1:32nd scale Roland D.II

[Umlaufmotor]

Excellent!
The view of the cockpit looks really great, too.
Are you going to cover the centerline seams on the top and bottom of the fuselage with a strip of tape (decals, etc.), Mike?

Servus
Bertl

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Excellent!
The view of the cockpit looks really great, too.
Are you going to cover the center line seams on the top and bottom of the fuselage with a strip of tape (decals, etc.), Mike?

Servus
Bertl

Hi Bertl,
As you know, LFG Roland engineers developed and patented a technology for manufacturing fuselages under the name Wickelrumpf.
This consisted of two layers of long plywood strips wrapped diagonally around a mold and covered with linen fabric both inside and outside.
The fuselage halves were separated along the centre line, like the British De. Havilland Mosquito of WW2.

Not many photographs show a covering strip along the fuselage centre line joint.
However, it seems strips were fitted to seal the joints and it looks as though they weren't very thick.

I may use tape, thin plastic card or possibly a decal on decal strip.

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The fuselage sealing strips were added using sanded down 'Plastruct' 0.5 mm strip.
I added 'Proper Plane Albatros hatches (RD-015) to cover the recessed panels on the model,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The underside of the upper wings and the top surface of the lower wings have raised rigging point stubs at the interplane strut locating holes.
I chose to remove these rigging points and replace them with photo-etch rigging anchors.



The two tailplanes are supported on the fuselage by two metal rods.
However, these rods are located at the rear of the tailplanes and allow movement of the tailplane leading edges.
This can cause the tailplanes to not align correctly with their fuselage mating surfaces.
To prevent this I added a 0.8 mm diameter locating rod between the front end of the tailplanes and fuselage.



Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The upper and lower wings and tailplanes have been fitted.
Each was secured fully onto its support rods using thin CA adhesive.
'Mr. Surfacer' 500 was then brushed over the joints then sanded to blend the joints with the surrounding surfaces.
Finally, a grey primer was airbrushed over the joints to check they were blended.
I've also added 0.5 mm diameter support rods to the ailerons to give them extra support,

Mike

[NigelR]

More excellent work Mike, this is progressing well. You overcome any fit or assembly challenges with the minimum of hassle!

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The elevators have had support rods added.
The top rudder hinge on the fin was damaged, so I removed both hinges and added rods instead,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
Tail flight surfaces fitted, including the tailplane/fin support tubes (replaced with formed Brass tubes).

Now it's onto preparing the rigging points prior to painting,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I've started fitting the replacement cooling louvres on the fuselage and engine cowl panels.
The louvres are the 3D printed ?Proper Plane? louvers (RD-011).
Although they are intended for the Albatros D.V/D.Va, they fit well to the Roland.
Secured onto the model using 'VMS Fleky? CA adhesive (Slow), which allows time to position each one correctly.
However, it does require seven sets of the louvres to cover the Roland,

Mike

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
I've started the basic camouflage painting phase of the build.
The colour schemes were sprayed rather than brush painted, so the colour edges need to be slightly over-sprayed, rather than hard edged.
The underside of the wings, fuselage, tailplanes and landing axle fairing/struts.
These were primed then airbrushed with 'MRP' Light Blue (MRP-043).
Now it's onto the upper surfaces of Brown and Green,

Mike

[Dirigible-Al]

I am pretty impressed that you copied that strip. I didn't even know it existed.
Alan.

[Umlaufmotor]

I am pretty impressed that you copied that strip. I didn't even know it existed.
Alan.

That's exactly what I thought when I looked at the pictures.
I have this kit myself at home.
It's no easy task with those glue joints of the wings.
Nice work.

Servus
Bertl

[Mike Norris (UK)]

Hi all,
The engine and cowl panels have been fitted.
There was some slight misalignment between the panels themselves and the fuselage.
However, sanding the surfaces to blend them required some reinstating of removed surface detail.
As you can see, very little of the engine itself can be seen if the cowl panels are fitted,

Mike

[PrzemoL]

Great modelling, Mike. As usual I have to say. Looking forward to see this one completed.

[NigelR]

Really good progress here Mike, looking forward to seeing the camo go on this one.