First off, let me say I am really enjoying the little bit o’ WW1 goodness that has been popping up on the forum as of late. Great stuff!
Here is my second addition to the trend(I have a Roden Albatros that I need to take the finished pics of…maybe when I get the kids in bed!). It is the latest boxing of the venerable Albatros D.Va from Airfix done up as that flown by Lt. Max Nather in May of 1918. You know, I think it is a great little kit. I have since purchased two more! This was my first attempt at rescribing on a ‘large’ scale. I also replaced the kit guns(toy-like may be too complimentary)with ones cast from a mold I made of some Roden/Encore ones. They came out very well but I just couldn’t get them into focus so I haven’t yet gotten a good shot of them. I did have to cut away some of the exhaust piping to get them to to fit(hmmm maybe I should try that thing called ‘dry-fitting’…hmmmm…). I also scratchbuilt a basic cockpit. In addition, all the crosses are airbrushed, not the kit decals. The ones in the box were way off register. That said, the ones in the other two boxes I have purchased were perfect so maybe I got a ‘monday kit’ as Hans Von Hammer is fond of saying!
As you can see, i am too chicken to try rigging. Maybe on the next one!
Thanks for looking
Mike
PS I have the Airwives photoetch in line for the next one and am hoping to find another set or two for those after that!
Very nice! Rigging is much easier than you may realize. You just need some invisible thread ($2-3 at K-mart); “smoke” is good for rigging plus a small .0135 drill (#80) and medium viscosity super glue. I shied away from it for years and then dove in a couple of years ago. This is my 9th attempt, the same kit although the wings were badly warped in mine.
I drill the holes in the upper wing, but not all the way through; then drill all the way through on the lower wing (all done prior to assembly of course). After paint and assembly, super glue the upper wing end, let it set, then thread through the lower and pull tight, a drop of glue to affix and it’s done.
Looks good, the only Airfix WW1 kit I’ve done is the RE8 which is an ancient kit from the late 1950s. The D.Va looks much cleaner, it is one of the Albatros kits I haven’t built yet (I’ve done a Roden D.III, Revell D.III and Eduard D.Va). I’ve got a Revell Sopwith Triplane, Roden Junkers D.I and a Roden Albatros D.V heading to the bench now.
Seems like we used to have a larger contingent of WW1 builders here, as their constant heckling is what got me to finally break down and try rigging. Honestly I very much dislike doing it, but it does add so much to the model. There are lots of techniques to choose from.
