1/72 Aviatik D.1

[Tim Mixon]

I have wanted to build this aircraft painted in the K.u.K. Tarnstoff lozenge camouflage for a long time.  Having a few sheets of the Americal Gryphon decals, I felt I was finally ready to attempt it. 
In our lovely 1/72 scale, there are a couple kit options. I happen to have the Toko kit


I believe Toko and Eastern Express are both precursors to the current company Roden.
Upon opening my box I was surprised to find four kits inside. The Toko kit, two Aeroclub kits and one unknown resin kit.( I think it?s an Aviation USK)

Upon examination of the Toko kit I found it to be molded for a .100 series D.1.  I want to build a .300 late war Aviatik as featured on my Windsock Datafile # 171



This will give me a chance to see how the decals work out for an eventual future build of Link Crawford ?s famous.1series D.1 on the other Datafile
So, my plan is to build up one of the Aeroclub kits using one of the .300 series resin nose from the resin kit.


The resin kit looks to me to be hopelessly warped to build up.
I have constructed an Aeroclub kit many moons ago;


It?s the typically thick soft plastic, no internal detail, poor fit I come to expect from Aeroclub / Blue Max kits. Nevertheless it is far better than the resin one!


Let?s see where this adventure takes us.

Thanks for looking in!

[DaddyO]

Oooh great choice Tim and a nice surprise finding all those extra kits in the same box 

I've got the Toko version half started somewhere before I was distracted and was also given a Choroszy series 338 version some time ago which looks lovely. I seem to remember the rib spacing is closer on the later series, but would need to check my references.

I also bought some lovely looking decals for the camouflage although I've not tried them out yet it must be said; the colours are the closest to what I imagine to be correct made by Handl I believe, but I'll check and confirm if they might be of interest

Paul

[NigelR]

Great choice Tim, one of my favourite aircraft. I built a 300 series Choroszy kit many years ago, it was lovely.

Paul is right, most 300 series had wings with more closely spaced ribs - this was an attempt to address the issues with wing failure. They were also retrofitted to some earlier aircraft. Try to find photos of the plane you are modelling to see for sure...... The Japo book is indispensable.

[Dirigible-Al]

One I have in the stash, hex decals too. Thinking about it I have no idea why I never started it. I can't wait to see yours go together though.
Alan.

[Tim Mixon]

Thanks guys
I didn?t think about the rib spacing on the later versions. Too late for this build because it?s painted and decaled. At this point it?s more an experiment to see how the Americal decals work out.

[Tim Mixon]

Workroom Renovation.
I?ve spent a lot of time remodeling my workspace. Unfortunately as with most of my projects, I didn?t take any before pics.

Here?s my results after re-tiling the floor, finishing the pegboard walls, and refinishing the cabinets. I also reorganized all the kits.

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As you can see, I have no more room in my display case. My next project will be to build a lighted display case just outside in the finished basement.
Thanks for looking in!

[KiwiZac]

What a lovely working environment - I'm envious of all the storage/organisation! It's also heartwarming to see a P-40 on the wall.

[Tim Mixon]

Thank you Zac. It?s a bit out of place among all the WWI stuff but it was a gift from a friend who visited Pearl Harbor. 

[Brad Cancian]

Looking like a good project Tim. I also like what you've done with your work space.

May I suggest you also post those pics over in this little thread I made up about our work spaces...? 

https://forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com/index.php?topic=15001.0

Cheers!

BC

[NigelR]

Loving the pic of the workspace. The stash doesn't look too outrageous, but you then answered my immediate question "where's he going to put them" as your one display case is full! I recently bought a WNW Gotha GI and had to buy a new display case, because it was too big for the one I had!

Loving the pegboard on the walls. My dad covered one wall of my bedroom with pegboard when I was a kid and I used to hang all my aircraft models on it. I must have had over 100.

[DaddyO]

Great workplace photos
Just spent a happy few minutes admiring your workstation, cabinets full of interesting models and looking through your stash of kits 

Paul

[Dirigible-Al]

I couldn't help looking at your stash. Some real beauties in there: Staaken, Gotha, couple of Short floatplanes, Felixstowe, Sikorsky S.16, Pfalz E.IV, Voison. Looks like we've got quite a lot to look forward to seeing.
Alan.

[enathan]

Good choice Tim, and looking at your kit collection it becomes clear - they're all good choices 

[Tim Mixon]

Thanks all. Yes, I?ve got many years worth of blissful building to do.

Aviatik D.1 Part 3.

Here is the scheme I intend to depict. The Americal Gryphon decal sheet matches fairly well.


I?ve covered all the surfaces with the varying colors. Surprisingly, it used most of the sheet just to cover this one model.


I scrounged around the spare decal pile to find the correct size national markings. I couldn?t remove some of the transfer residue on this one.


Not wanting to risk damaging the underlying decals, I decided to cut individual lozenges out of the remnant pieces and apply over the bad areas. It seems to work OK.


Next I scratch built the landing gear.


Attached the lower wings and rigged the tail



The underside I covered with HGW wood decals. This is the second time I?ve used these and not a fan. From now on I?ll just paint my wooden pieces with oils.


Lastly, I?m scratch building the radiators.
 

Thanks for looking in!
Tim

[Tim Mixon]

Thanks all. Yes, I?ve got many years worth of blissful building to do.

Aviatik D.1 Part 3.

Here is the scheme I intend to depict. The Americal Gryphon decal sheet matches fairly well.


I?ve covered all the surfaces with the varying colors. Surprisingly, it used most of the sheet just to cover this one model.


I scrounged around the spare decal pile to find the correct size national markings. I couldn?t remove some of the transfer residue on this one.


Not wanting to risk damaging the underlying decals, I decided to cut individual lozenges out of the remnant pieces and apply over the bad areas. It seems to work OK.


Next I scratch built the landing gear.


Attached the lower wings and rigged the tail



The underside I covered with HGW wood decals. This is the second time I?ve used these and not a fan. From now on I?ll just paint my wooden pieces with oils.


Lastly, I?m scratch building the radiators.
 

Thanks for looking in!
Tim