Model Airways 1/16th Scale Albatros D.Va (Slow Build)

[KiwiZac]

Thanks again Sir!

You're more than welcome, Grant! I'm glad I can help your build, even in a small way.

[Beto]

Grant, You are a brave man! - I have this model in my stash, with a badly warped engine block, and after checking the parts and plans (also using the Smithsonian book as my main reference), understood that 80% of the model would have to be scratchbuilt. Please note that the Albatros D.V had no upper and lower longerons in the fuselage structure, so you will also have to fill the slots provided for them in every cross section or cut new (and thinner!) ones. A will be keeping an eye on your build an if you need any 3d printed part to replace kit parts (if may memory don't fail, the radiator was horrible), drop me a note. 1/16 Spandau guns are available from Gaspatch.

https://www.gaspatchmodels.com/machine-guns-1-16/

[Grant]

Beto,


Thank you so much for the 3d print offer, I may just take you up on it. All metal parts look pretty good, rough forsure, but ok in my kit, but like you mentioned I will most likely scratch build most items. I did order the machine guns already from Gaspatch and thier turnbuckles, should arrive in 2 weeks.


Thanks for the heads up on the Fuselage, haven't dove into that item yet, one problem at a time 😀


Thanks again Beto,


Grant

[Grant]

Finally had a chance to work on the ribs for the Albatros. I'm starting with rib 3L on the upper left wing panel and working outwards to the wing tip.

Here you can see the thickness difference from the kit supplied rib and my new 0.025mm rib, looks to be more in the proper scale.



Here is a picture of Rib 3L getting the vertical supports installed, these really added some strength to the rib as the 0.025mm thick wood is really thin!


Rib 3L matched up to the original scale drawings to make sure I'm on track.


Now I will start on Rib 4L next. The first rib took me about 3.5 hours to construct, each rib has 17 parts to it so this is going to take me sometime to create the ribs but I'm very pleased with the results so far.

[KiwiZac]

I expect - based on my incredibly limited laser-cut balsa experience and 1:1 bits - the time per rib will come down as you do more. It's great that you're documenting each step like this. It could be a great reference for any future builders.

[Grant]

December 19, 2021 Quick Update
I have spent 33+ hours coming up with a method off cutting out new more accurate wing ribs that have the same consistency in appearance, I can’t count the number of ribs I’ve cutout and thrown away.
The ribs are going to take a lot more time than I figured but I want them to look good, as they will be one of the main focal points on the model.
To keep my sanity and to feel like I’m making some progress, I decided to start on the elevator and stabilizer.
The laser cut ribs on the stabilizer look very accurate except for the wood rib F048. It has square lighting holes cut into it and they should be round as shown here in the Smithsonian Albatros restoration project. I’m going to clean up all the laser cutting black marks from all the wood parts prior to assembly. After looking at the soft metal (and I mean SOFT) elevator that’s supplied with the kit, it looks very close to the original except for some missing bracing. I have decided to reproduce the part in brass to give it a more substantial feel and look.This took me around 4 hours to make and here is a picture of the freshly soldiered stab, still need to clean it up and add the missing bracing parts.

[KiwiZac]

Looking good Grant, and good catch on the incorrect rib.

[Grant]

Thanks, this going to take a long time as its turning out to be a 90% scratch build. May have to build a few plastic kits along the way to keep from getting burned out on it.

[FAf]

Great build to follow! Amazing effort to correct things and you're really just using the model as I guide it seems...
/Fredrik

[Grant]

Fredrik,
I was really looking forward to just building this kit right out of the box but started finding things that were not correct. So much detail goes into a build like this, to finish it incorrectly would just bother me. Now it has most definitely turned into a kit for reference build. Im trying detail the kits inaccuracies for anyone looking to build this kit, just so they are aware prior to purchasing it.


If I have the fortitude to push on an finish it one day  :-)

[Stuart Malone]

Grant,

Your attention to accuracy and detail is without equal.  I've thought about giving one of these a go but I'm not sure I have the patience.  Let alone basically using the whole kit as a rough guide to scratch build everything to exacting duplicates of the real thing!  Please keep posting.  I find your work fascinating.

Stuart

[KiwiZac]

Please keep posting.  I find your work fascinating.

Stuart

Hear hear!

If I have the fortitude to push on an finish it one day  :-)

I hope you do, Grant. It's disappointing to hear about the inaccuracies but exciting to see your approaches and techniques to better replicate the original, but I totally sympathise with a large exciting project turns out to be more work than planned. I hope you can stick with it when you're ready 

[RAGIII]

You are a Madman but I think that's what it takes to do a kit like this justice. The brass elevator looks awesome
RAGIII

[Grant]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement! This one is definitely going to be a marathon and not a sprint forsure.

[Alexis]

Following along Grant 


Alexis