forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Scratch builds => Topic started by: Skyhook on April 07, 2026, 03:33:53 AM
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Hello!
I finally got this going. Fuselage is where I start this time and here it is. Joachim kindly supplied me with contemporary drawings and measurements and now it really looks like the WS Datafile drawings for B.1 are actually much closer to B.2 version in length and shape as far as the fuselage is concerned. Certainly for the earlier B.1s at least. So I modified the drawings accordingly and let us see in time how the model looks and compares to the photos.
Anyway, I approach this in my usual way and i try to remember to be simple everywhere that will not be visible in the end. So my fuselage won?t have inner detailing anywhere else but at the cockpits.
Cheers, Skyhook
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55191612184_9a97134122_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s66rsq)IMG_0975 (https://flic.kr/p/2s66rsq)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55191612159_6916b33bb3_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s66rrZ)IMG_0977 (https://flic.kr/p/2s66rrZ)
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Hi
I was going to build this plane someday. I hope to get to that point, but for now I'll just see how you handle this rather difficult build. The fuselage isn't exactly the easiest.
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Will watch this with greatest interest! :)
Joachim
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Excellent choice and another great scratchbuild thread to follow.
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Thanks all!
Got it further today, here?s the progress:
First I added the inner structure to the cockpit area, using heat stretched, rectangular sprue
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55193842708_8e14dbf36d_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6hSvJ)IMG_0978 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6hSvJ)
Then I heat formed the upper decking for the front part, using a candle for the heating and a white marker as the male mould. The material is 0,7 mm white plasticard.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55193694561_bcb1bf40b5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6h7tt)IMG_0979[/url
After getting the shape ok, i cut and sanded the decking to the right size.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2s6cA7L](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55192811992_45daa6720f_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6h7tt)IMG_0980 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6cA7L)
Now it is glued to the place
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55193842733_36728c8f80_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6hSwa)IMG_0981 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6hSwa)
And now it is sanded and the cockpit and engine openings are cut out. I also started to make the horizontal tailplane from the same plasticard. I drew the structure to the underside with markers.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55193948909_3c2fab3ac0_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6iq5M)IMG_0982 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6iq5M)
Cheers, Skyhook
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Fine progress!
Note that the stab is on top of the fuselage which has a rounded "device" to position the stab. I keep searching for the photo showing it.
It shows many fuselages in a building, for training mechanics.
Joachim
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Nice work - I love the heat forming technique!
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Blimey that's quick progress Skyhook :)
Like the way you've broken down the fuselage into manageable shapes and moulded the top. I've got the later Ardpol version on the shelf and it makes for an interesting design with some subtle features not seen on other types. Looking forward to more progress
Paul
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Thanks!!!
and thanks for the photos, Joachim! Must change that bit. I did not notice that it in other photos. Or I probably saw it, but didn?t notice what I was seeing :)
The fuselage will probably have a proper base color this evening
cheers, Skyhook
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Found the pic with the "device", second left. Vintage Warbirds No 2 1985 :)
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thanks!!!
I really had not noticed that in the other photos, but now I cannot unsee it anymore :). The curious shape of the upper decking around the cockpits is proving quite hard to replicate. I should have added it to the male mould when heat forming the part. But I try shape it after the fact now.
cheers, Skyhook
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Ok, here is some more progress after the last one. I think this time I will make the fuselage rather ready before building the wings. I plan to take ideas from the fine projects of yours and will make the wings from plasticard, sanded to shape, instead of my usual method of balsa core and scored plastic sheet.
Cheers, Skyhook
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55196197787_278e8ec396_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6uWAx)IMG_1001 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6uWAx)
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Looking great so far 8)
Looking forward to seeing the next stage
Paul
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Only just found this - you are a fast worker! The fuselage moulding looks very good - using heated plastic is simple but effective as you demonstrate.
Making the wings from plasticard is IMO the best way - wood cores are unnecessarily complicated whereas heat curvd plastic sheet gives equally good results and is quicker and simpler.
This is (another) type which is new to me so I will be following with interest.
Stephen.
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That's looking good - I think you did a great job on the cockpit opening.
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Hello
What kind of machine do you have to create shape of engine cowling ??
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Hello
What kind of machine do you have to create shape of engine cowling ??
Hi Kamil
In this instance a sheet of plasticard, a candle for the heating and a marker pen for the male mould. You can see it in the pictures. Here i did the usual mistake of mine of not really deciding early on the particular plane I am going to model. Regarding some LVG B.1 manufacturers, they had different shapes to the cockpit sides. Too late I noted that the earliest B.1s had a curious shape, where the sides make an upturned curve. So i had to add the higher sides afterwards. I made them of thin strips of plasticard and had to do some careful putty work to make them flush with the original surface. If I did it again, it would have been wise to glue a piece of cardboard in the shape of the actual cockpit opening to the marker cap. Then i would have had the right shape straight away to the moulded plasticard. Must remember this when I will tackle the later LVG B.II and the early C-types later on
Cheers, Skyhook
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Hi!
Base colour added to see where I have to clean things up
Cheers, Skyhook
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55199420922_c7af3394f7_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s6MsHQ)IMG_1006 (https://flic.kr/p/2s6MsHQ)
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Looks........AMAZING!!!! :o :o :o :o
Love it.
Dan
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This is looking really good......
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Excellent progress.
Stephen.
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Thanks, All!!!
I have made some progress, but have not taken photos yet. Will do over the weekend. The main news is that I finally decided the particular plane I am going to model. It is one of if not the first German plane that ended up in the French hands. 16th of August 1914 at Cernay. It still has the front wheel assembly and the oldest, triangular iron cross hands. I found a good archive in the net, that has the known photos of the plane in one place (as new, when it was still more or less pristine). There?s more photos of it later on, but by that time it was a literal wreck.
later on:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/varese2002/55029505462/
after capture:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-world-war-i-german-armoured-biplane-captured-in-cernay-49916796.html?imageid=E708064C-3D9A-4414-BA49-8CD2EE0EBBA7&pn=1&searchId=96a71dac27f01b8b11ae34de1e1b283a&searchtype=0
almost a walkaround:
https://cctbelfort.canalblog.com/2025/05/les-visuels-edites-en-cartes-postales-de-la-prise-de-guerre-presentee-sur-la-place-d-armes-de-belfort-en-aout-1914-l-aeroplane-allemand-5e-partie.html
cheers, Skyhook
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Skyhook, always amazed at the scratch built subjects I see on this site (and their are quite a few so this is kind of a blanket comment), and you've built quite a few of them. Your LVG is looking great, it's always a pleasure to see the ingenuity that goes into putting something together from just basic pieces of plastic, brass and maybe a few bits from the spares box. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out.
Take care
Scott...
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Nice choice of subject aircraft Skyhook.
The fuselage looks great with a bit of paint on it; a testimony to your skills. Looking forward to the wings appearing on it
Paul
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Your choosen subject is a great choice! A number of new pictures.
That machine seems to be one of very few to show translucent wings, most other are opaque suggesting rubberized weatherproof fabric like the Jeannin Taube in Berlin.
Waiting for your ways to create the "Scheitelkuehler" and exhaust collector.
Joachim
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Thanks!
Here is the situation this evening. Cockpit work on the way. There?s the engine block too waiting for the details.
Cheers, Skyhook
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55215477088_f273caa1e5_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s8cKEh)IMG_1026 (https://flic.kr/p/2s8cKEh)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55215572014_81a1d1a855_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s8deSW)IMG_1027 (https://flic.kr/p/2s8deSW)
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Lots of lovely detail there which fortunately will be at least partially visible when the model is finished!
Stephen.
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Nice work on the fuselage - I like the turned effect on the metal parts.
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Thanks, again
Some progress, more than one thinks when comparing to the previous photo. Actually the fuselage starts to be ready. I will add the missing engine elememts after I have put the wings in place. So the next hurdle is the wings.
Cheers, Skyhook
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55221972676_c8ffdb72a9_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2s8M3zb)IMG_1037 (https://flic.kr/p/2s8M3zb)
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Nice work on the fuselage, she's looking good.
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Thanks! I am currently having such a busy time at the work, so i will be able to continue with this in June, i think.
Cheers, Skyhook