Aces Mounts 2025 GB - Dieter Collins Albatros D1 1/72

[gedmundson]

Great work so far, Paul. I have to admit those 3D printed MG's look quite amazing!
Cheers,
Gary

[NigelR]

Excellent work, this is progressing very nicely. I agree. those MGs look amazing.

[DaddyO]

Thank you gents   

Yes I'm suitably impressed with the Gaspatch machine guns. At least you'll be able to peek at them with the higher top wing placement on this one (Hopefully they'll distract from other areas) 

Paul

[DaddyO]

Early morning starts and some weekend time has made quite a lot of difference with this one this week.

First up prop was carved in the usual way (odd shape of hub is so that it will fit underneath the Roden D1 spinner (I'm using this and the cowl from a Roden kit because they have a better shape)



Fuselage halves were stuck together and the rather large gap filled before adding the tail units and blending them into the fuselage (Just white Tamiya putty which is nice and easy to sand)




Whilst glue/filler were setting on those I spent some time with a seat and tiny dashboard (just scrap plastic some brass scraps and a bit of paint)

[DaddyO]

Fitting the lower wing is proving somewhat problematic 

Obviously the wing position is a bit vague, but I was able to square things up with scrap plastic and shims which then gave a different issue because of the way the wings are moulded onto the fuselage section -

i) Either flush with the bottom of the fuselage halves which gave a decent depth, but meant the angle of attack on the wings was rather high (ie very noticeable rather than about 3-5 degrees)

or ii) (Which is the one I went with) 
Having the leading edge nearly flush with the front and the back inset by about 1mm and adding filler to the section to build it up. This one gives a wing angle that looks about right, but means all the detail in this area will need replacing. Going the filler route also meant that I could cheat a bit to add some depth to the fuselage which looks a bit shallow from the cockpit forward.

Wing position D1

[NigelR]

Some lovely detail work and a few modelling challenges to overcome! We wouldn't want it to be too easy, would we.....?

[PrzemoL]

Great work on those tiny details!

[Allan31]

Great progress. Love the instruments.

[WD]

Beautiful work all around.
I do love Gaspatch MGs, they're so worth the money.
Did you carve your prop from laminated pieces?

Warren D

[DaddyO]

Some lovely detail work and a few modelling challenges to overcome! We wouldn't want it to be too easy, would we.....?

Cheers Nigel. Hopefully once that wing is sorted the rest will be plain sailing . . .

Great progress. Love the instruments.

Thanks Alan (Hopefully they'll distract from the other shortcomings)

Great work on those tiny details!

Cheers Prze appreciate it 

Beautiful work all around.
I do love Gaspatch MGs, they're so worth the money.
Did you carve your prop from laminated pieces?

Warren D

Thanks Warren. The Gaspatch stuff is really too nice for me  Yes prop is carved from thin plywood layers

Paul

[WD]

Paul,
       That's wonderful. From where are you sourcing such thin plywood?

Warren D

[DaddyO]

Paul,
       That's wonderful. From where are you sourcing such thin plywood?

Warren D

Hi Warren it's normal birch plywood used for flying aircraft models. 
The one I use comes in about about 1/32 thick with 3 layers (plys) I cut out three blanks, sand off one layer of two pieces and sandwich the 'normal' 3 ply piece in between giving 7 layers and almost exactly the right thickness. All you need to do then is carve it 

[WD]

Thank you Paul, that's a brilliant solution.

Warren D

[DaddyO]

Thank you Paul, that's a brilliant solution.

Warren D

No problem Warren (It was Prze who originally came up with the technique I use; I've just tweaked it to suit my skill level) 



Had a bit of crisis about this build at the start of the week when I attempted to match the Roden cowl onto the nose (The original in the Pegasus kit isn't round so that would have given issues with the spinner shape). Thanks to the wing tweak he front wing root area was now in completely the wrong place and the nose looks too shallow in side view.Anyway I seriously started to look at the Roden option as a better choice (which it clearly is) and even started prepping bits and stuff for that one before going away for a sulk 

Coming back after a few days away I could see how I might get it to work by wedging the nose open a bit with some thick plastic card (and filling the resultant split in the top of the fuselage behind the engine area), bending the top cowl down a bit, creating new wing roots from filler and plastic cardand adding plenty of filler which of course meant I would need to reinstate all the details around the nose area 

Cut a long story and several days work short here's where we have got to

Albie DI wing root by Paul S, on Flickr



I've just added the scored panel lines (anyone else remember the old Matchbox trench digger?) Mine are a bit rough, but under a couple of coats of paint and a bit of weathering should do (well they'll have to) Next up to add and engine, finish the cockpit and add some details although not necessarily in that order

Albie DI panel lines by Paul S, on Flickr

[WD]

You're a much braver man than I Paul!  Great work so far sir.
As we used to say at the Benning School for Wayward Boys: "Continue to march!"

Warren D