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Eduard's Sieben Schwaben
Merlin
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Posted: Saturday, March 14, 2009 - 10:50 PM UTC


Here's a first look at Eduard's Limited Edition Fokker D.VII (OAW) with custom-printed Sieben Schwaben decals.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
JackFlash
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Posted: Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 05:48 AM UTC
Well, it seems that Eduard is at least trying to fix issues with their lozenge. Maybe I should send them some strips of the Microsculpt lozenge decals? I look forward to your build Rowan!
Merlin
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Posted: Sunday, March 15, 2009 - 09:27 AM UTC
Hi Stephen

I'm making a start this evening.

All the best

Rowan
JackFlash
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 03:18 PM UTC
Mine just arrived today. There is not much to add initially. True to the company images it is the Limited Edition kit with all decals including the remix four colour lozenge and they give you only the lt. blue rib tapes. Somebody at Eduard is listening. The typically generous PE. There is a modest strip of express masks. Though the colour profile in the kit has (inaccurately might I add) the leading end of the fuselage side behind the side cowl as another cowling plate. It was fabric on all known examples of the OAW mid production.

Here is the story behind the markings.
Grimm's story of the 7 Swabians
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 07:53 AM UTC
Hi Stephen

Good to hear yours arrived safely.

With the excuse of birthday distractions behind me, I'm going to get stuck into the kit properly this weekend (Surprise, surprise, I have actually managed to prep a fair number of parts when time's allowed).

At the risk of displaying my total ignorance on WW1 matters - I don't understand your point about the cowling plate. I thought it all matched the only photo I have OK:



Am I looking at the right bit? I don't want to plough into the review build and unwittingly lead other WW1 newbies astray - especially in this world of instant internet access, people have a habit of latching onto anything they see as "fact". While I'm at it, is this the only photo available? Where did the details of the starboard fuselage artwork come from?

All the best

Rowan
BradCancian
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 08:21 AM UTC
Hi Rowan - I think Stephen is referring to an additional side panel on the fuselage (can just see it peeking above the forward slanted interplane strut). Not a problem on the kit itself.

The third volume of the Fokker D.VII anthology has three pictures of this airplane (including the one you posted), including both from the port and starboard sides, hence why we know the fuselage motif is different on each side.

BC
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 08:45 AM UTC
Thanks Brad

I'm still lost, but now you've really got me looking! - and really worried... I'm seeing angular cowl panels that are completely at odds with both the kit and the Windsock plans I'm using!:



Am I seeing things?

All the best

Rowan
thegirl
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 09:01 AM UTC
So am I , I'm looking the windsock data file as well .....So what are you talking about here Stephen ? Is it the kit instrutions that are miss leading ?

Also looked in the Anthology # 3 ............................?


Blondes lost in spacccccccccccccccccccccce ............................................................
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 09:23 AM UTC
HI Terri

I've just checked all the other photos of OAW machines in the Datafile and none have similar cowl panels - so I'm officially confused (which will come as no surprise to anyone! LOL!).

And all I wanted was a straightforward build that I could actually finish for once!

Anyway, this weekend, I'll try to get the interior built - OOB!

All the best

Rowan
thegirl
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 10:23 AM UTC
I even went and had a look at Brads excellent build of Rodens 1/72 kit of this aircraft and I don't see the difference , maybe we can borrow Stephens glass !..

look forward to your build Rowan , you'll get her done if not this year maybe the one after that or after that (lol)
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 10:43 AM UTC
Hi Terri

I'll get it finished one day... I promise!

I'm also looking at the noticeable difference in tone between the cowl lower face (as against the top of the radiator) and undersides, compared with the cowl sides... is that really just lighting, or a sign of a different colour?

Can anyone find those starboard views online somewhere to add to the picture?

All the best

Rowan
JackFlash
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 06:43 PM UTC
Focus on the grey area. There is only one small triangular and one small circular access panel. The mold is correct in that respect but the illutration as Brad has mentioned , the illustration implies there is a larger triangular cowling plate that the smaller two are on.

The whole one piece grey coloured side panel is fabric. Except for the two small metal access ports.
Merlin
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2009 - 07:40 PM UTC
Thanks Stephen

I see it now. What abut the angular cowl panels? Are they actually common, but just not covered in Datafile #9? They still seem to be there in the cold clear light of day - the line above the louvres seems much lower than on all the other photos in that reference. I think I might have to get the scriber out this weekend...

All the best

Rowan
JackFlash
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 03:14 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks Stephen

I see it now. What abut the angular cowl panels? Are they actually common, but just not covered in Datafile #9? They still seem to be there in the cold clear light of day - the line above the louvres seems much lower than on all the other photos in that reference. I think I might have to get the scriber out this weekend...

All the best

Rowan


In truth the Datafile #9 was done years before the Anthologies on the subject also by Albatros Ltd. Remember the first D.VII you attempted? See below. . . Same production batch D.4500 - 4649/18. As a matter of fact this kit represent the dead last machine in the batch. But there were variations, even within the series. As has been mentioned, the Anthology #2 has the OAW series described. There were early mid and late production batches from them. I saw the cowling panel differences when I built my old DML kit but at the time I thought they were an ITF -"in the field " modification. I have images of both sides I can let to see.

Royal Build


Quoted Text

". . .Back on the workbench. As part of converting my existing D.VII to "Royal" status - I just want to check with you whether I should trim off these louvres to portray Lt. Schliewen's OAW aircraft. . ."



JackFlash
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 03:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Stephen,
Do they still have the smooth ammo feed chutes without ammo belts? and the too small guns & prop? or did they change any of those parts that were the only real problems with the original kit? Would hope for the Limited production" pricetag that they would at least correct these problem areas or replace them with resin parts.
Dave Calhoun



Sorry to disappoint you Dave. No such luck. No changes to the basic mold. As a matter of fact it is exactly the same as the initial issue OAW. The only items to change of course were the decals, express masks (fewer for this profile) and the relavent kit name inscribed on the PE.

It can't be the mail costs as that is an extra charge. It can't be the basic kit because they have already punched these out and are in storage bins. Their "printed fabric" / lozenge decals are the same. The light olive and the lilac are still assigned to the wrong lozenges. But that is not something everyone will care about. The all of lozenge colours are still the near knock-offs from the originals. (Thank you Tom Sollers of Microsculpt for doing right). The Czech republic cost of living is the best guess as to why. But unless you have the Eagle Strike sets or the Pelican Decals for the 7 Swabians. This is the only game intown and it is a limited run.
JackFlash
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 03:40 AM UTC
Also from the Royal Build thread. Note the wrinkled fabric.


JackFlash
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 05:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

". . .The Czech republic cost of living is the best guess as to why. But unless you have the Eagle Strike sets or the Pelican Decals for the 7 Swabians. . .".


I just got confirmation on this. The cost of living in the Czech Republic has ". . .gone through the roof . . " I am told.
Merlin
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 05:18 AM UTC
Cheers Stephen

A look at those other photos would be a great help, not only in trying to get the cowl right, but also determining the tonal balance between the grey and the brown. Some build photos I've seen on the web have a very pale grey, whereas I remember you called it slate grey. It certainly looks similar in tone to the brown and the wheel centres in the photo I have.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so it's the perfect excuse to stay indoors this weekend and really try to get some modelling done.

All the best

Rowan
thegirl
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Posted: Friday, March 27, 2009 - 09:15 AM UTC
Thank you Thank-you Stephen for taking away the confusion . I understand what you are talking about now . I don't have the Anthology 2 and the OAW isn't cover in the 3 installment all that much .

funny though I was looking at the same pictures and still couldn't see it ................no it has nothing to do with old age ...
Merlin
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Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009 - 08:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

". . .The Czech republic cost of living is the best guess as to why. But unless you have the Eagle Strike sets or the Pelican Decals for the 7 Swabians. . .".


I just got confirmation on this. The cost of living in the Czech Republic has ". . .gone through the roof . . " I am told.


Hi Stephen

The sheer number of colours used is an alternative explanation. Back in the days when I produced Blueprint Models sets, I had some very ambitious plans for decals to go with them - until the quotes came in from the printers! It's pretty frightening how the cost (as well as the obvious registration concerns) escalates with each colour, and the Sieben Schwaben artwork is printed in 10 colours. I don't know if I've ever seen as many colours used in a single silk-screened decal before.

All the best

Rowan
Merlin
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Posted: Monday, March 30, 2009 - 09:30 AM UTC
Blessings be! We've got Gallery problems - so I don't have to show my meagre progress over the weekend.

But I did do some work ; the engine and cockpit sections are coming on strong... and the wings... Well yes, that means lozenge-time! Eeeek! This is a review-build, so I'm duty bound to use the kit decals!

I've got a nice gloss coat ready for the decals so, regardless of the colours, should there be a blue "rib tape" running around the leading and trailing edge? My refs seem to say so.

All the best

Rowan
Merlin
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Posted: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - 08:31 AM UTC
Hi there

All lozenge connoisseurs had better hide their eyes, because here comes a progress shot of the kit's decals!



Obviously, there's still a LOT to do (more Solvaset needed in places, for a start), but I thought I'd better prove I was actually working on the kit! Eduard do provide a fairly generous amount of spare decal this time, so I'll try some tests to see if a light overspray (maybe clear orange or red) will pull the colours a bit more towards the accepted values.

I'm still bracing myself to attack the cowling, but I've filled the panel lines with "supafiller" (CA+Talc) so there's no going back now...



All the best

Rowan
alpha_tango
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Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 12:58 AM UTC
Hi all

Anyone thought about buying this kit should have a look in the moduni "we move" sale:

http://www.moduni.de/product_info.php/products_id/3901139

... 20,18€ is a nice price ....

cheers

Steffen
(not affiliated)
NickZour
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Posted: Sunday, June 21, 2009 - 01:04 AM UTC
Looks great

Love the decals

Cheers Nick
bill_c
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MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
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Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009 - 04:09 AM UTC
Fascinating, Rowan, and a 90 from you, too! LOL

Wish they would release this in 1/32nd scale.
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