Albatros D.III (1/72, Roden)

[uncletony]

More awesome awesomeness! This is going to be a jewel.

[Ernie]

Przemol, my old eyes hurt just looking at this tiny jewel!
Bloody amazing work.     I can't wait to see what's next.

Cheers,
Ernie

[RAGIII]

Prez,
Beautifully done. Your work on this kit is inspiring. I have one of these in my stash and it sure makes it tempting. Your repair work on the fuselage fit and the jig are equally impressive!
RAGIII

[PrzemoL]

Thanks, again, gentlemen.
Well, this kit is typical Roden, meaning that with some care and work it can truly be brought into a nice model. I will do my best to achieve it.

For the moment, the lower wings are glued. The plastic glue is curing, tomorrow I will reinforce the joints with a liquid CA glue.

[stefanbuss]

When I built that kit, some years ago, i noticed that one lower wing should be attached a liile more forward than the other - which is of course silly, but was dictated by the pins inside the molds.

I assume that you have cut the wings' pins before glueing them - aren`t you afraid that they will keep coming off again and again during the rigging process? I think the area where glue can be properly applied to is really small...

Regards,
Stefan

[GAJouette]

  Prez,
As always my old friend she's a monument to to your high skills and craftsmanship.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[PrzemoL]

Stefan, I have left the pins. On the other hand I had to drill the holes in one side of the fuselage, as they were not present there. I have indeed noticed, that the pins were not symmetric between both lower wings, so I drilled the holes slightly assymetrically, too. Thus the wings are correctly positioned and the joints should be strong enough. To make sure I have filled the upper side of the joints with a liquid CA glue.

Gregory, many thanks, you are very kind, as usual.

[PrzemoL]

Now all the fittings and the holes for struts and rigging are ready:
the fuselage:



the lower wings


the upper wing


the tail (the elevator control-horns will be added after painting, they are too delicate to risk their loss when masking)


The struts were treated, too. The interplane V-s had to be trimmed by about 1mm but the original pins can still be used. The cabane struts will be adjusted only when the top wing sits on. The undercarriage struts have now the pins made from 1mm sections of wire and the ring fittings added from self-adhesive metal tape.



Everything is now ready for painting! 

[pepperman42]

Great engineering to get this one right!!

Steve

[IvotB]

After this one, I will never be able to build an 1:72 airplane again without being disappointed in my own skills.

PrzemoL: excellent and impressive progress! Those PE details are stunning. Can't wait to see your turnbuckles

regards,
Ivo

[mc65]

wow!

if have to remember myself that it's 1/72.... wonderful!!

[RAGIII]

I must say that I agree with the others. I find myself thinking this is the 1/32nd kit from your pictures ! Your work in 1/72nd is unbeleivable!!
RAGIII

[GAJouette]

 Well what can I say to add to the praise here? After all we're looking at the works of a Wizard of 1/72 scale.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[PrzemoL]

Thank you, gentlemen. You are very kind.

Ivo, I have to disappoint you regarding the turnbuckles. I do not model them in 72nd scale, this is beyond my skills to make them to this scale.


I have done some painting and decaling. First the lower side light blue was airbrushed and masked. Then the dark blue was sprayed. Later came the markings which will be just visible under the semi-transparent final coat of dark blue and the white axe - the fuselage crosses from Rowan's sheet, the black strip with white borders was masked and sprayed - white first, then black. And finally the early axes from the decal set were added, The latter ones are still to be treated with Microsol and pressed to conform to the panel lines. Luckily the Rowan's set contains two pairs of axes, one is for Albatros D.V also flown by Straehle, which I am not going to build, so I could use them now! 

[Ernie]

I'm really liking the markings.  It will look so good when done!

Cheers,
Ernie