Author Topic: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale  (Read 19575 times)

Offline kensar

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #120 on: January 04, 2021, 10:16:28 PM »
Don't drop that on the floor.  The carpet monster will never give it back.
Continuing to be an unbelievable build.

Offline William Adair

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #121 on: January 07, 2021, 09:43:54 PM »
Don't drop that on the floor.  The carpet monster will never give it back.

Sometimes, when I'm doing a particularly fiddly bit of assembly with very small components; I just say the hell with it and lie down on the floor and do it there.  I fought the carpet monster.. and I won.   ;D

Here's a bit more.  I was able to add the undercarriage at last and test fitted the wheels. the inside faces need a wash of something before I stick them on permanently.
I discovered a hidden setting on my printer that gets rid of the aliasing around the fuselage emblem. Too late for this one though... Ho hum. I'll have to live with it unfortunately.


Offline Alexis

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #122 on: January 07, 2021, 11:29:02 PM »
Both are shaping up wonderfully William  :)


Alexis
Hurra ! , Ich Leben Noch
Body and life is a vessel we use to travel the planet . Femininity is the gift , The miracle comes from what we do with it .

Offline RAGIII

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #123 on: January 08, 2021, 12:00:51 AM »
The Markings look Great to Me as is! Looks fantastic on the gear. Both are Beauties!
RAGIII
"A man has to know his limitations": Harry Callahan

"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler

Bughunter

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #124 on: January 14, 2021, 07:07:57 AM »
The madness continues! What a quality!

Cheers,
Frank

Offline William Adair

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #125 on: January 26, 2021, 04:46:04 PM »
Getting there  :)
Managed to get the upper wing attached to Hecht's D.III today.  The struts are very flimsy by themselves but when assembled the whole lot is really solid.  I also had a crack at the wooden prop and added the dataplates and rigging diagram panels to the sides of the fuselage for some extra detail.  Next up will be assembling Buddecke's D.IIIa and then onto the engine and upperwing parts.

Couldn't resist another 1917 coin for scale.  This one is 2 francs.  About the size of a modern 10c piece.


Offline Alexis

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #126 on: January 26, 2021, 11:50:18 PM »
William ,

I just don't know how to communicate on the beauty this is turning out to be ...not often on which I'm lost for words .

Looking forward on your next Pfalz up-date .


Alexis
Hurra ! , Ich Leben Noch
Body and life is a vessel we use to travel the planet . Femininity is the gift , The miracle comes from what we do with it .

Offline RAGIII

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #127 on: January 27, 2021, 12:03:13 AM »
Stunning work! The scheme and aircraft look perfect!
RAGIII
"A man has to know his limitations": Harry Callahan

"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler

Offline Radarman

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #128 on: January 27, 2021, 12:20:04 AM »
William,
All I can say is, " Don't sneeze!' I'm sure it will take flight. Amazing.

                                                                                      Kevin
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Bughunter

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #129 on: January 27, 2021, 12:37:58 AM »
What a great little beauty! Wonderful.

Cheers,
Frank

Offline lone modeller

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #130 on: January 27, 2021, 05:54:54 AM »
Where did you get the giant replica of the coin? That is just stunning - but I would need a magnifying glass to really appreciate what you have made.

Stephen.

Offline Borsos

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #131 on: February 06, 2021, 08:17:54 PM »
It is not possible not to love these Pfalzes. Amazing work!
Andreas
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Barbusse.
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Offline William Adair

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #132 on: February 17, 2021, 08:44:56 PM »
It is not possible not to love these Pfalzes.

They have their moments, but they don't always love me back!   

I got the top wing on the second Pfalz at last.  This one seems to be the lesser of the two.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe its the monochromatic scheme?  With that in mind I decided to use it as the guinea pig for the rigging.  I haven't really done it this way before, but I've thought about it an awful lot.  So here goes...

I'm using 0.05mm nickel silver wire that has been rolled out flat then cut to lengths.  Fiddly doesn't quite describe it in 1/144, but I think I've got a system going now and I've recorded the lengths of each piece so I can repeat it across both models.  I used .2mm wire initially to get the lengths of each piece of rigging then used them as templates cut each one to size.  With a bit of luck that should streamline the process and avoid having to make each one a custom fit.



The wire was rolled straight on a smooth metal surface with a thick sheet of clear perspex used as the roller (clear so I can see when it is straight).  The trimmed wire was then dipped in PVA at one end, then placed in position and allowed to dangle. I then dropped the tweezers and frantically grabbed for a fine brush so as to lift the free end up and into position. A tiny dab of thinned down PVA then secured the free end. If it needed adjusting, I used a brush that was damp with water to move the wire around.

The camera isn't too kind when you blow a 1/144 scale model up to something resembling 1/16, but at least it shows where I'm at after Day #1.  More to follow!


Offline RAGIII

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #133 on: February 18, 2021, 01:19:52 AM »
The wire rigging is outstanding! I wish My 1/32nd builds looked as good that close up  8)
RAGIII
"A man has to know his limitations": Harry Callahan

"Don't slop it on" Lynda Geisler

Offline Rookie

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Re: Scratchbuilding a Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa in 1/144 scale
« Reply #134 on: February 18, 2021, 01:48:10 AM »
Huh? What? Rigging?

Where are my glasses?

Great work, this is microsurgery!

Willem