Albatros D-V (Roden 1/72)

[vincentm]

Thanks for your comments.
Yes I have entirely rebuilt the rigging with thinner threads (0.1mm). The turnbuckles are smaller but still far too big, especially diameter-wise. I first thought about drilling holes and just adding smaller tubes on the wires' ends to make the turnbuckles, and that would be closer to scale. But I wanted to have end loops as this is typical to those birds compared to later biplanes. Anyway I can't revert to holes now that the upper wing and masts are in place, since I've glued all the U shaped hooks in the wings with a very strong industrial CA...
The good side is you can remove any wire by simply cutting the loops at each end, and I'm thinking about using tubes of a smaller diameter. But as the wires have a 0.1mm diameter, the tubes cannot have a diameter below 0.4mm.

[radio]

A wounderful work Vincent.
Martin

[vincentm]

Thanks.

PS: I found out I could use 0.3mm tubes with 0.1 wires. Now this is much closer to scale since in actual size, it would make 7.2mm wires, and the turnbuckles would be ca 2cm in diameter. Being 3mm in length, that makes 21cm which is not totally out of size. Now I have to go again with all the rigging. It's just a matter of time, it should take one or 2 evenings.

[vincentm]

So this is the final version of the rigging:




On the wings, the oil post-shading is more visible than I hoped. This is good news since the lozenge finish has a tendency to "flatten" the wings look.

As everybody talks about Aviattic decals, I ordered a sheet and noticed that my own searches on lozenges led me to something very close. Just for comparison, here's a sample of a 1/72 Aviattic sheet that matches the wing pattern on an Albatros

[IanB]

That's looking very nice indeed Vincent.
I still think the turnbuckles are too big - they are really no thicker than the wires...

http://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/albatros-dva/albatros-dva-walkaround#

My personal view is that in 1:72 they just need to be painted on - you really can't see them unless you're very close. Other than that she's about as perfect as it gets in this scale! I'll take lessons from you on the shading and weathering any time!

Ian
 

[RAGIII]

Beautiful results! As always the Modeler is probably his own worst reviewer  I am Still VERY Impressed with your 1/72nd scale work!
RAGIII

[vincentm]

Thanks. Now I'm close to completion at last.
Ian, yes I noticed the turnbuckles are almost the same diameter as the wires.
If you just paint them, you can't make end loops since loops can only be made with micro-tubes, which have to be slightly larger than wires themselves since they have to go through twice.
I'm more concerned with the width of the rib tapes. I took them from a Pegasus 1/72 decal sheet but I only realized they were too thick when the job was done so it was too late to start over.

[Ernie]

Wonderful job, Vincent.  Even more impressive in the teeny scale.
Well done!

Cheers,
Ernie

[vincentm]

Thanks. I've started painting the mechanic that will go next to the plane. When it's done, I'll just have to glue each element in place on the vignette. Final pics will come in a few days.

[Alexis]

Your weathering has turned out rather well . Over all very impressive build 






Terri

[Old Man]

The finish you have achieved here is extraordinary, Sir.

Congratulations.

[lone modeller]

I have not looked in recently and am totally blown away by the level of detail; and the outstanding finish on this model. I agree with IanB about the wire attachment points but otherwise I simply cannot find anything to be critical about. Besides I could not achieve this level of detail if I had tried! Very many congratulations and I am looking forward to seeing this completed.
 

[vincentm]

Thank you all.
I'm about to glue the mechanic onto the pavement next to the plane, and will make pics of the completed scene in the coming days.

As a conclusion to my first WWI build in 1/72, I would say that the small size of the model has caused a few details to be a little too big: the s/n on the fin (if I had printed it at a smaller size, I would've lost details on the digits); the cockpit instruments (it's not my fault this time LOL, since the gauge decals come from a FCM sheet...); the rib tape width (this time too, I could blame Pegasus but if I had noticed that earlier, I could've made custom thinner rib tapes from painted decal stripes); the size of the turnbuckles (see above).

On the other hand, I'm rather happy with the weathering, and I learned a lot while building this old little bird: to tell the truth, a few months ago, I didn't even think I could make valve springs, wire end loops or home made lozenges on such a small model...And moreover,  I now love those colorful machines.

[vincentm]

It's done! I've posted the final pix in the completed models area.