Knights of the Sky WWI GB The End

Daywalker wrote:

Stephen- That IP is gorgeous!  Those PE parts really make it pop.  Well done!  Your idea about the dials on clear film with paint behind- BRILLIANT!  I am gonna try that on my next bird.  Thanks for the tip.

Thanks Frank you are too kind.  The placement of the clear plastic sheet on the back of the drilled out instrument panel eliminates the need to to try and plot the location of the decals.  Using the excess glue from the waterslide decal sheet the decals snug down nicely.  You just have to make sure they are oriented correctly before they dry. 

Stephen-

That IP is gorgeous!  Those PE parts really make it pop.  Well done!

Your idea about the dials on clear film with paint behind- BRILLIANT!  I am gonna try that on my next bird.  Thanks for the tip.

The 1/48 SE 5a kit scale instrument panel with basic modifications without photoetch is a good excercise in drybrushing. 

Now for those of you who don't plan on adding photoetch, here is a modification to the 1/32 kit Instrument Panel.  In this larger scale it may be a bit easier to see what I did in the 1/48 version.  Drill out the gauge faces carefully.  You don't want to distort the molded bezels with the heat generated by a motor tool. You put the clear panels on the back side first.  Then add the decals attaching them behind the clear plastic by their faces.  Let dry then paint the decal backs and the clear with white or black depending on the gauge details. Viola!

Here are some of the brass pieces added to the Part of Poland 1/32 Roden  SE 5a instrument panel.

 Thanks for the welcome guys,

 I choose that kit because it looked like it didn't have a lot of the lozenge camo. That camo looks way confusing. I can see that I'm going to have a lot of questions for you all! I think I'll wait to get the Roden kit before I start asking to many questions.

 Thanks for the heads up on the box art of Udet's DVII, Steve. And thanks for the PM, the lozenge camo won't be so confusing now. There is alot of useful information in the article you authored, Steve. Thanks again for your efforts.

 Best Regards,

Daywalker wrote:

Mobious- Outstanding!  Glad to have you aboard.  I added your Fokker to page one, and I am looking forward to seeing how that kit comes together.  Again, welcome!

Mobious, Excellent! If we can help please feel freel to ask.  The box art has an error.  Udet's machine marked "Du doch Nicht!!" was not an OAW but the all lozenge 2076/18  of his (also with "Lo!") was an OAW type.  

Daywalker wrote:

Mobious- Outstanding!  Glad to have you aboard.  I added your Fokker to page one, and I am looking forward to seeing how that kit comes together.  Again, welcome!

Great to have you join us! Excellent choice with the D.VII, too. As Frank (Daywalker) said, not a lot of rigging ..... just enough to give you a feel for it.

 Hello Daywalker,

 I odered the DVII Early OAW from Internet Hobbies. They're my favorite IHS. I should have it by early next week, so count me in. I'll try that rigging. Thanks for the encouragement.

 Best Regards,

Mobius,

Luckily, those DVII's do not have too much rigging on them.  Why not give one a try?  We'd love to have you aboard.

 Hello,

 Your SE 5a looks great Stephen. I am seriously thinking of trying one of the 1/48 Fokker DVII Roden kits after looking at your beautiful work. I wish I was a little more confident.  I've built a couple of the 1/72 kits they offer, but never tried the rigging. I just may have to get my "wings" and give it a try.

 Best Regards,

Stephen!

That SE 5a is very nice!!  Sure is a good lookin' plane, isn't it?  I really like it...  oh no...being tempted.

Stephen, wonderful bird!

 SD

Stephen-

Absolutely stunning work!  You are turning out beautiful aircraft at a rate that is quite frankly, astonishing.  Thank you again for another exemplary build.  This GB is incredible! 

I updated page one for you as well.  Thanks again!

That 1/72 bird from the Nats, WOW!  Those floats look like they were carved from scale wood.

This one is finished Frank as promised. 

Here is the Roden 1/48 SE 5a  with the Hispano - Suiza motor characteristics.  The decals are all kit supplied items for B4863 as flown by 57 victory ace James McCudden of 56 RFC during Sept. - Nov. 1917.  He was one of the pilots involved in the Sept. 23  combat that led to Ltn. Werner Voss being brought down. 

In 1910, James McCudden joined his father in the Royal Engineers as a 15 year old bugler. By the time war was declared, he was an aircraft mechanic with 3 Squadron in the Royal Flying Corps. One of three brothers to serve with the RFC, he saw combat in France as an observer and gunner before returning to England for flight training in 1916. His talents as a pilot were so extraordinary that he became an instructor within days of receiving his aviator's certificate. By the beginning of April 1918, 22 year old James McCudden was the most decorated pilot in the Royal Air Force. Sadly, he was killed three months later when his aircraft stalled after take off and crashed to the ground.

Thanks to Matt Bittner I was able to finally find the images for the recent IPMS USA Nationals.  Look what won the Mike Fritz award!  The winner, which was an Airframes 1/72 scale vacuform kit of the SHORT 184 built by the good fellow Buz Pezold.  Excellent build!

http://svsm.org/gallery/IPMSNats2008-Winners?page=2

for early aviation start on Page.

Mobius, Justin- Thank you fellas, I appreciate that!

Getting ready to order my 1/48 Dr.I combo kit right now...

***EDIT***

Just ordered my Dr.I combo, can't wait to start one!

Joe, SD, Stephen, Mobious, & Justin .... thanks so much for the kind words, my friends! Sorry I haven't replied sooner, as the wife & I just got back from a 2-day visit with the grandkids. Your comments are most appreciated!

Justin, I've seen what you're capable of, buddy, and I'm sure your Camel will be a stunner!

Joe, you've got more guts than me attempting one of these birds in 1/72. Very nicely done!

Oh my!!!  I've been off in LaLa Land I guess!!  I missed that Frank and Mike finished their builds!! WOW!

Frank, I'm real glad that you pushed through and finished that one.  I think that it looks great.  Nice clean build, and that lozenge looks perfect!! Very nice!!!

Mike-that cockpit looks amazing.  Just like everyone else, I can't stop staring at the thing.  I've got one of those Camels in the stash, and although I'm not going to be able to get to it for the GB, I can only hope that mine turns out anywhere near as nice as yours.  Very, very nice, my friend!!!

ruddratt wrote:

No problem, buddy! Planning well ahead is the best way (at least for me) to do rigging. For the long runs between the upper and lower wings, I use smoke-colored monofilament thread and drill a shallow hole into the upper wing and a hole all the way through the lower wing using a #80 bit. All the rigging is attached to the upper wing first, the wing is then installed and the other ends are fed through the holes. Self-clamping tweezers are used as weights to pull the lines tight from the bottom (the same wire on both left and right sides to keep the model balanced), and a small drop of thin CA is applied to the upper surface of the lower wing where the line passes through. I then trim it flush and touch it up with the appropriate color underneath. For the shorter runs, stretched sprue cut to the precise length is CA'd into holes pre-drilled about half way through. Working from the inside out also helps, as it can be quite difficult working around existing wires. Hope that helps, my friend. Now, go grab that Albatros (or S.P.A.D., or Se.5, or Pfalz) and have a blast!

Hello Everyone,

 Just wanted to thank rudratt for explaining how rigging is done and everyone for the fine examples of WWI aviation. Absolutely stunning work guys! Thanks again everyone for the post.

 Best Regards,

Stephen,

That's alot of Fokkers!  I just spoke with a friend of mine, and he explained to me that the Dr.I combo arrived today.  VERY exciting news!

Daywalker wrote:

". . .Stephen- I started counting how many there were, but kept losing count.  How many have you built?  Mind-boggling work, your skill never ceases to amaze me."

Thanks Frank.  The count is eight finished with three more in the wings as it were. I hope to have the other 1/48 Roden SE 5a (with the Hisso) done in the next two - three days. Then I have to get cracking on the two large Roden 1/32 kits.  Model Cellar just sent me their 1/48 "von Richthofen Brothers" figures.   So I have to prep a review on them too.

In the next few weeks I may have to do an "in-the-box" review on the Eduard Dual Combo Fokker Dr.I and the Sop. Camel F.1 in their Weekend kit issue.  I have been told to expect them.   

StephenLawson wrote:

sirdrake wrote:  ". . . I always love to see some scenery. Never did one myself, but I still have some 'failed' model of a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter lying around somewhere that cries for some crash-diorama. . .SirDrake" Greetings SirDrake; Here is a bit of fun on the subject.

Very nice, Stephen! Thanks for that fine picture. This might actually serve as a fine reference for the dio. I need to do some reading around about how to do dioramas and model ground and grass and earth and stuff, but the web iss full of that. 

Expect pictures!

SirDrake

Joe- That little dio is incredible!  I can hardly believe it's 1/72.  Well done, and thanks for sharing it here!

Stephen- I started counting how many there were, but kept losing count.  How many have you built?  Mind-boggling work, your skill never ceases to amaze me.

sirdrake wrote:

". . . I always love to see some scenery. Never did one myself, but I still have some 'failed' model of a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter lying around somewhere that cries for some crash-diorama. . .SirDrake"

Greetings SirDrake;

Nothing standing between you and the finished diorama but air and opportunity.

ruddratt wrote:

No problem, buddy! Planning well ahead is the best way (at least for me) to do rigging. For the long runs between the upper and lower wings, I use smoke-colored monofilament thread and drill a shallow hole into the upper wing and a hole all the way through the lower wing using a #80 bit. All the rigging is attached to the upper wing first, the wing is then installed and the other ends are fed through the holes. Self-clamping tweezers are used as weights to pull the lines tight from the bottom (the same wire on both left and right sides to keep the model balanced), and a small drop of thin CA is applied to the upper surface of the lower wing where the line passes through. I then trim it flush and touch it up with the appropriate color underneath. For the shorter runs, stretched sprue cut to the precise length is CA'd into holes pre-drilled about half way through. Working from the inside out also helps, as it can be quite difficult working around existing wires. Hope that helps, my friend. Now, go grab that Albatros (or S.P.A.D., or Se.5, or Pfalz) and have a blast!

Mike  most impressive.  Your getting better and better with each build.  Model On!

JoeRugby wrote:

. . .The plane is the old Revell 1/72 Eindecker of course.  The figures are from Dark Dream/Orion, and that is supposed to be Ernst Udet standing by the barn.  The barn is scratch built using Micro Scale's roofing sheets. I also picked up some details from Attack and MIG Productions to flesh this out. Thank you for your indulgence.

It takes me back to my beginnings in modeling WWI aviation.  Back when my eyes would let me do 1/72 and I built my first dioramas.  Excellent. Thanks for posting.

ruddratt wrote:

". . .This is it, gentlemen, ..... my contribution to the build. I have to thank our Commander Daywalker for running a great GB with a fantastic theme. So, without further delay, I present to you my 1/48 Eduard Sopwith Camel. . ."

Mike an excellent build! Very nicely done!