forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: redpiano on March 04, 2013, 12:41:24 PM

Title: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 04, 2013, 12:41:24 PM
Hey guys, first post here!

This is what I have so far after about a day's work, I'm using the Eduard photo etch set for the kit and I'll be rigging it with PE turnbuckles and wire nodes. I'm planning on painting it with more of a chocolate color than an OD green, just seems like a more interesting color to me.

(http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5130/img1013gl.jpg) (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/img1013gl.jpg/)

I'm going to assemble the fuselage next.

Any advice is always welcome!
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: uncletony on March 04, 2013, 12:58:51 PM
Hey Redpiano, welcome to the forum, nice start!

I assume you are the Redpiano from the RoF board? I am J2_Tony there :)
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 04, 2013, 01:03:28 PM
One and the same, nice to see you!
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: kinnies on March 04, 2013, 02:56:11 PM
Hi there,
Got this one in the stash, so I'm going to follow this closely. Didn't know Eduard had a PE set for it. What's it like? Is it worth the dosh?
Cheers,
John
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 04, 2013, 03:15:34 PM
I think the set is worth it, it's my first time with photo etch so I can't compare to other PE sets, I think the gauge set it comes with is worth it alone but you also get super detailed grills for the radiator, seatbelts, all sorts of hinges and buckles, some engine detail bits and such.

(http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/2072/img1004ps.jpg)


One piece of advice, don't make the mistake I made and order both the general detail set -and- the gauge/buckle set, you only need the general detail set as it also includes the gauges and buckles, I don't know why they sell them separately but also include them in the same package :\
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 04, 2013, 06:33:38 PM
I have a really nasty gap where the top of the cockpit goes onto the fuselage and the gap is in the corner right along some detail I'd rather not lose, so I'd rather not use the plastic glue I would normally use to fill gaps and I have no putty, what I do have is this loctite repair putty? I wonder if that'll work.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: drdave on March 04, 2013, 06:43:28 PM
Use something that will dissolve in cellulose thinners. You can smooth this off and allow it to fill the gap whilst wiping off excess without sanding. I use mr surfacer  500
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: mgunns on March 04, 2013, 11:39:31 PM
Hello Redpiano:

Welcome to the forum.  This really turns into a nice model, but; there are some pitfalls to watch for.  I did a build log here called the "Phoenix Project" you may want to check out.  As you are using the Eduard PE you need to ensure the fuselage walls have been trimmed of all existing rigging detail as it will really mess up the fit.  Another thing to watch for is the sequence of assembly.  You can put half the fuselage on the wings with the interior in it, leaving off the left side so you can rig the pedals and stick etc.  Ensure you read ahead in the instructions as well as there are steps that are shown pages ahead that assume the modeler has accomplished.  So, just a heads up.  When rigging, I left the undercarriage off until the very end.  It made for a much easier time of rigging it: also leave off all the aileron/elevator rigging until last as well. 
Good luck with the build, it looks like you are doing a bang up job with the interior portion of it, looking forward to seeing you progress through the build.  Have you decided on which markings to use?  I also use white glue to fill in small voids as well.

Best

Mark
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 05, 2013, 12:29:27 AM
Hey Gunns, thanks for the reply. I'm looking over your thread now and I've run into most of the same problems, with the PE parts for the interior rigging I ended up having to just tear that rear most panel out and toss it because no matter how clean I got the existing rigging sanded down it just would not allow the two fuselage halves to go together, even after taking it out I had issues so I just sliced about a mm off of each side of the seat and then it went together fine.

I've decided not to rig the interior, I had some plastic sprue stretched out and ready but ultimately I care more about the final paintjob and rigging on the exterior than how the interior turns out and I'm still pretty new to rigging.

I plan to use the "A" option decals with the 4 bladed prop and head rest and I want to get the color more towards the brown side like your phoenix se5a, here's a blurry picture of where I'm at now.

(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9233/img1016lj.jpg) (http://img213.imageshack.us/i/img1016lj.jpg/)

I'm running into a lot of walls because I don't have all the paint I need to actually start doing the necessary pre-assembly paint application like where the vicker is mounted among other things.

For the gap where the cockpit cover goes on I went ahead and just used the plastic glue, waiting for it to dry so I can sand it ever so carefully flush but in case I mess up all the stitching detail I went ahead and scrapped the extra fuselage parts I had and cut off all that stitching detail so if I mess it up too bad I can just sand it down and replace it that way.

After this the only things I can really do before Wednesday is the engine, vickers and lewis and the struts then I have to wait until my paint arrives.

Also I found some white surface primer used on canvas and it actually serves as great filler putty, if this glue doesn't work really well I'll apply some of that, it's thick like paste so it fills gaps easy and dries hard.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: pepperman42 on March 05, 2013, 12:31:43 AM
Nice start redpiano and welcome to the forum.
Steve
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: michael on March 05, 2013, 02:42:24 AM
hello redpiano and good start on your kit. i will be cheering you along  :)

michael
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 05, 2013, 08:36:30 AM
I'm at a loss as to how I'm supposed to fix this seam line, I'm trying everything I can  and I cannot get it smooth without just demolishing all that stitching detail, I'm really pissed at the moment. This seems like really crappy kit design to have such a major seam right next to detail like that.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 05, 2013, 08:39:19 AM
Here's a picture.

(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/1458/img1018er.jpg) (http://img543.imageshack.us/i/img1018er.jpg/)

I keep sanding but it will not smooth out and every time I pass over it I chip away at the stitching.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: uncletony on March 05, 2013, 09:07:11 AM
RP, DrDave's advice is sound:

Quote
Use something that will dissolve in cellulose thinners. You can smooth this off and allow it to fill the gap whilst wiping off excess without sanding. I use mr surfacer  500


That's what i use too for most seams.

You can also smooth it with ispropyl alcohol which absolutely won't attack the plastic. Some people use white-out as filler (aka "correction fluid" like what old-timeys used in prehistoric days to erase letters pounded onto scraps of paper with a strange mechanical device called a "typewriter".) Personally I don't like -- I can't get it to feather as nicely as Mr. Surfacer, but that's probably just me...

You might also try masking off the stitching detail before grinding away. Once you start to bite into the masking tape, replace the mask. Tape is cheap :-)


Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 07, 2013, 02:59:20 PM
Well...This is turning into a disaster of a project and has stopped being enjoyable.

(http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/1042/dscn3314n.jpg) (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/dscn3314n.jpg/)
(http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8945/dscn3313n.jpg) (http://img46.imageshack.us/i/dscn3313n.jpg/)
(http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9765/dscn3315x.jpg) (http://img515.imageshack.us/i/dscn3315x.jpg/)

Couldn't get the seam filled for the cockpit, I tried super glue, tried what filler material I had available, tried plastic glue. And the photo etch parts are being ruined just by glancing at them, managed to bend the radiator grills so neither of them sit flat and I have no idea how to pop the little slats out. The way everything else is going I don't know that I even want to attempt rigging..
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: pepperman42 on March 07, 2013, 11:53:56 PM
Hmmm now that you've used super glue you have kinda "petrified" the other filler on the seam. Like Bo says, tape the detail and slow sand it. The worst work looks to be a fair distance from the stitching. Patience.........

Steve
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: Chris Johnson on March 08, 2013, 12:23:09 AM
I can sense your level of frustration is increasing and I'm well experienced in that regard myself. You only have to read my recent F.2b build log to see that I had a devil of a time eliminating a fuselage seam and then ran off the rails when rigging it. My advice is to walk away when things look bleak and come back the next day to tackle the problem again. It never ceases to amaze me how a fresh outlook can sometimes make all the difference in the world. In my experience though, and as much as I dislike it, sometimes compromises have to be made. The main thing though is to persevere!

Cheers,

Chris
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: mgunns on March 08, 2013, 04:27:58 AM
Hello Redpiano:

I think with the Radiator grill, before applying the Eduard PE, the modeler is supposed to smooth out the existing radiator details.  It is frustrating.  I would tape the stiching and sand, you are almost there.  On the underside, tape off the details on the underside of the wing, fill in the seam and sand until smooth.  Like Chris said too, sometimes just walk away, or put it back in the box, work on something a little less "fiddly" like an Albators or the Sopwith Pup, and come back to it at a later date. 

Good Luck

Mark
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 08, 2013, 07:28:00 AM
Thanks guys, I'm going to try a higher grit sandpaper, that'll allow me to calm down and go slow and then I can finish it off with a piece of 1000 grit to smooth it.

I purchased a bunch of fantasy miniatures last week so I've been painting those for fun, I'll give the SE5a a try again tomorrow.

@Gunns, I did actually smooth it down, it's just that taking the PE parts off the sprue I bent them and then applying the super glue I just could not control it so it went everywhere, when I get back to it I'll take it apart, sand them both down and go from there again, maybe I'll sand the radiator down further than I already did I don't know.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 20, 2013, 09:32:29 PM
any advice for making new stitching?
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: rhallinger on March 20, 2013, 09:49:27 PM
I think Archer Fine Transfers makes 1/32 stitching, but I think it is on rib tape.  It is in lengths that might work. Check out their website.

Regards,

Bob
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on March 20, 2013, 09:55:09 PM
Geeeeeezzzz 18$....alrighty then. Thanks.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 13, 2013, 06:43:47 AM
Got back in the mood to finish this stupid thing today, I just put the final part on, tomorrow I'll sand it up and paint it.

I know everyone loves WNW but this has been the worst experience I've had building a model, I just got done tearing off the ailerons and reapplying them because there's an error in the booklet that I didn't notice and I put all the ailerons on upside down. That and the horrible gap on the cockpit.

All in all I've dumped about 150$ into this kit, but yeah so sick of it I just went ahead and tossed the rest of the PE parts into their bag and just used the stock parts, not going to bother lol.

(http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9811/img1046w.jpg) (http://img441.imageshack.us/i/img1046w.jpg/)
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: GAJouette on April 13, 2013, 07:16:21 AM
  Hang in there Red,she'll be fine my friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: pepperman42 on April 13, 2013, 07:20:20 AM
Well you got her together - may as well keep going!!

Steve
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 13, 2013, 07:33:21 AM
I enjoy painting the most so s'all good in that regard, I'm just masking off the windshield and glass covers for the wings now, then I'm gonna hit the sack cause I am beat.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 14, 2013, 09:06:57 AM
Couple quick pics of the final paint and weathering, I went a bit overboard with the weathering hoping it would cover up some of the blemishes in the finish, which it did so all is well, I like my models real dirty anyways.

(http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1743/dscn3330a.jpg) (http://img706.imageshack.us/i/dscn3330a.jpg/)
(http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/8117/dscn3329f.jpg) (http://img546.imageshack.us/i/dscn3329f.jpg/)

Bracing wire comes tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: pepperman42 on April 14, 2013, 02:52:01 PM
Nice work. The weathering is heavy but plausible - looks good!!!

Steve
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: rhallinger on April 14, 2013, 09:23:20 PM
She looks like a veteran bird at the front---excellent!  The final result appears well worth your travails. ;)  I really like your color/rib shading.  It's quite realistic to my eye.  Great job weathering too!  Way to persevere! ;D

Regards,

Bob
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: GAJouette on April 14, 2013, 09:30:30 PM
  Red,
Great weathering my friend. Looking forward to the rigging to come.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: coyotemagic on April 15, 2013, 12:21:05 AM
Looks great, Red.  Challenging to paint fully assembled.  Hat's off.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: mgunns on April 15, 2013, 04:03:27 AM
It's looking good Red.  Looking forward to see how you do the rigging.

Best

Mark
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 15, 2013, 07:13:26 AM
Dont think I'll finish the rigging today lol, been working since I got up and I only have two wires on the wings and half of the tail rigging done. I got all the wire terminals in place now, was using super glue to attach them but they kept snapping off so I just coated one end in plastic cement and attach that to the wing and it seems to be holding really well, in the mean time I've got most of the wires on the tail done, only two of the rudder support cables to go then I start on the wings.

(http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3337/dscn3333z.jpg) (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/dscn3333z.jpg/)
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: RAGIII on April 15, 2013, 09:52:20 PM
You are doing an incredible job. I don't know how you managed to paint fully assembled.... but well done!
RAGIII
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 15, 2013, 09:54:52 PM
To be honest I don't know how you guys can paint without it fully assembled, by the time I'm done putting the kit together everything is so covered in glue and in need of sanding that there's no way it would look any good if I had painted it before-hand lol.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: redpiano on April 16, 2013, 08:10:27 AM
All finished now, added some more dirt to the undercarriage, bottoms of the wings and up the sides of the fuselage. Loved and hated using the EZ line for rigging.

(http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/9933/dscn3347q.jpg) (http://img837.imageshack.us/i/dscn3347q.jpg/)
(http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/1456/dscn3345h.jpg) (http://img801.imageshack.us/i/dscn3345h.jpg/)
(http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6350/dscn3344c.jpg) (http://img9.imageshack.us/i/dscn3344c.jpg/)
(http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6664/dscn3341k.jpg) (http://img62.imageshack.us/i/dscn3341k.jpg/)
(http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/9609/dscn3350o.jpg) (http://img51.imageshack.us/i/dscn3350o.jpg/)
(http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/8730/dscn3342z.jpg) (http://img33.imageshack.us/i/dscn3342z.jpg/)
(http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/797/dscn3346u.jpg) (http://img826.imageshack.us/i/dscn3346u.jpg/)

Thanks for looking, might have better pics later on.
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: pepperman42 on April 16, 2013, 08:28:45 AM
She's a well used fighter. Nice work!!

Steve
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: coyotemagic on April 16, 2013, 12:47:00 PM
Really beautiful, Red.  Remarkable transformation from an unpainted, fully assembled model to a very convincing replica.  Very impressive.
Cheers,
Bud
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: michael on April 17, 2013, 12:00:38 AM
Great stuff.

i like them dirty  :)

michael
Title: Re: WNW SE5a w/Eduard PE
Post by: mgunns on April 19, 2013, 12:34:13 AM
Great weathering, turned out real nice.

Best

Mark