forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: andonio64 on October 13, 2013, 07:14:47 PM
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Hallo friends,
here is my next job: the sturdy, manoeuvrable and reliable Phoenix D.I.
As Ian B I am starting this job teaming up on another forum for a group build with Mark ("Guitarlute", still a newbie in this forum).
The box:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/001.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/002.jpg)
The sprues appear of a really good quality (crisp details and lack of retirements / injection points)
The pieces need a cleaning job from little flashes but not a great work.
I only have some doubts on the engine, but I haven't yet studied it.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/003.jpg)
The kit includes resin cast parts (radiator, exhaust tubes) and a small but well done photo eched fret.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/004.jpg)
The decals allow two different versions.
Although he one with skull and bones is more scenographic I will prefer the other one with a white U on red band on the fuselage. It is a plane of Flik14 based in Feltre (north east of Italy) during the Austrian occupation.
The pilot was Karl Urban who used this plane for his final victory; during a general engagement on 19 May 1918, he downed an Italian fighter, probably a Hanriot HD.1. (source Wikipedia).
Note that 19 May is my birthday!
:o
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The Phönix is so ugly it's attractive, mate, and has become one of my favourite WWI aircraft. I look forward to your build, Andonio.
Dal.
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Good luck with the build Andonio, though I guess that with your skills it won't come down to a matter of luck.
Best wishes
Nigel
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Antonio,
I am looking forward to seeing your treatment of this kit! I know it will be fantastic!
RAGIII
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Dear friends,
yesterday I sprayed the sprues with gray primer, then I started studying the model.
My attention is now concentrated on 2 topics:
A)
Defining the base colours of the Plywood and of the CDL onto which overpaint the brown camouflage.
Any suggestion on which colour to use?
B)
Find pictures of the 200HP Hiero engine to know how to improve it and how to paint it.
So far I found these pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25063579@N08/3384793588/sizes/o/in/photostream/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/25063579@N08/3384793588/sizes/o/in/photostream/)
http://all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/64-engines-power/13009-hiero-b-hiero-c-hiero-d-hiero-e-hiero-6 (http://all-aero.com/index.php/contactus/64-engines-power/13009-hiero-b-hiero-c-hiero-d-hiero-e-hiero-6)
all the pictures I have found show the starboard side, none of the port face...
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Enjoy the new build, Antonio. I enjoy your work and am looking forward to following
along with you. I think the red stripe version will look great, my friend!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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I'm really looking forward to watching this build, Antonio. Here are the references I used in building mine:
http://www.wwi-models.org/app/sbj/srch/Macn.php?action=uArchList&subjId=397
http://www.greatwaraviation.com/forum/index.php?topic=2542.0
On the last one, scroll to the bottom.
Cheers,
Bud
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Thanks Bud, I already knew the greatwaraviation.com thread.
The other link has fantastic pics and they are exactly what I needed!
8)
Good!
Antonio
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(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/175_12_b1.jpg)
This is the drawing of the Karl Urban Phönix D.I. I think I will make the brown camo overpaint less compact, the mottled colour should leave the base material more visibility.
I studied the colour schemas using for my test the back of a cookies tray sprayed with primer.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/010.jpg)
I decided to use
Number 22 (bottom left) / German CDL from Mr.Kit for fabric covered surfaces (wings, tail planes and rudder)
Does anybody have information about Austrian CDL tones?
Number 24 (bottom right) for the wooden surfaces: it's Tamiya Buff XF-57 as base drybrushed with a common acrylic sienna colour, finished with satin clear varnish.
Top half of No.24 you can see how I mottled the camo : umber brown acrylic tapped with a small sponge-brush (used for make up). I am satisfied and will go with it.
I will use it also on the fabric surfaces.
In the end it will be less sparse than this, mid way between this and the Urban schema on top of this post.
Ciao
Antonio
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Current state of the work:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/007.jpg)
Cockpit pieces.
I wasn't able to retrieve any info about the cockpit outfit, so I followed other fellow modelers build...
On the left you can see 2 versions of the panel behind the pilot: one has X shaped struts on the opening (I have seen a panel like that in another build and I scratchbuilt it) and the other (provided by the Kit) is a solid one. I don't know which one I will use.
On the right you see two IPs the thin one is photoetched and the other is from the sprues. I decided to use the former.
The aluminum panel was made by me to separate the engine compartment (the other side is painted as wood) from the cockpit.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/005.jpg)
Seat with PE seatbelts (cushion made by me using FIMO paste)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/006.jpg)
Instrument Panel: I glued a white piece of plasticard on the back with some instrument decals, but they got ruined when sliding towards their location. I made many tries and in the end I didn't have any more left so I must be happy with them.
I dropped some "Synthaglass Liquid glass" by Dr. Toffano (Italian producer of great paints and varnishes) on the instruments.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/008.jpg)
Here you can see the interiors of the cockpit, the V shaped struts are from my fantasy.
I tried to enhance the struts profile with a Van Dyke Brown colored pencil smudged with water.
I will add some more detail (gas pump, compass and throttle) before closing it.
The engine compartment has been painted using a 50/50 mix of Tamiya Flat Aluminum XF-16 and Tamiya dark sea gray XF-54 to give it a less shiny finish. I need to work more on this...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/009.jpg)
This is the full pilot pit. The control stick, the curved feet tracks (don't know their correct name) and the feet holder are made by me.
I added a piece of plasticard under the seat to raise it a bit, it looked too low!
Ciao
Antonio
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Antonio,
Nice start on this one! Your interior looks great!
RAGIII
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You are really doing well on the model, Antonio! I like your paint palette...that's
a neat idea. Your cockpit is looking very good. The instrument panel is done well,
your instruments look good, especially with the "glass" effects.
About the mottling, I'm wondering if you might give some thought to using the
style that Jacek used on his superb Albatros.
http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=2150.105
I believe Bo raised the idea of using
an old toothbrush to "spray" the paint drops onto the fuselage. Look at the photos
and see what you think. Just a thought.
Anyway, my friend, carry on with your build...it will be another beauty!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Ernie, that idea is really fantastic and I think it suits many needs, (I was in particular thinking - among the other - to mud sprays beneath the plane belly).
But the result I am aiming at is the one which you can see on the box art and also on this build by my friend guitarlute
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff140/guitarlute101/Phonix%20DII%20build/IMG_2703_zps9516ad9a.jpg)
So the toothbrush "spray" technique would spray dots a bit too tiny.
But... that could be a basis preparation, before going with the spongebrush...
Thanks a lot Ernie, you suggested me an interesting technique and I will take this into account!
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Antonio,
You certainly have a knack for choosing interesting subject my old friend. Outstanding progress to date. I'm very impressed by your technique for testing the different wood finishes and camouflage. Well done! Keep up the outstanding works .
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
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Hallo,
the Phonix D.I build steps forward:
I decided to make a new IP, although I didn't achieve a much better result (left in the pic) I like it more than the PE one (right).
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/011.jpg)
I made the engine, no detail added, it gets hidden into the plane nose... and added some details to the cockpit:
- fuel pump
- compass (below the pump)
- throttle
I also used some piece of sprue to hold the pit floor (orange pieces) and the engine (grey piece) in place when closing the fuselage.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/012.jpg)
Here are the exhaust tubes.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/013.jpg)
I glued the cockpit elements together:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/014.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/015.jpg)
And now I have closed the fuselage, needing some filing and filling.
Putty is now drying and in the meantime I studied the not-so-difficult rigging schema.
I just bought the Gaspatch anemometer and their buckles as well.
I am curious to receiving them.
This is all for now!
Ciao
Antonio
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Wow! I completely missed this thread until now. It looks like you have another fascinating project going on, Antonio. I always enjoy your 'road less taken' choice of subjects.
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Great choice of subject Antonio, what you have done so far is excellent, the cockpit is very well done as is the engine, and your mottled effect is perfect, well done.
Des.
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Hallo,
yesterday I started taking care of the white U on the red band which is on the fuselage in the version I chose.
It is supplied as a decal, but it has the whole space between the two vertical lines as a transparent decal, so thre is a high risk of silvering.
Therefore I decided to paint the band white, mask the big U and then overpaint it in red.
So yesterday evening I printed a few Us on a paper sheet, then I fixed on the paper a transparent acetate sheet and put on the acetate big pieces of masking tape.
The acetate was aimed at giving the masking tape the possibility to be detached...
After painting the white band I'll need to cut with small, rounded toed scissors the U shapes and detach the masking tape from the acetate putting it on the white band before overpainting red...
I hope it will work!!!!
Possibly I will post a picture later
Ciao
Antonio
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Great work, Antonio! Up to your usual high standards, my friend.
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Dear friends
I worked today on the red band on the fuselage, some pics:
Here are the "U"s printed on paper sheet and the acetate sheet being laid over
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/016.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/017.jpg)
Here are some small "U"s cut after sticking Tamiya mask tape on the acetate
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/018.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/019.jpg)
I obviously used the acetate to make the tape detachable.
Then I proceeded as usual: painted a white band on the fuselage, stuck the Tamiya "U"s on it and paint it red.
The result:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/020.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/021.jpg)
The red paint slipped under the Tamiya tape (it is always so, I always feel uncomfortable with that tape) and I had to touch up the Us a lot.
As you see there is some work still to do...
Now I am working on the wings and struts, I am not able to find any info about the amterial the struts and the cabane struts were made of, was it metal or wood?
More soon...
Ciao and thanks for your attention
Antonio
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Excellent work so far, Antonio. Interesting approach to the personal markings.
Cheers,
Bud
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Excellent work so far, Antonio. Interesting approach to the personal markings.
Cheers,
Bud
Thanks Bud!
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Hello Andonio:
This is coming along nicely. I wish there was something meaningful I could tell you about the struts. Hopefully someone on the forum will be able to provide you with the information. I know what you mean about paint sliding under the Tamiya tape. I always burnish the edges. It does help. Looking forward to your next update.
Best
Mark
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Looking very good Antonio, you did a great job with the red band and the white "U"
Des.
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Antonio,
Really nice work on the band and U! Looks great!
RAGIII
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Nice job on the "U" markings, Antonio. Your model is coming
along very well. I'm anxious to see the next photos.
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Thanks guys!
@mark mgunns: what do you mean exactly with "burnishing the edges"??
Antonio
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Ciau Antonio.
The interior and engine are looking very nice. Great U work there too.
Looking forward for the next update.
Cheers
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Hallo friends
last thursday I received some "Gaspatch" stuff I ordered:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/022.jpg) (http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/023.jpg) (http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/024.jpg)
Great stuff indeed although a bit pricey!
I couldn't wait any longer for building the anemometer, so here it is:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/025.jpg)
Then I worked on the wings and on the tail surfaces:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/026.jpg)
Here is my interpretation of the "mottle" camouflage:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/027.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/028.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/029.jpg)
In the end I gave up using the make-up sponge brush of my loved one because it works only on the sides of its tip, I wanted something to work on the tip front to "stamp" the color on the surface. So I made a sponge brush myself:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/031.jpg)
for the mottle I used a normal raw umber acrylic color in tube bought at an art shop.
Now I painted the fuselage to prepare the wooden surface for camo. This is the Tamiya buff basis upon which I will drybrush a raw Sienna acrylic (same series of the raw umber)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/030.jpg)
That's all for now. More later (hopefully).
Ciao
Antonio
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This is all shaping up very nicely, Antonio.
Best wishes
Nigel
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Very very nice Antonio and very daring too.Your cockpit looks wonderful and the camouflage paint terrific.
Kind regards
Patrick
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Thanks Nigel & Patrick.
I feel very satisfied for the mottled camo.
Now I must replicate it on the fuselage...
Antonio
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The mottled camo on the wings and tail turned out very well, it should look really good on the fuselage, hope your new sponge works well for you.
Des.
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Antonio,
Nice work on the Camo. Looking forward to seeing the fuselage done!
RAGIII
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Thanks Des and Rick...
I am now thinking about the best strategy to put the upper wing in a correct way.
I mean, normally I fix the struts which are straight or have a position that cannot be misinterpreted (for example the cabane struts of the ANSALDO SVA5) or the straight wing struts of the SPAD VII...
Then I take the correct measurement and proceed to work on the remainder of the struts shortening them or re building them from scratch if they are too short.
In this case I feel really puzzled: both the cabane and the wing struts are sloping, so I can't imagine a way to fix them without errors determining the position and distance from the lower wing...
Actually this is the most difficult step I find in builtding WW1 planes, I don't fear the rigging because I learnt how to manage it... but positioning the upper wing.... sh....t I have not yet developed a good technique...
Any suggestion on how to proceed ?
Thanks for helping!
Antonio
PS I know this is one basic skill and feel a bit uncomfortable asking this question... :-[
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Amazing work on the mottling, Antonio. You really got that right! As for the
placement of the upper wing, about all I can recommend is make a jig to
hold it at the proper angle. I would think you could put one together from
cardstock or something similar. Hopefully some of our other forumites could
come up with a better idea. Sorry I couldn't contribute more. :-[
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Antonio,
Your work on the mottled camouflage is really impressive, it's coming together very nicely and your "sponge work" is brilliant.
For the upper wing placement and angles I echo Ernie's recommendation, a Jig is the answer. Take a look at the info here on Jigs; there are good ones on the market and making your own is not that difficult. I use the Aeroclub Biplane assembly Jig which may not be available any more however I saw one for sale here in "Buy-Sell-Trade" a while back. A jig takes a lot of the effort and guess work out of setting the stagger angle and spacing up provided you have a good side view to measure the angle and/or spacing from. Constructing your own templates will help as well. Good luck with the rest of your Build!
Cheers,
Lance
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Your mottle camo on the wing and tail surfaces looks amazing, Antonio. I'm looking forward to seeing it on the fuselage.
Cheers,
Bud
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Hi Antonio.
I like your mottled very much, looks quite nice.
Cheers
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Hallo,
some advances on the Phönix job.
Wood grain painted on the fuselage:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/032.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/033.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/034.jpg)
Wings, tail planes and camouflage applied to the fuselage:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/035.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/036.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/037.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/038.jpg)
Now I drilled holes in the wings and fuselage, where eyelets and buckles will go.
Next step will be to find a jig to put top wing in place... I am still thinking of a good solution... different from buying a sram doohickey
Ciao
Antonio
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Me Likey.
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Beautiful progress, Antonio. Great job!
Cheers,
Ernie :)
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Excellent progress, Antonio! She's lovely.
Cheers,
Bud
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It promises to be beautiful. :D
Adam.
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You are making very good progress with this one Antonio, it's starting to really look the part now, keep those updates coming please.
Des.
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Looking good Antonio! You are making great progress!!
RAGIII
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Nice one Antonio, great painting work from you.
Cheers
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Antonio, I like the camouflage job - very effective and very interesting.
It looks like a dirty little thing but in a nice way ;)
Andrew
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Your Phönix looks great, I`m truly a fan of Astro-Hungarian aircrafts and Phönixes are at the very top of my list.
Can`t wait to see her finished!
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Thanks guys for your appreciation.
This weekend I am blocked by the Christmas house decoration and will not progress on the model, but last week I made a try with the cabane struts:
- I measured the distance between the holes underneath the top wing.
- I cut from sprue a "spacer" as much wide as that distance
- I glued the "N" shaped struts to the cowling using Tamiya "orange cap" (so that they would not fix completely at once)
- I "widened" the distance between the tips of the struts until it was as wide as the spacer
- I blocked the struts with a couple of toothpicks
- I crossed my fingers
Then I checked the upper wing and it appears to fit well on the cabane.
Last operation I did was to put all the eyelets and turnbuckles in place.
Next one will be to glue the upper wing and main wing struts.
Ciao
Antonio
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Hallo,
I took advantage of these days off duty and am proud to announce the plane is finished !
But I had taken some more pics before the last sessions which are not documented because I preferred to speed up the modeling job...
Here is the upper wing with Gaspatch turnbuckles put in place and with thr rigging glued on them
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/039.jpg)
Some turnbuckles were fixed on the fuselage:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/040.jpg)
Gaspatch turnbuckles and anchor points are great. But before glueing them on the model I suggest to file them (I used a 0,3 mm pin vise point) because sometimes they present small teeth inside the ring where the cable is supposed to pass and ithe wire risks to get stopped.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/041.jpg)
In this picture you see how I decided to fix the cabane struts turning the plane upside down. In this way I could glue the "head" of the secondary struts and aileron actuators, they are shown in all the historic pictures but they are not even mentioned in the kit.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/042.jpg)
I proceeded putting the rear struts in place...
Then I made a "dry try" to put the front struts in place and discovered they were too short!!!!
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/043.jpg)
So I had no alternative way to go than make them from scratch...
I used these styrene stripes, and here is the result
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/044.jpg)
To be sincere I also tried to use the brass "strutz" stuff but they are easy to cut but not easy to model... at least I wasn't able to shape brass.
I made the struts and continuouslu filed them a little until they fitted in the holes of the wings, that was easy with styrene but should have been dreadful to do the same with brass.
Then I proceeded with all the remainder of the work and here are a couple of pics of the finished plane.
Complete photoshoot in the "completed models" section.
Ciao and Happy New Year everybody!
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/045.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/052.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/phoenix/054.jpg)
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Congratulations, Antonio! She looks spectacular! That camo is beautifully executed an the rigging perfect.
Cheers,
Bud
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That Camoflage finish is very, very impressive Andonio; congratulations on a beautiful Model and also on your great workarounds on the problems you encountered.
Cheers, :)
Lance
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That Camoflage finish is very, very impressive Andonio; congratulations on a beautiful Model and also on your great workarounds on the problems you encountered.
Cheers, :)
Lance
I agree with lance, you are getting very good at overcoming the issues that arise with these kits! Well Done all around,
RAGIII
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That Camoflage finish is very, very impressive Andonio; congratulations on a beautiful Model and also on your great workarounds on the problems you encountered.
Cheers, :)
Lance
I agree with lance, you are getting very good at overcoming the issues that arise with these kits! Well Done all around,
RAGIII
+1. Great work Andonio! ;D
Regards,
Bob
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you are absolutely right about the struts were too short. i built this kit 3 years ago and had the same problem but for me all 4 had to be replaced. you did a nice job on the phonix. i really like these planes, i am surprised noone has made a 1/32 kit for them.
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What a nice build Antonio, really superb modeling. It's such a good looking and unique bird. Your build log is great too. Congratulations. Could you tell me were you purchased these styrene strips? Thank you.
Kind regards
Patrick
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... Could you tell me were you purchased these styrene strips? Thank you.
Kind regards
Patrick
Thanks Patrick (and everybody else) for the kind appreciation.
As per the styrene strips if you look on ebay you'll find plenty of shapes and dimensions.
BTW the full evergreen catalogue is here http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/index.htm (http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/index.htm).
I also have some plastruct items http://www.plastruct.com/ (http://www.plastruct.com/).
I hope this helps.
;)
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Thank you so much Antonio. This helps a lot!
Kind regards
Patrick
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Great one Andonio!!!! BRAVISSIMO!
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Antonio you have done a very impressive paint work.
The model looks amazing. Congrats for such a beauty.
Cheers
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Thanks everybody!
I am just back from our short holiday in a farm in the countryside.
Very quiet and relaxing crossing from an awful 2013 towards a 2014 all yet to design...
Happy New Year all, my friends!!!!
Antonio
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Thanks guys!
@mark mgunns: what do you mean exactly with "burnishing the edges"??
Antonio
Hello Antonio:
Sorry for replying late after you got this model finished. Burnishing is merely going over the edge of the tape with like the edge of a tweezer or something similar and smoothing it down so the edge is tacked down firmly against the surface. Doing it prevents the paint from paint from bleeding underneath. At least it is supposed to. You can use your thumb nail, but some rounded solid object, the end of a tweezer, or the end of an Exacto Handle, the rounded end not the blade end, and just rub it over the edge. It does help. Hopefully this will be helpful for your next build.
Best
Mark
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Thanks Mark!
:)
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Beautiful work on the D.I, Antonio! The mottle turned out great and those turnbuckles too.
Mark