Yes, she looks fantastic John, really sharp looking bird!

looking damn nice! Congratulations for finishing the build

Just for fun:

Thanks, guys.  Now I feel like it's OK to drink from my mug!

Jack, it just made the model seem more personal to put it in US markings, somehow, and I like that early Marine Corps insignia, it has some style.  Nothing against the Brit's though.

It hardly seems possible that the start of the Great War will be a century ago next year, where has the time gone?

John, she looks wonderful! 

Great job and congrats on getting her done.  Interesting choice of markings too, I think you were the only one in the group to choose American livery.

regards,

Jack

Great work, glad you let us all see it

Phil

John - beautiful job!  A crown jewel for your case...

Wow John she's a sweetheart! Great job.

Thanks, Tim!

jeaton01

I'm thinking the nose art for this one might be "Revenge of the Laggards", but I'm too lazy to make the decal.

Ha!

John, welcome home! She's lovely!

Edit: And now in the Hall (Aerodrome) of Fame. CONGRATS!

I'm thinking the nose art for this one might be "Revenge of the Laggards", but I'm too lazy to make the decal.

Here are the finished pictures, it's been a long road but worth it, it looks very nice indeed in the display case.  It is easily the most detailed model I have ever built, and while a real modeler would do better I am quite pleased with it.  As large as it is, it is still quite delicate and takes very careful handling.  I couldn't come up with any real good game plan for what to leave until last to prevent damage, and did all the rigging before decals and final touch up paint.  There was a long period of very careful handling.  I left the control surfaces off until all the rigging was done except the parts involving the surfaces, and instead of just gluing them on I drilled and pinned them all with .015 music wire.  I can't see how the glue joints would ever survive, there just isn't enough contact area.  The last parts I put on were the windshields.  I did break one rigging wire while installing the gun below the cockpit, but survived replacing it.  You may note that the radiator fit is a little loose, that is because it is just pressed on and moved a bit during the pictures.  The upper cowl, prop, and radiator all can be removed to show the engine.

I took the pictures using my Pentax K-5's high definition resolution, HDR, function, it electronically combines several exposures to give better averaging of bright and dark areas.  With all the dark colors on this one I think it worked well.  There was some loss of sharpness, I think, but because of the large size of this model perhaps the only way to photograph the details is with closeup pictures.  The exposures were about 4 seconds average, at F40 with an 18-55 lens set at 55mm.

Way to go, John!

Well, I have all the rigging done on the DH-9a, Future is curing now in prep for decaling tomorrow, then the last bits and pieces like the scarf ring go on.

I really do think I will finish this in the next couple of days.  Wahooooo!

Just did the last look at the group build showcase for February. Not long now!

Bravo, John! It's looking great.

I have the wing and landing gear rigging installed now, still have the aileron and tail section rigging to do.  I have put together a method that works for me, you young guys will get where I am someday as far as wiggly hands!  Small electrical clips, .015 music wire for glue application deep inside the wing cells, a 4/0 brush for accelerator,  a lighted optivisor, one of those big tweezers that stays closed when you let go, no caffeine, and I was good to go.  For many hours in several sessions.  Some of the first wires are not as nice as I like, the tubing is a little large, but I'll like it fine later on

I'm traveling next week so no more updates till I get back home.

Putting the glue on the left end, a clip is holding the midge tubing up at the top right, it will be slid down and glued after the left glue joint is secure.

Putting the midge tubing on the WNW streamline wire.  Once I had the wire in the end of the tube I rolled my fingers up on the tubing and removed the tweezers, then I rolled my fingertips back slowly and nudged the tubing further on until I could get the tweezers on the "wire" and move the tubing to the far end, where I clamped it with the small electrical clip.

Where it's at now:

jeaton01

That's how it's done on the full scale streamline wire, Tim.    There are no turnbuckles used with streamline wires, just fittings that the threads on the ends screw in to, and jam nuts to lock the threads with the wires long axis parallel to the air flow.  The wires will vibrate in the airflow if they are not aligned properly, and in fact they do at low speed high angle of attack flight, the "singing" sound gives you a good speed cue.

Aha! Now I understand. Had no idea that's how the streamlined wire worked. Excellent!

Off to get the screen wipes.

That's how it's done on the full scale streamline wire, Tim.    There are no turnbuckles used with streamline wires, just fittings that the threads on the ends screw in to, and jam nuts to lock the threads with the wires long axis parallel to the air flow.  The wires will vibrate in the airflow if they are not aligned properly, and in fact they do at low speed high angle of attack flight, the "singing" sound gives you a good speed cue.

I am using the midge tubing to simulate the end fittings and jam nuts.  I am putting on the midge tubing just as you describe.  

Make sure you clean your screen!

Won't be long now!

I've got my nose pressed agains the screen with the full-size image to take a closer look at your rigging.

You're using the midge tubing instead of turnbuckles, right? I think another of our builders used midge tubing, too. So, you glue the rigging in place, slide the tubing into position, then glue it too? Or are you using the midge tubing in conjunction with turnbuckles?

Also, when you're talking about adjusting the streamlined rigging, you have to twist it to change it's length? Interesting and strange.

Tim, no way I'm covering up that Liberty.  Actually, I find the engines on airplanes as interesting as the airplanes themselves.  I have done minor work on a LeRhone, and been around OX-5's, and been involved in the construction of a replica of the Wright 4 cylinder engine used the the Wright B.

More progress, in to the rigging part now.  Being a two bay biplane setup there is a lot of wing rigging.  I am using E Z Line for the control wires and other round wires, and a material I ordered from WNW for the streamline wires, with midge tubing to simulate the end fittings.  I thought it might actually be flat, but it is not, just a different more stainless type color, and it stretches just like E Z Line.  On streamline wire there is a right hand thread on one end and a left hand thread on the other, and to adjust you do it in half turns.  The end fittings are partly and sometimes entirely submerged on the flying surfaces.  They will have to be painted silver when I get everything in place.  At this point I have made all the lower attachments and installed the upper wing and struts.  Thanks to very nice fits adding the upper wing and interplane struts was quite easy.   I am using a high power optivisor for this and bracing my shaky hands and so far it's going OK.  Wish me luck so I don't snag a wire and fling the beastie on the floor!

jeaton01

I've worked on the DH9a about 15 hours this week and though I've taken some pictures to post, it's all in the microscopic details.  I built a little forest of stuff in front of the pilot's cockpit, finished the propeller which was pretty simple since most of it had a fabric overlay, and also the exhaust pipes which are just stuck on at the moment.  I've been strategizing and studying the book trying to devise the best order to do all the rigging, and preparing the anchor points by deepening most and drilling through on some, such as the control horn ends.  The tailplane, fin and lower wings are permanently attached now.  The book says to add the elevators and rudder now but I'm going to wait on them and the ailerons too until all the rigging is done.  The attach areas are pretty minimal on all the moving surfaces, I'm thinking about mounting them with pins.  The cowl, prop, and radiator are just press fit on, I do not think I will be gluing them on.  I want to see that nice engine again.

John, that is time well spent. It's at this point, when the fuse is closed up and the lower wing is on that you get a sense it might one day be finished.

As for the engine: No kidding! I put a ton of work into the power plant on my D.VII and you can't see any of it. I contemplated leaving some of the panels off or at least removable, but with the fit issues I had, it was better just to button it all up and let go. Next time ...

Keep up the great work and keep the pics coming. I can't wait to add the DH.9 to the gallery.

John, great to see progress being made! It looks very impressive so far.

John - looking good!  Makes me want to get mine back out.  BTW I like the exhausts...

John, it's looking very good - glad to see this and also learned something new about the wind powered fuel pumps.

regards,

Jack

Ahhh... thanks! Very clever idea!

They are wind driven fuel pumps, Gamera.  I think they pump fuel from the fuselage tank up to the header tank in the upper wing center section.  Is that steampunk or what?

Hey John that looks superb! If I may ask what on earth are those small prop like thingees just in front of the cockpit?

I've worked on the DH9a about 15 hours this week and though I've taken some pictures to post, it's all in the microscopic details.  I built a little forest of stuff in front of the pilot's cockpit, finished the propeller which was pretty simple since most of it had a fabric overlay, and also the exhaust pipes which are just stuck on at the moment.  I've been strategizing and studying the book trying to devise the best order to do all the rigging, and preparing the anchor points by deepening most and drilling through on some, such as the control horn ends.  The tailplane, fin and lower wings are permanently attached now.  The book says to add the elevators and rudder now but I'm going to wait on them and the ailerons too until all the rigging is done.  The attach areas are pretty minimal on all the moving surfaces, I'm thinking about mounting them with pins.  The cowl, prop, and radiator are just press fit on, I do not think I will be gluing them on.  I want to see that nice engine again.

You all look like you are having lots of fun with the H & V thing. (Envy here)

Hi John,

How is the DH.9 coming along? Please keep us posted!

As for the H&V, even if you aren't building anything, make sure to come on in.  The door is always open.

Good to hear, Tim!  Wish I could do the H & V trip but :

1.  I don't have a clue how to do figures

2.  There is this DH-9a....