Well, I've been fighting the urge to start yet another collection of model types but the Wingnut and Roden 1918 fighters in 1/32 were just too much to resist. So, off I go. Got the engine together and will add some hoses and such, although most of this lovely engine will be hidden from sight.




By the way, I hope everyone else out there building this kit is smarter than I am I spent at least 15 minutes fumbling with the engine supports and was cursing WNW for making such a fiddly assembly with barely locking attachments. Then I glanced at the ever so helpful indentations in the front of the fuselage and realized I could use those to get everything set just right. Duh. . .






Now to finish this part and to start on the cockpit. This kit really is a little gem.

Matt

Welcome Matt,

Yes the shark like appearance of the Albatros and spinner tipped Pfalz D types in 1917 - 1918 were the "Cat's Whiskers" of their time. Just stay intouch with those building the kit here. Join the GB if you like. Its not about competition the threads are for your benefit in learning and finding answers. We have some great people here. Fine builders from all arenas. And here is the most important bit. We all started somewhere. Model On!

Thanks! I figure I've been leaching information from the forum for long enough I may as well contribute something, even if it is to show others what not to do. On the plus side, no struggling with extensive natural metal finishes!

And there's something about the 1918 German fighters and their color schemes that is most attractive. Looking over the contents, I suspect this kit is going to spoil me rotten before getting to the Roden Fokker D.VI.

Matt

Hi Matt and welcome to this great site and the world of Great War Model aircraft. You suspect right, the WNW kit will spoil you rotten, but don't let that deter from the D.VI.

Cheers

Mark

Welcome Matt....we love to share, any woes or pointers as you progress, any info needed just yell....someone will help, Enjoy your build....and get woodgraining

Isnt that Engine a dream....

Welcome Matt to the site Lot's of very helpful folks hanging around here who love pic's .

Great to see you starting off with the D.Va it also has been rummered that a lady around here likes to make cookies of all kinds pull up chair have a coffee and have fun !

By all means, join the build. Terri has cookies in the oven, Stephen usually has some of his "special" coffee laying about, and the rest of us like to take pictures.

Nice start.

Join in. The more the merrier. Looking good so far.

Mark

You all will regret the offers of help, I promise you! Many questions will I have. . . Got more wire though, so tonight the tubing and such about the engine.

Matt

Slight update, happily going blind drilling very, very small holes for the wires. Of course, I doubt if you'll even be able to see them when the fuselage is closed up but what the heck!

Matt

ignition wires, my job for today too

STILL waiting. Tomorrow will see an e-mail delivered.

Hopefully more pictures tonight, for those new to these wierd double-winged things, I switched to fishing line for the ignition cables attached to the mag and they look much nicer and work better. Also, I got the new Windsock magazine with the build article and it is helpful (and appears way bayond the meagre skills I'm bringing to the table!) but has some helpful tips. Pictures are darned small though!

Matt

Carl: Any joy since this post?

A bit more progress, did the wiring for the other side, ued a combination of 15 pound test fishing line and 28 Gauge wire. Quick shot of Tamiya primer shows a couple of areas that need more sanding.




Matt

Hi Matt: Good job on the plug wires and engine overall. Keep those pictures coming.

R/S

Mark

Good start so far Matt, looking forward to seeing more photos.

Des.

http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Let me encourage you to sign up here.
Click here.

I have signed up, thanks. And the nice thing is I'm going to have the engine sealed up, so it only needs to look good from above! Lovely kit though. I usually hold off painting until everything gets closed up but this engine is calling for some paint.

Matt

welcome to the GB Matt, I was thinking of starting a seperate post just for us to all add and discuss details and findings as we build our Albi's rather than trawling through blogs for snippets. what do you think?

Keith

Lovely work BTW

That sounds great. This feels like one of those lovely kits that could be gorgeous with just a little bit of finesse and I am always willing to steel ideas from others! Plus I'm used to presenting at conferences on things not to do, so this would be right up my alley. . .

Matt

Well, I had to paint the engine. Apologies for the bluriness of the photos.



And, of course, besides knocking off half the ignition wires (fortunately, the engine will be closed up so I doubt if you could see them anyways) isn't it amazing how you can prime and paint and everything looks great, 30 seconds of drybrushing and the lousy seam just pops out at you? Bondo to the rescue!

By the way, any aftermarket for those big numbers on the first cylinder out there?

Matt

Over on the "Drome, there was a LVG build, and the builder posted some numbers that could be turned into decals. I did make some, but I cant find the numbers in my new computer right now. Let me see if I can pull them up for you.

Try Super scale model rail road numbers (Gothic?) Any Model rail road hobby store or Whalthers distributing.

Send me your e-mail and I will send you some Fraktur numerals that will look the part.