James H

This is amazing! Thanks for sharing Bertl. I might try this pretty soon.

Corking job! Eric would be proud...

Looking sweet. You'll be missing this one when complete.....

1:32 Fokker Eindecker seatbelts HGW Catalogue # See article for price and code Available from HGW The last Fokker Eindecker kits from WNW were always going to end with us seeing a number of upgrade sets hit the market. Whilst we are about to1 see the new resin Taurus engines for these new kits, HGW have got the ball rolling with some initial micro-fibre seatbelt sets for those of us who don't like the photo etch ones that are supplied in the kit. Today we look at seatbelts for both the Fokker E.I and Fokker E.IV kits. It's true. Not everyone likes photo etch seatbelts. They do take some practice to make them look natural when they drape, and of course, you need to paint them. Wouldn't it be great if we could add real textile belts in miniature? Well, that's exactly what we are doing here with these latest micro-fibre textile belts from HGW. 132536, Fokker E.I, 229 Kč 132537, Fokker E.IV, 229 Kč Whilst we have two sets here, both are nigh on identical, except for the colour of the belt fabric itself. Of course, this can be an important factor. I'm currently building the E.IV, and I know from the manual that there are two colour options for the belts, so the first thing I'll say is 'check your references'. If you can't find any specific reference for your machine, which is more than likely to be the case after almost 100 years, then go with the HGW flow. Each seatbelt set is packaged into a narrow, but very rigid and attractive letterbox-style wallet, and contains a single piece of colour-printed and laser cut micro-fibre textile sheet, and a single photo etch fret, produced by Eduard. I have to admit to being a fan of HGW seatbelts for a while now, so when they turned to laser cutting them out, whilst making the printing even more lifelike, it is pretty much a no-brainer for this modeller. The micro-fibre sheet contains NINE parts, authentically printed and with laser-cut stitching too. This is quite difficult to see until you apply a wash, but then, all detail just pops right out. All parts are secured to the sheet by means of narrow tags, and the laser cutting process produces a unique effect too. The localized heating of the sheet whilst cutting, tinges the ink a little at the edges, creating a subtle weathered, shading effect which I really do like. There are TEN parts on the small photo etch fret. These of course are the buckles, clasps and anchoring points for the belts. You do not need to thread the belts in a conventional manner, as they are non-adjustable, but instead, you look the textile parts around them in the manner shown on the construction diagram insert in the back of the packet. The drawings themselves look easy to follow, and they give a supporting written section which explains construction and also weathering. When the individual parts have been removed from the textile sheet, you need to remove a paper backing. With all parts removed, scrunch them up and make them pliable. Next step is to straighten them out and assemble them, complete with the metal parts. You should now find that the belt set actually will drape quite realistically on the pilot seat. I use CA for construction overall. The next step is to apply gloss varnish, then you may apply a wash with oils, or other product such as those from AK Interactive. When dry, flatten the finish and perhaps add a little dry-brushing. Overall, the quality of both textile and PE parts is superb. Conclusion These sets are designed as a direct replacement for the kit PE belt set, and perhaps might be a little easier for the modeller to make them look more naturel than the metal WNW parts. Assembly is easy, and these really do look exceptional when assembled. I've used a few myself over the last couple of years, and I really can't praise them highly enough. Go on, treat your WNW kit. It's worth it! Very highly recommended James H Our sincere thanks to HGW for the review sets used here. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Wings Cockpit Figures 2013 releases (Part 1) Wings Cockpit Figures Catalogue & price: see article for inventory Available from Wings Cockpit Figures and MDC Steve Warrilow is a name you might have heard of. If you are a WW1 aviation modeller, there is certainly an excellent chance. Steve is one of the amazingly talented sculptors behind David Allen's 'Wings Cockpit Figures' company. We recently took a look at the first releases from this exciting enterprise, so when David told me the next set were in transit, I couldn't wait. Woohaa! A rather large box landed here at SP&R HQ these days, and when opened, it was very difficult to hide my enthusiasm for what was within. We were lucky enough to receive the following sets. RFC07B, "The Fighting Fees", RFC FE.2b Pilot & Gunner, £30 LSK04, Seated LSK Pilot, for Fokker Eindecker (E.II and E.III), summer 1915 to autumn 1916, £15 LSK07A, Seated LSK Pilot, for Fokker D.VII, May 1918 onwards, £15 LSK10, LSK Pilot in Greatcoat, 1914 – 1918, £13.50 LSK11, LSK Pilot in Heinicke parachute harness, April 1918 onwards, £13.50 LSK08, LSK Hannover/LVG Pilot & Observer, £30.00 LSK05A/B, LSK Albatros Pilot & Mechanic set, £27.50 (pair) or £15.00 (pilot) and £13.50 (mechanic) LSK05E, LSK Albatros Pilot sitting on cockpit side (Karl Menckhoff), £15.00 As you can see from the main photo, all of these figures are packaged into sturdy, clear plastic boxes which are clearly labeled with the contents. Of course, David has put two sets into one box for the purpose of my samples. If you order individual sets, you should receive these in separate boxes. Inside each box, the figure set is contained within a small zip-lock bag, and there's a Wings Cockpit Figures business card to tuck into your wallet. This month is rather a 'German heavy' affair, with only a single RFC set released. I'm sure not complaining though, as you will now see what I consider to be some of the very finest carving I've seen, and as these are cast at MDC, you can be assured that the product quality is exceptional. All sets are cast in a high quality light grey resin by a company that seriously cares about its quality. I've seen Bob cast his sets at first hand, and can testify to that. The majority of these sets are cast in parts, whereas a small number are single piece. Some sets also offer up different options for heads, so you can choose your pilot to wear goggles, or to be more informal in appearance. Let's take a look at each one in turn. RFC07B, "The Fighting Fees", RFC FE.2b Pilot & Gunner This set comprises two figures, which are cast in various parts. The seated pilot is cast as a single figure, with the exception of his left hand which can be positioned to suit the aircraft's control stick. The figure looks suitably sinister with his face obscured by scarf, helmet and goggles. Sat slightly hunched with his thick greatcoat, he looks superb. His backside is cast so that he fits precisely into the Fee's seat. The gunner comprises the main body, but with separate left arm, right glove and scarf which hangs outwards with the air-flow of the aircraft. The gunner himself is in standing position, and facing towards the read of the aircraft, and will hold the rear facing MG. LSK04, Seated LSK Pilot, for Fokker Eindecker (E.II and E.III), summer 1915 to autumn 1916 This figure comprises 7 grey resin parts. The breakdown is the main body with legs, 2 separate arms, scarf, and THREE choices of head. The body is carved with a great looking fur-trimmed flying jacket and knee-length boots. The arms pose so that one lays upon the control column, and the other resting on the cockpit side. These look beautiful when trial assembled. The head options are for two with different goggle styles, and one not wearing goggles. Again, carving is exceptional. LSK07A, Seated LSK Pilot, for Fokker D.VII, May 1918 onwards This figure's parts breakdown only extends to two parts, but again, the carving, pose and detail are extremely good. This seated pilot certainly looks perhaps a little older with his moustache and facial features. Perhaps his experience entitled him to fly the Fokker D.VII? Who knows. The figure has his left hand/flying gauntlet as a separate part, and his hand appears to be in a position to hold something, but you will need to check the control column location to see if that is the case. He may just be holding his hand in a loose fist. This figure is wearing a sort of harness, so perhaps this means he was carrying a parachute? Please check your references. LSK10, LSK Pilot in Greatcoat, 1914 – 1918 This is a single piece casting of a German aviator standing up and wearing a thick greatcoat. The pose of the figure with his arms bent and hands in pockets, is a very common pose seen in many period images. He wears his flying helmet, but with his goggles lifted. His facial expression looks as if he is purposefully posing with his aircraft, so this is one figure which would suit just about any aircraft. His style of attire means that he could be from any period of the war. Your options really are open with this one. LSK11, LSK Pilot in Heinicke parachute harness, April 1918 onwards This single piece casting certainly has a dramatic flair to him, and an the unmistakable presence of a veteran pilot. Wearing a Heinicke parachute harness which is fastened around the waist with a chunky adjustable belt, the pilot is carved in a standing position. He wears flying boots, and also boot extenders. His jacket collar is work high with his scarf, and he still wears his flying helmet. Steve has immaculately carved a very serious face on this pilot, but added a little standing drama to his presence by carving a cup in his hand, with his arms folded. What is he drinking? Coffee, beer? The choice is yours with this one. I think he looks like he deserves a Weiβbier. Another masterpiece from Steve Warrilow. LSK08, LSK Hannover/LVG Pilot & Observer As the title suggests, this is a two figure set, and is designed to complement the Wingnut Wings Hannover and LVG C.VI kits. The pilot set is composed of 5 pieces of light grey resin. His body and legs are a single piece, whilst his arms and head are separate. His left hand is a separate piece also. There are two choices of head. One is a young facially featured one, with goggles retracted, whilst the other is an older mustachioed character with his goggles deployed. The pilot wears a harness and a standard flying jacket. This figure is designed to fit the seats of the aircraft as his posterior is cut away to suit a natural fit. The observer is made up from 4 parts. Both arms are separate, as is the head. The body and legs are cast as a single part, and standing up in his aircraft position. The arm socket for this is a different shape to that of the pilot so that you can't mix anything up. Again, this figure is wearing a harness, standard flying jacket with a high-worn and wrapped scarf. His boots are thick, fleece lined and full length. LSK05A/B, LSK Albatros Pilot & Mechanic set This set is specifically designed to fit an Albatros D.V/D.Va due to the inside leg camber on the mechanic. You could indeed get away with perhaps using the pilot alone on a different aircraft though. The pilot himself is made up from 2 parts. The entire body is one part, and the head separate. The pilot is posed in a way that he appears to be adjusting his collar on his fleece lined flying jacket. He wears a harness, and his flying boots are supplemented by puttees. His gloves are also fleece too. Again, his seat is shaped to fit the aircraft cockpit. The mechanic, as stated, sits astride the rear fuselage of the Albatros, leaning forward to attend to the pilot. He is cast in 4 parts. The legs and body as one piece, and with separate arms and head. Properly positioned, this hands should be in contact with the rear of the pilots collar. Wearing typical ground-crew attire, jacket with shoes and puttees, he also sports a soft, peaked cap, and this gentleman has an immaculately trimmed moustache. For me, this is one of the highlights from this month's releases, and I will most certainly use this for my forthcoming Bavarian Albatros D.Va. LSK05E, LSK Albatros Pilot sitting on cockpit side (Karl Menckhoff) Kark Menckhoff was a recipient of the Pour le Merite, or the Blue Max as we commonly know it. He was an accomplished pilot who took to the skies relatively late in life, and was eventually made a POW in mid 1918. Steve Warrilow has carved his figure to fit the WNW Albatros fighters, as his pose is one where he is sat on the edge of the cockpit coaming, on the port side of his aircraft. His body, arms and legs are moulded as one, but there are three options for his head. One head has goggles deployed, whilst the other two have different styles of flying helmet and different facial expressions. Menckhoff is say with his hands on his lap, wearing no gloves. He wears a standard flying suit with harness, and he also wears shoes, and not boots. His lower legs just have his trousers hanging normally. This would indicate an intentionally posed figure, and not one which has just flown, or about to fly his machine. These poses were very common during the war, so this looks very natural. Conclusion Well, I'm absolutely blown away with these. I've never really reviewed figures much in the past, but I've certainly enjoyed spending time looking over these new releases. Steve's carving is among the very best I have seen, and he captures the entire aura of the period with his work. The figures are all unique looking, facially, unlike some companies who use computers to help generate their figures. Flying uniforms, with their creases and other naturally occurring details are just simply amazing. I'm utterly lost for words with these. I can't wait to see the next releases. Casting is by MDC, and is superb, without exception. Bob's expertise means the moulds have been properly paired so that there is very little in the way of seams to remove, and no flaws can be found anywhere on these sets. Casting spouts will need to be removed from most parts, but these are situated on areas which don't interfere with the part detail, such as on head sockets and boot soles. What else can I say, but..... Very highly recommended James H Our sincere thanks go to Wings Cockpit Figures for the review samples I've used. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Great work so far, and a BIG build too!

1:32 Bf 109E engine set (for Eduard kit) CMK Catalogue # 5033 Available from CMK for 37,80€ Eduard's 1:32 Bf 109E has been out for a while now, and we have reviewed several incarnations here on SP&R. Indeed, Eduard also released numerous detail sets for their kit, with the Brassin engine and gun mount coming to mind foremost. Back in 2010, CMK, also well known for their high grade resin detail sets, released their engine upgrade for this kit too. As SP&R/Large Scale Modeller now work with MPM/CMK, we have been given an opportunity to take a look at some items from the fairly recent back-catalogue, with this set being first up. Unlike the Eduard set, where you mount the engine into the plastic lower cowl, this set includes a new lower cowl, specifically designed to fit an engine upgrade. Time to look further. The CMK Bf 109E engine set is packaged into a sturdy little cardboard box, attractively decorated with an image of the assembled and installed set. You'll notice that this set does actually include the rear bulkhead, weapons tray and ammunition containers. No guns are included though. Inside the box, two bags of resin components are included, as is a small decal sheet containing numbers from which you can add the characteristic serial numbers which were often sprayed onto the crankcase. This set comprises around FIFTY parts, cast in creamy, light grey resin. Many parts are individually cast, with a number of small components, such as exhaust manifolds and engine bearer attachment points being cast upon communal blocks. One block itself is duplicated due to kit requirements. All parts are split between 2 ziplock wallets, with the larger, main components in one bag, and the majority smaller components in another. For visual clarity, I have removed a few feathery resin flash bits from around the casting blocks. This helps me to pose the items better too, without them falling over, and gives you a better impression of the parts themselves. The Bf 109's cowlings are broken down into the 3 main parts representing the lower cowl/tray, upper cowl, and also the rear cowl which covers the MG mount and weapons tray. These are cast suitable thin, and the interiors of these are fully detailed with the stiffening strips and other constructional elements of the real thing. There are various openings and other apertures on these cowls which will just need to be opened up as a thin resin web covers them. The parts are joined to their casting blocks via narrow wall of resin, and look very easy to remove. My only gripe is that the upper cowl is joined to that wall, which runs the full face width of the cowl, running across the crescent-shaped former. Some care will need to be taken here. External detail is excellent, and runs in line with the subtle effects that Eduard created for their kit exterior. The lower cowl portion is cast with a separate radiator housing tray, which of course can then be posed in an open position, displaying the DB601's plumbing and radiator assembly. Also within the large components packet we find the engine bay rear bulkhead/firewall, complete with plumbing and valve detail, plus the ammunition containers which sit on the bulkhead shelf. A little minor cleanup of the rear faces will be required, and I do mean minor! There is very little resin to remove here before the parts are ready for assembly. Over the top of these parts sits the weapons tray. This is also to be found in this bag. The tray itself is superbly detailed, including wiring, and will require a larger casting block to be removed from its underside. This part also has the leather cover for the rear instrument panel face, cast in situ, and looking rather nice. Unsurprisingly, the last part to be found in this packet is the main engine part itself. CMK have cleverly connected the part to its casting block via the top face of the crankcase. When the block is removed, an upper detail part is then to be fitted, hiding that face fully. The resin block connection is quite thick here, and time will be needed to properly remove all traces of it. The rear of the engine block has a couple of thin resin walls which will need to be removed, but this will be an easy task. The rear of the engine, with magneto detail etc, is supplied as a separate part, and again covers the area where you removed the resin walls. Detail on the engine really is excellent. Ignition leads are neatly cast, and exhaust manifold connection plates have their connecting bolt detail neatly sculpted. Lifting lugs and other minor detail is also sharply recreated, as is general bolt detail. The forward hub/boss detail is cast in situ here, and not supplied as an extra part, and the finish is every bit as good as you could expect. There are various plumbing points cast in situ too, and these should need no cleanup when it comes to fitting the remaining detail. It's within the second bag that we now find the remainder of the parts. These include the radiator assembly, plumbing, glycol tank, oil tank, supercharger intake and external scoop, fuel injectors, individual manifold stubs with partially hollow ends, engine bearers, crankcase lid, and other minor detail. Some parts, such as the finer lengths of pipe, are quite delicate, and care needs to be taken when handling. Others similar parts are cast with fine resin webs helping to maintain the parts integrity. Minimal cleanup will be needed with all parts once removed. Nowhere on any resin part can I see any seams, or certainly anything approaching an even minor one. Casting is absolutely first-class with all parts being defect-free and also free of any possible damage from being packed and in transit. This set contains no photo etch parts, but you will need a little wire in order to supplement some of the finer detail included as resin. Instructions are supplied as a single A4 sheet, folded. All illustration is clear and concise, and should present no problem during both assembly and installation. Although there are few paints listed on the rear of the instructions, no ready call-outs are given for individual components, so please check your reference. Google is littered with photos of the DB601 in museums, so you should have no difficulty. A parts plan is also supplied to help you identify the various components. The decal sheet contains the individual serial numbers, allowing you to create your own either correct or fictitious code. The numbers are printed in yellow ink, and the decal sheet is made by Aviprint, and is thinly printed. Conclusion The Eduard Bf 109E is still a very buildable kit, and looks superb when completed, despite the infamous 'humped' rear fuselage. If you want to try your hand at this sometime, this set could well be worth looking at. Production is clean, and assembly is easy, yet the detail included is some of the very best I've seen. Also, this set is very realistically priced, which these days seems to be a key factor with many folks modelling purchases. Give this set a try. When I get around to building my next Emil, I'll be adding this little beauty myself! Highly recommended James H Our sincere thanks to CMK for the review set we looked at here. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

....you can have it if you want it

Really liking this, and that skid is awesome...

My last update for this one now, as it's finished. All metal shades done with Alclad (easy to use, Grant ), and wood is Uschi's fine veneer wood decal. Wash is Mig Productions 'dark wash', and model is sealed with Klear. Coming soon(ish) to a Tamiya Model Magazine International, near you!

Getting closer to the finish line. I wish I'd used the MASTER pitot on mine.

Micro Sol is like using piss in comparison to Mr Mark Setter.....seriously, if you can get some, try it.

1:32 Hannover and Albatros Lozenge decal sets Old Propeller Catalogue #: see article for # and price Available from Old Propeller Old Propeller have begun to extend their already excellent range of lozenge decals by introducing these THREE new sets which I picked up from Vladimir Ziska whilst at Scale Model World, Telford, recently. If you'd like a recap as to the previous releases from this company, take a look at the review we posted HERE. These new sets introduce two aircraft previously not touched by their specific cookie-cut sets, and these are: D32049T, 5 colour lozenge for Albatros D.V/D.Va, blue rip tapes (variant 1, pattern 2), transparent base, £13.89 D32061W, 5 colour lozenge for Hannover CL.II, lozenge rib tapes, white base, £19.65 D32063, painted lozenge for Hannover CL.II, £6.32 Needless to say, all of these sets are designed to be used exclusively with Wingnut Wings kits. Up until now, the ever-popular Fokker D.VII has been the subject of decal manufacturers cookie-cut sets, and with good reason too, but now the significance of releasing the same type of item for other WNW kits, is now becoming very apparent. As I can see an Albatros in my not-too-distant build schedule, I was delighted t see that this is one aircraft now being catered for. Both the fabric decal sets here are produced with either a white base or without, the latter allowing the translucency of the decals, combined with your preparation, to create the final effect. The Albatros set we have received falls into the latter category. This particular set includes TWO decal sheets, packaged into a sturdy, card backed clear wallet which can be re-sealed. Of course, the Albatros fuselage was wooden, so the decals in this set are for the various flying surfaces. Albatros D.V/D.Va As this is a cookie-cut sheet, all of the decals contained have been shaped specifically to fit the WNW model, and you will need to trim them all the way around due to them being laser-printed on a single, continuous sheet of carrier film. The fabric effect on these looks a little different to the sets from Aviattic. Perhaps almost a little stylized, but certainly very attractive looking, and most definitely of a fabric appearance. Where the rib tapes are included, and where the fabris stitched together, there is a narrow, slightly dark shadow which gives everything a 3D look even before you apply these to your model. The larger sheet contains the upper and lower decal panels for the Albatros upper wing, complete with separate aileron decals. A small panel for the fabric bulkhead, to the rear of the pilot, is also included. Decals for the lower wing panels are contained on the second, smaller sheet. No strut positions are marked, but as these decals do settle down very well over raised detail etc, you will have no problem in locating various panels and rib detail. Interestingly, all wing panels are full span (port and starboard), instead of being included as smaller panels for ease of use. You may wish to apply in sections instead. Your surface preparation is key with these decals, and you need to ensure that you have a white, high gloss finish on which to lay them. You can add shading and staining prior to application too, but remember that everything you lay under these decals, will form a part of the eventual finish. Hannover CL.II Again, the fuselage of the Hannover was timber (moulded wood, to be more precise), and therefore the decals represent the lozenge fabric of the wings and tail. As with the Albatros, this set also contains TWO decal sheets, with these both being A4 in size. These decals are not translucent, and are clearly printed onto a white, silk-screened ink layer. What this means is that you get exactly what you see on the sheet itself. The printing, again, is exemplary, with a beautiful texture effect in clear evidence, and the lozenge rib tapes and fabric join exhibiting a very clear layered effect which makes things look a little 3D. The first sheet has the port/starboard inboard and outboard wing panels printed in two sections each for upper and lower wing, with a few of these parts spilling onto the second sheet. Ailerons and wheel hub lozenge is included here, as are the various tail plane parts. The second sheet has the lower wing panels included, as well as a few other parts from the first sheet, which wouldn't fit on there. As with the upper wing, the lower wings are split into two panels per side, upper and lower. You notice I referred to the upper wing as inboard and outboard? This is because the centre section was covered in moulded wood. For this, you'll need this third, last set: Hannover CL.II Painted Lozenge In order to match the lozenge applied to the wings and tail plane, the wing centre section and vertical tail areas where hand painted in a lozenge pattern which was different in hue, creating an excellent contrast in the two types of surface. This decal set is smaller than the fabric lozenge one, and has only one sheet therein. The upper and lower centre section for the upper wing is printed with 'holes' through which the various protrusions can poke, such as the radiator panels. This centre decal was missed out for the schemes included in the WNW release, but the remaining decals are numbered to reflect the kit decal parts, so will be easy to locate. Whilst these aren't printed onto a white base, their solid colour does look like very little of the undercoat colour will affect appearance.....but still use a light colour! Assessment All decals are superbly printed, and the colours are very much full of life. The carrier film is pleasingly thin, but remember you will need to trim around the individual parts before you apply them. Registration is irrelevant as these are laser-printed. Register only applies to traditional silk-screen print decals. Conclusion It's hard to fault these releases. They help to create an effect that the original kit decals struggle achieve without fading and filtering, and of course, these sets have the fabric effect. I've seen these in use, and the effect is spectacular. We've seen this style of decal used on the Large Scale Modeller forums, so head on over there and take part! Highly recommended James H Our sincere thanks to Old Propeller for the review samples seen here. To purchase directly, use the product links in the above article.

Lozenge Decal Sets – Faded and Factory Fresh Aviattic See article for code and price Available directly from Aviattic Is it really 4 months since we looked at the inaugural releases from Aviattic? Proprietors Richard Andrews and Harry Green have been beavering away behind the scenes for a number of years, travelling the world to look at and analyse fragments of orginal WW1 German lozenge fabric. This has been a costly feat and a labour of love which resulted in the first decal set releases that we reviewed HERE. I already know there are countless other sets which will be added to this initial portfolio, and today we are lucky enough to look at some of the next sets, with some in both larger and smaller scale too. The first thing I have to bring to your attention is that the previous sets we looked at are now designated as 'Brown Varnish', due to the filtered effect that was applied to them during the artwork process. These new sets we look at today include sheets described as 'Factory Fresh' and 'Faded'. The sets we have to look at are: Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Faded (Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Faded (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Faded(Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Faded(Lozenge Tapes) cp 32/4U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full width 54" 32/4L Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full width 54" 32/5U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 24/4U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 24/4L Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 72/4U&L+Int.Rev (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 72/4U&L+Int.Rev (Faded) Full Width 54" These new sets have been re-adjusted and re-created in line with what modellers have been asking for, hence the initial series of sheets being re-classified as a result of further research on lozenge colour reproduction. In order to make things easier for the modeller to understand, these new cookie-cut and bolt sheet releases are simply 'factory fresh' and 'faded'. Now, that's easy to understand! There are so many variations in colour finish, and if you include the different colours of lozenge rib tapes, the sheer number of sheets that would need to be made available is staggering. Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Faded (Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII, 32/5U&L Faded (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cs These first new releases under the 'Factory Fresh' and 'Faded' banners, carry lozenge rib tapes, with other colours to follow in the near future. The lozenge tape variety has been incredibly popular, hence the reason why the first releases in these styles are of this type. Keep an eye out on the Aviattic website and FaceBook pages for announcements on this range being expanded further. Notice also the 'cp' and 'cs' designations on the inventory? Aviattic have tried to make their range of decal sets as easy to understand as possible with the 4U (4 colour upper), and 5L (5 colour lower) etc to guide you as to the number of colours on the lozenge panels, and to whether the decals are upper or lower styles. Going back to the 'cp' and 'cs' though, these tend to be more of interest to the purist, and relate to where on the wing sections that the first strip of lozenge fabric was laid down. CP = Centre Panel CS = Centre Seam Ok, let's explain. CP means that the first fabric panel was positioned centrally over the mid section of the upper wing. From there the remaining panels were folded and stitched, with the joints lying about 52" apart (after the fabric was folded and sewn). CS means that the first TWO panels were stitched together with the seam lying directly down the centerline of the upper wing, in line with the pilot. There you go. Now you can choose which you think might apply to you. In actuality, this is still an old train of thought that Aviattic caters to for those who think this detail actually matters. For the rest of us, perhaps not... The D.VII cookie-cut sheets look very similar in layout to the ones we first looked at, but look more closely, and you'll see a subtle change. In these new releases, the wing panels have been broken down into smaller sections. There is a technique involved in applying Aviattic decals which means that you need to nigh on float the sections from the decal paper before you apply. This is due to the elastic properties of the decal film. If you try to force the decal from the sheet, it will stretch and deform. Breaking the wings down into smaller panels means that you no longer have to run across a long decal in order to expel any water or setting solution. Of course, this means less likelihood of any stretching. Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Faded(Lozenge Tapes) cs Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Faded (Lozenge Tapes) cp Fokker D.VII 32/4U&L Factory Fresh (Lozenge Tapes) cp 32/4U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full width 54" 32/4L Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full width 54" It is also worth pointing out that with any wing panels that you need to really work from the trailing edge of the wing, aligning along the scalloped edge, and concluding at the centerline of the leading edge. If you need to trim in this area, then this is very easy, and more so than at the trailing edge. As I've said, all of the cookie-cut sheets here have lozenge tapes, and the difference in tonal values of the individual colours, between the factory-fresh and faded sheets is both significant and incredibly authentic looking. If you want an idea about just how realistic the fabric is, I can tell you Aviattic are so pleased at the result of their design work that not only does it look correct to the naked eye, but at Scale Model World 2013, they were letting potential customers even look at the textures under a magnifying glass, to show the delicate weave was maintained and not just broken down into a pixilated nightmare. I hope the images I show here help to illustrate the complexity and authenticity of that aspect of these sheets. Wingtips are usually something of a problem when it comes to forming the decal around them, but as this decal film is pliable, it really is very easy. It also works well with Mr Mark Setter. Just in case you do dither and get into difficulty, spare wingtip decals are printed for you. These guys think of everything. Ailerons are also included on these cookie-cut sets. Please have it noted that even the cookie-cut sets will need the parts trimming around, unlike a normal decal sheet.The D.VII sets do not contain the tail plane or fuselage lozenge panels. You will need to use the Bolt sheets for this, and use the WNW decals, carefully cut around, in order to create the shapes. This is very easy, and here is an example that I'm currently working on, just to prove that our reviewers aren't all talk, as was once insinuated by a two-bit modeling news site once. 32/5U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 24/4U Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 24/4L Bolt Sheet (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 72/4U&L+Int.Rev (Factory Fresh) Full Width 54" 72/4U&L+Int.Rev (Faded) Full Width 54" Please remember that if you wish to use the bolt sheets to decal your wings, and then apply your own rib tapes, you will need to trim around 1mm from the width off each side of the strip. This is to countenance the fold and stitch area aspect of how this material was used in real life. The cookie-cut sheets also include small swatches of the various lozenge colours, so if anything needs patching, you have the material to do it with. These sheets are also printed with a translucency to them. You MUST prepare the surface beforehand in a gloss white/light grey colour, remembering that any mark on the surface will show through to the final finish. This has some interesting possibilities though. You could now add the castor oil stain to the fuselage and wings BEFORE decaling. This will have the advantage of it looking very organic and natural once the lozenge is applied. Exactly because the decals are translucent is a work of caution too. Ensure that your decal panels butt up to each other and don't overlap. The result will be a dark edge. The bolt sheets exhibit the same beautifully rendered textures of their cookie-cut cousins, with each A4 sheet containing 4.5 strips in landscape format. For adorning your fuselage in these colourful plumes, you can get an entire length in one piece due to how the fabric was unrolled from tip to tail. For wings, however, you will need to run the strip from trailing edge to leading edge, as already explained. For the first time, we also see these bolt sheets printed in 1:24 and 1:72 scales! The larger 1:24 are designed to cater to the guys who like to scratch-build their WW1 models. You'd be hard pressed to find many injection plastic WW1 models in this scale, but should you do so, then this is for you. For 1:72 scale though, there are numerous kits, so I imagine that this sheet will be popular for those modellers. Due to the small nature of the lozenge, both upper and lower are printed on one sheet, as are the internal reverse patterns. Both 1:24 and 1:72 sets are available in both Factory Fresh and Faded types. Conclusion Aviattic promised that they were going to roll out an increasing number of sets in various formats over the next months, and 4 months on from their first releases, we are starting to see these sheets, including the faded sheets. I expect these to be particularly popular. The range will increase steadily again over the next months, and we should start to see cookie-cut sets for the Hannover too. These are exciting times for Great War aviation modellers! Highly recommended James H Our sincere thanks to Aviattic for the review samples seen here. To purchase directly, click THIS link.

Following on from Jeroen's Junkers J.1, I thought I'd publish this one here; the WNW Airco DH.2 This was published in Military Illustrated Modeller back in April this year. I hope you like her.

One of my favourite J.1 builds. Very nice to visit it again

Hellfire Bo....just when I thought that I would never see a build as great as the last, are up there with the very best of them. This is just mind blowing. How did you achieve those shades on those frames in that first picture? I really have about 1000 questions, and I don't really know where to begin. Thanks for the inspiration

Hey Paul, this is a BIG bird, so I expect things to take a little longer Just keep us updated with this. I think 2014 might bring the cutaway version for me, and I'll need pointers from you.

Jeez....will it fix up ok?

This has been a hell of a ride Iain. I can't wait to see it under a single primer coat.

So can I, these days. This one is just superb, and I can give nothing other than many thumbs here, among friends

I feel for you. The fit isn't great, and it's nothing to do with the builder when you look at that joint. Still, you fixed it up and it'll look just fine. I'm leaving the tail off my Komet, so I don't have to worry about that...

Can you tell me how you got this great metal effect on this:

Hi Steve, I saw this in a recent Airfix Model World, and I'm using for reference for my build. This has to be one of the best Eindecker builds I saw. I seriously hope you can share your ongoing projects with us.

...always a pleasure I think I might roll this one out myself next year.