1/72 scale Bi-Plane / Tri-Plane Group Build

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rafael Pelote thanks for the nice words, guys. And great D.VI, frosty! I really like the rib tapes. it really adds to the model... Best regards,

Rafael:
obreigado !
i'm very much liking ur work as well, my friend !
as 4 ur earlier question about the fit of the lower wing, here goes:
this roden kit has the lower wing as two individual sections, there r
two tiny bumps on each wing, & 2 small molded dimples on each side
of the fuselage... but they don't really line up, so i cut off the bumps w/
the trusty exacto, then drilled holes where the bumps were & glued short
lengths of styrene rod in there. then i lined up the wing pc w/ the fuselage &
marked the spots where the rods touched the fuse, drilled holes, & voila!
i used the same technique 2 attach the ailerons 2 the upper wing, except
i used metal wire so i could deflect them...
drilling out the ailerons was a bit more tricky, because there isn't a lot of
room 4 error... of a job, lol !
hth w/ ur build of the D.VI when u get 2 it !

frosty

Thanks, frosty! That came out as great idea for my next D.VII!! And also nice touch on the Portuguese! Obrigado!

If you are interested in WW1 subjects, perhaps you allready know the "WW1 List"? If not, it is THE meeting point for ww1 modelers, (with some girls-modelers there, by the way...):

http://www.wwi-models.org/

Regards,

OK I just succumbed to that common modelling sin: Trip to the LHS for a couple tins of paint and some superglue. What do I see but one of those "I've been wanting one for a while now kits"!! Good news is it becomes my entry into this GB. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew and thank heaven for the long time still left in this GB.
My choice is Rodens 1:72 Gotha GV "Night Raider". Don't you just love it!!!BABY!!

First pics of the Gotha. I'm not at home so don't want to open the cellophane and inspect the sprues just in case I lose anything but will show all in due course. Anybody (Rafael) built one of these?




What have I done?!!

That is a lovely plane, Simon! I have it on my stash, but I didn't build it yet, mainly because at this point I don't have a place to securelly place it.

There he is, on the top left, next to some coleagues...



From what I know from other who have done it, it is not an easy build, due to the amount of rigging, but it delivers a most exciting a/c.

Here you have a couple of examples, although on the G.III version:

http://www.wwi-models.org/app/sbj/srch/Macn.php?action=uModelList&subjId=131

Now, what you will need, to help you out, is the Windsock Special "Gotha!!!". a little on the expensive side, but worthwhile every penny, as reference material...

regards,

QUOTE: Originally posted by Simon U First pics of the Gotha. What have I done?!!

omigosh, that's a lot of little pieces 2 put together !
& then u'll need a big shelf 2 put it on, too !
i look forward 2 the vicarious thrill of watching u build it here,
no way i can find room 4 one of those rite now !

frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rafael Pelote Thanks, frosty! That came out as great idea for my next D.VII!! And also nice touch on the Portuguese! Obrigado! If you are interested in WW1 subjects, perhaps you allready know the "WW1 List"? If not, it is THE meeting point for ww1 modelers, (with some girls-modelers there, by the way...): http://www.wwi-models.org/

Rafael:
i have spent some time researching various a/c at that site,
it is really good 4 reference info & 4 pics, models & prototype !
glad i could help w/ build info !

progress update:
nothing major 2 report, will b doing some rigging on the
horizontal tailpane this w/e if all goes according 2 plan !

omigosh, where's Kaz been ?
hope she's OK....

frosty

hi everyone

This flu has been wicked !

Dont visit Australia at the moment, unless of course you have a cure
It is a lingerer and reflares up.

I have not done any work to my peice, but on the contrary, managed to drop my Shagbat, and smash a wing or two off Oh well, all fixable with a little patience and glue

I have just purchased a bristol F2b fighter, Arvo 504k and Sopwith Pup, still waiting to get my Fokker DR I's though.

Bought a Gotha GO 242/244 Glider kit off of EBAY for the b/f's WWII German troops. Hmmmmm VERY COOL

Anyway, for now I am off, but will ba back soon to update build lists, and web links.

Hope you are all doing well

Kaz

More progress pics of the Camel. Hopefully I can spend this evening decaling and have it ready for final assembly and rigging before the end of the weekend.



Thanks for letting me post this build in this thread. Thanks for the link Rafael - it is my next stop from here! Do you have an ISBN number for the Windsock datafile? I really am very excited at the prospect of building the Gotha.
Regards to one and all.

Sure Simon, ISBN No. 0 948414 57X. Take a look at the Windsock site: http://www.windsockdatafilespecials.com/

This is a 60 page A4 softcover packed with info on Gotha bombers, including scaled drawings 1/72 and 1/48, loaded with pics and detail drawings. Also, you might want to take a look at the PE set from PART : http://jadarhobby.home.pl/product_info.php?cPath=18_24_25&products_id=2512 (no relation whatsoever with the store, blablabla...). This one will really add to the model!

Great job on the Camel!

And, Kaz, I do hope you are feeling better now.

Rgds,

hey simon u i got the roden fokker d.vi next on the work bench for this gb this will be my frist attempt at german lonzge camo and i hope it turns out ok. from what i see its well made wil no flasing any were and the detail is great. anybody got any tips i can use for building this one like i said its my frist wtih this type of camo paterren

What great builds

If everyone could please check the first page of this thread at some time and let me know if I have all our build information correct.

I have decided that I will build either Pup, Avro, or F2b, but cannot decide. Anyone have some suggestions?

Will get back to this soon

Kaz

F2b... F2b... the new one from Eduard is a beauty....

Thanks for the info Rafael, I am well placed to investigate further now. I might try the local library first before commiting to buy the Windsock datafile. I will also take a long hard look at the photoetch set you detail but I have very limited experience with this material. The build looks complicated enough without making it more so!! I have made a start albeit a small one. Removed the "pieces not to be used" and thinned down the sprues somewhat. I find this a good way to make a kit look less daunting and as though progress has been made. I have also studied the instructions. This is my first Roden kit and initial impressions are somewhat mixed - flash is present (not excessive but enough), the plastic is for want of a better word "dirty" as though the chips were of different colours and not thoroughly mixed. There are also some large ejector pin marks on the inside of the fuselage halves and the pieces are the waxiest I have ever felt. I know this is just the mold release agent and a good wash will correct but this isn't an Eduard kit!! Detail is variable very good in some areas and somewhat soft in others. Still it is a Gotha GV and as you said Roden need hearty congratulations. I have had a few thoughts regarding the build and am toying with building the wings as a complete unit (including rigging) in a home made jig and then adding to the fuselage and empenage at the end. If the rigging can be made to contribute to the integrity of the structure that would be beneficial I feel, but am undecided as to how to achieve this just yet. The struts are extremely thin (commendable for scale fidelity but difficult to work with!)
To Ga Modler - this will also be my first attempt at lozenge camo so I am unable to offer advice born from experience. What I am thinking of doing is tackling the small pieces first (fin, stabiliser etc) before the large expanse of the wings. Because the lozenge is quite dark I am also thinking of applying a spray coat of gloss black over the primer to get a good surface on which to decal. I might (in fact probably will) tackle the wings as smaller panels cutting the kit decals into more manageable portions. I'm sure others more experienced can offer us both further pointers!
Lastly pics of the Camel as at the end of yesterday - requires 1 coat of future, then 1 of matt cote and then the top wing and wheels can go on along with the rigging.






Regards to one and all - hope your respective builds are progressing well and that life is looking after you.

Simon U

Great looking build, your paint job looks great. Can not wait to see the finished build.

Cheers,
Thom

Simon U:
That's looking very sharp. The detail is quite amazing, and the paintjob looks very nice. I'm looking foward to seeing the finished pics.



I'm afraid I haven't made much progress on my bird since I slopped on the wrong blue. I've sanded it down and it's now ready for the proper blue. I keep waiting for a rainy day to sit down with a brush and finish the DVII's paint job. It won't take too long to finish once the paint is on.

Joshua

Ga.Modeler & Simon U.:
altho' i'm no expert, i will offer the following :
frosty's lozenge 101
be forewarned that roden decals r often not-too-good in terms
of quality... .
u mite b better off ordering aftermarket lozenge decals from
Eagle Strike or Americal/Gryphon instead of trying 2 use the ones that
come w/ the kit.
if u do decide 2 try the kit decals, hit them with a coat of clear gloss
or future & let them dry b4hand, this will help 2 hold them together.
when u apply the lozenge, do it over a basecoat which is close 2 the
darkest lozenge color... float the decals on using plenty of water, then
blot w/ a paper towel & use a setting solution 2 help the decal snuggle
down over the ribs. larger pcs. can b cut into smaller sections b4 u
apply them...
finding the little holes 4 the wingstruts after u've covered the wings w/
decals mite b a bit difficult, but u can use a couple of little trix i've found:
do only one side of the wing at a time, then use the other side as a
location guide 2 find the holes (i.e. 'between the 3rd & 4th rib section
from the wing root', or whatever...)
using a cocktail stick w/ a slightly blunted tip & gentle pressure, u will
b able 2 find the strut locator holes & clear them out w/o scratching up
ur carefully applied decals...
repeat 4 the opposite side, using the cleared holes as ur position markers.
i line up the decal w/ the wing's leading edge & trim the trailing edge
w/ a fresh exacto blade once the decal is dry.
future or clearcoat afterwards 2 protect the decals & keep them from flaking off... any damaged areas r best repaired w/ a patch of decal material, but if the area
in question is smallish, the proper basecoat color will probably keep the problem from being too obvious as it will blend in w/ the lozenge pattern.
hth !

Simon:
the Camel is looking really great !
sorry 2 hear that the roden(t) kit isn't one of their better ones, they r like airfix
in that there is a big difference in quality between some of the kits in their line...
so far i haven't met anything quite like what u mention w/ the Gotha, tho' !

Ga.Modeler:
i posted some notes re: wing construction tips 4 the roden dvi 4 rafael pelote
earlier in this thread, u mite find them helpful 4 ur build....

Kaz:
welcome back, hope u r feeling better !
sounds like u made some good scores there at the LHS, too bad about
the shagbat, but at least it's fixable... i really try not 2 handle any of these
little birds too much after they r built, & i still have had 2 repair 2 out of 3
after the short flight 2 the floor...
& believe it or not, i've had a strong wind lift a model a/c or 2 rite off the
shelf, i guess an efficient wing design always works, even in scale, LOL !
i think u should build the sopwith pup (airfix kit?)...
but any of them would b cool...

been hard at work prepping 3 Dr.I kits, 2 4 this GB & 1 4 the Flying Circus GB...
i will have pix 2 post soon...

frosty

Just a very quick note - top wing and wheels are on (the wing after an almighty struggle - this is my first biplane afterall!) It is strange I thought I had a clear plan of attack to do this job but it didn't work out quite like that. Ended up using more glue than I had hoped and a bit of touch up will be required. Also in a classical Homer moment one of the struts is upside down - Doh! I'm not about to take it off in a hurry! Still I feel I have learnt something so the next one can be better. Final pics soon.
Regards to all
Simon.

progress update:
the dvi is just about done, here r the latest pix:




here u can c the rigging of the tailplane under way, using
stretched sprue...

i also will b building several Dr.I a/c 4 this GB....

welcome 2 "Schwerin West", frosty's fokker factory:

3 smer/eduard Dr.I kits (in 1/72, of course)

this will b the all-black a/c of Lt. Josef Jacobs, Jasta 7

this 1 will b Lt. Paul Baumer's a/c, i will apply the streaky green camo
2 the surfaces which r now in cdl (clear doped linen) color

here's what the streaky green camo looks like applied over a
basecoat of tamiya light sand (this a/c is actually not 4 this GB,
it is 4 the Your Own Flying Circus A/C GB, but since it's being built
at Schwerin West, i included it anyway... hope no-one minds!)

frosty

Really nice, Frosty! Those Dr.I's are coming alomg nicely - a real assembly line! And the D.VI is suberb, I really fancy that shade of blue!

thanks frosty for that info on the lonzgne. i hope to get it started this week.

Excellent work frosty! That looks awesome. Thanks for the heads up on Roden decals. I hope that won't be the case for the decals in my Felixstowe kit.

Guys,

it is true that sometimes the Roden decals, specially the older editions, tend to "dissolve in water"... My personal experience is that a quick email to Roden, and within a few days you will get in your address a new copy. Wonderfull customer care!

Also, it might help if you airbrush some microscale decal film over the decal sheet, and then cut the decals really tight.

Regards,

Great looking build of the DVI frosty, thanks for sharing.


Cheers,
Thom

The Camel is finished and I was able to show it at the Wasmex (West Australian Scale model exhibition) this w/end (Sept 10/11) Pics to follow. Managed a silver in its class. Would also like to add a Dr1 for this build (Eduard 1:72). More soon.

Nice work Frosty on The DVI - and the little DRI's are sweet. Don't have access to the kit at present but mine will be the yellow tailed, cowled and wheeled version with the anchor motif on the tail and port fuselage side. This kit appears very well engineered. Am I right in thinking this is actually smaller than the Airfix offering in 1:72?

Washed the pieces of both the Gotha and triplane last night and will try to do a little assembly tonight.

Best wishes to all.

Congrats on the Silver, Simon! Looking forward to see the pics.

Im incredibly sorry, but im going to have to drop this GB

I hope you all go on and have fun ^_^

Maybe if there is a second one i can hop on that

As promised a couple of pics of the Camel - taken at the show. I don't have any "studio type" shots at this time but I hope these give a general impression of the build. The Eduard DR1 in 1:72 is a sweet little thing. I am really impressed and making a little progress already. I will be attempting to "preshade" the D box sheeting of each wing in this build and will try and show as I go along.


As always regards to all.

Really nice job, Simon! Congratulations again!

By the way, I'm taking my Martinsyde to Modelscala, the largest model exibition and contest in Portugal, in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it turned out.

Regards,

QUOTE: Originally posted by Rafael Pelote By the way, I'm taking my Martinsyde to Modelscala, the largest model exibition and contest in Portugal, in a couple of weeks. I'll let you know how it turned out.

Thanks Rafael for the kind comments and please do let us know about Modelscala '05