Glencoe Pfalz DIII 1/48 for Dave.....Pfini.....

[Allan31]

I was saddened to learn of Dave's passing.

I hadn't been able to get to this site for several months as mymuchbetterhalf and I were/are finishing up building our new retirement house and life in general getting the way.

I thought I read that Daves two favorite aircraft were the SE5a and Pfalz DIII. I already have an SE so a Pfalz it is as I don't seem to have one on the shelf.

I thought I was going to be able do something like these markings.



These are the markings we all grew up with for Hecht's aircraft.



Apparently modern technology is telling us otherwise.





And I disagree with the above as I feel the field between the fuselage stripes and behind the cross is white and not silver.

The requisite GB photo.



I wanted to participate in this GB to honor Dave. Sadly, life is getting in the way again as other hobbies are taking up my time so posting for this build may be somewhat sporadic. Rainy days happen so no playing outside and I'll gladly come in and work at the desk on Dave's Pfalz.

Any thoughts as to the accuracy of the new research on Hecht's aircraft are welcome.

[RAGIII]

I love your choice! Be advised that those Glencoe Decals will Most Likely Self Destruct No Matter what you do to try and prevent the Destruction! As for the colors, I agree with the Profile as the rudder is in the IWM and is green. I could go either way as to the fuselage band/background to the cross/
RAGIII

[KiwiZac]

Welcome back Allan and an excellent choice of subject. I look forward to following along, even if it's completed after the GB is over.

[Allan31]

So finally getting a chance to sit down and go over the Eduard kit, I was impressed with the detail and finesse of the moldings.

I was looking at the sprues and was wondering if I should replace the kit machine guns with something photo-etched and my brain said "Wait,....what?...machine guns?...."

My hopes of building the Eduard kit were dashed. Vizefeldwebel Hecht's aircraft is a DIII, not a DIIIa......

I then got the olde Glencoe kit down and started comparing and was pleasantly surprised how close the old kit was to the new one. Look how close the rib detail is.



The strut holes line up almost exactly.



Almost exact.



This is the most glaring difference between the two.



The thing Aurora/Glencoe got real wrong is the space between the top of the fuselage and the top wing. The wing should be much closer.



The Glencoe has a desidedly Sopwith Camelesk look to it. I'm sure I can shorten the struts and fix this.



I'm actually looking forward to building and fixing this old Aurora/Glencoe kit. Why build an easy-peasy new kit when I can suffer through trying to bring an old kit up to snuff....

I will start a new Glencoe post rather than continuing this Eduard unless you guys think otherwise.

[NigelR]

Best of luck with this oldie (but not quite goldie).....

[Dutch522]

Pretty impressive comparison, given the lackadaisical attention to detail in some of those older kits (but who knew in those days? Datafiles were waay off in the 1980s...). Given your abilities I'm sure you'll produce another masterpiece, Allan.

Dutch

[macsporran]

Fascinating project. You are taking me back to two different periods of my modelling life: the sixties, with the Aurora Pfalz, which I loved at the time (with the crewman hanging on the side!), then later, the nineties, when Eduard moved from their first short run kits to this better standard ( and enticed me back into model making!)
Lovely stuff.
Sandy

[RAGIII]

The Old kit holds up fairly well to Eduards effort! I am having a senior moment and can't recall which tailplane would be correct for your markings choice. I am thinking the smaller chord is right but not sure 
RAGIII

[Allan31]

Thanks All....
Rick, I've discovered the markings are for a DIII not a DIIIa so the Glencoe is correct.

[dr 1 ace]

Well done, a fitting tribute.

Ed

[KiwiZac]

I think I'm more excited for the Glencoe than the Eduard - then again, I'm not the one doing the work 

[Allan31]

Since I'm doing the Glencoe kit, I needed to scratch together a cockpit. Not 100% accurate but close enough when all buttoned up.

Kits seat greatly cut down, sheet and strip styrene.



Not much will be seen but....



Some old Eduard photoetch belts and some Airscale WW1 instrument dial decals. I found a left over Quinta 3D printed sear cushion so that is buried under the belts.



There was nothing under the wing so I added the radiator and fuel tank made from aluminum foil tape for interest.



I'm calling the cockpit done, now on to the engine.

[RAGIII]

Nice work on adding the cockpit details! Really effective for what will/can be seen. Excellent Modeling on a basic kit!
RAGIII

[Flamingo]

Hi Allan

"The thing Aurora/Glencoe got real wrong" is the fuselage underside between the lower wings.

Don't forget to shorten the rear undercarriage struts to get the right sit!

In a collection of Aurora kits the Pfalz always looked better than most others, and if you refuse to turn it upside down
nobody will see the bad underside.

Your start looks promising

Joachim

[NigelR]

Madness IMO to attempt this kit but a great start.