Looking great Mark.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Hi Mark!
your idea of using pen to make wood pattern is brilliant!
You make seem easy something that is above my skills. I'll surely give it a try.

One question: can you remove the ink if you do it wrong the first time or you have to cover it with a second hand of base paint?
Thank you

Ciao
Edo

Hi Edo: Actually it was someone else's idea , I thought it looked good, simple so I employed it in my own builds. If you don't like what you did, you can lightly sand it down and start over. Most kits give you a couple of props, so use one to experiment on. Once you feel comfortable with it, go for it. On the LVG, there are two prop options. I tried it on the prop for an a/c I may do, and left the one alone that I am planning on doing. I am content with the way it turned out, so I will save it for a later build.

Last day of January 2010 here in the great upper midwest, temps in the low 10's. Here is my progress to date. Got the engine in, cowlings on, vents in, landing gear on and rigged, stabilizer decaled with lozenge, not thoroughly happy with the underside, but we'll see how much I have left when it is finished.





I got the decals on as well. The instructions could be clearer on where to place the number on the starboard side, as they only show the port side. I don't know if my placement is correct or not, but they are on, and they are staying on. I think they are too far Forward. I don't know what I was thinking.



I tried to center the text on the gunners cockpit on the starboard side, as on the port side the number is centered on the gunners cocpit. This is what I got. Oh well, I am still pleased with it.

No melt downs to date.

Looking really sweet so far Mark !

Nicely done so far!

Thank you Mark,
I'll try what you say!

by the way: great job indeed! you are proceeding nice and easy! I'm looking for the rigging stage!

ciao
Edo

Thanks Stepehen, Terri and Edo: I pre drilled the holes in the wings to receive the turnbuckles, the holes are a tad small, I guess they are designed for an aftermarket turnbuckle. The holes in the upper wing midsection are small and too close to the cabane strut attachment points for enlargement, so I will have to figure something out, maybe just super glue the ends into the upper holes, and then feed them into the turnbuckles on the wings and the area forward of the cockpit or see if I have any aftermarket turnbuckles in the spares box. Yes, I think I do in the illfated SE5a kit! I haven't tried the Qtip melt as of yet, I keep forgetting to get the darn things when I am at the store; I have some brass tube, but I think it is too big. I do like the effect of just wrapping the EZ line around itself as it has the effect of a turnbuckle, and is what I am comfortable with. I am now into the decaling stage of this build. I have to paint the attachment points on the interwing struts, give 'em a coat of gloss, decal them, decal the wings and I can begin the final phase of assembly. I still have the guns to do, but I am waiting on some guns from Mister Kit USA. So far this has been an enjoyable build, and I have learned and experimented along the way, with favorable results.

Mark,
I'm amazed at how fast and how well this build is coming together.Outsanding my friend! Love the wood graining too,heck it's all impressive.
Regards,
Gregory Jouette

Darn that's a whole lot of beers for someone who doesn't even drink.Keep up the good fight.

Thanks Gregory: It is all I do. I come home from work and work on the model until I hit the rack. Most of Sunday is devoted to the model. It is winter here, I don't ski, skate, snow mobile, snow board, ice fish or hang out in bars, so this is it. I work, we have band practice one night a week, and the rest is modeling. I really enjoy it. I could retire and be very good at it. A few years yet.

Cheers back at ya!

It is moving along quickly, and it looks really good.

Beautiful work Mark.

I like what you did to the prop, looks convincing as does the wood work on the fuselage. It's taking shape very nicely, looking forward to more photos.

Des.

Thanks Des: I really like the way the wood grain decals enhance the appearance, and the variations that one can do with them. I took a break from it last night, and just vegged out. An hour and a half commute in snow bound traffic took away all motivation.
More pics coming later.

Not much to report on tonight. I did some fiddly painting, guns, ammo drums, tail skid, control horns, gun ring, flair box, etc., wanted to put the rib tape decals on the tail surfaces, but phone calls beckoned. Hopefully the weather will allow me to get home tomorrow and I can post some pics of the progress. I really like this kit. A tip o' the pin to Wing nuts for this one.
C
[ ]

Just a quick update: No pics right now, but I got the machine gun on, finsihed up the aft end of the fuselage to include the tail surfaces, rudder all rigged, now the decaling of the wings. I should have some photo's posted by the weekend end.

L8R

HGi Mark
U are new, at least for me.Good looking work you have there, just like it alot. I was stupid not to order this one myself and I just got to much on the shelf. Thank´s for sharing

Larsa Q

Hi Larsa: I have been following stuff on this thread for about a year, and figured what the heck, and took the plunge on these two builds. I am still learning new things and honing my skills on WWI subjects. I have learned a lot here, enjoy the on line camaraderie, seeing other peoples builds, and the comments on my own.
Thanks for stopping by.

Mark

Not too late to get one. It is very patient. It will wait for you, quietly in the closet.

Larsa. You will love this kit. It is the best kit I ever built.

Larsa: I have to concur with Carl. It is a great kit, I have encountered no real 'problem' areas to date, everything as it should be. Highly recommend you go on line to WNW and buy one and then build it.

Greetings fellow two seaters! Okay, no pics yet, but will post tonight after my two and a half hour commute in this snow storm we're having here in the great upper midwest firmly stalled over Minnesota and Wisconsin: I put the lozenge on the right upper wing last night. Naturally, after applying it I addressed the instructions. I applied each panel in the opposite direction, so a North/South alternative application. In the directions: which I should have consulted prior to, it shows them all going the same direction. It is too late to change considering the 'just enough lozenge to do it right, so this will be one of those 'one off' that the new guy at the LVG factory didn't get the word on how to apply the lozenge fabric IAW with published directives. Which way is correct? I am leaning that the instructions are correct and my application is wrong for the LVG, or is it either way is correct?

I did manage to get the upper wing center section attached and rigged with the radiator pipe installed. It is coming along and with the decaling process I can see the pin prick of light at the end of the tunnel. I thought I would have lost interest by now, but I am still engaged.

Okay two seaters, here are the latest of my progress.
Here is a 'close up' of the cockpit and the little gauge. I have rigged the wing center section, the windshield is in, and ready to go.

Another shot of the same area

This is the flare rack and the gun ring installed. Again, I used the SPADA decals for the wood grain on the flare rack, used a different base color, a wood with leather mixed in, and then used Tamiya orange and yellow to highlight it.

This is the starboard side with the wings showing the decal job, only the upper at this point in time. The lower wings are just placed in the slots for emphasis.

The overall shot of the wings. Carl: You are correct, it is tedious, and needs to be broken up. I just went head long.

Beautiful work Mark. The wood grain effect on the fuselage really looks good.

I have one of these kits and I'm looking forward to seeing yours completed.

We think you should join the Group Build

Thanks Grendadier 37 for scoping it out and the compliment. I too am looking forward to seeing it completed. I have the underside Lozenge completed and now on to the ribbing tape. Getting there.
I agree with Carl. Join the group build.

Mark -
Your LVG is looking really nice. I like your wood grain effect and the decals look great.
You're a little further along than me. I'm working on the wings decals right now. What challenge.
Semper Fi Ron