believe you carved that sucker! Phenomenal! I am not quite that brave, so I'm going to attempt painting the laminated layers on the kit prop. Been working on a jig something like this to facilitate the process....

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/RB_Productions/Tools_Scratch-Building/RB-T036/default.htm

Tim, yep, only ten days! I better get cracking on that D.VII. Man, I can't wait to see everyone's work!

Wow! Thanks Tim! My bench ain't always that clean though.

...and good news - my WnW E.III arrived today! It's a sweet looking kit, with a relatively low parts count for a Wingnut kit, but the detail looks real good. Should be a fun build!

Bish

Yes mine comes with two plastic props, I think I'll paint them up just to see how I go but I'm hoping to get the wodden one in time

Phil

Marc: Good stuff right there. I think I'm going to learn a lot during this group build.

By the way, you guys should go back and look at Ruddratt's workbench. In light of how neat it is and how freaking AWESOME that D.VII cockpit and engine look, I don't believe he's human. He's some sort of model-building Terminator from the future, here to shame us with his dazzling displays of skill.

I was on the roof with the lawnmower yesterday as per the doctor's orders. Cold, windy, and very noisy. My wife took particular joy in throwing stones at me while I was up there.

10 days!

wing_nut

That's the correct one  Maybe one day I'll build a pusher to use the backwards one

Ah, so it is! I don't know at first glance the top blade looked funny to me. I'm going to the eye doctor later this week, maybe I can get my eyeballs recalibrated 

Stunning work on that prop Marc. I don't think i will be doing anything as extreme as that for a 72nd kit.

So do these WnW kits come with plastic props.

Marc

As long as you noticed before you fit it to the kit, call it a practice piece! I just hope when mine arrvies they have some way of me telling front to back!

Phil

That's the correct one  Maybe one day I'll build a pusher to use the backwards one