Hi there

Just a couple of pics to prove I have (finally) managed to make a start on the AoA campaign!





Work has been so heavy, I simply haven't time for much modelling. I thought two months would be plenty but, after a delayed start, I'm away for two weeks from tomorrow, so I think I'll have to scrap my plan of entering a Nieuport 17 as well - there simply won't be time.

Anyway, the Albatros cockpit's just about done. I added a few wires and levers from reference pics. I began to wire up the engine untill I realised it would be all but invisible! Don't worry, I got rid of the dust before closing the fuselage!!

This is my first attempt at using oils for a "wood grain" - my big plan was to paint the fuselage exterior and let it dry while I'm away... I might just make it if I'm lucky... :-)

All the best

Rowan

You interior is great ! The wood grain is outstanding !

awesome rowan,how did you do that woodgrain? thats what I like to see!

:-) Rowan, very realistic wood grain and a very nicely detailed interior and engine
Who makes this model?
Mal

Hi Guys

Thanks for your kind words.

Mal - It's the Eduard 1/48 Albatros DV - the latest Eduard kits seem like the best bet for WW1 novices like me!!

Dave, I'm sorry I haven't been able to contribute anything to your campaign 'till now. I made a "false start" over a week ago and then work intervened... I wasn't able to touch the kit again till yesterday! Once I'm back from my holiday I'll try to post some regular updates - I've felt really bad watching you all posting plenty of great stuff while I've been idle!!

As for the wood effect - I did it in 3 stages:

1. I sprayed an undercoat of Tamiya XF-57 Buff - thinned with cellulose so it bites into the plastic a bit better (good tip for most acrylics).
2. I mixed up what seemed a reasonable wood colour in oil paint (in retrospect, I think it's probably too dark and too red...) and applied it with a flat brush.
3. A minute or so later, I dragged a clean, dry, flat brush over the paint to create the "grain".

The effect is nice BUT there a 2 things to watch out for!!

1. The oil paint stays tacky for some time (I'm talking days...) and is a DUST MAGNET!!!
2. The effect isn't very robust and can be damaged quite easily - this could be a problem when it comes to masking the exterior for the colourful scheme I'm planning...

Let me say now, this technique is lifted from some quite stunning work I've seen from other (BETTER!) modellers... any problems I've encountered are probably down to me!!

Rowan, very, very nice! Can't wait to see more!

wow nice work,,,, so far
thats comeing a long really nice.
i got a new job now i start wensday now i can buy more models

Porky,
Nice!!
2 quick questions-
what is cellulose?
The cockpit and engine come with the Eduard kit ?

looks great!
Peter

so starting early not good enough for you?! had to start late too?! j/k

Hi Peter

Sorry, I sometimes forget this place is international! Cellulose is what we Brits call laquer thinners.

Yep, the interior is pretty much straight from the kit. I replaced a couple of dials and levers, then added a few wires, but that's about it. Oh!... and I made a seat cushion (my reference pic. shows one) - then I forgot to put the seat in the picture!

I don't know if Eduard do a "Profipack" version... if they do, it will probably have a load of etched metal details to add, plus a seat harness (I've nicked the buckles for mine from a Fokker DVI - they match the ones in my refs).

Hope this helps

All the best

Rowan

Porky,
thanks for the info. I never thought to mix Tamiya with laquer thinner- interesting!
You may be starting late in the campaign- but I have not even bought the kit yet!!!!!!
I'm also planning on building an Albatros D. V - a great uncle of mine actually flew one during the Great War- so I'm going to finish it in the same paint scheme as his.
My credit card is whimpering in my wallet

Peter

nice work, I have the alvbatross Dva profipack kit in 1/48 and your basic cockpit detail seems much better, the control stick in perticular, mine took some scratch building to bring it up to the quality that yours is, also the seat bracket is much better, just a slab of styrene in my kit, again nice work

Bender