Thanks everyone. Right you are, Dal! I would welcome a WNW release, even after the scratchbuild, because I would love to do one of these with the Austro-Daimler engine and in Autumn mottle camo. Most importantly, release of a WNW Lloyd kit with an Austro-Daimler engine would surely herald many more A-H types! Oh, for a 1/32 OEFFAG Alby!
We can dream, can't we?
I am forging ahead (slowly) this week, but the work on the fuselage halves is pretty much complete, with all attachment points for wings and tailplanes drilled out and reinforced where needed, the structural engine bearers added, and the remaining cockpit details (except the observer's table) added to the fuselage interior walls. I have also cut out the engine compartment vent holes on the starboard side and backed them with HO scale brass screen. Styrene attachment tabs have now been added to one side of the fuselage. Photos soon.
While I was at it this past weekend, I also fabricated the landing gear struts. This involved some experimentation, which tested my patience a wee bit. I first tried styrene tube in a vise to get the elliptical shape, but the tube either cracked or would not form properly, so I tried heating it. No better results.
I started sanding some styrene rod, but that was taking forever when I realized that rectangular strip with edges sanded round would be much easier.
That worked! I used a horizontal triangle of the same strip to form the bottom 'V" of the struts, and pinned and glued the struts to the V. I have drilled holes in the top of the struts for brass wire pins, as metal rod braces were actually used and visible on the prototype as well, and will make for a solid connection on the model. The axle will be bungee'd to the top of the vee.
I have started assembling the HGW seatbelts and have installed them on the observer's seat. Although the PE parts are tiny, I was surprised at how they went together relatively quickly and without much difficulty. The only issue I encountered was not cutting the belt material narrow enough initially to thread through the adjustment buckle. The straight edge and #11 blade took care of that quickly. I am pleased with how these belts look, and how easy it is to get them to lay nicely on the seat. They seem to work better in that regard than the metal ones, which I sometimes have problems with because the tend to bend only in one direction and can remain a bit stiff even after annealing. I will try to complete the installation of belts on the pilot's seat this evening.
The next step will be a bit more detailing of the top end of the engine, i.e. spark plug wires, since they are pretty clearly visible. This will be a bit tedious (not my favorite thing to do, either), but should work out okay. With any luck, I will then be ready to close up the fuselage perhaps by the end of this weekend.
That will be a big event in this build! There will still be a good bit of detailing to add to the exterior of the fuselage once it is closed up and the seams taken care of, but that should move fairly quickly (if one can say anything moves "quickly" in a scratchbuild!)
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The wings are cut out and formed, but still require a good bit of sanding to proper shape. The tail planes and fin are cut out and sanded as well, but I still need to fabricate the ailerons and elevators. I think I will do those as solid parts with some sanding and painting to pick out the framing, rather than building a skelton and covering it. Too much else to do!
Then . . . the cabane struts and top wing mounting bracket, which may be one of the bigger challenges (and will require some soldering of brass rod/tube, which I will have to get some help with), along with the radiator and piping.
Sorry for this lengthy ramble, but it sort of just happened, a form of thinking out loud which helps me to take stock of where I am and what else needs to be done on this build. Thanks for listening. Some fun, eh!
Updated pix this weekend.
Regards,
Bob
