Aces Mounts GB 2025 - Fokker DVII/Sopwith Snipe

[DaddyO]

In an effort to actually build a model that qualifies for this group build I've turned to the pile of started but not completed models on the shelf (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this) 

Anyway Eduard's lovely Fokker DVII kit in 1/72 provides the first part of this pairing. I've already completed the fuselage and attached lower wing, added some paint and started decaling so this one was already well advanced.
Top wing was painted a dark red shade and then strips of white decals added to give the stripes (I think I may be one stripe short, but I'm certainly not changing it now)
Ends need trimming and a bit of general tidying up and then I'll add the crosses and call this bit ready. The red looks quite bright in this picture; in reality it's quite cherry like.

DVII top wing by Paul S, on Flickr

Next steps are to complete the decals and other details (guns, undercarriage, carved prop and brass struts (I know the Eduard struts are pretty good, but they look sooo delicate in photo's that I've got to at least try to make some from brass and I've always got the kit ones as back ups)

The other one will need a bit more finishing 
1/72 again, this one from Toko. I've cut the parts I'll use out and modified the fin shape to the early style. Likewise the aileron shape is the early version which was cut back from the balanced version in the kit. Most of the parts left on the sprues will be replaced with more suitable items
This one will end up being one of the Australian No4 Squadron aircraft either 8050 flown by 'Bo' King or 8082 used by EJ Richards.

Snipe bits by Paul S, on Flickr

An evening searching through decals and spares has been rewarded with some Roden Camel bits, more suitable decals (actually for a Sopwith Snipe albeit a post war version), various bits of useful etch and a couple of more attractive Vickers

Snipe extra bits by Paul S, on Flickr

Next up for this will be plenty of sanding on the wings to bring them down to a suitable thickness and a checking of shapes and any changes needed on the other parts

[NigelR]

Excellent choices, that Eduard kit is delightful. It will be interesting to see the Toko Snipe built, takes me back to the time when they were all the rage.....

[enathan]

A nice pair Paul!
Surprisingly enough, considering that William Barker flew a famous one, there is no available kit of the early type Snipe.
Easy modification, of course.

[DaddyO]

Excellent choices, that Eduard kit is delightful. It will be interesting to see the Toko Snipe built, takes me back to the time when they were all the rage.....

Cheers Nigel
As you know I've got a few of the DVII kits, but haven't actually built one as standard; if I can figure an easy way to get the brass struts right there could be a few more in the future. The Toko/Eastern Express kit looks okay and no double flying wires so not as bad to rig as, say, an Se5a despite the double bay set up. 

A nice pair Paul!
Surprisingly enough, considering that William Barker flew a famous one, there is no available kit of the early type Snipe.
Easy modification, of course.

Thanks matey.
Sadly the '8 1/2 ton lorry' isn't as well represented as other Sopwith designs and looking at it closely I kind've like it. Not many 'good' schemes for it compared to some others (unless you go all post war with it), but is quite an attractive beast. I'm also a sucker for a rotary engined aircraft and needed to redress the balance of power in the display case 

[Tim Mixon]

Great choice Paul. I?m eager to see your progress with the snipe. I leaning towards the post war schemes for my future project.
Your decal work on the D.VII is really good. The white covers the red quite well.

[DaddyO]

Great choice Paul. I?m eager to see your progress with the snipe. I leaning towards the post war schemes for my future project.
Your decal work on the D.VII is really good. The white covers the red quite well.

Thanks Tim

The Snipe would look good as a silver winged version even if it doesn't have some of the more glamorous markings of it's later replacements.
The only obvious discrepancy from the plan I've picked up is the fuselage length which is over long by 3 or 4 mm so will need a bit of a trim before adding any other details. The flying surfaces all have that 'woven texture that was popular for a while, but some gentle sanding has taken care of that and hopefully primer/paint will tone the remainder down. I've sanded the lower surfaces completely so that I can thin the wings down. 

The DVII stripes are okay, but probably better to mask and spray the red. I've done a bit of touching up on the joins/edges of these now and given them a thin wash of the same white so the touch ups don't stand out too much

[RAGIII]

Terrific choice for your build/s. That DVII upper wing looks fantastic! As for the number of stripes No one will know if you are one short or one over for that matter! I was told by several modelers and artists that we aren't really 100% certain about the Number anyway 

RAGIII

[DaddyO]

Terrific choice for your build/s. That DVII upper wing looks fantastic! As for the number of stripes No one will know if you are one short or one over for that matter! I was told by several modelers and artists that we aren't really 100% certain about the Number anyway 

RAG

Cheers RAG 

Indeed my understand about the stripes is the best image of them is retouched anyway and the 'correct' number has been extrapolated from the untouched bits (There's still some debate about whether the bottom of the wing was done in the same way and the colour of the nose/undercarriage) As usual for us poor souls trying to make an 'accurate' model it's all a bit contradictory and vague so whatever we fancy is reasonable should be okay and if it's not well there's always the next persons version 

[DaddyO]

As mentioned above the only major issue with the Snipe kit (If we ignore the 'canvas' textured flying surfaces) is the fuselage length compared to the plan. For a small discrepancy I'd usually ignore it, but this one's a bit of whopper and will have to be sorted. I'll also need to add the tailplane adjustment bit's which really are a characteristic part of the back end. Whilst considering that I've tweaked a few other details such as cowl and fuselage holes.

Snipe Fuselage by Paul S, on Flickr

The DVII progress amounts to making a pair of struts from brass (I file down brass wire working on each side to avoid too much bending for the basic strut material) Usually I'll tape the pieces to be soldered directly to a copy of the plan, having cleaned and added some flux and tinned them first, then spot a bit of heat to get a nice joint. For this one I've tried something different - I made a female pattern using the kit part pressed into some Milliput brushed with talc, extended the ends slightly once this had dried. I could then cut and shape the brass to drop into this knowing I was going to get a pair that matched  (Hopefully this will allow other DVII struts to be produced easily if the mood takes me in the future)
Kit part shown next to the pair I made which just need polishing a bit before spraying with etch primer.

DVII struts by Paul S, on Flickr

[NigelR]

That is impressive workmanship! And certainly a bit of a challenge with the Snipe fuselage.....

[DaddyO]

Lots of progress on the DVII with pretty much all the decaling done and a new prop carved for it (need to add the makers logos on this still)

DVII decaling by Paul S, on Flickr

DVII prop by Paul S, on Flickr

Few more details to add to the cockpit area next (seatbelts, instrument bar, guns etc) and then it'll be ready to see if the struts fit 

[RAGIII]

That is a stunning Udet DVII! The prop is gorgeous!
RAGIII

[NigelR]

That looks lovely! A super precise finish all round. Prop is impressive as always....

[PrzemoL]

Beautiful progress. And special congratulations on the lovely little carved Axial propeller!

[DaddyO]

Thanks guys 

It's not my favourite model, but given I've broken more models than I've built this year it'll be good to get another one crossed off the 'finished' list (I might even have a go a proper one at some point since I've got a pile of Aviattic DVII lozenge decals looking to be put on display)

Paul