sandbagger

Hi all, As my build of the Austro-Hungarian Aviatik 'Berg' D.I is complete (apart from the display case), it's time for me to get back to the Macchi M.5 build. Thanks to input from other modellers I have more information that I'll need to include in this build, Mike

Hi all, The Aviatik 'Berg' D.1 is now complete, apart from being mounted on its display base (once the case arrives). Below are a few rough shots of the model and figure on its intended grass mat ('Polak’ Wild Meadow - 4705). I'll post up more and better completed photographs once its mounted in its display case. Many thanks to everyone for your comments, encouragement and patience during this build. Now it's back onto the Italian Macchi M.5 seaplane. Mike

Hi Tim, I'd reckon on around 500 (GBP) or more - around 650-700 (USD). Not a model to drop accidentally!! Mike

Hi all, The 'ProperPlane' laminated propeller (Knoller-Jaray type) is finished. Airbrushed with 'Alclad' semi-matte lacquer (312) mixed with 'Tamiya' Clear Orange (X26). Gloss coated with 'Alclad' Aqua Gloss (600), decals applied (LF Models set 3025). Finally airbrushed with 'Alclad' semi-matte lacquer (312) with a few drops of 'Tamiya' Hull Red (XF9). Bosses painted with 'Mr. Colour' Stainless Steel (213). Mike

Hi all, The rigging is now complete, so it's onto finishing the propeller and wheels, Mike

Hi all, The upper wing has now been fitted. Now it's onto completing the rigging for the flying, landing and cross brace wires. After that it'll be the propeller and wheels and that's it, apart from the display base, Mike

Hi all, Undercarriage cross bracing wires fitted, Mike

Hi all, The upper wing underside has been pre-rigged, ready for fitting. Combination of 0.12 mm mono-filament, 'Gaspatch' type A turnbuckles and 0.5 mm diameter brass tube. Mike

Hi Ernie, 'HPH Model are tricky to apply, as you no doubt know, for the following reasons: The printing method used is not a fine as other manufactured decals, especially small numbers and lettering. Usually decals are silk screen or laser printed. 'HPH Models' appear to be similar to those created with ink jet printing then coated to seal them. If so then that might account for their fragility. They are not 'cookie' cut' and are part of the overall carrier on the decal sheets. Therefore they need to be carefully cut out from the decal sheet. The backing sheets are thick when compared to other manufactured decals, such as 'Cartograph'. This means they need to be soaked for a bit longer than expected in order to release the decal from the backing sheet, otherwise they can be damaged as they are slid off onto the model surface. A sharp blade is needed to cut out the decals and the cut shouldn't be too close to the decal edges, otherwise the decal edge can lift from the backing sheet. The surface onto which the decal is to be applied should be smooth and glossy - I use 'Alclad' Aqua Gloss (ALC-600), which airbrushes well and dries quickly. The decals themselves are thin and semi-transparent, similar to 'Aviattic' decals and so pre-shading can be applied if desired. Be careful to avoid decal 'fold over' when removing them from the backing sheet. After application, 'MicroSol' to conform them to the surface and seal them with your sealer of choice to protect them from further handling or when applying post-application weathering. I use 'Alclad' Light Sheen (ALC-311) or Semi-Matte (ALC-312) lacquers. Apart from that they're great , Mike

Hi all, The lower wings are fitted now. Given the wings are pinned into the fuselage at the trailing edge, but only supported at the leading edge by the front spar bracing bar 'resting' on the underside of the fuselage, it leaves the wings liable (with handling) to break free at the front and pivot down on the rear support pins. There didn't appear to be any additional bracing bar support fitted to the actual aircraft, so with 'poetic license' I've added 'U' tube supports over the bar (at the outer ends) and secured them into the fuselage underside. They should provide extra support for the wings and prevent 'break away' until the upper wing is finally fitted, Mike

Hi all, I spotted that the upper surfaces of the lower wings, at the forward wing root area, had protective ‘walkways’ fitted, presumably to protect the wing surfaces from being damaged whilst the engine area was being worked on by ground crew (too far forward for pilot’s access). As no details of this could be found, I’ve assumed this was possibly reinforced plywood fitted under the lozenge linen wing covering or a thin metal design and fitted over the lozenge linen covering of the wings. I decided, more for aesthetics, that I'd use metal mesh from 'RB Productions', which was cut to share and secured in position using thin CA adhesive. They were then weathered using 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt and Grime clay washes and then dusted with pigments. Mike

Hi all, The tail unit is now rigged with cross bracing cables and rudder and elevator control lines. A combination of 0.12 mm and 0.08 mm mono-filament with either 0.4 mm or 0.5 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube and 'Gaspatch' metal 1:48th scale turnbuckles (Types A and C). Mike

Hi all, I've applied the 'Flory Models' Dark Dirt clay wash to give a 'subtle' grimy look - I added a few drops of washing up liquid to break the surface tension of the wash to help it spread more over the model. The wash wash applied by brush. Once the required amount was wiped away with a very slightly damp tissue and brush, I sealed it all with 'Alclad' Semi-Matte (ALC-312) lacquer. I've also prepared the rigging and control lines. The next step is to install the pre-rigged lines and fit the wings, so as to be able to complete the rigging. Mike

Hi all, Just a few minor additions. The upper wing was cross braced from the top of the rear cabane struts to the bottom of the opposite rear cabane struts. These are not detailed in the kit. I've drilled holes for adding the cross bracing through the cockpit front decking later in the build. The 'ProperPlane' Knoller-Jaray propeller has a 2.0 mm diameter tube added for mounting into the fuselage. The small pipe on the top of the radiator condenser assembly has also been added, using 0.4 mm diameter Nickel-Silver tube. Now it's onto weathering with clay wash, pre-rigging the wings and fitting them, which I know already will give me problems with alignment!! Mike

Hi all, I've now added all of the necessary photo-etch parts to the fuselage and lower wing halves. Also the main undercarriage, a windscreen (which wasn't supplied in the kit) and a flare pistol and cartridge rack (not supplied in the kit, but often carried on this aircraft). The whole lot has been sealed with a semi-matte lacquer, ready for a 'Flory Models' clay weathering wash. I've still got to add a small pipe to the radiator condenser assembly and two cross bracing cable at the rear of the engine bay. These will be attached to the underside of the upper wing centre section. Also the propeller shaft access hole. Then it's onto pre-rigging and fitting the wings Mike

Hi all, The tail skid was mounted on a forked swivel fitted into the bottom of a 3-ply wood covered streamlined fairing. This allowed the tail skid to pivot up and down as well as swivel. The type of suspension for the tail skid consisted of double sprung rings, the ends of which were looped over extended support bars located on the bottom edge of the fuselage. The other end of the rings were attached to the forward end of the tail skid. This was done using ‘ANYZ’ Black braided line 0.5 mm diameter (AN011), Mike

Hi all, The tail unit is coming together now with added photo-etch and rigging points. I've still to add the tail skid bungee suspension and later, the bracing rigging, Mike

Hi Phil, The underside CDL is 'Aviattic' decals, pre and post shaded with thinned 'Tamiya' Smoke (X19). The Lozenge is the decals from 'HPH Models', but to be honest they were a real pain to apply. These were also pre and post shaded as before. Mike

Hi all, Thanks for your encouraging comments. The radiator grill, which is photo-etch, was annealed to allow it to be bent around an appropriate former to shape it to the front of the fuselage. Annealing also creates the 'heated' look of a radiator. It was then secured in position using thin CA adhesive under the edges only, otherwise the adhesive would seep under the grill and block the cooling holes, Mike.

Hi all, All of the decals have now been applied. Also I've added some post-shading, although there's still final weathering and sealing coat to be applied. Now it's onto the myriad of photo-etch parts for the fuselage, Mike

Hi all, The remaining Lozenge decals applied, Mike

Hi all, The Aviatik 'Berg' D.1 was an aircraft that had many and varied camouflage schemes that were applied. They ranged from plain varnished wood to streaking, sponged colours, solid colours joined by zig-zag borders and lozenge. The Austro-Hungarian applied lozenge was much larger than the German equivalent and was either uniform shaped hexagons or 'squashed' hexagons. This particular aircraft was manufactured by the 'Aviatik' Company, so had their standard uniform sized hexagon lozenge. The decals supplied in the kit are not the best and have thicker than normal backing sheets. Also they are not 'cookie cut' and need to be accurately cut out from the backing sheets. They are thin and care is needed when applying them as they are easily torn. I've primed the surfaces with white as this brings out the colours more accurately. 'Tamiya' Smoke was used (thinned 50/50 with X20a) to apply slight pre-shading before the decals were applied. Here's the lower left wing as an example. Post weathering will be applied later in the build. Mike

Primed with AK Interactive white (AK759), then surfaces cleared of dust and imperfections by polishing. Airbrushed with gloss coat, then re-polished as necessary. Finally cut and applied PC and CDL linen effect decals from 'Aviattic'. Mike

Hi all, Just a couple of updates. The fuel filler cap access panel has now been added and is 'dished' into the decking panel, as can be seen in the photo in the previous post. Also the model had a pre-moulded circular access panel on the left side of the rear decking panel. As I can't find any evidence that it existed on this aircraft, I've assumed it was supposed to represent the fuel filler cap access panel. If so it was the wrong shape and size and on the wrong side of the decking panel. I've removed it. If I'm wrong it can easily be re-instated. I've built the wood trestles and beaching trolley, although they need to be cleaned, stained etc and have the photo-etch parts added. I'm off for a two week break tomorrow so no more updates until I get back, Mike

Hi all, Not represented in the kit is the fuel filler for the tank. The initial versions of this aircraft were based on the Lohner T.1, which had an oval fuel tank, connected by a filler tube to a filler cap on the decking panel. However the production Macchi M.5 had a cylindrical fuel tank. Drawings of this aircraft don't show a filler tube to the decking panel. Photographs instead show what seems to be a cover plate over an aperture in the decking panel. My assumption is that when this cover plate was removed, it gave access to the filler cap located on the tank itself. Mike