Anything I should know about this?....BlueMax Roland DVI....

[Allan31]

Just pinched this off evilbay for a good price.



Anything I should know about before I jump in the deep end?

Thanks in advance,

[Brad Cancian]

Hi Allan - never built one, but I have built Blue Max kits before. They can build into a very nice and accurate replica, but they will take a little modelling skill here and there.

Obviously a limited run kit, so my recommendations are test fit, test fit, test fit, and you will be ok. Take care also in manufacturing struts; Blue Max gives you bendy strut stock which is no good. See if you can manufacture some new struts from a more solid material.

In terms of the kit itself, they used the Datafile plans as a reference so it is quite accurate in outline. It is soft in detail in some places (interior, engine, guns, prop, etc), so be prepared for some replacement parts. I still feel that the replication of the planked fuselage on this one is the best around for 1/48, and beats out the Fly kit in this regard. I have a vision at some point of a kit bash (if I can ever get a decent streak of time at the bench...!)

Good luck, looking forward to seeing progress pics!

Cheers,

BC

[Dirigible-Al]

I have not done this one either but the Blue Max kits I have done needed a lot of thinning inside the fuselage sides, the plastic is very thick. That said the plastic is quite soft so this is not difficult. What I liked about them is that they don't overstate the detail on the wings and fuselage like some manufacturers do. As Brad said they can be made into both good and accurate models.
Alan.

[Tim Mixon]

Allan,
I have built this kit but some time ago.  Other than replacing the Spandau’s and added engine details, I don’t recall any issues.

Sorry, I dont have it available for photos.

Tim

[Allan31]

Thanks Brad, Alan and Tim, exactly what I needed as I've not built a Blue Max before and I have more on the way.

[macsporran]

I built a fair few of them back in the day - main thing you notice is the soft 'buttery' plastic. I remember speaking to Chris Gannon about it at one of the shows and he said he had hunted high and low to get the right formula for his plastic.

As a modeler he always disliked the brittle stuff in most kits and, when thinning down cockpit sides etc, a slip could ruin the model. So, he preferred soft plastic to work with. I found he was right inside the cockpit, but the wing trailing edges were always too soft for me.

Anyway, a great range of unusual 1/48 kits which at the time, and still now, you couldn't get elsewhere (Gunbus etc).

Shame he gave it all up. Wonder where he is now.
Sandy

[James]

Anyway, a great range of unusual 1/48 kits which at the time, and still now, you couldn't get elsewhere (Gunbus etc).

Shame he gave it all up. Wonder where he is now.
Sandy

I always wanted to get the Gunbus. Are Blue Max kits still available anywhere?
James

[Allan31]

On Evilbay, if you search for "Blue Max 1/48" about a dozen or so come up.

[James]

On Evilbay, if you search for "Blue Max 1/48" about a dozen or so come up.

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[Allan31]

Thanks everyone !!
I'm thinking a "BlueMax" GB could happen......

[Dirigible-Al]

The Junkers CL.1 was what I always wanted but never got.
Alan.