Hi there

Time to make a proper start, and the first job is some boring prep-work. The inside of the fuselage halves, and the faces of the formers have quite a few ejector-pin marks:





I'm not sure how much the wood-grain finish will disguise them - or maybe even highlight them - so I've filled them with Mr. Surfaces. I can already see in the second pic that I've missed a couple, so it's time for a second pass.

All the best

Rowan

None of the divots behind the pilots seat will show. Welcome to the build.

Cheers Carl

To be fair to Wingnuts, I think most of the pin marks will be safely out of sight once the fuselage is closed up - but it's better to be safe than sorry. The other thing I'll do at this early stage is to polish the exterior of the fuselage a bit to lessen the slightly textured finish.

All the best

Rowan

Nice to see you part of the GB Rowan and look forward to your project

Rowan reference the ejector pin marks the only ones that really show are on the cockpit sides, the inner faces of the upper engine bay & the main former with the gun mounts.(the aggravating beggers between said mounts) but that said a lot of those are hidden if you are building her cowls on.

Looking at your attention to things so far I see great things ahead.

Welcome to the WNW GB, NOW get on with it

cheers Keith

Cheers Terri and Keith

Yes, the awkward marks on the main former were the ones I missed in the first pass - they're duly filled now.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

I've made a start on painting the interior. There's obviously a long way to go, but I've got the basics of the wood finish done and I've used WEM RLM 63 Colourcoat enamel (in effect, RLM 02) for the grey-green.





When I assembled the fuel tank I found a prominent seam and mould line. Considering the filler caps aren't very detailed compared with photos, and the seams were awkward to clean up, I thought it was just as simple to drill them out to be replaced later as to work around them:



All the best

Rowan

Nice

Ref the tank Rowan, note that both the end filler cap and the larger round projection are sleeved through the reserve tank to the main tank below, a nit pick I know but if you are going to the trouble of detailing them up you may as well go all the way .

Lovely work though so far I have to say.

Keith

Cheer Keith

You're quite right - I hadn't picked up on the fact that the pipes go right through! I know no-one will ever see, but it's an added excuse for drilling holes!

All the best

Rowan

Hi there

A pic just to show I am pottering along with the D.V between other projects :



As you can see, I have a question regarding the screen behind the pilot's seat: was it wood or fabric? Wingnut's instructions say the former, while the TVAL D.Va has fabric (which seems more logical to allow access to the rear fusealage interior). Does anyone know which is correct for the original - or maybe it's both, depending on where and when the a/c was built?

Also, another question based on looking at the TVAL pics - should the pilots seat have a quilted cushion?

All the best

Rowan

Fabric in most cases. Wood when fabric was short and needed for the flying surfaces. Note the eliptical cut out in the bottom area.





"Albatros D.Va 5253/17 was flown by Ltn. Hans Sakowsky of Jasta 14. He was brought down and made a POW on 13 Nov.1917 in this machine by anti-aircraft fire. In the ensuing landing he wiped off its landing gear in a "pancake landing." It was given the British capture number G.90 it was repaired & displayed with other captured aircraft in the 'Agricultural Hall' in Islington. All of which had half of their coverings removed to display internal structures to public view for the price of 1 penny. Proceeds went to RAF hospital Fund."

Click here for more.


Here is a build up of the Eduard PE for their 80xx series in 1:48.

Hi Stephen

Many thanks. I'll go for fabric if it was more common.

All the best

Rowan

Ref the cushion, All the pics I have seen....few that they are have shown a buttoned cushion and it seems the general concensus in other builds..non WNW to show buttoned so I buttoned mine.

Slow but steady progress....

Keith

Greetings Keith,

In reference to the seat cushion. Starting in early 1918 the seat cushion was usually replaced with a Heineke parachute pack.

Thanks again Keith and Stephen

I'll be doing my D.V as Ottomar Hagenmüller's 1917 a/c, so I guess I'd better dig out the Milliput...

All the best

Rowan

"These are pics of the seat of Lt Georg Noth's green/ yellow polka-dot Albatros D.III, D796/17, brought down by Capt WM Fry and currently in storage at Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland. Provided by Sandy Adam." From the WWI models Page archived photos.

Hi again

Perfect! Thanks Stephen. By the looks of it, I didn't get too bad a colour for the main part of the seat (totally by accident, I hasten to add! ) - I used WEM's Colourcoat WW2 French "Chocolat". It really does need a couple of seams added though...

All the best

Rowan

Nice pics Stephen, these are the ones I used from an earlier post when I did my first Albi.

Rowan, all I diid was cut out arouns the cushion and seperate the back from the base and detailed the plastic. I added the seams from stretched sprue and strip around the edge of the cushion.


K

Nice job on the wood grainning Rowan !