A while ago I started another WW1 flyer. I wanted to try a PART PE set for a roden kit for a while as I bought PE from that brand for all my Roden Kits at the IPMS Nationals. My choice fell on the Pfalz D.III because it had the smallest part count on the PE fret so I thought it would be a good training.
And so the build starts. First observation. the fit between the PE cockpit and the inside of the Roden Fuselage is pretty much non existent. The fuselage has to be gutted before there is enough room for it. Second observation... The PE cockpit is mostly a one piece affair. Floor, firewall, ribs. How does PART expect a modeler to paint that? I decided to cut the ribs off the floor and attach them to the thinned out fuselage. this way it is also easier to bend them in the shape of the fuselage. And it makes painting the insides infinately easier.
It's a really tight fit inside there.
Observation #3. Thinning out the fuselage is not enough. The Engine cowling must be severely thinned out as well otherwise you can't fit the engine through the hole on top. Don't do what I did to try to push the engine through with some force because that will have to break off all the little spouts that the exhaust mounts to. And you have to replace those with Styrene. Also visible some PE work on the Top wing
Revelation #1 Maybe reading glasses are not a bad thing. Especially not for parts like this:
The first time in my life I used reading glasses and it made doing this quite easy. 4 part affair. Really tiny.
Slowly and steady the cockpit gets more and more crowded. Some bits had to be replaced with styrene because they were tiny and I bend them wrong. Or they snapped. Or simply lost.
And finally for this post. The finished Pilots throne.
So far very enjoyable. The PE can be immensely frustrating but satisfying when you come out on top as winner. Still a long way to go but a way I look forward to.
With friendly greetz
Robert Blokker
