Aviatik 30.40, 1/48, update 22.11.21 Finish

[kensar]

All of your cockpit details look great, Frank.  The wood tones also (better than the real wood).  Would it be possible to paint in the wood grain 'patterns' before applying the orange overcoat?  Perhaps in this scale it would not look right?

[RichieW]

Love it Frank, lots of really clever and creative touches. The wooden handles on the control stick are brilliant. Looks like lots of work has gone into it, it must be very satisfying to create all these little details. Especially when you do it so well!

Richie

[Borsos]

I expect to see this beauty finished on Saturday, Frank!
Andreas

[Early Bird Fan]

the wood tones are excellent and the rest of it ain't bad either 

[Manni]

This looks so sick, Frank. Allways I see your progress I instantly want to go into my man cave and start modeling.
Bye,
Manni

[Bughunter]

Thank you Rick, Stephen, Ken, Richie, Andreas, EBF and Manni! Highly appreciated and motivation to go further!

How much of this will be visible on the completed model?

I hope all what I have done while viewing through the fuselage opening. I have done done the seat frame as this one would not be visible.
Our WWI subjects shows more compared to e.g. jet models, because we have no cockpit glass on top of the details

The wood tones also (better than the real wood).

With naked eye the real wood looks ok, but I must admit that this "Indian apple" has a bit more grain. I used this only on the floor board, so it shows more a darker used wood.

Would it be possible to paint in the wood grain 'patterns' before applying the orange overcoat?  Perhaps in this scale it would not look right?

Hmm, I do not understand your question? That is, what I have done. May be may description was confusing.

- Primed white with airbrush
- Wood base beige (acrylic wood paint set) with brush
- wood grain brown (acrylic wood paint set) with brush
Then I had this state (sorry, the colors looks a bit unreal):


A clear orange was painted as latest step with airbrush.

Looks like lots of work has gone into it, it must be very satisfying to create all these little details.

Oh yes Richie, and even more work to be done!

I expect to see this beauty finished on Saturday, Frank!

Sorry Andreas, no way! There is too much work in front of me, and I need to think about solutions for problems I already know about Also the paints will need some drying time before I can mask fro the next layer.

May be I should explain: at the coming weekend there is a Model Fair and Exhibition in Ried im Innkreis (Austria), the first one I know after the Covid shutdown. I will be there with some of my later models, so if you have a chance please come and meet us there!

This looks so sick, Frank. Allways I see your progress I instantly want to go into my man cave and start modeling.

Yes Manni, I'm sick! The disease is called AMS - Advanced Modeling Syndrom.
The next update will be even more crazy!
But if it motivates you to continue with your projects all is ok.

Cheers,
Frank

[kensar]

Hi Frank,
I was wondering if it would be practical or possible to paint in the patterns like on this plywood?
It may not be feasible in this scale.  Just a question to challenge you.   



Or maybe the wood paneling is not plywood?

[Bughunter]

Hmm, your example looks like pine plywood? The Austrians and Germans used mostly birch plywood, which shows much less structure. Thats why I think in 1/48 a very light grain is enough.


Arming

As we discussed the arming already some pages ago this prototype was unarmed. But I used in this project the fantastic Schwarzlose MGs made by Gaspatch Models. WTF ?!?

Ok, one step after another.

At first I made a pump from 7 brass, nickel silver and copper parts. The copper wire is 0.2mm.



Now a frame from 0.7 and 0.6mm brass tube, for mounting a 0.4mm brass rod is inside.



With the same principle some more tubes.



I soldered clamps and holders.



To put the clamps in place I used CA. The height is of course adjustable



To fill the huge opening of the fuselage I made a bullet storage.



To fill a hole in the front I made a fake fuel tank from wood and brass (Eduard PE frame). Is this now fake news?



And all parts together! Now it's a busy cockpit.
In principle very common with the Aviatik D.I in the Museum in Vienna, but the picture of the 30.40 shows a middle strut.



And why this effort?
As I said this bird was unarmed, but the pictures shows the mounts for the typical Schwarzlose MGs. So I could mount two of them.
The Gaspatch ones were a big help regarding size and fitting.



And again in top view. The Schwarzlose MG is not fixed.



I must admit my AMS is incurable. But it is fun to see if I'm still able to handle such fine micro mechanics It was a bit tricky to get all in the right size.

Can I close the fuselage or have I forgotten something else?

Cheers,
Frank

[ColonelKrypton]

Marvelous fiddly brass work and soldering, well done.

AMS is incurable - once you have it you can never rid yourself of it's grasp, only learn how to useit to your advantage. It took me a long time to come to terms. I finally realized that it was the journey that I savoured, the destination was far less important.

Embrace the journey, follow the twists, the turns, take the path less travelled. And, if you so happen to find yourself having reached your destination then relish that too.

cheers, Graham

[lone modeller]

I agree with everything ColonelKrypton has written: scratch building is something wholly incurable so we might as well make the best of it.

As usual you are certainly making the best of it, and the best of models.

Stephen.

[RAGIII]

Really outstanding work on the MG mount Frank! Incredible setail ans so small 
RAGIII

[RichieW]

More incredible details and precision so soon after the last update. You've been busy! I don't really know what AMS is but if it helps me build like this I hope I catch it soon!

Richie

[PrzemoL]

Very fine modeling, as usual Frank!

[Bughunter]

Thank you Graham, Stephen, Rick, Richie and PrzemoL! Your comments are highly appreciated!

I don't really know what AMS is but if it helps me build like this I hope I catch it soon!

Richie, AMS stands for Advanced Modelling Syndrome, so I always have to improve the kits and add my own parts.
Staying here in the forum exposes you to an extreme risk of infection!

The fuselage is closed now, but due to the exhibition in Austria there will be no progress this weekend.

Cheers,
Frank

[DaveB]

Wow! -amazing work on your cockpit, Frank - love your seat.

Regards

Dave