forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Tim Mixon on August 15, 2025, 11:28:04 AM
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My group build choice is this Xtravac 1/72 Albatross C.IX. Only three were built before the project being abandoned. One of the three was presented to Manfred Von Richthofen to use as a personal hac behind the front lines.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_cb67e69b18121172be99237f2c2bca64.jpeg)
Here?s MVR preparing to mount for a flight in his personal aircraft.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_0defd4f2f924a49b793eccb177d4bcc6.jpeg)
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_862d8aea4208ed542612781062a863e8.jpeg)
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(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_4dbd35abbc6489238f6a2966e3e61773.jpeg)
The vac sheet is very crisp and detailed. Mastered by Joe Chubbock it?s no surprise. It looks as if the resin parts are made by Rosemont Resin
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_6abd1aa244939bb78cbf6a7dd70eb18e.jpeg)
The aft end is a separate vac piece. I?ll try and utilize this tail section from an Aifix Albatross D.III. I cut off the rudder and reshaped it to match. It?s a little small and I?ll probably cut off the fabric rudder part and scratch build a larger one.
Thanks for looking in!
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I'm looking forward to seeing this one.
Alan.
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Excellent choice, something a bit different! Rosemont Resin, now there's a blast from the past.....
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Looks good. I built the Extravac D111 recently. It has the same separate tail section and I envisaged having to replace it. However, it went together perfectly. Hope this one is as good. In my opinion, in 1/72 the D111 has the best slab sided fuselage of any of the type so far.
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Great! One of my favourite C types, I'll follow your build with interest.
As you have the MVR photo you are probably aware of the clear panel in front of the cocpit. If you don't have the full photo, here it is:
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Part 2.
I cobbled up some internal framework on the fuselage sides and decided to use the kit supplied floor and bulkheads.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_30f6b1a0b66091093ddfd8a901c10f37.jpeg)
Here is a terrible picture of the interior. It actually looked pretty good before sealing it up. (It?s really not that dark!)
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_647087fec9fdbc52bb6773529e596144.jpeg)
The Airfix tail section was not a good fit so I utilized the kit part. This works well.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_af31a29b22299f64e8c7903a4ee9d9f3.jpeg)
I accidentally ruined one of the resin propeller blades while sanding it. My solution was to hollow out the hub and drop in spare Rodin prop. Also, I sanded off the outer details and replaced with photo etch. The rudder and tailskid was scratched to match the plans.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_45a9321a19e0c671c862f553622f9269.jpeg)
Fore of the cockpit was a clear window that I cut out the opening for.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_0650259c73633b6bca703a4dcd1f3832.jpeg)
Here is the painted fuselage. I used Tamiya flat red darkened with Tamiya hull red (5:1) over a pre shaded primed fuselage.
The decals are from a Roden Gotha decal sheet. They are slightly too large but the closest I could find with the larger white border
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_423e90133a84dd3ca7c99c83de0dc3a1.jpeg)
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_5cccae8aceea50a87e9a0be57c9418a4.jpeg)
That?s all till next weekend. Thanks for looking in!
Tim
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That's all!, That's all! :o
I pop away for a couple of days and manage to add a few details to the side of my build and you've nearly built it - have you got some kind of time warping device (In which case can I borrow it) ;)
Looking great Tim and such a nice change from the single seaters. Press on my friend 8)
Paul
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First time ever I see this kit under construction, have it in my stash.
Great job so far and what a splendid idea for this GB!
Joachim
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That's all!, That's all! :o
I pop away for a couple of days and manage to add a few details to the side of my build and you've nearly built it - have you got some kind of time warping device (In which case can I borrow it) ;)
Looking great Tim and such a nice change from the single seaters. Press on my friend 8)
Paul
lol Paul, my only answer is that my wife went to see my in-laws for the weekend and left me alone. I probably don?t need to say that not much else got accomplished around the house!
Thanks for nice comments.
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First time ever I see this kit under construction, have it in my stash.
Great job so far and what a splendid idea for this GB!
Joachim
Thank you Joachim. I think we both have an appreciation for the less popular WWI aircraft.
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Wow. Great choice for the GB and great progress. I knew nothing about this Albie.
Check Albatros D.V/D.Va wing crosses for a better fit than the Gotha. I was going to use those on my G.V build.
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Amazing progress, this is looking really good! Good choice over the tail section btw....
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Interesting subject to say the least.
I admire your resolution to tackle such a difficult kit.
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Great progress Tim, the fuselage is shaping up very nicely!
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I would like to pose a question about painting the flying surfaces of this aircraft. I?ve read mixed reports of what colors to use. MVR?s mother wrote that it was all red on the upper surface. The kit instructions say to paint it mauve and green. I?m partial to the three color pattern (light green, dark green, and reddish brown) on early Albatros fighters. This aircraft was built in early 1917. What are your thoughts about Albatros C type wing color in early 1917?
Thanks!
Here?s a picture of an Albatros C.VII that crashed on landing. It has the three color top wing in late 1916.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_05bc08f6bd4e4c86a350e07de173f5e1.jpeg)
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Well, it?s on its own legs now. I decided to scratch build the undercarriage. First I bent some brass rod into the shape of the legs. Once cut to shape, I added plastic strip to simulate the fared edges. These were then puttied and sander to shape. Drilled holes and CA glued into place.
(http://[https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_e3b843ffcc455c4851c5a6100fc00793.jpeg/img]Next I cut out and painted the tail section. The dark green is Tamiya black-green, light green is some unknown mixture I made up years ago. Lastly, I masked and painted the rib tapes with Tamiya clear smoke. Rigging is fine black EZ line.[img] https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_3f9f83bd848ec6cf4187a47b49e157e7.jpeg)
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_75f85033e1610615633bc8fe22902405.jpeg)
Spreader bars and axle are brass rod.
Next up is the wheels and cabane struts.
Thanks for looking in!
Tim
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(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_e3b843ffcc455c4851c5a6100fc00793.jpeg)
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_3f9f83bd848ec6cf4187a47b49e157e7.jpeg)
These two images didn?t attach my first post.
Let?s try again.
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Looking mighty fine Tim. Can't wait to see the wings on it 8)
Paul
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Very nice work Tim, this one is looking good. A really interesting subject.
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Looking awesome Tim! Go man, go!
Cheers,
BC
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Great progress Tim!
As to the upper surfaces. There's no way to be sure of course but of the three C.IX built, the first prototype seems to have been left in natural wood and linen, one was painted in lozenge and hexagon camouflage and MVR's 4508/16 seems to have been painted red all over.
It's your call of course but as much as I can tell from photos it doesn't look like the three colour camo was applied.
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Great progress Tim!
As to the upper surfaces. There's no way to be sure of course but of the three C.IX built, the first prototype seems to have been left in natural wood and linen, one was painted in lozenge and hexagon camouflage and MVR's 4508/16 seems to have been painted red all over.
It's your call of course but as much as I can tell from photos it doesn't look like the three colour camo was applied.
I agree. the best photos of the Richthofen transport the wings seem uniformly colored, at least the upper surfaces.
A fantastic project, I am really following with great interest! Looks extremely good so far!
Cheers, Skyhook
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Love it Tim ! She is really looking fantastic so far ....
Alexis
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I finished the fuselage assembly minus the prop and hub. Next I moved on to the wings.
The upper wing has a vac radiator that only has the upper half. I really like to use the extra ones from Roden Albatros kits for my German vac kits.
Here I have cut out and sanded the wing. I measured the area to cut out for the radiator.
I?ll Dremmel out most of the material and then fine cut the rest with xacto.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_f41d6fdf5e0a65218917dd2375dff8f9.jpeg)
Here is the radiator in place. I had to surround it with thin evergreen strip because I filed off just a little too much.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_eb0cb5e3a1544654f5a0f6e2fd6b864d.jpeg)
The bottom surface is devoid of any detail. I marked in pencil the rib locations and then lightly scored the rib tapes with a double xacto loaded knife.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_0bbbf41b2fa9cc5bdccdc9b7107f74cd.jpeg)
Here?s the finished wings. The colors are:
Tamiya Green Black, Tamiya RAF Sky and light green mix, and Tamiya hull red mixed with flat yellow 10:1.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202508/2970975_d2395537c73424fc5a54841384ee2a8e.jpeg)
The decals were spares from a Roden Albatros kit.
That?s all for now. Thanks for looking in!
Tim
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Very nice work, that is looking fantastic!
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That is really master modeling. I also think the painting and weathering of your models is always excellent.
Joerg
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Thanks all for your gracious comments. I?ve made l lot of progress on this but taken very few pictures.
Here?s one with it in my Aeroclub jig. The upper wing alignment was pretty tricky to align correctly. I had to construct the unique struts from brass and plastic.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202509/2970975_47db189720499a6ec0a72373f42ebfaf.jpeg)
I?ll post more sooon. It?s almost complete now.
All the best,
Tim
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Loving it so far Tim and a great tip about the spare Roden radiators which I've filed away to use at some point ;)
Paul
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Good to see this one coming together Tim. Those Aeroclub jigs are a work of art in themselves!
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Amazing work, you make it look so easy.....
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I really do enjoy the subjects that come up on your bench
Alexis
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Finally finished this one. I?ll post completed pics in the completed build section.
(https://attachment.tapatalk-cdn.com/45241/202509/2970975_df7adf33777817dee6aa04c247bfd571.jpeg)
Thanks for looking in
Tim
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Looks wonderful, I'll pop over later to "completed".
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Absolutely wonderful!
Alan.