I started this model a few weeks ago so here is what I have done to date. It is a wonderful kit but there are a few instruction issues, the instructions need to be read thoroughly before work commences.
A full build log of this model can be found on my website;

http://www.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Des.

Alright Des! Looking good.

Des,
Very nice! I am looking forward to more on this one. Got to ask, are the spark plugs RB Motion or have you scratched them??

Cheers,
Lance

Thanks Lance,

I made the spark plugs, I used 0.4mm brass tube cut to about 3mm lengths, I then slipped the brass tube into a RB Motion brass nut, I used the .025" hex nut P/N 1280B, I used CA to hold it in place leaving 1.0mm of brass tube above the nut, to finish it off I inserted a short length of 0.24,, copper wire into the top of the brass tube for the ignition leads to attach, I painted the insulator with Humbrol Gloss White. It is then a simple matter of drilling 0.4mm holes in the cylinders and fitting each plug, CA hold them in place. These plugs are very simple to make and look the part.

Des.

Hi Des , been following your build already , thumbs up my friend !


Terri

That's just not right! Doing a build before the kit is even available to the rest of us!!!!!

Beautiful work as always Des

Second that!

Mikael

Thank you for all the kind comments.

just a quickie up-date showing the fuselage painted and the decals on, the tail planes, fin and rudder are now fitted.

Des.

WOW... If I didn't know better I'd swear I was at McDonald's because I'm lovin' it!

He does make it look easy. Des, I know your doing the blog on your site but can you compare the fit of this kit to say one of WNW early kits? Are the tolerances the same or slightly looser? Any word on the fit of the cowls? Are you going to add some plumbing or close up the motor with the cowls?

Thanks Stephen. As you know I have built nearly all of the Wingnut kits (not the Gotha) and I must say that this would have to be their best one yet. The fit of parts is still tight, it is most important to remove all traces of paint from the parts to be assembled, this is no big deal and makes for a perfect fitting part. This is a trademark of Wingnuts and I believe most builders who have completed more than one kit have come to realise that this is the way their kits are manufactured.

There are the usual instruction abnormalities which seems to be prevelent in all of their instructions, maybe this is one area that needs to be looked at. It is very important to read right through the instructions before assembly commences, familiarise yourself with every step.

The detail in this kit is excellent but they could have added some smaller items which, with todays injection moulding technology could quite easily be done and would further add to the already well detailed model.

I am closing the cowls completely on this one so I won't be adding any more to the engine, but it is a beautiful engine and with a little bit of extra plumbing could well be a model in it's own right. The engine cowl fits quite well as a dry fit, I don't see any problems arising here.

I highlight any 'errors' I find with the kit and the instructions in my build log on my sight just to pre-warn those wishing to build this model, it is not to discredit Wingnuts in any way.

The decals I have applied so far are brilliant, they conform well to any shape and adhere very well, I always use Mr Mark Softer on to the glossy surface before applying the decals, the lozenge decals are next to be fitted.

All in all a brilliant kit, easy to assemble, perfect fit of parts, beautiful detail, easy to work plastic, excellent decals and apart from the sometimes confusing instructions it is a kit I would highly recommend.

Des.

The lozenge decals went on well, but even though they are supposed to be sized, they still needed trimming at both leading and trailing edges plus at the wing tip. The decals conformed well the the wing shapes and adhered extremely well. The radiator and engine cowls are now fitted, the cowls had no fit problems at all.

Des.

I made the small radiator bracket, it mounts to the back of the radiator and then to the forward rocker box. I also made turnbuckles which fit directly into the top of the bottom wing, on the under surface of the top wing I fitted eyelets.
The turnbuckles and eyelets are held in place with CA.

Des.

The top wing is now mounted, it took a little bit of effort to fit the struts but once lined up it located well. The undercarriage in also fitted, it is a fairly weak structure until the bracing wires are fitted, the locating pins and holes are very good.

Des.

These photos show the completed rigging, I used 0.12mm monofilament and painted each line as it was fitted with Mr Metal Color Stainless. The turnbuckles are made from 0.5mm brass tube 2.5mm long, the eyelets from twisted 0.13mm copper wire and the tiny brass sleeves are made from 0.4mm brass tube cut to 0.65mm long, all the rigging is held together with CA.

Des.

Here are photos of the completed model .the laminations on the propeller are done by firstly base coating the prop with Gunze acrylics, then I used a coloured pencil to apply the darker shade, I then sprayed the prop with Humbrol clear orange and finally Humbrol Gloss clear after the decals were fitted.

Des.

Des,
Absolutely beautiful; you have raised the bar considerably with this one!
The rigging and the interior work really catches the eye and, thanks to you, my wallet is vibrating in anticipation of an order.

Compliments on an outstanding build,
Cheers,
Lance

Excellent Des! Any final thoughts on the build?

Thanks Lance and Stephen for your comments.

This was a very enjoyable build, the kit abounds with detailed parts and the fit of parts is very good, as a Wingnuts custom the tolerances are tight so paint has to be removed before items will sit home properly. There were one or two minor fit problems but nothing that could not be rectified quite easily. The cockpit and engine lend themselves to super detailing if the modeler so desires but built OOB they are excellent items. No rigging material is supplied with the kit but all rigging location points are clearly marked. The decals are superb and adhere very well, the fit to size lozenge decals are also brilliant, the top lozenge still require trimming but the bottom lozenge fits near perfectly. This is an excellent kit and could quite easily be built by a modeler of any standard, the rigging would be a little difficult for a beginner. I congratulate Wingnuts for producing another excellent 1:32 scale WW1 aircraft model and I look forward to the release of their next batch of kits.

Just for a bit of fun, below is a comparison photo between the Pfalz D.XII and the Albatros DV

Des.