forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Under Construction => Topic started by: aliluke on December 23, 2017, 08:37:41 PM
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Hi
I've started on the LVG. This is pilfered from the Duelist set and my brother-in-law got the Camel plus the box. But I got the decals from the original WNW model as I want to make Eleynor/Mia. This was built by the French Memorial Flight Association but now is owned by TVAL (aka Sir Peter Jackson). It is brilliantly photographed here on this forum by Jamo and I hope he's OK with letting me re-post one of his photos. The photo record for this plane is brilliant - my pilot seat does not comply with it!
As I like to do, I start my model with that seat. Sort of feels like the right place to start?! The LVG pilot sat on top of the fuel tank which seems to add unneeded extra danger to an already very seriously dangerous pursuit...
A long hot summer beckons so this one will be a slow burn.
(https://i.imgur.com/eKdszPB.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SaV9ysN.jpg)
Merry Christmas,
Alistair
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Merry Christmas, Alistair! The seat and fuel tank look great! How did you achieve this weathering?
Looking forward to your LVG,
Richard
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If the remainder of the model looks as good as this seat and tank then we are in for a real treat.
Stephen.
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Fantastic start, looking forward to you working your magic on the rest of this beauty.
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If the remainder of the model looks as good as this seat and tank then we are in for a real treat.
Stephen.
Agreed! The seat is simply beautiful!
RAGIII
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Thanks all.
Richard the weathering on the tank is a mistake - the clear finish I applied had an orange peel effect - something to do with my airbrush - which became visible when I did a black wash over it.
I have a question - does any one know how the camera was mounted in the rear cockpit of the LVG? I can't find anything about this online.
Cheers
Alistair
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Nice subject - a few years ago I went to the airshow where the Mémorial Flight is based (Cerny-La Ferté Alais aerodrome near Paris) and saw it up close when it was still there. I still use a close up shot I took of the lower lozenge on the top wing as my desktop background for my laptop! :)
The weather was great then; saw their D.VIIF and Hispano-powered Bristol F2b fly that day, though the LVG, SPAD XIII and Sopwith 1/1/2 Strutter stayed on the ground.
With that bit of nonsense said, I can't really help with your question, though I remember Bertl (Umlaufmotor) was working on this model and posted a very detailed build log. There might be something in there?
Seat looks great though, as does the accidental fuel tank weathering!
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Hi
Small update before I head off to summer holidays well away from modelling madness.
More mistakes and accidental outcomes. I completely missed seeing the slightly raised circles on the bulkhead behind the seat - never mind I think they'll be invisible when everything is enclosed. I added the pulleys and foot hoops - both a bit over scale? The wood grain is not really obvious but that is the way I like it - when you look at the 1:1 plane you can hardly detect grain. But the weirdest thing is a light over spray with matte finish came out cloudy - makes every part look dusty. The air brush was super clean - no idea how this happened...I'll polish the leather on the seat to get some sheen back into it but leave the rest for whatever and I kind of like it. Trouble is not knowing how it happened so I won't be able to repeat it :o.
Jeroen - Bertl posts have been lost to the Photobucket debacle which is a real shame as that was just an amazing model and one I followed and commented on. I have found Wojek's from much earlier - 2010 I think, but that is way out my league.
(https://i.imgur.com/sibwQbs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/evzVJz2.jpg)
Cheers,
Alistair
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Alistair,
That leather seat looks more like leather than the real thing! Well done!
Keep those updates coming.
Cheers,
Bob ;)
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Great weathering and rigging. Enjoy your holidays. Looking forward to seeing your progress after you get back.
Dave
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Great weathering and rigging. Enjoy your holidays. Looking forward to seeing your progress after you get back.
Dave
I agree with Dave!Looking great!
RAGIII
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Very nice progress, we northern hemisphere folks miss the warmth. Enjoy your holiday.
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I think the pulleys look great and add some interest, overscale maybe, but in there, I doubt even noticeable. I have built two of these and can't answer your camera question either, but; in my opinion, the location of the camera in a back area, wouldn't be seen anyway. I like the seat the way it is and the fuel tank turned out nicely, again, hardly noticed once buttoned up. A word of caution, the lower wing will droop unless you rig it with dihedral. When you get to that stage use a strong rigging line on the inner bay to lift that wing into a slight dihedral. I will be following along as you go. Have fun.
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You are doing a fantastic job with this build, looking forward to seeing more.
Des.
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Thanks all,
Busy packing for the holidays!
Thanks for the tip on the lower wing - that's a ways off but I will recall it here.
The kit I have is from the duellists set with the Camel and has many differences to the original kit which must have been one of WNW earliest. I downloaded the original instructions and many parts, instructions and decals are completely different. I'm guessing when TVAL got the "Eleynor/Mia" they re-looked at things - TVAL and WNW share the same building. Seems they also put in spruces from other kits too as it has one (G3) that is identical to the DFW mid-production kit and that was not in the original kit. Very clever really, aren't they! But it does mean I'll end up with a lot of unused parts...can't complain about that.
Cheers,
Alistair
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Back in modelling mode as our summer turns to autumn. Have closed the fuselage and ready to get on with the daunting task of doing the external woodwork.
(https://i.imgur.com/JaSa4S4.jpg)
The wireless will be invisible when the fuselage is fully closed in...
(https://i.imgur.com/bHowRqG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RrVrV87.jpg)
Added the first aid kit - all details welcomed!
(https://i.imgur.com/htpQh0c.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CX0wQaA.jpg)
Added a camera and a map. Not sure if these will be visible either...
My big mistake was to drop the whole thing onto a concrete floor. Fortunately the only breakage was the PE seat belts on the pilots seat. But the repairs make these parts look a little messy.
I am certainly learning how tight the engineering of this kit is. Much sanding and scraping to remove paint to get everything to fit but when it does glue is almost redundant.
Cheers
Alistair
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looks great Alistair!
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Looks great! Woulda never guessed it's been dropped.
Gaz
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Very nice!
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That is breathtaking!
I'm super impressed at the fine detail you have achieved.
I just ordered this kit through the Weta sale today and your build makes me super happy I did so.
Dave Wilson
Gold Coast
Australia
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Thanks Bo, Gaz, Przemol and Dave
I'm not sure about breathtaking. Okay is my feeling. But it is a very good kit of a fabulous plane. I plan to get to see the real thing soon so I can,then, bang my head against a wall for all that I did wrong...
Dave - if you got the Duelist set with the Camel you can still get all of the decals for the original WNW plane in all schemes through WNW. You probably knew that - Eleanor/Mia was always my aim and the Duelist set doesn't have those decals. I also detect that Wingnut have improved the original kit offering by including accessory sprues and decals to fit. There is going to be a lot of stuff left over after this one - 6 propellers for instance.
Just got the cockpit cover on which proved to be very tricky to fit properly. Now virtually all of the interior can't be seen...Tomorrow base coats for the fuselage and then the engine.
Cheers
Alistair
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Looks beautifully in every detail. Well done so far.
Ciao
Giuseppe
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Your interior looks outstanding. A shame that the wireless won't be seen really came out great!
RAGIII
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Nice work so far! I also noticed the Duellist set has some new four-colour lozenge that looks different from what WNW used to do, at least on their website. How does it compare to say that included with their D.VIIs?
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Agree with all the above comments, nice work !
Ed
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Hi all - thanks for support
Jeroen - it is four colour but I don't know how it compares to the D.VII decals as they are now all applied. If this kit continues as it is I might trial Aviattic decal replacements anyway.
I have been working through the external woodwork with oils - it is very slow as you have to wait for the oils to fully cure - still work in progress.
I diverted my attention to the unique map box behind the observers seat that this LVG had. With help from Jamo (thanks) I got some photos of the Memorial Flight LVG and constructed the map box. Had to make a map first! That was done with coloured pencils. The trick is that the box will be level in flight so the sides have to angle. My scratch isn't quite consistent with the photos and perhaps a fraction too big but I'm OK with that. It is just loose laid in the photo and might stand a wee bit more adjustment. Though hard to see it has a very thin acetate cover and the slip where the map can be inserted.
Have also done the rear machine gun but it is a bit fragile to photo at the moment with oils for the stock drying.
(https://i.imgur.com/kCJChA1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SeTYssP.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Thanks!
Good looking woodwork, and that mapcase is brilliant! :)
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The woodwork on your LVG is fantastic. I love the warm shades. And I am very impressed of your self drawn map with pencils. I personally use digital scans of original trench maps, scale them down and print them on paper... e. g. from this source
https://maps.nls.uk/ww1/trenches/
Best regards
Borsos
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nice detail Alistair. I dig the hand drawn map... very convincing.
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Outstanding work on the Map. A really nice added detail!
RAGIII
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Alistair,
Beautiful wood works my old friend. Absolutely love the map, Wow. Looking forward to seeing more.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
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Alistair,
Beautiful wood works my old friend. Absolutely love the map, Wow. Looking forward to seeing more.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
Agree 100%
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Agree 200%...wonderful work, Alistair...and that map is incredible....colored pencils?!?...another wow.
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Thanks all for your generous comments.
Borsos - if I'd known about that map site I sure would have gone that way! Next time.
Cheers
Alistair
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Been slow on the modelling lately but just finished the Benz engine. Tried wiring the plugs and magneto for the first time - mixed results - but a fun challenge. Photos show where a few touch-ups are needed! I added a rough white lagging to the inlet tubing - mix of white paint and talc - which seems to fit with photos for the LVG I'm doing. The biggest challenge was masking and painting the red stripe around the cylinders - drove me nuts...There is more detail I could add looking at Jamo's photos but I'm going to putting the cowls on so I think, aside from the touch-ups, that'll leave it here.
(https://i.imgur.com/aIoHuNx.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/puDQUv7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RDJAYWI.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rkjIIG1.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Za1nXx0.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Some fantastic work! Love the benz's and the wood!
Gaz
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Hi
Haven't updated for a while. Now ready to get on with the wings, tail as the body is kind of complete. Wing lozenges next. I'm keeping everything pretty clean with minimal washes etc. Factory finish and following the French Memorial Flight version as much as I can...
(https://i.imgur.com/rAMyVyN.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Srvlgan.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1JgQQKR.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jzIocv9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/npT1Aaf.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Very nice update.
Giuseppe
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Great update, Alistair! I appreciate very much that you also took pics from the upper and the lower side of the fuselage. To seldom seen...
Richard
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Love it! Great looking wood and other details!
Primo!
Gaz
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Great wood. The fuselage is terrific. Only the engine could get a bit more grime IMHO.
Bye,
Manni
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Looks awesome so far. I am of course, looking forward to seeing the wings on 8)
RAGIII
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Just beautiful!
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Thanks all - your comments are much appreciated!
Just struggling through the internal bracing wires between the upper wing stub and the fuselage today. I can see why many leave these off as they are seriously difficult to install...but I'll get there and they'll be in! Also 2 x blew the tachometer decal - dumb mistakes - and had to raid my DFW kit decals for a third time lucky one to get it to hold together, stick and stay. Sorted now and the tacho is in. Patience is a long learnt virtue but very trying at times. Lessons learnt.
Manni - yep maybe the engine could be a little more grimy but I'm not very confident with grime yet and going for a clean look. Will try a more worn version of a plane sometime in the future.
Aside from cutting the lozenges - gulp - my other question to myself is whether to try turnbuckles or go for the WNW advice and just leave them off? Only I can answer that - maybe this model or maybe the next?.
Cheers
Alistair
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Hi Alistair,
Your LVG is coming along great!
The LVG was my first Wingnut build and second WWI aircraft in general. I remember all too well those wires between the upper wing center and fuselage. I managed to get them installed only to have one pull loose. Somehow I got it reattached though.
Clean is good! I feel that excessive weathering detracts from the model's appearance so tend to keep such effects to a minimum. It's easy to get carried away and end up with an engine that looks like it's been lying in a scrap yard rather than on operational unit lovingly cared for by it's crew chief. :)
As for turnbuckles, I think they add visual interest to the model, especially in this scale, so usually represent them with hollow tubing. In the case of my LVG I used stainless steel hypodermic tubing as brass tubing of the appropriate size wasn't available at that time. Rigging line was 4lb. test monofilament fishing line painted with Humbrol Metalcote Steel.
(https://i.imgur.com/yzSHMQ3h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z5tv7Ych.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vZUSQNyh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4lGHAWyh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gWKtfjch.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ohAiT09h.jpg)
Cheers,
Eric
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Thanks Eric.
If my LVG looks half as good as yours at the end I'll be very happy. Will try your turnbuckle method...I think...
I did get those internal wires beneath the wing stub in today (with turnbuckles represented). Will post pictures when I get the undercarriage done as well.
Cheers
Alistair
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Hi
Sorted that bracing between the upper wing stub and the fuselage. I drilled right through the stub so I could draw the wires through. Crude but it worked - holes filled on the upper surface, paint touch up and no one the wiser. Can't imagine how difficult this would be otherwise.
The undercarriage gave me grief - the parts don't seem to align. Back and forth but eventualy found a balance. Not sure it is right but OK wih the result.
I added a shortened flare rack on the port side and a grenade rack on the starboard. No evidence to support this configuration - just liking the look...
No escape now - the wings!
Cheers
Alistair
(https://i.imgur.com/4705sXP.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JZHxeon.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aIHUwvW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2WWHyu8.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/cvNoHhM.jpg)
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Loving it!
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Absolutely beautifully painted and decaled. The beginning of the rigging looks terrific also!
RAGIII
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Alistair,
Beautifully clean work and great detail, this is a fine representation of the TVAL bird which, reviewing Jamo's photos, is kept exceptionally clean. I especially like your wood "tones", lovely work!
Cheers,
Lance
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Beautiful work, very realistic.
Giuseppe
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Thanks all,
I really appreciate your positive comments.
Cheers,
Alistair
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Hi
Finally finished the base coat of lozenges on the wings. Everything very Future glazed at the moment. It was a slow process for me - cutting the templates and then procesing the sheets - my next WWI plane is going to be lozenge free! But I'll take them on again one day.
A lot of detail to be added - tapes, eyelets etc etc. I'm also going to post shade/brown glaze the upper surfaces to cut back on how lurid the WNW 5 colour offering is. I edge taped all of the leading and trailing surfaces on the wings and tail plane. This seems to be correct. It is hard to see but worth it in my opinion.
Also noticed, from the photos, that one of the lower wing stubs has become bent - probably due to excessive decal cooking with the hair dryer! Remains to be seen if this going to be a problem...
I know I'm going to regret not getting the Aviattic lozenge decals so please don't remind me...
(https://i.imgur.com/XCwMOcH.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bNT2dqI.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Nice work on the lozenge application. Looking forward to your next update!
RAGIII
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Somehow I missed this thread before. Great job on the woodgrain, it looks excellent.
Cheers
Ondra
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Lozenge looks great!
Gaz
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Alistair,
You should be able to encourage the distorted rear spar into the fuselage mounting hole.
It doesn’t look too bad and the plastic is relatively soft, which can probably be realigned by immersing it in some quite hot water.
Worst case scenario you could remove the spar completely then drill the wing root and insert a piece of brass rod to give it more strength.
Currently working on exactly the same kit, except I applied aviattic lozenge to my wings, I know you didn’t want to know that, but just a matter of personal taste and they look rather good.
All the best with your build.
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Thanks all - I appreciate your comments.
Dave - the wing actually fits fine so no worries. I have also cut back the upper lozenges with a thin brown glaze so they look much better and even a little "Aviattic" like due to a light linen like speckle. But will probably upgrade to the Aviattic offerings for future lozenges. It'd be great to see your kit progress here - there are very few LVG logs.
Just getting on to finishing all the wing details and then onto final assembly. Work and winter slowing me down...
Cheers
Alistair
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Very nice work!!
Steve
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Thanks Steve
Onward - cut back the lurid colours of the upper lozenges with a brown glaze - gives a slightly speckled effect. Fixed the lower wings with epoxy glue - solid. Added the strange - unknown - timber frame below the aft seat - it is there on the current plane and evident in the photos of the original but no idea what it is for...? Added a generator to the undercarriage - evident on the original but not on the current. Dry fitted the struts and upper wing - all good though the dihedral on this plane needs a little push (the books are there to prop the wings while the glue hardens to force the issue). Mucked up one decal on the rudder so had to lose the numbering there - a minor detail. Aft machine gun, map box, generator propeller all set to add but too fragile to go on while rigging.
Rip, rig and panic in the next few days! I like this plane - it has an incredible wingspan that doesn't really show up until late on in the build.
(https://i.imgur.com/ECkKbdM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/D0HvPua.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JgLaUbO.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/VuidwZC.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pGwnft6.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Simply wonderful. I am deeply impressed.
Andreas
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I agree with enthusiastic comments on painting and decalling. It's really stunning.
Ciao
Giuseppe
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The overspray does tone down the Bright lozenge nicely. Really looking great!
RAGIII
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Alistair,
That brown over glaze is a tremendous addition, the effect is considerable. I tried much the same technique with a light grey filter on a Pfalz D.XII and was extremely pleased with the effect. You've done an outstanding job on this one and can be very proud of your results; a beautiful model!
Cheers,
Lance
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Alistair,
very nice to watch your LVG grow up.
Really nice built.
I like all these little extra details of the "Mia" replica - beautifully implemented from the original to the model, bravo!
I've been working on my LVG for several years, with no end in sight.
At the moment I am working on the tail section.
Parts of the elevator, rudder, rudder fin and tail skid - everything is built more or less scratch.
I remain a silent reader of your built report.
Greetings from Bavaria,
Servus
Bertl
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Thanks Andreas, Guiseppe, Rick, Lance and Bertl for your very positive comments. Much appreciated.
Of course the last stages of the build are the most tense and I enter that phase now with trepidation - one mistake now is worse than two or three earlier on...and I certainly made those!
Bertl - I'd love to see your amazing LVG again - I remember looking at it in awe before your pictures disappeared off the forum. I think I remarked back then that your model was indistinguishable from the real thing. I'm certainly nowhere near your level of detail and perfection so your praise is especially appreciated.
Cheers,
Alistair
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I'm really liking the looks of this, Alistair. I like the effect of the glaze on the wings, too.
Gaz
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Thanks Gaz
Almost finished now - next day or so. Rigging is proving difficult but that's my own fault for installing eyelets that are nearly inaccessible...
Cheers,
A
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I really like eyelets. Much better than drilling holes all the way through the wings. I haven't rigged anything substantial, yet... but my time is coming.
Gaz
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The LVG is finished. Will try to get some better photos into the proper place after this weekend but for now:
(https://i.imgur.com/tibzqfE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YY6ZJvM.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3JO2nId.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IPihqKr.jpg)
Now what next????
Cheers
Alistair
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Alistair, this LVG is wonderful. It is one of the best LVGs I have seen so far. I really love the woodwork and the carefully executed overall finish. Whatever comes next, I am keen on following your build log.
Andreas
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What a beauty, congratulations Alistair.
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Amazing work!!
Steve
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I have enjoyed following along with your build. Really well done!
RAGIII
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Beautifully done!
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Alistair,
I agree with Andreas! What a fantastic job you've done. A certain eye-pleaser.
Gaz
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Thanks all,
Your kind thoughts are very much appreciated. I still plan to take some better photos for the finished model section.
I'm going to take a brief break from WW1 models and do a quick 1/48 model of a Curtiss RC3 as portrayed in the brilliant "Porco Rosso" movie by Hayao Miyazaki. I've already made the red Maachi from the same movie so it needs a companion. If you want to watch a movie about flying and air combat this is one of the very best...even if it is animation with a pig for a pilot.
(https://i.imgur.com/0xegL9g.jpg)
Cheers
Alistair
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Beautiful work, Alistair. The woodwork and the decalling are done great.Top job.
Bye,
Manni