Knights of the Sky WWI GB The End

With Frank's permission,I am doing this "Post-Hurricane" entry:

This kit has a nice cowling that literally snaps in place, so you can remove it to show off the engine.

Another nice aspect about the old Aurora kit is that the engine rotates with the prop as it should.

I experimented with a special brush I got from Hobby Lobby to make the laminated wood effect for the prop.

Steel wire and Loctite's new Super Glue gel makes for a nice gun barrel bipod support.

I added the aeleron control rods by drilling the upper wing and poking some plastirod through the holes, sealing them with plastic welder.

Since the kit's Lewis gun appears to be an infantry version, with the mount being too short where it would shoot holes in the prop, I scavanged a spare Lewis from a Roden BE2C kit I am working on, and built the mount using stretched sprew for the main base and spare rigging wire from a Lindberg P-6E kit I recently got.

Since the Smer kit includes both a headrest and Russian markings for the -16 varient that the old Aurora kit did not, I enjoyed building this varient for a change.

I could rig it or add rockets later, but at this point in time, I prefer to make this 1/ 48th scale kit my entry for this group build, as-is.

I will probably add the rockets to the Nieuport 11 Smer kit I have (I bought two, since they are so nice to build).

To be frank, if you look at WWI photos, in most cases the rigging is nearly, if not, invisible. So when we scale modellers get all excited about using heavy thread or thin gauge wire on subjects 1/48th scale or smaller, we frequently border on obsession, if not go over the line.

The trick to sharp looking details is to use metallic miniture figure colors that acn be bought at a miniture war games shop to highlight the engine, gun mounts, etc., instead of the typical aircraft paints.

Among my favorites are colors called "Boltgun Metal", "Pig Iron", "Gunmetal Blue", as well as using "Armor Wash" to emphasize metallic crevices such as for the rotary engine fins.

Tom T

sorry for long delay since i got fractured rib from car accdient.   now im all better but painful cough laugh and so on.  here is my finished sopwith camel.  i didnt add the rigged thread yet  since im not sure how to do it but ill add to it later.  maybe on the next group build who knows   feel free to comment or feedback.  if one of you guys know the easiest way to glue the thread on the wings  let me know  thanks again   Happy hoildays 

Enjoy the pix

Well, today is the final day of this GB!  If you are still working on your kit, feel free to continue posting here if you would like.  Or, I can transfer any ongoing work over to KOTS II.  Thank you again everyone for being a part of this, and making it what it is.  Three dozen finished builds, now THAT is impressive.  Believe it or not, I often look at page one and marvel at the sheer number of participants, and the ever growing red typeface that signals a finished build.  My hat is off to all of you.

THANK YOU ONE AND ALL FOR MAKING THIS GROUP BUILD SUCH A SUCCESS.

Stephen- Absolutley amazing!  I must be honest, when you started adding builds to the GB I thought "no way this guy can build all of those".  You have no idea how delighted I am to see your work, and especially all of the help you have handed out here over the last 15 months.  The quality AND quantity is nothing short of amazing, I have enjoyed watching a master at work.  It has truly been a pleasure building here with you, and I cannot wait to start KOTS II!

Take a good long nap Stephen, you're gonna need it!

I uodated page one for you.

Stick a fork in it folks it is done!  Frank this is my last completed build for this round please tack it on to page 1.  13 builds for me - now for a nap!

Higher res images seen here.

Also for anyone building this kit. or the Hisso motor version. The SE 5a had a steerable tail skid and the lowest access holes in the rear fuselage are for those cables.

ruddratt wrote:

'. . .Stephen, now you're just showing off! Seriously, top-notch work my friend! Every build you show sets the bar that much higher. . . "

Greetings Ruddratt!  Good news is the decals are all in place.  The kit I got had the older sets in them and needed a good deal of coaxing.  I have gone with F.8005  Lt. Rorison's mount from 25th Aero. These need very warm water and lots of sol & set.  Next more tail & aileron rigging and the Lewis gun & Foster mount.

Jeeves, very nice work for your first bipe! Miles ahead of my first attempt. As long as you enjoyed it, that's the main thing. Now, are ya ready to tackle another?

Scotty, nice job on a subject we don't see often around here. Be proud of that one...it's a difficult bird to build!

Stephen, now you're just showing off! Seriously, top-notch work my friend! Every build you show sets the bar that much higher.

Daywalker wrote:

Very cool Stephen!  Looks like you're gonna finish this one right on time!

I would like to but we will see what happens in the next 4 days. For now the rigging between the wings is done except for the ailerons. And they have to wait for the cockades to be applied.  Looks like I have one RAFwire to move over a bit . . .

StephenLawson wrote:

Its official!!! The top wing is mounted and the cabanes & landing gear have been rigged. Now for the interwing rigging.

Thanks Mike!  I suspect part II will be a blast as well, especially with the line-up of talent we have.  Glad the usual suspects are all there, and some new blood too!

Stephen- I like your take on the CDL, very convincing.  Quite a stunning effect especially with the relatively quick time to do.  Very nice work, and thanks to you- I must get an SE 5a!

As promised some images if the undersurfaces and my attempt at CDL.  As noted earlier cotton battens were attached to the wooden skeletal portions of the wing.  To these were attached  the wing cover / fabric and the rib tapes were attached on top of these and sewn into the cotten battens mentioned earlier.

I started with painting a bright CDL  to the flying surfaces first. then laying black graphic arts tape over the ribs.  Below,

Next below; Then I removed the tape and shot another light coating of CDL  In this image you will see one of the lower wings and the horizontal tail unit has yet to have the CDL shot over it and you can appreciate the need to tone down dark areas a bit.

Then finally you wil see the finished surfaces flattened (no gloss) and the variations of the simulated CDL with internal shadows.

All in all about 3.5 hour job.

Thanks buddy, and the same to you and yours! This build was a blast, and I'm only expecting more fun times and great builds in version II!

By the way, I'm eyeballing an Eduard 1/48 Fe2.b as a possible second entry to it.

Scott- I would love to see your Camel build!  I understand about deciding on a kit, I have a couple too I am considering and the Camel is one of them.   Just let me know when you decide and I'll add them to your list.

Roy,

Thanks for the kind words.  

Frank,

Thanks for your praise as well.   I am going to finish the year cleaning up a few odds and ends projects, but I did just pick up the Eduard Sopwith Camel Weekend edition kit.  I may build that one next year for part 2 of this build, but there are a couple of others that I am looking at as well.  Although I am Not quite building on the frequency of Stephen, I will still probably add a couple of builds anyway.  When I do commit to my first kit, I will update in that posting.

Stephen,

I thought that the decals looked a little gimicky, but I did not foresee the top coat breaking down as it did.  I have not seen the D. VII decals you are mentioning, but I can imagine what you are talking about.  I wish they had just put the regular decals in my kit based on the end results.  Anyway, we live and we learn.

More Power Scotty wrote:

Just out of curiosity, have you heard any comments about Eduard decals for the DH2 Weekend kit that I just finished?  The white used to make the decals appear to be faded came off in spots when I set them in place with Micro Sol.  The decals were not damaged, the top color just came off in random spots.

Thanks for your kind words Scott.  Now for those  Eduard decals.  When I first saw them That is what I was afraid of.  The top coating was intended to make the decal look weathered and faded.  While obviously a gimmick like the fabric imperfections on their first Fok. D.VII lozenge attempts Eduard was trying to tone down these cockades.  I have the first kit issue that has these decals as well  but the colours were true with no attempt at fading.

Well done Scott!  Great to see another one from you.  And that does make 35 completed builds!  WOOHOO!  I updated page one for you as well.

As far as your querry about the decal issue, I have no idea.  Perhaps someone might have the answer for you.

Stephen,

Wonderful work once again!

Just out of curiosity, have you heard any comments about Eduard decals for the DH2 Weekend kit that I just finished?  The white used to make the decals appear to be faded came off in spots when I set them in place with Micro Sol.  The decals were not damaged, the top color just came off in random spots.

Frank,

Let us make that thirty-five.  I wrapped up the Airco DH2 this morning and photographed it this afternoon.

With pleasure Stephen!  Another stunning example of a not-often-modeled subject.  Love the weathering on this one, very authentic looking.  Thanks for another awe-inspiring piece of work.

Gents, that makes 34 completed builds here.  Is this amazing, or what?

Now the tails up rear quarter views.  Frank Please mark this one down - completed.  Looks like that completes my list on page 1. 

Yes my dear wingnuts!  Stick a fork in it.  Its done!