1/48 Eduard Fokker D.VII progress - armed !

I got the machine guns finished and mounted today. You need a LOT of care when building these, since alignment is everything. I probably spent more time assembling them than I do building most cockpits !

The plastic barrels were removed, and I rolled the PE barrel jackets to the correct diameter. I glued these to the gun bodies, trying my best to keep them aligned. Putting the piece on the end is tricky, since it’s a butt-joint that needs CA. This also has to be kept aligned, since the crosshairs are attached to it. The gun muzzles were cut from the plastic barrels, after opening the ends with a #11 blade. I painted these with Alcad II steel, over a protective coat of Future. I glossed them again, and applied a wash and drybrush.

Gluing them in place and keeping them aligned was tricky, since the only mounting place is the ammo feed chutes. Alignment is helped by adding the PE gun troughs over the engine.

There are decals for the prop laminations, and I’ve only applied them to the front so far. The color is a little too red for my taste, but I have a fix in store for this (I’ll say more once it’s done).

Here’s the pics - I hope you enjoy them.


That’s one impressive looking build you have going there! Keep up the great work and let us follow your progress through to completion. [tup]

You mean “armed and dangerous”. You do incredible work, Pix!

You know I hate you, right Pix? [;)]

Beautiful work, as usual. So when am I going to see some images for your Showcase, hmm??

Jeff

Pix, when I did the guns on my Eduard Albatros D.V, after I cut the plastic cooling jackets off, I inserted (very) small-diameter plastic rod (approx. 0.025") into a hole I drilled into the gun body, then cut it to the exact same length as the rolled photo-etched jacket. A small bead of glue along bottom of the rod attaches the jacket to it along the seam in the jacket. This gives me a larger attachment area and a stronger bond, as well as hiding the jacket seam, which is now underneath.

…and I know what you mean about those plastic muzzle ends you need to re-attach. Tricky stuff.

Great looking work Pix.

Cheers,

Eric

Thanks Aggieman, mucker, Jeff, ruddratt, and Eric !

Jeff - you know what it’s like. I only want to send in images of my best work, and this usually includes ones that are under construction. After I finish this one and my B-25B, I’ll make a soft box (for lighting) and (as Jed Clampett would say) “commence tah shootin.”

ruddratt - I just ran some Zap CA (the thin stuff) into the seam on the jackets, and gently pressed it together. You’re correct about the muzzles. Getting the rear edge flat and parallel with the open end is tricky, since the part is so tiny. I put a little drop of Zap-A-Gap on the end, and held it in place while the glue dried. The Zap-A-Gap filled any spaces between the muzzle and the cooling jacket’s PE end piece.

I have to remind myself that this kit is completely OOB. At $30 for the kit, I feel it’s a GREAT value. I’ve paid a lot more for other kits, and even more adding detail sets that add no more detail than this kit has in the box. I will have to get Eduard’s D.VII double kit, along with their Roland C.II (the one with the windows and curtains) and Fokker E.V. I really love these kits.

Thanks again !

Hi Pix!

Wow, you’ve thoroughly stunned us with your WWII era birds, then you turned a bunch of us every color of the rainbow with your Israeli Scooter. Now you’re gonna bring the house down with the early ones…what’s next? You ever do armor? Ships? Cars? Ha ha…

Great looking progress. Is the lozenge pattern decals? Or did you paint that?

Thanks.

Mitch

Thanks Mitch !

I have Academy’s 1/35 Tiger with interior, which has been half-built for a number of years. The interior is painted, but not washed or drybrushed. I’ll get back to it someday, when I need a change of pace. Here’s a page of some builds that I have lined up for this year. There are a few new kits that I haven’t added, though: http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/futureprojects.htm

Thanks again !

Nice build. Have you ever thought of adding some depth to the lozenge camouflage? The first is done by modeler Brad Cancian

The next is done by me;

Pix The usual amazing work that we’ve come to love

Jason

Then check out the models forum at http://www.theaerodrome.com

You will be pleasantly surprised. Just stay away from off topic… Gadzooks.

I’d love to see you do some armor!

Looking forward to the HS-129. Anymore Japanese props in the works? Loved your Jack & Jill. Maybe a Judy or Kate?

I really like these WWI subjects. Excellent progress pix.

Thank you Stephen, Jason, tigerman, and Sean !

My apologies for not responding sooner. It seems that my computer has come under attack by hackers. In the ten minutes I’ve been online this morning, my firewall has blocked 16 intrusions to unused ports on my computer. Fortunately, my firewall traces and reports these. Moussolini’s demise would befit these parasites. I’ve had to format my hard drives and install a clean full version of Windows XP SP-2 (NOT CHEAP! .

Stephen - those look very nice, but that’s not the look I’m trying to achieve. My birds are all done clean, as if factory-fresh. You can see them here: http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/galleries.htm

tigerman - I started this kit when it became available ('97? '98?). I only did the detail painting (the turret is also assembled and painted) in the interior. Someday, I’ll glosscoat, wash, dullcote, and drybrush the interior. Things are a little too busy at the moment.


Here are some of my latest purchases. I have Eduard PE sets for almost all of them. http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/futureprojects.htm (Scroll to the bottom half of the page)

Sean - I also have Eduard’s Albatross D.V ProfiPack, and their Fokker D.V will be here at the end of the week. They provide a nice diversion (and break) from my interest, WW II aircraft.

Thanks again !

Great work… It seams that I need to buy that kit cos it rulez

On the intruders…Been there done that. Its nice to be able to get the stuff on the dirty dogs.

On the lozenge camouflage, please understand its not weathering. Printed loz fabric has threads and density. Shadows and hightlights. When varnished the light trap these areas. In any event Model On!

Nice work Pix!

PIX I wouldn’t EVER Suggest Messing with Perfection !! Which your georgeous Builds Are !!! I see a professional as well? I can only hope to aspire to hone my skills to this level. Very VEry Beautiful Work. I see a definative intrest in WWI ACFT and an Exceeding Talent for their intricate builds.

As you are professional Builder May I suggest their is a Line of Colors Specificly Matched to WWI ACFT which may be useful for you to incorporate into your builds? If nothing else they are an alternative and/or another choice in the colors available to you ?

www.misterkitusa.com WWI ACFT COLOR

I know S. Lawson Well from the “DROME” and I know he dose not hand out compliments lightly and you certainly have impressed him. I can see why becuase there is no argueing with perfection and always a pleasure to witness such art work.

Yours Truely Mike

Thanks Stephen, wing_nut, and Mike !

Mike - I’ve heard about those paints, and I’ll have to get some. I plan on building more WW I kits, and the German mauve color is elusive in enamels (I dislike acrylics).

The aircraft is now finished, and I’ve posted pics. Thanks again !