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Hello,
I completely new to this site. I was looking for photos of an LVG C VI and google lead me here.
I'm very impressed with the detail of the model you have built. But I have a few questions.
The detail that you have shown, does that come from the kit? The reason I ask is that, for example, the observers "station" varies quite a bit from the actual (not a model, a real plane) LVG I was looking at yesterday. I wont go into all the differences I noticed, and I guess there could be variations from one plane versus the other. I just wondered here YOU got your detail from.
I was fascinated to learn the the pilot and observer both had electrically heat flight suits. Plug on inside of fuselage here they plugged in their suits.
Also, the engine from Benz as actually mounted slightly (about 1.5 degree angle) off the mid-line of the fuselage. Helps to compensate for the torque.
If your model comes from the Wingnutwings kit, does the kit attempt to show the small wires that run through most of the plane to shield the radio from static?
Also, if you have any info on the actual radio, I'd appreciate it. We are trying to fine one or recreate one if we have to.
Regards,
Merton Hale
Hi Merton,
Welcome to Aeroscale and thank you for those kind words about my LVG!
The model is indeed the Wingnut kit and what you see is pretty much what comes in the kit. I added a few small details but nothing major. The kit comes with a few options for the oberserver's position, depending on which markings are used. These include the type of gun and choices between the flare rack or a grenade rack.
I'm fairly new to WWI modeling and while I did get a small book on the LVG, as well as study photos and diagrams I found on line, I placed most of my trust in Wingnut and that knew what they were doing with the kit and the detail options provided.
As for the radio, I could not find any further information on it so again, just went with what was shown in the instructions. Oh, and there was no indication of anti-static wires. I did add control cables and even they are barely visible once the fuselage is closed up.
I'm sure there was a lot of variation between actual aircraft back in the day. Also, you want to be very careful when using restored or replica aircraft as a reference source. That's a risky thing, even with later aircraft, as compromises or modifications, in the name of saftey, comfort, or just lack of information, are often made.
If you haven't already, check out the Aerodrome forum and do some searches there too. You should find a wealth of info on the LVG. That's where I found a lot of what I used.
http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/models/I hope that answers your questions. Please feel free to contact me via email or personal message, or in the thread here, if you have any more.
Cheers,
Eric
