WNW Post-war Ninak

[Dutch522]

I get what you're saying about the faults you're picking up on, Dave, but this is beautiful work. And I'm carefully taking notes, since my next build is almost certainly going to be either this kit or the D.H.9 (probably the latter, in South Russia).

Funny, I was just talking to my wife yesterday about how almost all creative artists have a tendency to nitpick their own work—but it's the secret to improving your skills, IMHO. If you think everything you do is awesome then where's your incentive to learn?

Dutch

[davec]

Dutch – looking forward to seeing your build.  Any faults I’m talking about are with my work, not the kit, which is superb.  I’m interested in which scheme you will be doing.  South Russia isn’t one of the wingnuts schemes – will you be making your own masks and decals?  I have a DH9 on the shelf and am thinking about whether to do that next. There is some similarity between the two kits, and I’ve been thinking about building them in pairs so I can take lessons learned from one and apply it to the other.  I did this with a Rumpler early and late, and it was fun.  I built the Ninak non-post war a while back, but so long ago that I didn’t really remember problems and solutions.

I do tend to nitpick my own work, and it has been slowly helping my work improve.  I’ve reached a better place on the model.  I have the fuselage and wings assembled and in primer.  The things I wasn’t happy with on the interior are now pretty much hidden, and the overall effect will be adequate.  I’m looking forward to painting the fuselage and trying the masks I made.  My wife is travelling this week, so hopefully some progress forward each evening.





Anyone have suggestions for handling the seam towards the front of the observer compartment where the fuselage side meets the front part of the ring (part A30)?

Thanks!

Dave

[Dutch522]

Dave, I was a little taken aback by your photos... I hadn't realized how big this beast is going to be, which makes me wonder where I'm going to put mine when it's finished! But she's looking good at this stage, beautiful work so far. I’m also envious of your workbench... what a great setup.

I'm planning on doing my D.H.9 as one of the aircraft from 221 Squadron in the RAF's South Russia fiasco in 1918-20, the one with the blue arrow. They were ex-Ionian theatre aircraft, and between the Mediterranean sun and the violence of the Caspian winters and equally bad summers there's going to be a lot of scope for wear and tear. Not sure about the markings, I may very well paint them by hand.

Keep up the great work, looking forward to seeing more progress!

Dutch

[davec]

Dutch - it is a really big model. I realized that last night when I used up almost half a bottle of alclad white aluminum paint on the wings and tail. My display case has a 12" shelf and placed diagonally it will barely fit.  I think it is the biggest of the wingnuts single engine two seaters.

I am very fortunate about my workshop.  We moved into the city four years ago, and the house having a basement was one of the big factors in picking it.  You are seeing about a quarter of the space in the picture.  The plastic airplanes are a break from my scratch built model ships.  I have one area with full sized tools (band, table, and jig saws).  On the other side I have miniature lathes, table saws, and mills for metal and wood work.  It has been a great set up. I wish I could spend more time in it.

Dave