1/32 Wingnuts Roland D.VIb - completed for my friend Dave Wilson

[macsporran]

I'm such a stop-start modeller that I'm hesitant about Group Builds, but if I'm ever going to do one, it's going to be for Dave W, so I'll throw my hat in the ring here with the last Wingnut kit that joined the stash.

Funnily when it was originally released (at about 50GBP here) I thought, No, I've got a D.VIa, I'll not bother with a D.VIb! Big mistake. Of course once it was sold out I wished I'd bought one, then when WNW went west, I wished even more that I'd got one. Then I saw the sky-high prices and wished I'd originally bought half-a-dozen!

Anyway I finally added the Roland D.VIb to the stash and I've got the necessary Aviattic lozenge and plenty of refs, so this will be next up. Haven't decided on markings as yet (Definitely NOT the daft US camouflage experimental one though!)

So here we go.
Sandy



... oops, Sorry I'd better add a pic to show it's completely unstarted!. S.

[RAGIII]

Great to see you joining in! Is this the "Last in the Stash" or the "Last Purchased" ?  Either way it's a great kit from what I have seen!
RAGIII

[rhwinter]

Looking forward to your build!!!

[macsporran]

Thanks Guys.
Rick - Last to be added rather than last one, I'm afraid.
There's still quite a few to build. Undoubtedly they'll see me out rather than me seeing them out!

S (holding head in shame)

[NigelR]

Nice choice, I have a DVIa part started and the Roalnds are lovely kits.

I'm such a stop-start modeller that I'm hesitant about Group Builds, but if I'm ever going to do one, it's going to be for Dave W

Me too, I always build to my schedule so never participate in group builds. But this one is a must do.

[William Adair]

Great subject. I'd love to do a mini version of one of these one day. 

[Dirigible-Al]

That's an extremely organised stash you have. It must be nice when you start a new project, a bit like being in a model shop but free.

[macsporran]

Thanks for the interest, chaps.

Time to get something done on this if I'm to try to complete within the allotted span!
First off just some general cutting out and cleaning up. This bit always worries me with kits as finely moulded as this - I'm scared I cut too near the sprue runner, so I always leaves lots attached. Then spend ages taking little by little off until I'm happy. I also leaves bits of the runner with small parts attached but only by one point, for spraying etc. (We probably all do the same.

Also a bit of spraying of internals before starting working some oils into the wood effect. WNW suggest the engine bay be Interior Grey Green like the surviving example at Krakow, but I cannot see why Roland would have overpainted these wooden  formers but not the rest. I think that was a later addition.


engine bits ready for spray


Then a few days later, the cockpit tub semi-completed, awaiting rigging, seat, belts etc.


Lovely little aeroplane this; and it's so nice to be working with Wingnuts quality again!
Onwards, we go!
Sandy

[NigelR]

A nice change after all that hard work with the SE5.......

First off just some general cutting out and cleaning up. This bit always worries me with kits as finely moulded as this - I'm scared I cut too near the sprue runner, so I always leaves lots attached. Then spend ages taking little by little off until I'm happy. I also leaves bits of the runner with small parts attached but only by one point, for spraying etc. (We probably all do the same.

We do indeed!

[Dutch522]

Lovely work, Sandy, looking forward to seeing how you deal with that clinker-built fuselage.  I wish I had either WNW Roland, but that's what you get for drifting out of the hobby for years at a time.

RE: de-sprueing, I've actually taken to using this absurdly nifty CMK razor saw, which allows you to cut parts off nearly flush, in turn allowing you to clean up the attachment points with a few passes of these likewise absurdly nifty Dspiae carbon-fibre sanding sticks with their cut-to-fit self-adhesive abrasives:



YMMV, but I thought it was worth mentioning

Dutch

[macsporran]

Cheers, Nigel and thanks Dutch for these recommendations. Anything that helps with this area is most welcome!
Sandy

[RAGIII]

Nice start on the interior wood painting. Looking forward to the next update!
RAGIII

[macsporran]

Cheers, Rick
 A bit of progress, to the extent of sewing up the interior tub and letting all the oils and suchlike dry, then rigging the controls (very fiddly) and being quite pleased with how it looks.




I've been reasonably careful with paint overflows, knowing the tight tolerances with these kits, so of course we have to try dry fit in the fuselage



No problem there, but hang on - how much of all this work are we going to be able to see?
(I am a very lazy modeller and don't see the point of painting bits that will be hidden forever - maybe heresy to admit this here but life is too short. Of course you have to paint it otherwise Sod's Law says it will be glaringly obvious.) Let's try other side for fit.



Oh, we're having a joke surely?
Might as well pop on the top deck and the nose moulding.



Gaaaah! And that's with the engine covers still to go on.
Ah well, at least I know it's in there!
Sandy

PS Sorry about the fuzzy pics, I'm trying out a new camera phone and these are supposed to be hi-res, but I need to sort things out yet!

[DaddyO]

Know that feeling Sandy 
(I've reached the point where if it ain't going to be possible to see it on the finished model I'd rather spend the time improving other areas that can be seen)

Paul

ps - looked great though

[pepperman42]

This is stop, start building!!? Wish I could stop like that. Great work!!

Steve