Firstly I'd like to add this to the KOTS campaign but knowing me I might not get her done by the end... laughs.

I will however be posting this elsewherein much the same format. Saying that, this site is home for me.

So...


Here I go again. I blame Jamo...... I have to blame someone. I love the Albatros and until WNW think of releasing a DIII with correct interior and all those wonderful WNWish bits I’ll sate my craving with a D.V o two. It’s an early Birthday pressie SWMBO must have thought I deserved it... or she has something in the pipeline she has sweetened me up nicely to announce. So I decided to let AMS free it’s been a while since I have. And in my style I started every part of the kit at once. Chaos ensues. Though I try to concentrate on one area for a short while at a time.
So seeing as I’m starting the blog earlyish for me I’ll try to show what I change and explain why. Now I don’t wish anyone to take this as a WNW bashing exercise as it’s not, not at all.

Reference used is....
The two new Albatros at war datafiles, the old Albatros Fighters Special datafile, WNW’s own website, Tval’s website, info gleaned over the years from the members on Aeroscale’s Early aviation forum and other great sites, some now not so great.
So on with the boring diatribe...lol


Fuel tank
Going by reference and TVAL’s pictures it would seem the tank is slightly wider than it should be. Not a problem for most builds of course when its tucked out of sight.
Using TVAL pics I rebuilt it shaving about 1.25mm off each side, the bottom is different but will be out of sight. I sanded all detail off, cut the two tanks apart and redid the seam/lip with thin plasticard wrapped around the basic tanks. To get the look right I drilled clear through the reserve tank to show the two pipes that come up through it, adding the filler pipe to this at the same time. I started the mountings and pipework connections.

Former/bulkhead
I’ve removed the forward gun mounts for 3 reasons- 1. AMS 2. Ejection pin marks 3. There’s detail to add behind them. Hopefully the half built D.Va I have will be enough to realign the rebuilt parts when needed.

Spinner
Trying to reprofile the kit spinner as it seems too pronounced, if it doesn’t look okay I’m considering grafting a spare Roden one I have.


Exhaust
I managed to open out the exhaust without trashing it. Welds will be added from milliput and or stretched sprue.


Engine bearers
Big step away from the program here... To facilitate the extra details I intend to put in assembling the fuselage in halves will make most far easier. So I cut the formers in half assembled each in their corresponding fuselage halves to set off after adding some details (oil tank mountings) and some basic amendments. Once these are filled tidied and readied they’ll be assembled into the fuselage for detailing proper.

Cockpit sides
I felt the thin diagonal strips were a bit too wide, I had considered stripping the internal detail and sanding the interior thinner (I’ve done that before!) but decided removing some detail and remaking it would be easier and just as effective. I intend to build up the coaming padding and remake the two panels that brace the gun mount to the fuselage former (flat with half moon cut outs. These are poorly presented by the kit I thought. The two wooden rails/handles beside the seat are to be remade and the formers need packing in places. To my odd mind this method of construction seems the most practical way to achieve this, of course there’s going to be major hiccups when it comes to fitting the pulley assembly’s seat etc but I’m confident (gulps) on over coming these.
The fuel control panel. I believe its too far back. So I filled the slots.


External fuselsage.
Fun time. Making the planking effect... close examination of pics show the panels lay over each other in places. I overlapped the side over the underside and upperside spine panels over the side ones using a clear pic of an OAW D.Va only to realise when researching which to build that on the D.V the side panel appears to overlap both, hence the white plastic strip sanded into shape (DOH!) . Cowling fastener mountings are to be thickened and sanded to achieve the right profile again. Cable slots are opened up awaiting final detailing. I’ve also tried to replicate the rippling effect seen on many period pictures where the skin seems to have gone out of shape in places, how this has worked it’s hard to tell till the paint starts being laid on and that’s weeks away I think.



Upper wing
I filled the 4 slots for the rad mounting then in a fit of insanity found myself removing the plastic in the opening, whey? To build the rad as a unit and make detailing the mountings better. Using the TVAL pics again I made slight profile differences to the surface and added the spar inspection window. Opening out the shrouds for the actuating cables for the ailerons too while I was on and filling the rather obvious gap around them. I drilled the wing ready for pinning the ailerons whilst I was on.


Lower wings
I added the slot near the upper front of each wing, and am on scoring the join between wood and fabric, there some extra details bolt heads etc to add and I need to scrutinise just how the rigging attaches. I chamfered the edges of the wingroots, and the slot in the fuselage dryfitting to try to ensure she doesn’t have that unwanted wing sag once that stage of building comes.

So far so good, and not a drop of kornbeef blood shed, or tears YET.


Cheers Keith

"Not a drop of Kornbeef blood shed" (with the caveat word "YET" included!)
Oh my, am I looking forward to this event. With your AMS running at full rich and amok as usual there's going to be lots of good things to be learned here for sure.....and great results as always. I'd suggest you resist the urge to curb your usual leanings as you did with the preceeding Pup and just be yourself!
I'm with you on the spinner, too late for the fuel tanks, and not sure what you've unearthed regarding the gun mounts. I'm intriqued by the splitting of the fuselage formers; I'll have photos shortly of the cut former I've added to my DV Build to allow installation of the left cockpit side wall goodies prior to closing up the fuselage. I'll be watching your efforts closely and, of course, sweating blood that you'll find some great addition or mod. after I've passed the point of no return!
I agree that the cockpit coaming/padding need be built up as well. Reference your comment on "how the rigging attaches" to the lower wing root upper surface there's a very clear photo in the wwiaircraftmodels site. (assuming it's the prototypical design) I'd really appreciate your thoughts on that.
I'll be watching this one REAL close! As we say in Canada, Keith, "skate real hard but don't tear your hockey sweater"!!
Cheers,
Lance

Ah – Keith is going AMS on an Albatros – this will be well worth watching, now where are my popcorn?

Looking forward to this one!

Mikael

Thats it I'm in. Mikael I'll set the cooler and my deck chair up over here by you. Some one go get the deck umbrellas!

If the cooler has a good supply of "Suds" I'm in. Come to think of it I'll bring the beer anyway, Kornbeef does put on a great show!
Cheers,
Lance

I have a box of band-aids!

Just when you thought is was safe to start the build.

I know Stephen up to now I've resisted.. but my birthdays soon.

Hoping to post progress pics soon. I now have many more parts than came on the sprues..gulp


Keith

That looks like an essential guide for the AMS builder of Albatrossen...

Keith, looking forward to your update when it comes, more parts than came on the sprues you say? How very strange

Mikael

Okay, back with the next instalment. Lots of hours spent and not looking awfully different. Probably because I’ve been hopping from assembly to assembly willynilly.
So Elevator and rudder, I added *subtle* stitching and taping. I know that the control surfaces weren’t taped like the main flying surfaces but close inspection shows stitching and taping, so I added these using a method I tried on the DII.


Fuselage. so far, I’ve added some former strengtheners, bracketry and the supports for the gun mounts and refined/added some structure. The edges of the engine bay have been brought closer to how they appear in the TVal pix Jamo provided. Engine bearer halves have been fixed in place cabane strut bracketry is in the throes of being done. Extra wood has been added to the formers that protrude above the bodywork, after all the scale thickness of a sheet of alloy isn’t about 0.5mm.
Some external details have been lost/shaved off and wil be replaced with PE. I’m attempting to replicate the rippled surfaces some Albies seemed to have to some success though it hardly shows in pics.
I’ve built up the coaming padding roughly using rod, shaved to suit and bent fixed by cyano and fitted some of the internal fittings making the bracket for the fuel guage out of a scrap of etch instead of a blob of plastic. The dynamo charger will be done similarly.



Engine. Built as an early 160, I replaced the kit ignition harness tubes, they seem underscale and added all the mountings from tape strip and grandtline nuts. Extra hose connections, wiring and some detailing to magneto’s carb and base and drilling out the rocker boxes of the cylinder top assembly is finished with the making of the what I call C-nuts around the manifold to cylinders is underway.




Seat. Cushioning and padding added from Milliput. I cut the base out the side to do this, the buttons are rod pushed through holes drilled through the base and all reassembled once I was happy with the component parts. Lower seat belts will be added before painting and fitting I think, probably out of lead sheet, even though I have PofP and Eduard etch and HGWs fabric ones utilising the buckles and such from the above.


Bits and bobs, I spent an age doing the fuel tanks, I was but after looking at the pics am now not so happy with the angled pipework coming out the top and may redo it a little smaller. I fitted rigging points to the rear axle bar instead of the kit suggested points on the UC legs and scribed the dividing line between the two halves of the fairing. The oiltank took some puzzling before I realised it was a bit short compared to the Tval build, as I worked out where the mountings were on the engine bearer. Ive done lots in all areas not pictured too including detailing the control column and adding the exhaust flanges, detailing the carb body and such.



So lots done with little to see for it. Lots more yet to do before real progress looks done (paint)

Thats all for now folks, back to the bench

;) Keith

Great work Keith! This is gonna be a stunner for sure.

Mark

Thank you Mark. I do hope so myself. Now I just have to decide soon which aircraft profile to do.

Decisions decisions decisions

Keith

Keith,
Wonderful progress. We are at roughly the same place in our respective builds however your AMS is outstripping mine at this point!
I have been "stalled" for the past several weeks; got quite a bit done yesterday on guns and finally got the front formers/engine bearers assembled(inside a temporarily Taped up fuselage)
Your conclusion on the Ignition Harness Tube is the same as mine, I too replaced them with slightly larger diameter tubing. Your seat cushion is simply brilliant; I would rip my scratch made out and redo it however at this stage (belts complete and seat installed in right fus. half) I'll save your trick for the DVa.
Great update and looking very nice. I'll be lurking nearby..........!
Cheers,
Lance

Lance, I hope to see your progess real soon. I've not much time to mode today or in the coming days myself, shot a coat of black base on the engine and seat. First paint..umm apart from the white primer on the detailed flying surfaces.

I think I'd lie to spend time when I can on the fuselage interior, if only I can stop tinkering elsewhere.

TY for your kind comments

Keith

Keith – great progress  – I do like your mods, that tank with plumbing looks superb – I especially like the "tap". How do you do those "star" shaped disks at the manifolds?

Best Regards

Mikael

Thanks Mikael.

The nuts were simple, after trying to file slots in disc and pinging them all over my den... The light came on above my head. I glued discs to all the inlet ports on the engine then glues sections of strip around them one by one. Trilling them neat once dry.... the next day. Simple and not that time consuming.


Oh and some progress, I've painted some parts. All very exciting



Keith

Aha – that sounds like a very neat method! Thank You for sharing

Mikael

Posting time.

Engine,
Now the basic assembly and painting is underway. I just had to use the Barracuda Inlet manifold in its completion, that extra detail is just too good to resist. I haven’t found a decent pic of the chosen profile’s engine to say yay or nay so I’m running with this. Still a long way to go with paint and detail, I’ve assembled it in two parts. The cylinders manifold and maneto tower and the vlock on its own. This helps with detailing. I hope. The block can be fitted when the fuselage is assembled. As I said theres still a lot of detail and paint to add, looking at high rez pics I think it needs it.. lol




Tanks.
Same as the engine, Basic assembly, base paint, some detailing done, I tried to replicate the solder seams with some success, the cartridge chutes are added making sure everything fits in the fuselage (it does upto now)




Ammo cans

I’ve started hese, modding the cartridge belt holder is the biggest mod, I opened up the ammo feeds to the guns, PE flaps will be added, small extra details to be added.


Radiator.
Now a fairly big mod... could have turned out much worse, von Sleich’s craft appears to have a rad with a single reinforcing bar so I carefully shaved an d sanded the two on the WNW rad off and added one. Also it has a slide type shutter beneath I tried to replicate, with no real evidence of the arrangement I wasn’t happy and am in the process of redoing it.


Zoerst.
Added the flanges from the spare Cylinder half, a tiny detail but AMS demanded it!


Fuel control panel.
Something close to finished. Added the valve assemblies from bits from the spares box, the levers are modded Bronco single wing butterfly nuts.



Seat.
Done apart from final weathering and such. I used lead for the belts, fitted to Eduard buckles attachments and clasps. At pic time I noticed the blocked holes on the clasp.. sighs. I think I got the leather effect I was looking for this time.



Well thats all for now guys n girls. Comments as always more than welcome, no matter if good bad or pointers.

Cheers Keith

Photobucket malfunct....zzzzzkkkt.

Just a quick reminder. The high altitude carb linkage was added in the 1918 D.IIIaü 180hp motor only. The two dimples on top of the carb bowels were for the linkage.

Thanks Stephen before I got too far.

Keith,
Your "AMS Frenzy" on this one is a joy to behold!
You've really "nailed" the fuel tank component and accesories; I really like what you've done on the plumbing and particularly the soldered connections. The seat is stunning, the leather replication is 100%. Truly something to aspire to; mine is plodding along slowly but surely, but not to the degree of detail you are achieving.
Keep at her, she's a real beauty!
Cheers,
Lance

Now for the AMS afflicted.
Albatros D.V productions
D.1000/17 - 1199/17, 200 airframes ordered April 1917, Johannistahl.
D.1962/17 - 2361/17, 400 airframes ordered May 1917, Johannistahl.
D.4403/17 - 4702/17, 300 airframes ordered in July 1917, Johannistahl.
Total = 900 airframes delivered. Most with the Merc. D.IIIa 170hp

Albatros D.Va productions
D.5222/17 - 5426/17, 205 airframes ordered Aug. 1917, Johannistahl.
D.5600/17 - 5849/17, 250 airframes ordered Sept. 1917, Johannistahl.
D.6400/17 - 6999/17, 600 airframes ordered Sept - Oct 1917, Schneidemuhl (OAW).
D.7000/17 - 7549/17, 550 airframes ordered Oct. 1917, Johannistahl.
Total = 1605 airframes delivered. Most with the Merc. D.IIIaü 180hp as standard.

The research by WNW notes the 200hp Merc was used. British hp measurements were slightly different than German. The British "200hp" notation was actually the German 180hp. The minimum being 180hp and the maximum being 200hp at German factory level testing.

Award winning build of the D.Va

Listed references:
Albatros D.V/Va, War Horse of the Luftstreitkrafte by S.T. Lawson, SAM Pub. Model Aircraft Monthly, Vol 1 #2 , Pp.54-59.2002
Albatros D.V/Va, Part II, The Spoils of War by S.T. Lawson. My Website.
Albatros Aces by Franks 2000, Osprey pub.#33.
Albatros Scouts Described by Chas Schaedel, 1971 Kookaburra Tech. Pub.
Albatros Fighters Datafile Special by Ray Rimell, 1991 Albatros Pub. Ltd.
Albatros D.V by Peter Gray, 1965 Profile Pub.#9.
Albatros D.V & D.Va Described and Drawn by Ian Stair,1972 Scale Models.
Albatros D.Va German Fighter of WWI by Robert Mikesh, Smithsonian Inst. Press.
Lafayette Foundation Archive. Denver CO. USA.
Scratchbuilding Techniques by Alan Clark, 1990 Scale Models Int. Pp174-5.
Scratchbuilt Albatros D.Va by Alan Clark,1990 Scale Models Int. Pp.491-495.
Spandau Machine Gun by David Watts,1998 WWI Aero.
'The Last Albatros' by Colin Owers 1988 Aviation News Pp.216-221.


Other differences not mentioned previously were mostly internal. Due to the rerouting
of the aileron control cables the actuation mechanism on the control column assembly
was different between the two types. The D.V was heavier than the D.III even though
its original conception was for it to be lighter. The redesign gave it some weak points.
Note the 4 plywood plates attached to the area between the tail unit & fuselage in many
D.V types. This was recified in the D.Va. By the way the D.Va was heavier than the D.V.
Note the lighter coloured "diamonds" on this Jasta Boelcke Alb. D.V. with Ltns Bassenge
Kempf & Vallendor in attendance.

Keith – well what can I say – this looks most excellent, and like Lance I'm really enjoying the ride, just as much as I had anticipated!

Mikael

Thank you Mikael. from you that's something special.

Thanks for the extra input Stephen, I'm building profile A as you know, it seems to have gained these strengthening diamonds sometime during it's existance, Of course I'll be adding them. Trying hard to concentrate my efforts internally at the moment.... with varying success.

Keith

Well, some progress made, I dedicated what time I had to the interior, some detailing and painting still to do and the column to detail but it's getting there I think. Theres a few basic tweaks, like moving the fuel control panel forwards a little. Fuel guage and magneto box mounted on scraps of Brass (never through etch frames away without snipping useful bits off.)

Eagle eyes might spot the greaser and mag box arent WNW... Roden spares came into play. though while detailing I managed to break off the greaser handle I have it still and it will be refixed before closing up. (Xs fingers)






I tried a new approach to the wood, I wasnt after graining as much as *hinting at* graining. For once I actually got a light finish to the wood.. kept the fleesh wash at bay.

TY for looking, comments always well recieved.

Keith