Eduard 1/48 Oeffag D.II conversion

[ALBATROS1234]

i remember this sweet little project from when you started her up. we really do independantly come up with similar ideas.weird how that works. it is truly a shame that eduard have just said to hell with ww1 . really bums me out. there are so many planes that would benefit from this sort of treatment in 1/48.as you know i have several wnw kits but still find myself playing with 1/48 stuff for the most part. i really find it odd buisness to get as far as they have come on the backs of biplanes and now just decide to go all messermigwolfe on us. you would thing they would still throw us 1 nice one a year. but alas.......

[pepperman42]

Super work on this project. Always look forward to your updates!

Steve

[Checkers67]

Merry Christmas Bud!
Oeffag D.II cowls and spinners are unpainted and have that Einedecker look. Most were armed with a single Schwarlose MG on starboard side. There were only 15 D.II made. Starting with 53.01-53.16. The access panels are pretty much as depicted in the Eduard 153 and 253 series. The exception of 53.01 has a rectangle bare metal panel just below the cockpit on the left side of the fuselage. Also, 53.01 has winter engine cover and unarmed in this photo.
I hope this helps. Just let me know if you need anything.
Steve

[Checkers67]

A few more points on "Anny".  The anemometer is on the right strut. Anny is on both sides of the rudder. Flown by Kpl. Rudolf Blass, of FLIK 25D in autumn 1917. One confirmed victory. Finally, 53.05 survived the war and served as a trainer until 1924! Wow!

Steve

[ALBATROS1234]

only one gun? wow i did not know that, glad you posted that for when i get around to my d.ii conversion.

[Dal Gavan]

Beaut work, Bud.  You're making the conversion look easy.

Steve, A-H plane's are a mystery to me.  Can you recommend a starter book?  I've managed to pick up good volumes on French aircraft (Davilla and Soltan's tome) and Italian Aces and their aircraft, so getting an A-H volume makes sense.

Cheers.

Dal.

[rhallinger]

Mornin' Dal.  It's early Christmas mornng here in Pennsylvania, and I'm up well ahead of the family and the dog has already walked me, so I'll offer up what I know.

The top students of A-H aircraft are probably Peter Grosz and Dr. Martin O'Conner.  Both have written encyclopedic single volume hardback editions on the topic, however, they are extremely expensive (read $100+ dollars---Amazon currently lists 4 copies of the Grosz volume starting at $849!!! . . . and I thought I paid a king's ransome for it a few years ago at $150!).  The O'Conner book is long out of print and not easy to find, thus quite expensive.  There are two better (more reasonably priced) options.

First, there are now two very good softcover Osprey titles in their Aircraft of the Aces series: "Austro-Hungarian Aces of World War 1" by Christopher Chant, and "Austro-Hungarian Albatros Aces of Word War 1" by Paolo Varriale, both of which are readily available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble on the web for under $20 US apiece.  These cover only fighters.

Second, Dr. O'Conner wrote a 4-part series of articles on markings of all A-H aircraft in the Cross & Cockade Society journal years ago.  I ordered these 4 issues directly from the C&C Society website.  I think I ordered both download and CD, which cost more, I think about $48 US for all four.  It's cheaper if you just order the download (which worked fine), but I don't trust this infernal machine, luddite that I am!    The bonus here is that you get some other interesting articles from the back issues along with Dr. O'Conner's articles.  This is a very comprehensive set of materials, but no color profiles if I recall correctly (the Osprey volumes have great color profiles for the fighters).  If you are interested, PM me and I'll dig out the citations or do what I can to assist you .

I hope this helps.  Perhaps Steve has some additional (or better!) suggestions.

Merry Christmas!

Bob

[uncletony]

Really nice work Bud!

[Checkers67]

Dal, What Bob said is all I know too. One more option are three booklets by JaPo publishing on the Oeffag Albie, Aviatik Berg D.I and Phonix D.I & D.II. They are out of print and thus expensive! About $100 each! Dr. O'Connor really is the man on all thing A-H aircraft.
Steve

[rhallinger]

Oooops!  Lost track of where I was.  Sorry to hijack your build thread Bud.  It was for a good cause. 

As always, your work is brilliant, and as always, it seems, you are giving me more ideas and inspiration to translate into 1/32!   My build list is now piling up on the floor next to my desk.     Your 1/48 work is truly amazing and inspirational.   Thanks!

Merry Christmas,

Bob

[Checkers67]

A further thought and wish for 2013. A simple conversion set for the Roden 1/32 Albie 3 to a Oeffag Albie! All you need is Austro-Diamler engind, radiator, tail plane, tail skid, rounded nose piece, prop, top deck for buried mgs.
Steve

[rhallinger]

I'll second that Steve!  Then maybe we can persuade Rowan to do the OEFFAG Alby set in 1/32. 

Regards,

Bob

[coyotemagic]

Thanks so much for all your fantastic feedback, guys.
I've got quite a bit more done since posting last.  Here are a few final shots of the office before closing her up.






The guns have pins that the barrels will slide over after painting is completed.  I was informed, after adding the guns, that many of the D.II's had only one gun on the starboard side.  Taking the port gun out now would cause too much damage, so it stays.  So my story is that, due to its long service life, 53.05 had a second gun added in the field.

This model is another of my many experiments with wood grain.  Here's what I plan of using:

If it doesn't work, I can always use oils or Uschi decals.

The fuselage is prepped for the decals.

Cheers,
Bud

[uncletony]

Really nice. I am amazed at how quickly you can churn these jewels out.

[coyotemagic]

Thanks, Bo!  I'm retired and it's winter. 
Cheers,
Bud