forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: andonio64 on November 07, 2016, 09:37:02 PM
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Hallo everybody,
My new project is about one of the most strange planes of the WW1 period, the "Never Fighting Lady" DFW T.28 Floh (old Eduard kit, 1995)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/001.jpg)
Everybody knows the story of this machine, my choice is intended to build a new plane before the year ends…
I have no documentation but Wikipedia and a plan I found on the web somewhere some years ago, I don’t remember where.
Here is the kit’s only sprue (front / back)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/002.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/003.jpg)
The kit includes a nice photoetched fret, the decals are simple (nice Axial logos for the propeller) and a small acetate leaf for the instrument panel
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/004.jpg)
Instructions sheets:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/005.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/006.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/007.jpg)
Flashes alla round but they do not seem to be a difficult challenge, the fuselage has no holes for the wing and tailplanes pins, and the exhaust holes are not pierced. Also the rigging holes have to be drilled.
What ‘s worst IMHO is that the air intakes on the funny face of this plane are not even indicated, they should be replaced by decals, which I do not think I acceptable.
After checking the sprues I realized that the rudder and fin are missing... they should have been here:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/missing1.jpg)
But they’re not!
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/missing2.jpg)
I will make them from scratch…
Yesterday evening I started with a couple of operations on the fuselage:
Exhaust holes, drilled and made a bit more realistic with six chunks of brass pipe
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/009.jpg)
I also prepared a hole where to insert the propeller’s stem:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/008.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/010.jpg)
I will need also to scribe the lines of the front panel (engine access).
OK that’s all for now, thanks for looking.
Antonio
PS
My inspirational references are:
Arnaud (http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=5152)
Martin (http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=3203.0)
Pustota (http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=3162)
Red Baron (http://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=9.msg198#msg198)
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Awesome subject Antonio, looking forward to your progress.
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very nice so far, one day i need to build mine.
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A most interesting subject. You will no doubt perform your usual magic and turn a respectable kit into a little gem.
Stephen.
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I'll do my best ...thank you guys!
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Looks like a fun project! I had no idea Eduard made a 1/48 Floh.
Eric
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A most unusual aircraft but one very well known, looking forward to seeing your build of this kit, what you have done so far is very good.
Des.
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When you build the interior, be aware that the seat sits quite a bit too low. You need to add something to the top of the seat platform to raise the seat high enough for the pilot to see out of the cockpit. You don't need to ask how I know!!!
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There was a "WWI warplanes - great war classics in profile" vol. I, by Albatros productions, containing a brief article about the Flohwith six photographs, scale drawings in 1/72 and 1/48 and a colour profile on the front cover.
Best whishes for your build.
Ciao.
Giuseppe
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Not one we see very often getting built . Following along ....
Terri
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Looks like a fun project! I had no idea Eduard made a 1/48 Floh.
Eric
Yes Eric, here it is, there is also one ELF models Floh but in 1/72. I had it and to be honest I found it better than this kit, but the 72nd scale is not my favourite although sometimes I build it. So I preferred the 48th and Eduard was the way to go.
Thanks Des, Terri, Jamie and Giuseppe for your encouragement.
@Giuseppe, I know that Mini-Datafile, thanks but actually I feel comfortable enough with the visual clues I get from the quoted forum-mates, I just would need a 48th precise drawing of the Fin+Rudder to make it from plasticard...
Antonio
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Nice start on another very basic kit! I am looking forward to seeing you get this one together and improved!
RAGIII
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Thanks Rick,
yesterday I googled "dfw floh technical drawings" and found this drawing, then I made a couple of attempts resizing it to the dimensions of the fuselage of the kit, and got a good starting point to rebuild the missing rudder.
(http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww1/t28/t28-1.gif)
Was the rudder a single piece (such as - for example - the fokker eindecker or triplane) or did it have a fixed part and a mobile part?
Antonio
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Andonio;
The rudder appears to be a single piece affair from the drawings/photos I looked at and that is the way the colour three view that comes with the kit shows it. There is a distinct gap between the forward part and the top of the fuselage.
Jamie
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Thank you jamie, according to you what is that vertical dashed line in the middle? it seems a sort of stem around which the rudder turns.
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I think that is probably a good idea. There is a photo on Wikipedia that shows the rudder fairly clearly and whatever that line is (rib?, rudder post?) it is clearly not a gap.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFW_Floh#/media/File:DFW_T.28_Floh_WW1_fighter_2.jpg
Jamie
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This is a great start to a very unusual subject, Antonio! But quite fascinating! I do like your neat detailing... I will be following along... Regards, Marc
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I think that is probably a good idea. There is a photo on Wikipedia that shows the rudder fairly clearly and whatever that line is (rib?, rudder post?) it is clearly not a gap.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DFW_Floh#/media/File:DFW_T.28_Floh_WW1_fighter_2.jpg
Jamie
Yes jamie, it's visible and I will try to make it visible when scratchbuilding the rudder, I will consider it as the rudder post and insert a pin there
This is a great start to a very unusual subject, Antonio! But quite fascinating! I do like your neat detailing... I will be following along... Regards, Marc
Thanks Marc for your encouragement
Antonio
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i am highly interested in this build. I like this odd looking prototype. Have fun while building it.
Manni
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Thank you Manni!
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I'll be watching too :). I have the Eduard kit, and many times I've considered buying the 1/32 Planet Models kit also.
Peter
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Thank you Peter.
In the meantime I have purchased a couple of jars of Lifecolor UA 074 "light blue", equivalent to RLM 76 which seems one of the most likely colours of this plane.
Ciao
Antonio
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Hallo everybody,
Thanks to a strong cold today I stay at home and dedicated some time to the Floh upper wings.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/011.jpg)
I re-scribed the ailerons, don't think I will bend them, but who knows, I also scribed the three fuel tanks and created the radiator using an old photoeched jacket of a Vickers in 72nd. Then I made the pipes taking fuel (I guess) fromthe tanks to the engine buried inside the fuselage using metal wire diam. 0,4 mm
detail:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/012.jpg)
Of course the wings are just dry fitted supported by piles of 1 Eurocent coins.
I also worked on the bottom wings re-scribing the ailerons and detached the elevators from the horizontal tail planes. More in the afternoon.
AnDonio
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Hi Andonio, hope you feel better. The Flea is coming along beautifully.
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Hi Andonio! You are succeeding with some very neat detailing there, it should look beautiful when completed. You are building quite fast, but doing a lovely job... Regards, Marc
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Thanks Juan & Marc,
I went a little forward: besides cleaning all the remaining pieces off the sprue (hard and boring work because the flashes were many, made of thick and hard plastic) I pierced the tail planes, rimmed them with photoetches from the nice fret supplied by the kit, then I drilled holes in the elevators and inserted control horns made from scratch.
Here the pictures:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/013.jpg)
tail planes + elevators top side
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/014.jpg)
tail planes + elevators reverse side
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/015.jpg)
detail view of the control horns
Next step will be scratch build the rudder.
Ciao and thanks for watching
Antonio
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Those control horns look very good indeed - very well done. I also like your fuel pipes - a nice touch which turns a kit into a really good model.
Stephen.
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Thank you Stephen!
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Excellent details Antonio!
RAGIII
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Great progress on this "rudimentary" Kit you add very nice details. It is a pleasure to watch.
Bye,Manni
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Antonio,
Outstanding progress my old friend. Looking forward to seeing you turn this sow's ear of a kit into a silk purse.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
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Your moving right along on this one , looking good so far :)
Terri
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Thank you lady and gentlemen!
I hope to move forward during the weekend, I am enjoying it!
Antonio
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Hallo, during the weekend I was able to work a bit scratchbuilding the rudder:
I took the three view plan quoted above and traced the rudder with a pencil using copy paper onto the plasticard sheet (1.5 mm thickness).
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/016.jpg)
Then I cut the piece from plasticard sheet
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/017.jpg)
It seems fair enough...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/018.jpg)
(the transparence was done using GIMP overlaying the two images above)
Here the rudder is temporarily stuck with low tack plasticine
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/019.jpg)
I made it thinner towards the top
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/020.jpg)
Then I scribed small grooves over the framing traces and glued some plasticard rod (diam. 0.5 mm) with the geen cap glue
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/021.jpg)
That's how the piece looked like after this operation
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/022.jpg)
I sanded evrything off and milled the surface to give the impression of the linen. I used a spherical head, it's OK but after seeing this photo I went on milling a bit more to avoid this evident spherical hole (but I did not take any further photo, will do later)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/023.jpg)
Last operation was to insert into the rudder the control horns and the pin (made with copper wire 0.4 mm diam.) to be inserted in the fuselage
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/024.jpg)
Thanks for the attention!
AnDonio
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Very nice progress. Looking for more.
Manni
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Thanks Manni, I am doing my best!!!
;-)
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Nice work on the rudder Antonio!
RAGIII
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Excellent work with the rudder.
Des.
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The Floh is still high on my Wanted lis. Maybe I`ll get lucky and manage to buy one ;)
Very good looking progress Andonio!
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Thank you mates!
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Hallo everybody,
some work done on the fuselage
I wanted to reproduce the louvres on the two sides, which are represented by piece no.6 in the PE fret.
I glued squares of "lead" cut from wine capsules behind each piece no.6:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/025.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/026.jpg)
then I pushed the lead into the holes with a tootpick, and in the end I cut the back side of each louvre with a scalpel.
Here are the pieces glued in their position.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/027.jpg)
Here I tried to photograph (with horrible result) the louvres from the back to show the final effect.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/028.jpg)
I hope the final result after painting will be better.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/029.jpg)
This is the current state of the two halves, I scribed the front panel (used to remove the engine for operations... really uncomfortable I guess)
Both on the fuselage and on the wings I experimented tamiya panel line accent black.
The result is good, I'll probably use it again after painting if necessary.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/030.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/031.jpg)
The openings on the plane "face" are supplied as decals, I don't like that solution so I carved them in the plastic and painted black inside.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/032.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/033.jpg)
Last thing done: the undercarriage's struts were cleaned from flashes and pins installed.
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/034.jpg)
Next step will be the cockpit
Ciao!
AnDonio
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Hallo everybody,
with the help of some days off duty I have made some progresses on the work:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/035.jpg)
I decided not to use the photo etched "flat" struts and created an inner structure with 0.75 mm square plasticard rods.
In the meantime I sprayed all the pieces with white tamiya primer, here is shown the propeller with a fokker boss...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/036.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/037.jpg)
in this picture some photoetched pieces I worked on ready to be painted:
- seat + cushion
- cockpit foloor with some elements added
- control column totally scraatrch built with some zinc thread
- fuel pump made from plasticard and lead wire, with the handle coming from the PE fret
- seat belts from the PE fret wait to be painted
- dashboard was primerized and is waiting for some work
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/038.jpg)
In these 2 pictures the cockpit floor, the longitudinal bar and the pin for the pedals were put by me. The step on one side is where the seat will be placed.
I'll start painting later this afternoon.
Ciao!
AnDonio
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Very nice job on the interior PE parts, looking forward to seeing them painted!
Looking at the holes in the plane nose, I would say that they would deserve a slight touch up with a round file. Their placement will be quite prominent on the finished model.
Cheers
Ondra
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Thank you Ondra, I will see how to improve the front holes, actually the lower right one is out of alignment, now they appear as black blobs, I think theyll look betteronce the whole nose will be painted.
Antonio
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Great update Andonio. Looking at the interior of the model I can see why this machine would not have been very popular with pilots. Your detailing is top notch.
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Very nice work to date Andonio, looking forward to seeing all the internal parts painted and then fitted.
Des.
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Hallo everybody,
Happy new year to all my forumite friends!
Some progress on the "interior design":
- Dashboard -
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/039.jpg)
- starboard fuselage half -
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/040.jpg)
- port fuselage half -
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/041.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/042.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/043.jpg)
Now I have closed the fuselage, I'm waiting for the glue to dry, then I'll work on the joining lines with sandpapere and putty, now I'm going to paint the propeller.
Ciao!!!!
AnDonio
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Very nice Flea. Good to see how these old eduard kits can be made into something really pretty!
Borsos
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Thanks Borsos!
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Progressing quite nicely Antonio! Looking forward to your next update!
RAGIII
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Excellent work on the interior, Andonio!
Cheers,
Bud
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Nice work on the interior, love what you have done so far.
Des.
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Thanks Rick, Bud & Des, for the appreciation !
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Hallo friends, some new material:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/044.jpg)
I painted the propeller,
- base coat: Tamiya deck tan
- reddish belts drawn with a coloured pencil
- Humbrol "Acrylic Varnish Satin 135" spray to seal
- Gunze Clear Yellow to warm the tones
I should have used a warmer tone as a base, for example a CDL or the Wooden Deck Tan, to get a more realistic effect...
An error here was to imagine the Axial logo had a white background, but once transferred from the paper base to the propeller it revealed to be transparent, I should have painted a white circle as a base but it was too late...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/045.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/046.jpg)
Preshading the wings and the tail surfaces looks like I put pajamas on them...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/047.jpg)
I closed the fuselage
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/048.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/049.jpg)
A couple of photos of the cockpit, the opening is too narrow to show what's inside, OK I had fun in doing it...
The cockpit opening rimming was made using a tiny plastic tube (used to tie some plants to their support)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/051.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/050.jpg)
I improved a bit the openings on the "face"...
I hope to start tomorrow the main painting work...
Ciao and thanks as usual for the attention.
AnDonio
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This one is continuing to come along quite nicely. I always like your innovative solution to adding details!
RAGIII
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Thank you Rick!
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Some really nice work there, AnDonio! I'm enjoying watching this come together! Good Progress! Marc
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Super detailing in the cockpit - what a shame it is not visible! This is going to be a very interesting model when completed - some very fine modelling here.
Stephen.
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Thanks Marc and Stephen.
Yesterday I painted the upper surfaces of the 4 wings and of the tail planes, more later this week (hopefully).
Ciao
Antonio
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Very nice, good idea to use the blue tube.
Manni
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Hallo everybody,
2017 started not in a good way, here's the small progress I was able to make on the little flea since last update...
FUselage and wings pained with Lifecolor UA 074 "light blue" RLM76
I love Lifecolor because they are very good for brush painting...
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/054.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/055.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/056.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/057.jpg)
I also painted the black rimming and applied the decals
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/052.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/053.jpg)
Then I coated everything with satin varnish by Dr. Toffano, another great paint that I dilute with water to obtain a smoth and soft effect I like very much, parhaps in the pictures it does not show clearly enough...
I hope to find some time to fix the wings to the fuselage during this weekend, then the road shoud easily go downhill...
Ciao!
AnDonio
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Really nice work on the paintng and decaling Antonio! Your black outlining is also looking good!
RAGIII
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Great work Andonio: I agree with Rick - the painting is first class. The photos of the front make the aircraft look as though it is eating a worm!
Stephen.
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Good point, Stephen, the photo seems to be showing a hungry flea feeding on a worm. ;D
Very nice job on the painting, Antonio, the black lines are very well done.
Looking forward to seeing this beauty finished.
Cheers
Ondra
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Thanks everybody. Your comments are greatly appreciated!
Antonio
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Hallo everybody,
I succeeded in completing the Floh stealing a few hours here and there to real life...
Here are some photos:
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/058.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/059.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/060.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/061.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/062.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/063.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/064.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/065.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/066.jpg)
(http://www.andonio.it/model/floh/067.jpg)
Thanks for the support during the works!
Antonio
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Now that is a cracking model. It is quite tiny - no wonder it was a devil to fly! Super finish and well detailed.
Stephen.
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Thank you Stephen
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Superb build and wonderful detail on a very bizarre subject. It's hard to believe it actually flew. Makes a Brewster Buffalo look positively aerodynamic.
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Very nice! This little flea turned out very well. congratulations!
Borsos
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Superb build and wonderful detail on a very bizarre subject. It's hard to believe it actually flew. Makes a Brewster Buffalo look positively aerodynamic.
Ha ha that's right Toby! Thanks for the comment!
Very nice! This little flea turned out very well. congratulations!
Borsos
Thank you Borsos!
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Very nice results on an unusual subject. U really enjoyed your build as always!
RAGIII
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A really nice looking model of a very odd looking aeroplane, you have done a great job with this build.
Des.
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Antonio,
Well Done and congratulations my old friend.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
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Antonio,
So here's MY list of remarkable aircraft:
Most Beautiful looking......... Spitfire, especially the final versions;
Probably most fun...... Sopwith Pup;
Most "mean" looking......... a fully loaded F-18 (I'm biased on this one of course!)
Just plain ugliest of all time, you just built it, the Floh!
Great job, you have captured it's lines perfectly. I wonder if the designer was really serious? Toby's remark about the Brewster Buffalo is appropriate, I think the Gee Bee racers look like stilettos compared to this little beastie! I can't imagine how miserable flying it was! Can't even begin to grasp it's behavior in a good crosswind! :o
But great little model, a real conversation piece!
Cheers,
Lance
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She turned out really nice Antonio :)
Terri
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Thanks everybody!
Lance: there's so little information about this "plane" (it's a hazard to use this word in this case!!!) and it would be nice to understand the path that lead the designer to such a weird shape... the quest for aerodynamics design took him to forget about usability and manoeuvrability, why?
Your proposal for "Most..." planes prizes is interesting, that would be a nice subject for a poll among the forumites!
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Very nice work on this odd plane.
Thanks for showing,
Manni
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Very nice work on this odd plane.
Thanks for showing,
Manni
Thanks Manni, your comment (as all the others) is very appreciated.
Antonio
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Very nice, Antonio, good job!
Cheers
Ondra
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Good job. I have to get around to doing the final touches on mine (decals).
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Outstanding job on a truly remarkable machine. Definitely one of the most bizarre designs of the Great War. I have one in my stash and will probably build it one day when I feel the need to put something truly strange in my collection.
Cheers,
Bud
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Thanks Jamie, Bud & Ondra. I appreciate your comments.
This kit was fun enough and pretty easy to make, I like the color I used : Lifecolor UA 074 "light blue", equivalent to RLM 76. Lifecolor paints are really easy to lay with brush.
In the final photos the shade of blue appears to be brighter than the real appearance which is a bit less saturated.
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fantastic
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Thanks Albatros1234
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Nice one, Antonio! I must say, it looks like something from my childhood Saturday morning cartoons... ;)
You did a really neat job on that. Very convincing and nicely detailed.
Cheers,
Dan
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Thank you Dan!