Knights of the Sky WWI GB The End

Okay ... here she is...

    Well ... it is full of mistakes.  After assembly I kept finding seams and injection pin marks that I overlooked. A big nasty one under the fuselage. I painted it with Vallejo Model Color Carmine red.  It took some time thinning the paint to spray. It sure is thick. With light coats it turned out nice. I learned a whole lot with this build.  Mostly what NOT to do. Although I did have fun.  With that said I have decided to give it another go.  I have recently ordered a Eduard 1/48 Nieuport Ni16.  The Eduard kits look really nice.. but anythings got to be better than the Revell flash monster I recently assembled.  So heres to my first completed GB Cheers!

There are no doubt some of you who have assumed I dropped out of the group build. I'm still here, you lucky devils! And of course, there was the obligatory hiatus for the holidays. This step which I will show you here was the most mentally taxing part of the project. I can safely say this, even though I'm not finished with the project, because ANYTHING that comes after this step will be easy!

As previously mentioned, I drew up my own decals, once I discovered my Eagle Strike set did not come with lozenge. Since inkjet-printed decals are quite susceptible to water, I thought it prudent to use a color laser printer. Well, as you know, Kinko's wouldn't touch it, so I had to research and buy my own dang laser printer (I settled on a Xerox Phaser 6130). As I soon discovered, the downside of laser-printed decals is that they're brittle and chip easily. Clearcoating does help, but there will still be problem areas. The following pictures show the decalling progress. At this point, they're still glossy.

In this photo, the "axle wing" (for lack of not really knowing WHAT it's really called!) has a flat coat:

Wrapping an entire plane in decals has proven to be a tad on the tricky side, I hope I don't ever have to do this again! My next post should have the plane together and finished.

Dougums- You should be VERY proud of that little gem, well done indeed!  As for mistakes, none are apparent in the photos.  Really makes me want to build a Triplane!

Marc- I added another Camel to the list for you, woohoo!  Can't wait to see this one.

ModelNerd- OUTSTANDING!!!  That looks just right to my eye, colors appear to be spot on.  You really are raising the bar.

Dougums-- nice looking build!  I like that little Fokker.

Great stuff all around, fellas.  Just got back from a little trip.  Should be able to finish up on the Albatros in a few days!!

Dougums wrote:

Okay ... here she is...

This looks just fantastic. What kit was this? It really looks good, you're far too critical of your work. BTW, I heard that Eduard is working up a 1:48 Dr.I, I hope it's true. It's long overdue.

Great work!

  Thank you all for the kind words of encouragement. 

  Mark - It is a 1:28 Revell DrI. Your DVII looks like it's a challenge.   I have been wanting to make my own decals.  I'll give it a try one of these days.

Dougums-

I was just showing my girlfriend the pics of your Dr.I, and she said "WOW!  That really looks cool.  YOU should build one of THOSE!"  Very nice work, and I updated page one to show your finished build!

Alright fellas-- HelP?

Searching through a bit of reference material, I noticed that most of these planes have a fairly glossy finish to them.  Of course, in 1:48, I can't go completely glossy.  What do you guys that have built these before use as a final coat?

I've always relied on my flat coats to hide the edges of the decals well, and I worry that a satin finish won't do the same.  What do you guys think???

MrDrummy wrote:

Alright fellas-- HelP? Searching through a bit of reference material, I noticed that most of these planes have a fairly glossy finish to them.  Of course, in 1:48, I can't go completely glossy.  What do you guys that have built these before use as a final coat? I've always relied on my flat coats to hide the edges of the decals well, and I worry that a satin finish won't do the same.  What do you guys think???

Always remember you are doing a specific machine at a specific time. So rely on images of that aircraft at that moment in time.  If it was factory fresh semi gloss in 1/48 is fine.  In the field gloss finished broke down and there was a distinctive concern about reflecting sunlight with these machines.  Several layers of a flat coat will give you what your looking for especially with the "Blau Maus".

Well, here she is in all her "glory."

There are a couple of rough spots (nothing you guys can see, thanks to a sly photographer,) but I'm pleased with the way it turned out.  Thanks to all you guys for the encouragement, the tips, and the research!!  I appreciate it!!  I don't think that I'd have gotten through this one without some of you guys!

OUTSTANDING work Justin!  That one came out even better than I had expected. 

I'm not sure what it is about that color, but it really strikes me.  Visually, it is so intense!  Wheels look just right, what color did you use for them?

I updated page one for you!

Thanks, guys!!!

I appreciate the words!  Without some of you guys pushin' me onwards, I'd have never finished this thing!

Frank- thanks man!  For the wheels I used one of my favorite colors-- Gunze RLM 66.  I've found lots of uses for that wonderful color! :) 

Stephen-- A "Well Done" coming from you means a ton!  Thanks for the help along the way, my friend!

Waikong-- Thanks for the words, buddy!  I appreciate it.

I tried to simulate the blue paint wearing off on the fuselage by spraying a bit of a wood color on there.  Do y'all think that it turned out ok?  It KINDA looks like the wood peeking through, huh? 

Justin, that looks great. The weathering is fantastic.

sd

I was finally able to get some work done on my Hannover. I've got the cockpit done. The fuselage closed up painted and decalled. Painting that lozenge pattern on the fuselage was a pain.

mkhoot wrote:

I was finally able to get some work done on my Hannover. I've got the cockpit done. The fuselage closed up painted and decalled. Painting that lozenge pattern on the fuselage was a pain.

Greetings mkhoot!  Very nicely done!  I would like to offer one small comment that often the fuselage lozenges were muted by the application of an over all colour.  This was very thin and served only to take the hard edges away from the hand painted lozenges.  Note there are images of Hannover CL.IIIa types with and without this muting.

I have been  very busy lately with several projects.  One involves the application of the "New Lozenge" sheets I have to test.  These are going on 2 - 4 Fokker D.VII kits for use on their website.  The first two are almost finished. 

The second are the four 1/48 SE 5a types I had discussed here earlier. Cockpits are ready to close and next comes the top wing, rigging and etc.  Hint if you build these kits do not forget to blank out the engine compartment at the side  view or you will get a see "through view" where an engine should be.

Thirdly, the two large 1/32 scale Roden kits (SE 5a & Fokker D.VI) are being readied and the reviews are in progress.

Fourth on the list are two newly arrived 1/48 kits. The new Gavia Alb. D.I and the reissued Eduard Alb. D.II are being previewed at this time.

I was also been convinced to head up a "Between the Wars Group Build" over on the Aeroscale site. I have been tinkering with several ideas for my contibution.  I recently found the kit I wanted to use.  Though it won't have anything to do with WWI it will be a 1927 design.  Did I forget anything? Well if I did, I will catch with it later.