Shelf Queen 2025 Group build Albatross DV WNW Richthofen

[Monty]

Well, this is my main challenge: To finish this build before the end of the GB, to do this relatively simple scheme on a kit I started in 2021 and never seriously planned to blog, just to finish and put on the shelf next to the red Triplane. I got distracted of course, somehow painted the figure supplied in the kit (badly) and just abandoned everything in the box. But it looks quite buildable still, and could be fun. Sorry if it's boring, a boring subject in a done-to-death scheme....



Here are some very early photos of the kit, photographed while I was doing other stuff so not great photography, just for the record. Lots of bits off the sprues that needed wood effects, note bits of marking on mating surfaces of fuselage halves, WNW assembly tolerances are so fine, just a layer of paint interferes..



So we started with wood effects and other painted bits...



Another early shot... not a good one...



... and to me an important shot. It shows the trailing edge of the top wing where the control horns and cables enter the wing... this is not well done by WNW, the covers should be gently rounded as you see and some putty is needed to fair this part into the wing, this can be seen... it needed some work, I remember!

And so up to date, with no further work on it yet...



And how it looks in the box today:



Your comments and advice are really welcome but please don't expect the greatest build, just a satisfying completion of a rather nice kit...

Regards and enjoy the Group build! Marc

[DaddyO]

Yep sometimes you just need to get it done Marc (Remember 'better finished than perfect')

Can't remember seeing a 32nd model recently in this scheme so will make a nice change and, of course, it'll look fabulous next to the red Tripe when completed.

Press on and lay in the stocks of red paint 

Paul

[NigelR]

I agree, sometimes you just need to get it done. It's easy to get a bit obsessed with posting glamourous in progress shots of details that will be hidden forever......

[RAGIII]

It's nice to see this one back in progress. Manfred is looking good as is his ride!
RAGIII

[Monty]

Thank You Paul, Rick and Nigel for checking in and the encouragement! Well, firstly I had to check what I had done and where I was up to in the instructions, and well, it wasn't far ... still lots to do on the interior... but today I did get the seat installed, it fits well but it's fiddly and I needed some messy superglue... par for the course...



But note the yellow seatbelts in the picture in the instructions on the left: particularly the anchorage for the shoulder straps on either side of the rear bulkhead:

No way the seatbelts supplied as PE are going to fit with the cross-strap so high up:



So out with the sharp blade and modify it:



Well, that's all so far, need to let things dry, paint them and bend the seat belts to fit ... I was listening to oldie but goodie music and it was Procul Harem with Whiter Shade of Pale... like a modeller faced with PE seat belts...
Regards, Marc

[NigelR]

Good idea to remove the cross strap. Too many PE seatbelt sets have that cross strap in a really odd place.

And should I admit that I remember Whiter Shade of Pale from its original release in the 60s.......

[Monty]

Hi Nigel, thanks for the comment! Yes, our age is showing... Just a tiny bit... my son told me Dad, there's a group you are really going to enjoy, The Beatles!

[Dirigible-Al]

I almost always use masking tape (the cheap stuff from DIY stores) to do seat belts. Bits of the PE belts can be added to make a hybrid of sorts. I just find masking tape so much easier and forgiving to work with when ultimately it is just a strap left hanging or lying in an aeroplane.
Alan.

[RAGIII]

Good decision on the belts! I never understood why they changed them from the Original Albatros DV/Va releases.
RAGIII

[andonio64]

Great work so far (and great choice of music!)

[Borsos]

That is getting together very nice.

[Umlaufmotor]

An albatross on the workbench is always a good idea, Marc - looking forward to more pictures of your Richthofen D.V

Servus
Bertl