forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: Alexis on August 28, 2025, 04:44:01 AM
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Zac asked what was next on the bench and slowly been working on these two kits . Roden's Pfalz D.IIIa in 72 scale and Ardpol's Pfalz D.VIII in 72 scale .
The Roden kit took a bit of work getting the top cowl piece in places and cleaning up that seem . The tail slot needed to be deeping lots , I could have still did more filing but I was get tired of this . The engine does not fit right all but I didn't do anything to correct this overly then a bit of sanding . The lower fit wasn't the greatest a bit of sanding took care of that . I used spare seat belts for the seat out of the used parts bin and a few instruments for the panel and compass . The decals where just junk , they just fell apart when they hit the water . Since I have no spare decals for this scale I was able to source ones which will work but the scheme is fictional .
The Ardpol kit is actually a pretty nice kit . Not a lot of detail in the pit so I added seat belts , instruments . Had to make a new control column kit one was broken . Spreader bar was wrapped so new one was made up for scraps of plastic . there was to be a single pop and the four blade on but the single one was missing in the kit so thise change the subject I wanted to do . Going through Jack Harris book I went for one with mods made for testing . So this is actually the D.VII and not the D.VIII . The resin struts got scraped and new ones made form contrail stock . Sad part is you you get two right parts of the tail plane ! so for this i will just flip that part over in this scale it won't be all that noticeable . Gun jackets are PE ones the last set I had in this scale , The tail skid and flaring are scratched
Alexis
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:)
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Nice - Two silver Pfalz' 8)
(Just acquired the Ardpol one myself as it happens so interested to see how it shapes up) ;)
Paul
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I will also be following these builds closely. I also have just acquired the Ardpol kit. Nervous about resin kits.
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Thanks for sharing these. I'm keen to follow progress. They look lovely already.
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Those are indeed looking very nice so far. Excellent work on overcoming the issues with the DVIII/DVII.
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Both look great so far. Built the Roden kit recently and also discovered that the tail plane was too far back by about 5 mm! Interested to see how the Ardpol kit goes together.
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Good job with the cowling fit on the Roden Pfalz. I?ve built several and always had great difficulty with it. The Ardpol kit is coming along beautifully.
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Excellent work so for Alexis! I built the Roden Pfalz a ways back and remember it wasn't the easiest of builds... yours looks great!
Cheers,
BC
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Having built the Pfalz also I know that it is Not an easy journey but I'm sure you'll manage it . Great start.
Joerg
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Very glad to hear not the only individual who has experience fit issue with this kit .
Thanks for the support guys and the comments :)
Alexis
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All parts have got their coat of paint and sealed in with future ready for weathering on both builds . For the Pfalz logo's on the struts I just replicated it with a dot of red paint . I don't have decals for the L for the left and R for the right , lots of them for 48 scale . A sharped pencil was used for that . Not the greatest but fills the part okay . I did make an attempt with the bungee cord for the axles and that I will say didn't turn out well at all . Does add strength and so flimsy . Made a start on the lozenge with the under surfaces . Aviattic 5 colour is being used for both builds .
Once this has dried for a few hours it will get clear coated to seal them and it will harden up the edges a bit for trimming the excess off with a new sharp blade and tiny bits remaining a small touch of Tamiya extra thin takes care of that . Then the upper will get done . I still have rib tapes left form a Aeroscale set so will use those on the D.VII , I might have enough pink for the D.IIIa if not I have a sheet of Aviattic blue fabric faded to slice up .
Alexis
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:)
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Those are both looking pretty good to me. I really like the detail in the DVII cockpit.
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Both looking great.
Answer to your rib tape woes...
https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=14904.0
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Great job on both P's, Alexis.
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Thank you very much gentlemen for having a peak and leaving your comments .
Nigel , there is not a lot of detail in the pit , just very basic side wall details , floor , instrument panel , control column and seat are included in the kit . The seat belts , glad I added them for they do the job by drawing the eye away form the rest of the pit . Surprisingly the the kit engine and the wheels are better detail then what the pit is . I didn't add any detail but a draw back to the engine is the push rods . They have a bend in them with being moulded to rest of the engine and I sure did not feel like removing them for replacements .
Alexis
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Nigel , there is not a lot of detail in the pit , just very basic side wall details , floor , instrument panel , control column and seat are included in the kit . The seat belts , glad I added them for they do the job by drawing the eye away form the rest of the pit .
You did a great job - my eye was definitely fooled ;) :)
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Looks great Alexis. Nice work with the decals.
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Thanks Tim , I'm almost done with the top loz then on to rib tapes . More to come soon ...
Alexis
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Hmmmmm , some time sure has lapsed by since a update was made on these builds .
I'm finding these to be very challenging to build in this scale , mobility in my hands has it moments . have made a fare bit of progress on the DVII . Top wing is mounted and rigging is finished . I used Uschi standard and for the cab struts smoked thread for added strength . Landing fixed in place with only the tail planes left to do . The control horns were replaced with cut ones out of 0.5 card stock after a few of the resin ones binged ! off into the great void of space . Flight controls on the main wing still need to be done but I forget to make the holes for these
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:)
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The D.IIIa has a bit of progress made , still working on the many rigging with one more side to go .
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:)
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They're both looking mighty pretty Alexis, can't wait to see them finished :)
Paul
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Nnnice progress!!!
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It's good to see some progress here, they are both coming along nicely. The DVII is looking great, that's a rarely seen subject. Keep going, these will look great when they are done.....
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Terrific work on the two Pfalz Alexis! The rigged DVII is looking awesome!
RAGIII
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Thank you Gentlemen for the kind comments . :)
Alexis
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Hi Alexis, Both of these projects are coming along nicely... have been following both with interest because, well they're Pfalz's and also with the D.VIII (now a D.VII) being resin... I've never built a resin kit before but have one up next on the launching pad so am interested in the process. I know you replaced the interplane struts with Contrail stock but did you use the kit cabanes? I'm afraid that I'm going to have to use the resin struts as is and am hoping they are going to be strong enough. As for the D.IIIa, I feel your pain... I've built 3 of the Roden 72 D.III's and understand the work involved to get the upper cowl as well as the lower wing to look correct. Yours looks great although I'm sure it expanded your vocabulary a bit.
Take care
Scott
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Queen of the Pfalz strikes again! More great Bavarian birds. Honestly, I am amazed at the quality of the builds many of you guys produce in, as I have come to understand, is God's Own Scale.
Warren Q
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Thanks Scott and Warren for the comments .
Scott to answer your question I used the kit's cab struts with these being a shorter strut they will not have the same flex as longer one would have and with the rigging in-between this I used smoke invisible thread . There is no flex and is strong to hold everything in place , pinning the struts also helps .
Building a resin kit is really no different then a plastic kit just more test fitting and sanding . Hard to do repairs if to much sanding has been done .
Alexis
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Bit of an up date ,
Will not be finishing these builds . Both have been binned . After many many try's on the rigging and having the wings popping off , repair after repairs my patience have run out and tossed them in the trash . Sorry guys , but thank you for following along and commenting on the progress .
Alexis
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Bit of an up date ,
Will not be finishing these builds . Both have been binned . After many many try's on the rigging and having the wings popping off , repair after repairs my patience have run out and tossed them in the trash . Sorry guys , but thank you for following along and commenting on the progress .
Alexis
Dang Alexis! I feel your Pain having been there quite a few times! Hope your next one goes better!
RAGIII
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Let those projects sit for a year or so. You may decide to come back to them when cooler heads prevail. I know the frustration. The same thing happened to me several times.
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Sorry to hear that these ones haven't gone so well - we've all been there!
If you can fish them out of the bin then please do - about 15 years ago a friend of mine binned an Albatros model he'd gotten frustrated with and snapped / smashed up. I asked if he could send the bits to me...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54995510462_8fd80820d2_b.jpg)
Much to his chagrin I made a little diorama out of it, which later went on to be a contest winner. I called it "Struck off Charge"... he was none too amused! ;D
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54996650719_db8f61f3e7_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54996697450_01a6f07d23_b.jpg)
There's always something that you can come back to with these projects :)
Cheers,
BC
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Will not be finishing these builds . Both have been binned . After many many try's on the rigging and having the wings popping off , repair after repairs my patience have run out and tossed them in the trash . Sorry guys , but thank you for following along and commenting on the progress .
We've all been there, I know I have! Sometimes it's best to just end troublesome projects and move on to something else. Unless of course there's nothing left in the stash..... ;)
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Thanks for the support guys . I know I'm not the only one who has been down this road before so it is a comfortable feeling that we modellers are not alone in the scale world .
There won't be no fishing out of the trash , bit late for that and sure will not be dumpster diving ! Hands have not been idol though and have finished 3 builds . Anrdo 196a , Car door Typhoon and a P40C . Working on a Helldiver now with all the bells and whistles . Once a bit of free space is avaible will start another WW 1 bird ...just not sure which one !
Alexis
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How about a Pfalz Eindecker for a mojo build. Special Hobby 1/48.
Alan.
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What a pity, Alexis
Take another model(s)! Life must go on the ;)
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Sorry Alexis. I'm taking a break from WW1 as well, been fondling a bunch of JV44 kits to build.
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As good as an ideal that is Alan , I don't have a kit in the stash of a Pfalz E-1
Life does go on Prze !
Alexis
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This is a tale with a rather sad ending... sorry to hear about your mishap Alexis but as you mentioned, I'm sure this has happened to most of us (I can vividly recall it happening to me... I even took my rage out on the box the kit came in smashing it too...) All filed away as lessons learned but harder still when you are as close to completion as you were and also for how good they were looking.
Well, the sun comes up, we move on and hopefully the modeling gods will smile down upon us...
Take care
Scott