sandbagger

Hi all, I've replaced the front cabane struts using profiled 1.4 mm diameter Brass tube with internal reinforcing 0.5 mm diameter Brass rod and 0.2 mm thick plastic card. The remainder is the kit parts, Mike

Hi Harv, Will do, Mike

Hi all, During fitting of the upper wing both front struts of the fuselage cabane strut assembly snapped. Looking at them it looks like they snapped cleanly and I think along stress points, possibly created during release from the moulds. So rather than pin and glue them together, I decided to make replacement struts from Brass tube shaped around Brass rod. Mike

Hi all, The rudder, elevator and landing gear has now been fitted. I've also pre-rigged the various flight and control wires, prior to fitting the upper wing. The lines are 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament with blackened 0.5 mm diameter Brass tube. The turnbuckles are from the 'GasPatch' 1:48th scale series. There is a slight bow one of the rear landing gear struts, which I need to sort out, Mike

Hi all, Just a small update. I've added photo-etch mesh to the front and rear of the 'Windhoff' radiators. The photo-etch was heated slightly to create a heated look and then given a dark wash. I've also added the bottom drain cock, made from 'Taurus Models' engine fuel primer. Finally I added the radiators upper and lower attachment plates to the fuselage, Mike

Hi all, Some progress on the Albatros D.I. The smoothed and grey primed surfaces were clear gloss coated with 'Alclad' Aqua Gloss 600. The undersides of the wings and tail unit had the ‘Aviattic’ German blue linen (ATT32077) white backed decal applied. The upper surfaces of the wings and tail unit had the ‘Aviattic’ clear Linen Weave effect (ATT32236) decal applied. All surfaces were then airbrushed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) lacquer. The 'Roden' kit supplied decals were as expected very thin and fragile and were easily broken when applied. Also this particular aircraft had marking not available as decals. Therefore I inkjet printed all of the decals required onto white decal paper then sealed them with two coats of acrylic sealer. I decided to try out the 'Quinta Studios’ 3D printed Albatros D.I set (QD32076). The model raised details were already sanded away before painting. Due to the time it took for the set to arrive in the UK from Russia (via Poland), I had already closed up the fuselage. Therefore I only used the Part 1 sheet which had the external details. These were brush painted to match the surrounding colours on the model parts. I did not used the two strips on the upper surface of the lower wing roots as they were way too thick. Instead I used strips of painted photo-etch. All surfaces were then airbrushed again with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) lacquer. Weathering was applied using the 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt fine clay wash. All surfaces were then finally airbrushed with 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC311) lacquer to seal it all. Mike

Hi Kevin, Thanks. ‘ProperPlane’ wood effect decal set (PDW-501230). These decals are translucent so a base colour needs to be applied to the model surface before the decals are applied. It is important that the surface of the applied paint is smooth, free of surface imperfections and has a gloss surface. Airbrush the entire external surface of the fuselage with ‘Tamiya’ Desert Yellow (XL59) or similar. I thinned the ‘Tamiya’ acrylic paint with ‘Mr. Colour’ self-levelling thinners 400, which improves the surface finish and dries quickly. Applied the decals including the scarf joint strips. Weathering was ‘Flory Models’ Dark Dirt clay wash, which was allowed to dry then removed with a very slightly moist kitchen paper towel and brush. Once the desired effect is achieved, airbrushed a light sealing coat of ‘Alclad’ Light Sheen (ALC-311) or ‘Tamiya’ Semi-Matt (XF35) over the fuselage to seal the applied weathering. Mike

Hi all, Upper surfaces camo painted. Mixed ‘Tamiya’ J.A. Green (XF13) with White (X2) and Flat Brown (XF10) with White (X2) to an approximate ratio of 80/20. Mike

Hi all, Slower than usual progress on the Albatros D.I (real life got in the way). I've airbrushed the fuselage and upper surface of the elevator with a mix of Tamiya Cockpit Green (XF73) mixed with White (X2). It's the closest I could get to the colour profile by Ronnie Barr. The nose and forward decking panel is Tamiya Medium Sea Grey (XF83). Next up is the two tone brown/green for the upper surface of the wings and tail plane, which will be covered with clear linen effect 'Aviattic decal.. The undersides will be light blue linen effect 'Aviattic decal. It'll all be weathered in due course. Mike

Hi all, I'm a bit slower than normal working this model as I'm working another unrelated model at the same time. In order to sand and fill gaps after fitting the lower wing, some of the surface detail under the lower wing was also removed. I thought this would be a good opportunity to try the 'Quinta Studios' 3D printed detail set for this aircraft. To that end I've sanded off the surface details in preparation. If the 'Quinta' parts don't work out I will revert to the photo-etch detail set I have from 'Part'. In the meantime I've had to fill the pre-moulded recesses in the fuselage sides, above the lower wing roots. These are intended for attaching the flying wires, but are not located correctly. The flying wires for the Albatros D.I were routed through a cover panel on the upper surface of the lower wing root at the fuselage. The wires passed through a recess below and into the fuselage attachment points. Mike

Hi all, Below you can see main visible differences between the earlier Spandau (LMG) 08 weapon and the later 08/15 weapon. Mike Early 08 (as in the previous post photograph) Later 08/15

Hi Peter, I replaced the machine guns with 'GasPatch' resin version, based on the kit supplied weapons. However, as was pointed out to me, this aircraft was fitted with the earlier LMG 08 weapons. The following shows the difference between the incorrect replacements (previous post photograph) and the correct weapons (below), Mike

Hi all, I need to replace the two machine guns. This aircraft was armed with the earlier LMG 08, not the later 08/15 I used. Mike

Hi all, The fuselage is now closed up with joints filled and sanded. I've replaced the kit supplied machine guns with equivalent weapons from 'GasPatch'. The guns and fuselage detail needed modification to fit the guns correctly. Mike

Hi all, I'm getting close to the fuselage being closed up. As is usual, most of this won't be seen, but hey-ho. I just have to add the flight control lines, engine controls, wiring at the starter magneto and switch and the gun trigger cables. Mike

Hi all, The engine is completed. It's the basic kit engine with just a few enhancements, as most will be hidden by the the fuselage. I've added: Ignition lead support tubes (1.0 diameter brass tube). Ignition leads at the spark plugs and magnetos (0.3 mm diameter lead wire). Coolant expansion tank and pipe (modified WNW engine cylinder and 0.4 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube and flexible black tube). Coolant supply pipe from water pump to cylinder integral gallery. Carburettor control rods (blackened 0.4 mm Brass tube). Air vale at rear of camshaft housing. Fuel feed pipes to base of the carburettor. Spare WNW data plate decals. Mike

Hi all, This particular Albatros D.I was a pre-production version and had differences to the production aircraft. An Anemometer was fitted to the forward, starboard interplane strut and the expansion tank for the engine cooling system was located at the front of the forward engine cylinder. The propeller fitted was an ‘Axial’, rather than the more often fitted ‘Reschke’ type. The production aircraft had a larger, triangular shaped expansion tank located along and above the engine and slightly to the left side (as supplied in the kit). However, this particular aircraft was a pre-production build and had a conical coolant expansion tank located at the front of the forward engine cylinder. This was one of possibly only two or three pre-production aircraft with this type of expansion tank. On production aircraft, with the over engine expansion tanks, it can be seen that a pipe was connected to the top of the expansion tank and up over the leading edge of the upper wing. My assumption is that this pipe was intended to release to atmosphere, any excess build up of pressure within the cooling system. The following photograph is of this particular aircraft after it was recovered from the crash site of the then pilot, Prince Karl. The photograph shows two pipes routed rearwards over the engine, from the coolant expansion tank. The Albatros D.I did not have a flush mounted radiator fitted into the upper wing, but had instead 'Windhoff' radiators located on the fuselage sides. My assumption is that the upper pipe was attached to the upper wing and vented to atmosphere any over pressurization in the cooling system. The lower pipe was possibly routed down inside the fuselage a cockpit coolant temperature gauge. Mike

Hi Peter, No I'll be doing the upper surface grey/green camo with the white anti-flash undersides. Conventional not Blue Steel and pre-Falklands. I managed to find decals from 'Kits-World' that have the No.44 Squadron markings as well as those from No.9, 12, 27, 35, 50, 83, 101 and 617 Squadrons, Mike

Hi Peter, I don't plan to post a build thread for the Vulcan as there are plenty of videos etc on-line already and it's a relatively straight forward build anyway. Yes the intakes could be a problem with top/bottom join seam and around the intake splitter. I sanded the seam then have them a couple of coats of Mt. Surfacer 500 and once fully set, sanded them flush. As for sink marks - yes along the trailing edges of the wings, just forward from the flaps and on the top and undersides of the wings. I think they're caused due to the moulding of the recesses that the flap leading edges fit into. I've airbrushed grey primer over the model and quite honestly the sink marks are barely visible. They might show up more if high gloss finish is applied over them, by I'll be using semi-matte. Mike OT so just the one shot

Hi all, I've taken a short break to start the new tool Airfix 1:72nd scale Avro Vulcan B.Mk.2 for a friend who used to be a crew chief on No.44 Squadron at RAF Waddington. I won't have a build thread for the Vulcan as there are many on-line video builds of it already and it's a relatively straight forward build. However, as it's not due to be delivered until December, I've made a start on another WW1 aircraft. This model from 'Roden' will represent the Albatros D.I of Ltn. Dieter Collin of Jasta 2 ’Boelcke’, flying from Berthincourt, September 1916. During 1915 the German Fokker Eindecker fighters were dominant over the current allied aircraft of the time. Eventually however, better designed fighters, such as the De-Havilland DH.2 of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the French Nieuport fighters soon gained the advantage. The German Idflieg (Inspectorate of Flying Troops) sought better designed fighters from German aircraft companies and protoypes from Halberstadt and Fokker were being test flown by the Spring of 1916. However these designs, although better, did not surpass the allied aircraft in general performance. The Albatros Flugzeugwerke Gmbh company, which had only produced two seat aircraft, created what was then considered to be a radical design for a fighter, which was designed by Robert Thelen. Following the lead of the allied bi-plane fighters, particularly the French Nieuport’s, the prototype Albatros D.I featured a more powerful engine and a streamlined plywood skinned fuselage (semi-monocoque), which differed from it’s contemporaries, which had linen covered structure. Performance during flight testing was enough for the Idflieg to place an initial order for 50 aircraft with serial numbers D.422/16 to D.471/16. Although a second batch was ordered with serial numbers D.472/6 to D.521/16, these were never built as the improved Albatros D.II was already in production. In total, seven units were formed and operated the Albatros D.I, the second unit being Jasta 2, formed at Laguincourt during August 1916 and commanded by Oberleutnant (later Hauptmann) Oswald Boelcke. The introduction of this aircraft caused concern, especially as it proved superior to the RFC DH.2 fighters. However, it’s operational career was short and by the end of 1916 the Albatros D.I was being replaced by the newer D.II. Of the 50 aircraft built, some survived to the end of the war, being used as flight trainers. This particular Albatros D.I was a pre-production version and had differences to the production aircraft. An Anemometer was fitted to the forward, starboard interplane strut and the expansion tank for the engine cooling system was located at the front of the forward engine cylinder. The propeller fitted was an ‘Axial’, rather than the more often fitted ‘Reschke’ type. The serial number of this aircraft has been stated as being D384/16, but it seems this may not be the case. Although the aircraft was probably delivered in the standard factory finish, it was later painted in an undefined green colour. In addition, the white Crossfield of the Balken Cross markings on the upper wing were painted over, leaving the remaining Crossfields intact. Initially this aircraft was flown by Diether Collin and his personal marking of a white ‘Co’, outlined in black, was added to the fuselage sides, to the rear of the Balken Cross. Later this aircraft was flown by the Prussian Prince Friedrich Karl, when the markings of Collin were replaced with skull and cross bones on a black background marking. These were applied to the fuselage sides and the propeller spinner. On the 21st of March 1917, Prince Karl was wound during combat with DH.2 fighters of No.32 Squadron (RFC). He made a forced lading between the lines but was shot in the spine as he attempted to reach the safety of his own lines and died of his wounds. The aircraft was later captured and given the RFC identification of G-17. On the 13th of August 1918, Diether Collin was severely wounded during combat with Sopwith Camels of No.204 Squadron (RAF) over Bailleul and later that day died of his wounds, aged 25. Mike

Hi all, The completed model is now up in the 'WNW Ready for Inspection' thread. Thanks to all for your comments and encouragement - appreciated, Mike

Hi Harv, Me to. Alex is moving 600Km away from his present location, so a bit of a delay. I used the kit exhaust and a spare 'ProperPlane' Axial prop, Mike

Hi all, I thought you might like to see my 1:32 scale build of a Junkers D.I from 1918. This model depicts a Junkers D.I that was involved in a flying accident, possibly during testing, on the 3rd of October 1918. It was most likely repaired and possibly given the Ser No: 5188/18, before being operated by either MFJG in Belgium or with Kampfgeschwader ’Sachsenburg’, operating in the Baltic during 1919. Design: The lineage of this aircraft traces back to Professor Hugo Junkers, when in 1912 he patented a design for a thick, cantilever constructed initially of corrugated steel. The first Junkers J.I and J.2 monoplanes were built but proved too heavy for operational use. Subsequently, the Junkers J.3 was redesigned during 1916 using an aluminium alloy (Duraluminium). However, it was shelved when production was switched to the Junkers J.1 biplane, which entered service in 1917. Due to the positive response for the J.I, work recommenced on an armoured single seat monoplane, starting with the Junkers J.5 through to the J.9, which eventually became the operational Junkers D.1. The maiden flight took place in May 1918 and further changes to the design saw 4 aircraft of the final version dispatched to the front in October 1918. The design of this aircraft was revolutionary for its time, a monoplane of metal construction and with only cross brace rigging on the undercarriage. The airframe was essentially of tubular construction with corrugated Duraluminium covering. Various engines were fitted during the prototype stages, but it seems the Daimler-Mercedes D.IIIa (180hp) or D.IIIaü (200hp) engines were fitted to operational aircraft. Armament consisted of twin 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 ‘Spandau’ machine guns. Operational background: The Junkers D.I was designated as a ‘battle plane’, meaning its perceived operational role was to be that of ground attack, rather than as a fighter. Only 40 aircraft were built between June 1918 and February 1919 and it seems of these, only 5 were delivered to the front. It's not certain than any of these aircraft took part in actual combat, although there were reports from the British late in the war that there were ’encounters with German monoplanes that were covered with corrugated sheet’. These 5 aircraft were eventually abandoned on the German landing field of Hombeek in Belgium. However, the aircraft did see active service after the war, in action against the Bolshevik forces in the Baltic countries, serving with the ‘Kampfgeschwader Sachsenburg’ volunteer regiment, commanded by Gothard Sachsenburg, a former pilot of the German naval ’Marine Jasta’. The regiment consisted of 3 squadrons, being FA413 (reconnaissance), FA416 (fighter) and FA417 (ground attack). Both FA416 and FA417 operated the Junkers D.I as well as the Junkers CL.I (two seat version) aircraft. A few aircraft were lost in combat, including a Junkers D.I being flown by Josef Jacobs. When hostilities ceased, those aircraft remaining were found by Soviet forces, abandoned on an airfield near Riga. The model is 1:32nd scale and made by ‘Wingnut Wings’ (Kit No: 32065). The list of changes/additions to the model are: Engine: Detailed with Nickel-Silver and Brass rod or tube to replace Coolant pipes, ignition lead support tubes, sump vent pipe, induction manifold pre-heat pipes, forward air pump pipes. Ignition leads at the Magneto’s and spark plugs are lead wire. Spark plugs and fuel primers are from ‘Taurus Models’. Rigging: Rigging is 0.08 mm or 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament with ‘GasPatch’ 1:48th scale turnbuckles and 0.5 mm or 0.4 mm diameter blackened Brass tube. Aftermarket: ‘GasPatch’ Spandau machine guns used to replace kit parts. Pilot figure is Wings Cockpit Figures’ LSK leaning pilot (LSK 14), Mechanic figure is ‘Copper State Models’ German ground crew (F32-012). Propeller was the Axial wood laminated version from ‘ProperPlane’. The forum build log is here: As usual I've created a downloadable build log in Adobe PDF format, for those who might want to refer to it for reference or build details. It contains full step by step descriptions of the model build, its modifications/changes and is also supported with illustrations and photographs. If viewed in Adobe Reader, each build log has book marked chapters/headings for easier navigation through the log. My model website has the gallery page, so to view any model, go to the gallery and select it. If it has a PDF build log, it will be available to download using the 'PDF' icon on that model photo page. For any photograph, just click the photo to enlarge or reduce the viewing size. http://igavh2.xara.hosting Mike

Hi all, Here's a few more bits completed for the Junkers. The propeller (ProperPlane), pilot (Wings Cockpit Figures), mechanic (Copper State Models) and the landing gear bracing, Mike

Hi all, I've painted the airframe now. This particular aircraft had a 'Tiger Stripe' metal panel strip finish. This appears to have been alternate Aluminium polished and non-polished panel strips. This was done by masking and airbrushing 'Alclad' Duraluminium and Steel. The rudder was just primed with white. Next is painting fuselage details before adding the landing gear etc. Mike