Dances With Wolves

Hi Jeroen: Amazing stuff. I'd heard of 3D printing but not bumped into anyone who's done design work or commissioned parts. You're clearly au fait with the software (lost me there already lol) and I have no idea how the part is actually 'printed'. Is there a Luddite friendly explanation for that which might stand a chance of sticking in the space that should be occupied by a brain? Steve Von Technolagger :-)

Hi Grant: Thanks for the thumbs up - much appreciated. I've seen a few comments about avoiding schemes with the Fokker 'turned' finish. It's genuinely easy to execute. I only differ from WW and their web advice in that brush painting Tam acrylic aluminium was never going to happen and I have no idea why they promote it, as it seems a recipe for absolute disaster, so I subbed that for Alclad II. From there, it's just a simple brush exercise, dampening the brush with isopropyl alcohol to keep the Tam X-11 'live' and cleaning off the brush after each application, before dampening with more iso, etc. I'm very glad to have been steered here by Jeroen. Folks have been very welcoming and I look forward to joining in the modelling madness going forwards. Yes, a film favourite was the easy choice in the Dances With Wolves thing. Never get tired of seeing it. Thanks again. Steve Von Happytobehere

Hi G: Thanks for that. In truth, I'm in the position of clutching at the coat tails of those with real talent, as they disappear into the middle distance. I've learnt much from other modellers of all abilities over the years and look forward to adding to that as time rolls on. I hope to be always travelling - never arriving... Hi S: Thanks also - hope you and yours had a belting weekend. Too right on the stash. Thanks for the nod on this one. Steve Von Wingnutter

Hi James: I simply followed Umlaufmotor's two (or three) tone Gunze metal approach (two tone in this case - Stainless and Iron), supplemented by a thin black oil wash. I use Michael Harding oils, hand made and quite the best I've ever tripped over. Have a look - http://www.michaelharding.co.uk Hi Martin: Thanks for that. I do have a build in progress but sorry to say, it's under wraps under orders from the AMW deputy ed. I get to chuck stuff out on forums from the date of publication, so sorry again for not being able to disclose. …and that, boys and girls, is why you should never do alcohol... Thanks old bean - tracking down German Teddy RLM colours was an aviation research path little trodden.

Hi James: Thanks for that - wish you well with yours. I'll be following the Eindecker builds going on elsewhere here with great interest. Please don't copy my liberties with accuracy (the Spandau and retention of the wing mounted compass on the Udet marking option) - unless you want to of course. I had a pleasant chat with the proprietor of Gas Patch at Telford, who remembered me from my order for his lovely tensioners and plopped their anemometer in my hand - amazing and exquisite. I was given quite the dressing down for using the WW item and not his. I have 25 more Wing-nutters in the stash (never mind what's coming out down the line) and a growing sense that life expectancy may not match stash ambitions. Have a great weekend. Steve

Hi folks: My first Wing-nutter, finished in what for me, was a record - 16 weeks. That'll make most builders laugh but for me it's Moto GP fast. No surprise to hear it's a delight, with just a couple of points I'll carry forward to my E.II / III (Early) release - the cockpit unit is a tight fit at the rear (wing spar 'box') but gives in with a little reducing on each side and the gentle anhedral the solid wings are prone to (that I see reflected in other builds around the web, that I'll cure in my next one). Finished for Airfix Model World, November 2013 issue. Some re-hashing of the kit detail on what passes for the instrument panel. Etched fuel cock levers, some wire from an electric motor and an etched bezel, etc. The ammo tub, spent cases bin and carburetor intake build into a neat little sub-assembly. The finished tub garnished with Gas Patch 3D tensioners and HGW 'fabric' belt set. An unconventional finishing technique on the prop - AK Interactive's Track Wash. Easy to apply, forgiving and hugely economic. The big, whirly thing at the front end. I took a liberty with accuracy and dropped Master Models Spandau into the build. Well into the castor oil staining here, cowl in Alclad II aluminium with Tam X-11 Chrome 'swirls' (a small departure from Wing-nutter's web based guide). Never had a teddy show up in a build before. The Teddy completed... Happy days. Steve