Albatros W4 and Phonix

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
Update from 'Lukgraph',

Mike


Albatros W.4 in 1:32 scale - pre-order has started
Albatros W.4  1:32

https://lukgraph.pl/en_GB/p/Albatros-W.4-132-Pre-order/257

Albatros W.4 (Premium set) 1:32

https://lukgraph.pl/.../Albatros-W.4-132-Pre-order.../258

Kit-set includes Hex camo decals as standard (2 pcs)
Kit-set contains:
Resin Casting Parts:
Fuselage, wings (1,2 mm steel wire reinforced), horizontal and vertical fins, ailerons, tail wings.
3D printed parts:
- Full Interior, propellers (2 types)
- All struts, strong ABS resin printed with holes to easier connect parts with wire (mounting wires included to the model).
- Engine - Mercedes D.III
3D printed parts packed in an additional box to ensure maximum protection.
- photo-etched parts
- steel  wire to connect wings (1.2mm) and copper wires to mounting struts (0.5)
- Windscreen - PE+film
- Decals 3 paintings
- Decals 2 x A4 Hex camo
- Colored instructions

[Flik63J]

Thanks for the heads up Mike!

Now that we can see the actual parts, how do we feel about the fuselage lines? Bertl originally expressed some reservations, and you had concerns over the floats. It does not look quite right to me, particularly the lower fuselage forward of the lower wing? Perhaps it could be adjusted by sanding, but at these prices it shouldn’t be necessary!

I would be interested to hear other opinions.

David

[Mike Norris]

Thanks for the heads up Mike!

Now that we can see the actual parts, how do we feel about the fuselage lines? Bertl originally expressed some reservations, and you had concerns over the floats. It does not look quite right to me, particularly the lower fuselage forward of the lower wing? Perhaps it could be adjusted by sanding, but at these prices it shouldn’t be necessary!

I would be interested to hear other opinions.

David

Hi David,
Difficult to tell from the shots.
It does seem that the fuselage is in fact slab sided, although the edges do seem a bit sharp.
However, as you've noted, the fuselage forward from the lower wings does look to be a bit angular and not curved to the nose.
Also, the fairings at the leading and trailing edges of the lower wing roots are pre-molded, but flat to the fuselage.
Looking at drawings and photographs, if fitted, those fairing are much more pronounced.
Could be they are additional 3D printed parts in the kit.
Time will tell I guess,

Mike

[Thumbs up]

It is the same on the box art.

[Umlaufmotor]

Too bad,

if the kit comes as shown in the pictures, then it just misses the original.
At least the fuselage is wrong with its too flat side walls.
Look at the fuselages of the D.I, D.II and D,III - that's how the W.4 fuselage should be shaped.
The floats are - at first glance - okay, there were different variants of them.

Well, one simple possibility would be to dig out your old Roden D.I kit and use it to insert a correct W.4 fuselage between the resin wings ....

A real shame, I was really hoping that the W.4 would be a sensible, beautiful and correct addition to the Albatros range available on the market.

And yes, you can certainly sand, file, round and smooth ....

somewhat disappointed
Servus
Bertl

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
FB update from 'Lukgraph'.

Mike

Albatros W4 - update
Unfortunately, sometimes mishaps happen. This was the case with the Albatros W4. We made a really significant mistake in the design of the model. Modelers with a trained eye quickly discovered this. It's just a pity that not a little earlier. We are withdrawing the first series of cast fuselages. We are repairing the defective fuselage. Thank you for your watchful eye.

[Umlaufmotor]

Well, this hard edge from the root of the lower wing nose forwards towards the nose of the fuselage is not the only flaw.
The transitions of the upper and lower "fuselage shell" to the side walls also need to be rounder and smoother.
Note the yellow marking in the second picture.
The same applies to the transition from the side wall to the lower fuselage shell.
I also miss the engravings on the fuselage nose planking.
.... and the maintenance hatch is now missing on the "repaired" CAD image
But anyway - it's good that Lukgraph is responding.





Servus
Bertl

[KiwiZac]

That's very interesting Bertl, hopefully Lukasz has been made aware of these issues!

[Mike Norris]

That's very interesting Bertl, hopefully Lukasz has been made aware of these issues!

Yes, I emailed those observations to Lucas

"I only showed the fact of the correction in the render. The entire fuselage will be improved.
The error occurred when dividing the plywood into sections, which unfortunately I didn't catch".


Mike

[KiwiZac]

Nice work Mike  It's great to have folks knowledgeable on a subject to point out these things, but it's of little use unless it's communicated to the maker who could fix the issue.

[Umlaufmotor]

Hm, I thought Lukgraph is represented here in the forum and reads along?

Servus
Bertl

[Mike Norris]

Hm, I thought Lukgraph is represented here in the forum and reads along?

Servus
Bertl

Hi Bertl,
I believe Lucas does follow the forum, but sometimes posts on FB rather than here,

Mike

[Umlaufmotor]

Hm, I thought Lukgraph is represented here in the forum and reads along?

Servus
Bertl

Hi V,
I believe Lucas does follow the forum, but sometimes posts on FB rather than here,

Mike

Ah OK Mike, I didn't know that.
I thought he was reading the forum.
I'm not registered on Facebook.

But anyway, the important thing is that the W.4 will be a blast.
I've been waiting for this model in 1/32 for what feels like a hundred years 

Servus
Bertl

[Mike Norris]

Hi all,
Update from the 'Lukgraph' FB page,

Mike

Albatros W4 - update
Next week we will start shipping the 1:32 scale Albatros W4.
You can order: https://lukgraph.pl/