100th Anniversary of WWI GB

some great airplane building going on here. looking at it makes me want to move all my ww1 airplane stash to the garage get rid of area.

made a better base for ww1 tank. the ground is a mixture of coffee grounds and charcoal ash.

Thanks, Rob. I have seen reference photos that show the finish on the interior metal, as well as some where it doesn't seem to be the case.  I didn't give the aluminum ammo box a swirled finish, but figured that if the purpose was anti-corrosion, it probably made sense that the interior walls would be treated.

My turnbuckles are made from Albion aluminum slide fit tubing colored with gold Sharpie like so:

I originally tried using Gaspatch turnbuckles (which I will be using for the exterior rigging), but it just looked too crowded in that small area, so I improvised.  After I got it all rigged, I realized that in most of the reference pictures I have seen, the turnbuckles have some protective covering over them, so perhaps a different approach would have been warranted:

Blue

Blue..awesome. Now, that`s something I never thought to do with my E.III - the metalized interior. Looks fantastic. What are your turnbuckles made from or AM parts? Thanks

Rocker: It looks like you have made some major headway on your Nieuport.  I'd love to see some detail pictures if you have any.

I re-did the metal work to match the cowling, and painted the fabric interior cockpit walls.  I used a base coat of the fuselage color (XF-22), followed by a very light and uneven coat of Deck Tan (XF-55) since I figured the doped exterior wouldn't come through the linen perfectly evenly.  I used some dark pigments for stains, and Tamiya Smoke (X-19 ) to give them an oily shine.  Finally, the details in the metalwork got a grimy oil wash to give them some separation.

One last look before buttoning up...

As the picture shows, none of the color variations in the "fabric" can really be seen once the cockpit is in place!  Oh well, I feel better knowing they are there. 

The fuselage is closed up, and waiting some touchup work on seams.  Even the best engineered kits in the world can't prevent me from creating visible seams!  I have also started assembling the resin engine... did I mention the parts are tiny?!  I hope I am up to the challenge!

Keep up the good work everyone,

Blue

Excellent pit Rob! Really nice, yes the next build will not be exposed to the dangers of the great out doors!Lol...

Doug

Hey Blue, thanks, that was artist oil burnt umber over Vallejo wood. I used a course brush to drag across the surface then worked the fine details with the tip of a blunted toothpick.

Marcus: Those barrels look great, I am sure they are a big improvement over the plastic kit parts.

Rob:  Your Roland continues to impress.  I love the wood work you've done on the seat.  What technique did you use to produce the grain pattern?

Lots of good eye candy continuing to come out of this group build!

Got some more progress on the Roland. Managed to get the entire first phase of the build done: cockpit and engine bay.

Here's the plywood backed seat and rear fuselage cover:

Instrument panel:

Previous assembly (fueltank/MG magazine etc) fitted (perfectly cuz WnW is AWESOME, btw!!) with ribs, rear fuselage cover and front engine mounting rails:

VERY hard to see except this way: the control cables (EZ Line). Took Sasho's advice and pre-attached the lines before closing up the sub-assemblies - saved LOTS of stress!!:

Lots of work done so far and overall happy with what's happening. Need to yet install the PE seatbelts, but, waiting for the oil paint to set up better on the seat. Going to tackle the engine starting today.

Marcus - those barrels are looking great. They certainly add great realism to the build.

Doug - Well, the hawk certainly won, eh? Looking forward to your next build (protected from predators I bet )

Blue - that Eindecker cowling looks great. When I did that plane I did the recommended method from the website. It looks ok, but, I like your results better!!

LOL... Well, Maybe she stopper to "Kill" her catch, or to take a bite, For all I know the rest may be in the tree. When fall arrives and the leaves drop, I'll look some more. LOL...,

Doug

Is that all what was left. Boy, that Hawk certainly took out some frustration on that.

Nice work Marcus. I rather like RB metal barrels, though have only got theirs barrels for armour and aircraft. They do carry quite a range of ship barrels.

While installing the B&D 12"/L50 brass barrels I kept thinking these barrels are to big for this model.  The barrels were longer in length and larger in diameter, even though the vendor says these barrels were made for the SMS Konig model.  I had to trim the ports on the turrets to get the barrels to slide in, also had to make a mount as they were to large in diameter glue to the trunnions for the plastic barrels.

While surfing the White Ensign website I ran across a set of metal barrels made by RB models.  The barrels also come with brass trunnions that will fit the deck lug in the turret allowing the barrels to move up and down as the plastic barrel mounts are designed to do.

Tonight I installed the first set of 12"/L50  barrels from RB Models. First I had to remove the mounts I made for the other barrels and clean up the surface so everything would sit correctly for gluing.

Here are some pictures of the install and final outcome.  I am very pleased with the results.  The new barrels look more to scale and they match the 12" barrels on pictures I have seen of the SMS Konig.

The B&D barrel is on the right, left is the plastic barrel that came with the model, next the RB barrel with the trunnion dry fitted followed by the RB barrel with the trunnion sitting behind it.

The barrels with the trunnions attached and sitting in the deck lug where the man made mounts did not.

The RB barrels sitting in a completed deck lug assembly.

The final product.  Clearly can see the new barrels are shorter and narrower than the B&D barrels.

Only four more turrets to convert over. What to do with those B&D barrels now, they cost twice as much as the RB barrels. Looks like will to find a another ship with 12" 50cal barrels.

Marcus

LOLOL...

Wow!  I don't think the pilot survived that one.

Total bummer, but at least you have an answer.   I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the Fokker.

Hey Guys... Look What I found

It was at the base of a tree in my back yard. I was out back putting poison on an ant mound and on the way back I walked by one of the trees in the yard and just happened to see it sticking out of the ground, (It hasd rained last night) , Kind of in my opinion confirms the hawk theory. Well, Ive already started on another kit but also looking to reorder another one of these if time permits. Again, not sure whether to laugh or cry! 

Doug 

Chuck, Blue, Bish, and every one... Thank you very much, yeah, I was puzzled to say the least, but no bratty kids I'm sure, I never left the garage , was listening to a radio but heard or saw nothing... well... must go on. I have a nice Roden Fokked D7 in 1/48 th in stash and would like to offer that one up, and if it comes out ok I might buy another SPAD to try again.

I am defiantly going to get one of those kits, I may even drop some subtle hints for my birthday/xmas pressie . They does look even better, I will make a note of all this. Thanks.

Blue - dude Very most excellent result

your last try nails it - WOW   

Thanks for the comments, Chuck, Dale and Mike!

Bish, if you do decide to take the Eindecker plunge, I just figured out that I get better results using light gray, rather than white for the swirls.  I had an issue with the cowling that I wanted to re-do, and this time, I used Mr. Color Light Aircraft Gray (C332), and got much clearer and more consistent separation between the background and swirls.  My theory is that it takes less Airframe Aluminum to make the light gray look metallic (since it is closer to a metal color to begin with), and thus I got away with using a much lighter coat of Alclad.  I stayed on the right side of that aforementioned fine line, and the swirls are clearly defined throughout.

Blue

Doug - man, I am bummed out big time.  That SPAD was looking so sweet and I thought the idea of the flattened toothpicks for struts was pure genius.

Blue - just amazing work on the Eindecker!  Doing 'random' is not the least bit easy, but man, you nailed it!

65ss - Looks like you're off to a fine start!

The Tripe needs to have its tail skid finished and installed so I can button 'er up and move on to the engine.  I'll have more pics up when that happens.

Blue, I really like how that turned out.

Thanks Bruce. I think when it came to doing one of those, getting that affect concerns me as much if not more than the rigging, but it doesn't seem as bad as I had thought.

Me to, I bet there is a chick in a nest some where thinking what the hell am I supposed to do with this.

Rider - wow, what a shame.  The SPAD looked great.  I actually hope it was a bird, and not some bratty kids.

Blue - I like it!  I used a sponge to get a "random squiggle" on my E.III, but I was never quite happy with the results.  I'll have to try this.

Lookin' great everyone.  I started cleaning parts on my Albie, but nothing to post yet.  Working on a little half-track for the FSM armor build first.  I'm enjoying watching everyone's progress!

Bish,

Yes, its a fine line to walk with the Alclad, and in a few areas, I crossed it.  I was able to recover a bit by buffing the finish with a soft t-shirt, which increased the shine on the swirls.

I'm still at a loss regarding Doug's model...

Doug...... Bugger. At first I thought you meant the lazy suzan had gone missing. It wasn't until you mentioned the possibility of it being a bird I realised you mean the kit. That was looking so nice as well.

Dale, John, nice progress guys.

Bruce, that's brilliant. I take it the coat of Airframe Aluminium has to be a light one so not to complete cover it.

Wait... what?!?

I head read your post as saying a sub assembly was missing... THE WHOLE THING IS GONE?!?!?!

Wow, that is crazy.  Slightly harder to work around than a missing cylinder head.  I don't even know what to say...

Rider: your Spad is coming along nicely.  I like the creativity you showed in dealing with your struts.  

The missing piece is odd.. I've misplaced pieces as well, but usually they are small, fall off my desk, and get claimed by the carpet monster.  I had a tiny cylinder head from the Taurus engine shoot out of the tweezers I was using to hold the molding block while sawing it off.  Heard two ricochets, and gave up looking after 20 minutes crawling around on the floor.  I reached out to Lukasz, the man behind those beautiful resin kits, and he could not have been more gracious in offering to help me replace the missing piece.  The next day, my daughter was standing next to me to see what I was doing and announced "Daddy, I just stepped on something small on the floor."  Yep.... and remarkably, it was completely undamaged!  I called off the replacement part, but can't say enough about Taurus Models: incredibly detailed product, and first class customer support.

Dale: That looks like a great start on your tank.  Can't wait to see the engine once its been painted up a bit (not that the red isn't attractive!)

John: The Albie looks great.  Attaching the wings is one of those stages where you get a glimpse of what the final result will be.

My update:

I stripped down the cowling and other metal work I showed last time, and took another stab at the effect.  This time, I used a flat base coat of Tamiya Neutral Gray (XF-53) and painted the swirls with glossy Mr. Color Off White:

I then gave the parts a coating of Alclad Airframe Aluminum, which relies on the base coat beneath it for its final appearance.  Typically, you would spray the Airframe Aluminum over a glossy black base, which gives a polished, shiny metal effect.  In this case, the flat gray and gloss white results in an overall oxidized metal appearance, with lighter, more reflective swirls (hopefully mimicking the actual aircraft).

My brush painting leaves plenty of room for improvement, so the quality of the swirls is inconsistent.  In some places, I left too light a coat, and the swirls are harder to pick up, and in others, I went too thick, and the swirls look raised.  Given a wash to separate the details, and further weathering due to oil leakage, etc., I think it will give an overall effect I can live with.

Blue

Do you have small naughty children in your area?

Well guys... I did another search around the yard, and no trace of my SPAD , the next door neighbor offered a suggestion which at first sounded a bit odd but makes sense I guess. We have a pair of Cooper hawks in the area and he thinks that it may have been mistaken for a small animal and the hawk got it... well I will see what else I have in stash...