Hey, don't forget I did the stripey thing too.

Thanks everyone, I'll be posting more images shortly. This latest work is very detail oriented and time consuming with lots of photo etch and rigging. It looks like the Aeroworks crew are covered from head to toe in Zap a Gap! These guys can't get through a day without clowning around and making a mess of themselves! I feel like I'm overseeing a High School cafeteria at times! They do keep at it though so I can't complain and besides, it's not a good idea to beat the boy out of the man ... at least I keep telling myself that!

Dwayne

This weekend, I played 63 holes of golf after a 4 month long hiatus. Believe me, I know exactly how that feels.

Excellent! I wish I had your energy and your skill!
What sources for the colours do you have?
I pressume that you have that old issue of Scale Modeller?

Check "Jagdstaffel 5 volume 1" and "Jagdstaffel 5 volume 2" by G K Merrill. They are great references that are very well researched and presented.

What Scale Modeler are you refering to?

Sorry, I meant Scale Models, November 1971.

Aeroscalites,

Sorry for the wait but there was quite a bit of work in this latest stage of the project.




The major work was centered on the top wings. Each have 12 rigging holes to be drilled as well as 12 pieces of photo etch to attach and a couple of decals were applied to boot. Tail rigging and the assembled machine guns were also added in this phase. The Aeroworks crew went to town with the ZAP-A-GAP and you can imagine the mess.






I had to send the crew down to the first aid station to get all unstuck, and from what I heard, a good time was not had by all!

Next up is some engine plumbing and some rigging. Hopefully this stage won't take as long ... hopefully! The Aeroworks crew lost quite a bit of skin during this last phase.

Regards, Dwayne



P.S. Bosse, the Captain is correct. I have been using Windsocks Datafile Special Jasta 5 volume 1 by Dr Merrill as my primary reference for the project.

Won't be long now...

Until Carl breaks into your home to take all the Albatros you have in your collection . I can see him now all curled up in a corner softly stroking the wings saying ....yes my precious , it's my ! yes my precious .............


Most excellent Dwayne , progress is coming very well on your project , soon they will be up on their legs and the spiders will be busy with the rigging .

Dwayne,
One word OUTSTANDING!!!. I can hardly wait to see what's next.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Dwayne – I can only second, what Gregory says – this work is truly something out of the ordinary. The lineup will look superb.

My favourite, out of very many great paintjobs, is the very, over the top Bavarian DV from your last batch. If that will ever be produced in 1:32, I'll do that for my WNW.

Best Regards &
Mikael

Pick on Carl day? I must have lost the memo.

That's what the monkey said when they cut his tail off.

Ladies and Gentleman,

Here are some progress pics from the Aeroworks crew.




Plumbing and inter-wing rigging is complete.



They have a start on the undercarriage. I plan on using brass wire taken from wound acoustic guitar strings as bungee material to hold down the axle. It's pretty strong but thin and pliable enough to wrap around the axle with very little trouble.




They can taste the finish, a night on the town, so the Aeroworks crew are moving in for the kill on this batch. Two more to go after that and it's done.

Dwayne

Finishing just in time for a large scale Alby

Your crew has been working very hard and with the finishing line approching on this project I can't wait to see the next two .

Those are some beautiful birds, Dwayne!!

Those really do look nice. It would be nice if that dragon scheme was available in 1/32nd. Maybe PHEON models will suppy that one. I am looking forward to seeing them all lined up.

Dwayne,
Outstanding Albie flightline my friend.Your Aeroworks grew has done well.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Any more Jastas planned?

Bosse,

No additional Jastas in the near future but I am planning on doing Jasta 19 Dr.l's later this year and Bertholds Blue Birds of Jasta 18 as well. I don't think they will be as complete as this one but I'll see how many markings for each I feel like doing. This project has been a marathon for sure and the Aeroworks crew is pretty spent.

Speaking of which, here are their latest efforts all lined up with their previous work.

Here are some individual shots of the additional five Albatros kits.

First up is one flown by an as yet unknown Jagdflieger.











This is the famous Red Dragon Albatros of Jasta Fuehrer Flashar.










Next may be a little bit controversial. Dr Merrill has interpreted this machine as being all Green and flown by Rudolf Matthaei but after studying the prints in his book and comparing them to the Konnecke Albatros I feel it is a Green Tail only with the fuselage left in its natural finish. Is it possible that this is a Joseph Mai machine prior to the addition of its crescent moon and star? None of the other machines in the line up appear to be his and he was certainly present at Boistrancourt at this time ... hmmmmmm











The next is the machine flown by Alfred Sturm.











And lastly the only non Green Tail from the line up, machine D.V 2093/17.











All models were built by the Aeroworks crew with the photo etch included with the Albatros D.V dual Combo kit and rigged with .06 mono filament and high E electric guitar string.

The Aeroworks crew will be starting the final two D lll's shortly, it was not a pretty sight as they stumbled in from a night at Lulu's.

Dwayne

Wow Dwanye , I really admire your will with this project . Truly remarkable craftsmanship . Your crew will need a holiday here soon Looking forward to the two D.III .

Fokker line up will be awesome

Wow Dwayne. It is really incredible to see them all lined up like that. Awesome work!

Mark

From Operations desk of the Commanding General

Pilots are being disburst from the ersatz pilot pool and should arrive today. Your first dawn patrol will be in full Jasta strength. Your ops area will be north & east of Bapaume. Seek out the enemy and engage.