sandbagger

Hi Drifter, I have used wood effect decals and oil paints to create a wood effect. However, I tend to use a water based crafters acrylic paint from 'DecoArt'. The paint is their 'Burnt Umber', which needs no thinning and can be applied straight from the bottle, either by brush or sponge. I'll prime the surfaces then airbrush 'Tamiya' Deck Tan (XF55), then apply the paint. Normally I brush it over the surfaces and regularly wash the brush in water, which can also be used to thin the paint is desired. Unlike normal oil paint, this paint dries quickly so you need to be careful over brushing as it can lift off the previously applied layer. Once dry it can be clear coated with a semi-matte acrylic or lacquer clear coat. For propellers adding 'Tamiya' Clear Yellow (X24) or Orange (X26) adds a varnished finish. Each of my build logs has a chapter dedicated to 'wood effects'. Just click on a PDF icon to download the detailed build log from my site (link in signature below), Mike

Hi all, Sorry, but I forgot to take shots of the cockpit assembly before closing up the fuselage!! Anyway I added the rudder and elevator control cables. Also the cross bracing wires in the cockpit side frames, across the internal frames and on the floor panels. The observer/gunner seat is fitted in the stowed position, as I'll be adding a figure into the rear cockpit. I still have some weathering and detail to add, such as cockpit and engine control rods and pipes and the wireless reel wire etc. As usual, not much can be seen once the cockpit decking panel is fitted - hey ho. For now I'll be putting this model aside so that I can complete the Avro 'Vulcan' Mk.2 I'm building for a friends birthday next month. Then I'll be back on the Salmson, Mike

Hi all, The basic engine is complete. I've added the ignition harnesses to the two rear mounted magnetos. Also the twin ignition leads from the circular support tube to the twin sparks plugs on each of the nine cylinders. The radiator shutters are being modeled as open, Mike

Hi all, The next build will hopefully be a French Salmson 2-A2, Serial number 381, of Escadrille SAL 28. No reason other than I like the unit's elephant marking, Mike

Hi all, Here's the shots of the 'Roden' 1:32nd scale pre-production Albatros D.I of Ltn. Dieter Collin of Jasta 2 ’Boelcke’, flying from Berthincourt, September 1916. The full build log is here: https://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/12592-132nd-scale-albatros-di/ As usual there is a fully detailed build log (in Adobe PDF format) available to download from my site (link below) Just click on the PDF icon to read or download the log. Mike

Deleted - posted on wrong page, Mike

Hi all, The final photographs are now up in the 'WNW Ready for Inspection' page, Mike

Hi all, The pilot figure is finished - ‘Wings Cockpit Figures’ leaning pilot (LSK 06). Painted with a mix of 'Tamiya', 'AK Interactive' and 'Citadel' paints. I'm just waiting for the case and information plaque to arrive. Once the display is done I'll post up completed photographs. Thanks to everyone's encouraging comments, appreciated, Mike

Hi all, Just a few more details to add for this particular aircraft. Then it's on to the figure and display base. I've added the bungee suspension cords and tail skid. What's left to do: Propeller and spinner. Exhaust. Windscreen. Cooling system vent pipe. External airspeed indicator. Mirror and instrument. Mike

Hi all, The rigging is now complete. Blackened 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm Brass tube, 'GasPatch' 1:48th scale turnbuckles and 0.08 mm and 0.12 mm diameter mono-filament. Mike

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