Hansa Brandenburg D.1 Star Strutter in 1/33rd Scale

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Good Folks,

Starting a new machine with this one.  I've always liked it.  No...I don't know why.  I even built a Peanut Scale free flight model from Lee's Hobbies a long time ago.  I guess it's the strut arrangement but I like the tiny finless rudder too.  I suspect the deep thin edged rear fuselage was supposed to be a fin of sorts.  Also, that darn gun 800 feet above the pilot in the "baby coffin".  So impractical but so many attempts to make it stream lined as well.

Anyway, the kit looks great but I don't like the simple tan wings and the wood effect could look more convincing.  So I'm printing it in black and white and will be airbrushing my colors.  I'll also be modifying the rudder as the kit has the larger unit with the large fin.  Can't have stability!  No way...

Here are the beginning fuselage parts and some attempts at making wood with acrylic, oils and clear orange over spray.  I also started the instrument panel with some plastic "glass" in there.  This will be fun!

Stay tuned...Dan

[DaddyO]

Great choice Dan, there is definitely something about a strutter . . . 

Like the way you've chosen to airbrush the linen and woodwork rather than use the printed patterns which hopefully will look great

Pulling up a chair to watch
Paul

[NigelR]

Great choice, this is one of my favourite aircraft and we have a 1/32 kit from Copper State on the way later this year (hopefully!). Looking forward to this one, very interested to see how you approach the star struts..... Carefully, I would imagine!

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Thanks, Paul and Nigel.  So far so good! Here is the state of affairs.  Starting to get the fuselage skins together.  I need to emboss some bits on the wood panels and I got the instrument panel done.  I made the little Bosch twirly-electrical-thingy from balsa and some thin fuse wire and bezels are from paper. Looks pretty nice thus far!

Thanks for looking...

Dan

[NinetythirdLiberator]

 

[NigelR]

Love that instrument panel!

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Thanks, Nigel!  It turned out darn nice.

Tonight I started the basic skinning.  I added joints for the plywood by embossing and, though I don't think you can see them, tiny impressions of nails along the fuselage.  Did that with my plastic model riveting tool.  Seemed to work out quite well and I tested it with a coat of primer.  You can still see the nails so I'm chuffed.

More soon and stead as she goes...Dan

[NigelR]

If you can see them they are definitely there! Well worth that extra effort I think.

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Yes, Nigel.  Once I start painting, I think they will stand out a bit more.  We'll see!!

It's worth a try in this scale.

Dan

[KiwiZac]

Lovely work Dan, and representing the nails was an inspired move. Every little bit extra above and beyond card/paper makes it that much better.

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Thanks, Zac!  Can't wait to see that Avro...

I got a tad more done.  The instrument panel is in and now I won't break it!

The fitment of the bottom skin and the cowling/cockpit is...interesting. 

More soon once I get some more interior done and those other skins installed!

Dan

[NigelR]

That panel looks very nice in place. Sounds like you have some "fun" awaiting you......

[KiwiZac]

Thanks, Zac!  Can't wait to see that Avro...

One of these decades, Dan. One of these decades!

[ColonelKrypton]

Dan,

Very nice.

I on and off followed your Gotha build and that turned out very well as I well imagine that your Star Strutter will as well.

Is this the Models by Marek card model that I see on Ecard Models? 

Ooops, silly question.  I was just perusing the Paper Models forum and found you postings for this same build.

What paper or card do you print these on? Ink Jet printer?

I have tried my hand at using card in the past but never really found the ideal combination of card. Consequently my attempts were OK but uninspiring. Having used balsa and bass wood and plastic for many decades I found I very quickly fell back to those materials rather than developing the necessary skills or mind set to use paper and card to their best advantage. When something becomes frustrating or doesn't work the way you want or envision it is far to easy to fall back to what you know.

I do however follow a hybrid approach in that some paper and card bits find their way into my other builds. I frequently will use paper/card designs as a starting point but rather go immediately to to plasticard. There are a number of early armoured car models that I have done this way.

I will be paying closer attention and following you build with interest.

cheers, Graham

[NinetythirdLiberator]

Hi Graham...I too use a hybrid approach and it seems to work well.  The paper for this model is an experiment as it's only 102 grams/square meter and I usually use 140-160!  We'll see how it goes.  I just have an old Brother printer.  It's not great, but since I'll be painting this like a plastic model, it doesn't matter!  We'll see how it all turns out. 

Here are some updates.  I got the interior all done by adding the seat, control column, rudder pedals and head rest.  I made the seat pillow from two part epoxy putty and used this to also give some contour and shape to the headrest.  I scratched a throttle on the left side, made tape seat belts and stole a compass from another paper model and added it to the right side of the seat.  Spartan, but busier than the stock kit.

On to the cowlings and bottom fuselage...Dan