forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

The David Wilson Memorial Group Build 2024 => The David Wilson Memorial Group Build 2024 => Topic started by: ondra on May 02, 2024, 01:25:25 AM

Title: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on May 02, 2024, 01:25:25 AM
Hi everybody,

my contribution to the group build will be Oswald Boelcke's Albatros D.II in my beloved 1/144 scale.

(https://i.imgur.com/evBJs2M.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/W7g4q1b.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/t3DelWc.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ct6ppPW.jpeg)

I have finished the drawings recently:

(https://i.imgur.com/KwFhC9Z.jpeg)

The advantage of scratchbuilds is that you do not have to look for the kit. :)

(https://i.imgur.com/PV0zGJ8.jpeg)

Cheers

Ondra




Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: Dutch522 on May 02, 2024, 02:46:40 AM
Really looking forward to seeing this one come together, I recently got the big Roden kit and will be following along with interest!

Dutch
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: RAGIII on May 02, 2024, 05:37:38 AM
It has been a while since I was able to follow one of your builds. I am looking forward to doing so on this one!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: Dirigible-Al on May 02, 2024, 05:56:05 PM
I admire you for doing this in 1/144 scale. Looking forward it come along.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: NigelR on May 02, 2024, 06:32:34 PM
Another amazing build to follow!
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: DaddyO on May 02, 2024, 07:08:14 PM
Brilliant Ondra
Can't wait to see this one shaping up. A brave man building in 144th - I tip my hat you sir  ;D

Paul
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: William Adair on May 02, 2024, 10:01:21 PM
Wow Ondra, it's great to see you with another project. I'm a huge fan of your work and still remember the first time I saw it. I'm really excited to follow along as you bring the D.II to life!
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: AngryJazz on May 02, 2024, 10:59:29 PM
From scratch! Wow - not this will be a fun build  ;D
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: Brad Cancian on May 04, 2024, 08:19:51 AM
Oh my, this promises to be an exciting build! Looking forward to seeing this one 'shape up', so to speak  ;D

Cheers,

BC
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: lone modeller on May 05, 2024, 05:17:13 AM
Just brilliant Ondra - a super model in the braille scale. I will be following with much interest.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: KiwiZac on May 22, 2024, 01:57:07 PM
Ondra, I am very excited for this! TVAL flies a reproduction D.II in Boelcke's colours and it's a very pretty machine, so I'm excited to see your rendition!
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on May 23, 2024, 04:49:56 AM
Many thanks for your encouraging comments, dear forumites!  ;)

I have been working on the drawings for the interior details and engine, I hope to have them finished by the end of this week.

Since the fuselage of the Albatros has no perpendicular points I made this jig to make transfering of e. g. lower wing joint points or scribing lines easier. It is mean to be reusable, so during later builds I just swap the 1,0 mm inlay with the corresponding drawing and cutout for the fuselage. Will see how it will work.

(https://i.imgur.com/zkvMg7U.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WbhEew5.jpeg)

While I was in the MacGyver mode already, I also built this improvised minilathe using my Micromote and other bits I found on my workbench. :)

I do not need it necessarily for the Albatros, but for the other part of the upcoming dual build, which will be Werner Voss's Fokker F.I. I experimented on turning the mould for the cowling and probably will switch to wood or acrylic Will keep you updated.

(https://i.imgur.com/U7Ue0OE.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/LN4ft7O.jpeg)

Cheers.

Ondra




Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: NigelR on May 23, 2024, 06:02:47 PM
That jig is a work of art in its own right!
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: AngryJazz on May 24, 2024, 04:49:22 PM
Wow this is an interesting setup! Cant wait for the next episode og MacGyver  ;)
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: RAGIII on May 25, 2024, 08:34:09 AM
Your Usual Awesome planning and work Ondra!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: Flamingo on May 27, 2024, 06:46:59 AM
"MacGyver mode" ;D
Where can I get it? Well, here in this thread, and many more in this forum!
The poor man's lathe has been used by me already.
Keep on
Joachim
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on May 27, 2024, 03:10:04 PM
Many thanks for your nice comments, Nigel, Ben, Rick and Joachim! I am glad you find my MacGyver mode inspirative. :)

With the drawings almost finished, I started working on the fuselage. Whereas the front section will be vacuum formed, the rear section will be solid.

The shape looks ok so far, so in the next step I will fill the gaps in the moulds for the front part with milliput and in the rear part with styrene pieces.

(https://i.imgur.com/uplZapD.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kG4Aaqk.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/p5nV7VA.jpeg)

Cheers

Ondra
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: NigelR on May 27, 2024, 06:18:34 PM
More impressive engineering. It's fascinating to see how you do all this.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: RAGIII on May 27, 2024, 11:51:06 PM
Very impressive Ondra! Like Nigel, your processes always fascinate Me!
RAGIII
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: Allan31 on June 01, 2024, 11:56:46 PM
What a truly amazing process.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: lone modeller on June 06, 2024, 03:08:03 AM
I am blown away by that mini-lathe. I used an old power drill recently to turn some dowels into gun barrels, but your set up is altogether much more sophisticated!

Excellent start on the fuselage. Have you thought of using wood to make the male part of your mould?

Stephen.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on November 01, 2025, 09:44:30 PM
Back at the workbench after a long break, I started working on the wings and the propeller.

As a true tool whore, I used my new toy, an ultrasonic knife I got from Aliexpress. Not exactly cheap, but worth every cent for scratchbuild.

My brush skills are very inferior, so I had to look for an innovative solution for the propeller lamination.

Eventually I decided to creat a sandwich of red and yellow plastic. I had to reduce the thickness of the red plastic using my DIY jig, now I have to let it cure.

(https://i.imgur.com/jpv0HYH.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jj0wext.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/MofqI5s.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Bl0jp9Q.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Op6SnG9.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kFOyGW1.jpeg)

Cheers.

Ondra
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: KiwiZac on November 02, 2025, 09:36:41 AM
An ultrasonic knife sounds very intriguing! I'll have to do some YouTube research. It's so nice to see you back on this.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: NigelR on November 02, 2025, 07:22:10 PM
I would say it's nice to see you back Ondra but I can't, because Imgur doesn't let users in the UK view your photos. So I am afraid I can't see what you are doing......
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on November 02, 2025, 07:51:54 PM
Thanks for the info, Nigel, I did not know about the Imgur issue.

So here a few photos uploaded directly to this website.

Cheers.

Ondra
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on November 02, 2025, 07:54:04 PM
Had to split the photos into multiple posts due to the size limitation.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on November 02, 2025, 07:54:30 PM
And the last batch.
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: NigelR on November 02, 2025, 08:38:29 PM
Thanks Ondra, the Imgur issue only happened recently, and only affects those of us in the UK. I can see the photos now. The wing looks good and I'm intrigued to see how your prop turns out using the plastic strip approach. And of course I am now Googling ultrasonic knives..... :)
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: DaddyO on November 02, 2025, 08:48:23 PM
Excellent Ondra
(I'd avoided the thread because of the Imgur problems; great to see some pictures of what you're up to)

Like Nigel I'm off to google those knives . . . .

Paul
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: DaddyO on November 02, 2025, 10:53:24 PM
Woah! :o That is quite possibly the scariest thing I've ever seen. Given my casual and fairly clumsy approach to tool use rest assured I'm going to steer well clear of sonic knives so that I can hang onto my full compliment of digits ;)
Title: Re: Albatros D.II Oswald Boelcke 1/144 scratchbuild
Post by: ondra on November 02, 2025, 11:37:27 PM
Got your point, sonic knives can be pretty expensive. I got mine for less than 70 bucks. I would have turned down the purchase if I were building kits. But for scratchbuilds it is priceless.