1:32nd scale OEFFAG D.III

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
While I'm waiting for the MDesign AW FK.3 kit to arrive, I'm working on another model.
It's the older resin cast Oef D.III (Albatros) from Lukgraph (not the later 3D printed kit).

The aircraft is D.III (Oef), Series 253.12 as flown by Oberleutenant in der Reserve Ludwig Hautzmayer, Commanding Officer of Flik 61/J, operating from Ghirano, Italy, during the the
Summer of 1918.

Some details of the cockpit needed modifying to better reflect a Series 253 series aircraft.
The pilot's instrument panel was not a single span panel, but two separate panels (left and right).
The rear of the two machine guns were mounted on a cockpit cross bar.
Also, the pilot's seat was not normally solid wood, but had several large lightening holes
Therefore, I've cut the instrument panel into two panels, added a Brass rod/tube cockpit cross bar for the machine guns.
Also added lightening holes in the pilot's seat.   

I've removed the cast hatch panels and cooling louvres from the fuselage.
Kit photo-etch alternative panels fitted with 'Proper Plane' replacement cooling louvres.

Support rods added to flight control surfaces etc,

Mike

[DaddyO]

Nice start on this one Mike 

It's one of the few 1/32 kits I own (in the alternative Polish boxing) I did wonder about the cockpit and briefly considered just lobbing a pilot in to fill the space and distract from the errors, but think your way is a better option so following along with interest

Paul

[NigelR]

I have this one on the shelf to do at some point so I'm following with interest. I'm definitely going to put a pilot figure in it to hide the incorrect cockpit (much of it is wrong), unlike Paul I'm lazy! I'll just correct the instrument panel.

The big thing that's putting me off doing this one is removing the rib tapes. Not only are they overdone the kit IMO, there weren't any rib tapes on the Oeffag DIII anyway so they should be removed completely. Koloman Mayrhofer established this in his research for his DIII replica builds - they stitched the wing fabric directly to the ribs without rib tapes, see below:

[Mike Norris (UK)]

I have this one on the shelf to do at some point so I'm following with interest. I'm definitely going to put a pilot figure in it to hide the incorrect cockpit (much of it is wrong), unlike Paul I'm lazy! I'll just correct the instrument panel.

The big thing that's putting me off doing this one is removing the rib tapes. Not only are they overdone the kit IMO, there weren't any rib tapes on the Oeffag DIII anyway so they should be removed completely. Koloman Mayrhofer established this in his research for his DIII replica builds - they stitched the wing fabric directly to the ribs without rib tapes, see below:

Hi Nigel,
Yes removing the cast rib tapes should be straight forward enough.
Representing the stitching could be a the problem though - we'll see,

Mike

[NigelR]

Representing the stitching could be a the problem though - we'll see,

That's another thing that's been putting me off doing  this one! I might try some of the Archer stitching transfers now these are available again, although none of them are quite right. However, I plan to do a scheme that uses the sworl camo on the upper surfaces so they would barely be visible on that.....

The decals are very transparent in this kit FWIW, the white in particular is not very opaque.

[RAGIII]

Yet again working on a less than stellar kit with lots of issues. I am certain you will do it More than Justice!
RAGIII