Evening All,
I bet many of you are wondering why I have decided to tackle a kit which was originally released in 1957, (before many of the readership of this forum were born I suspect, and many of the rest of us were still in short trousers or pretty frocks), when there are infinitely better kits on the market (as some other current threads are demonstrating). There are a couple of reasons actually. First I cut my modelling teeth on Airfix kits and I still have a soft spot for them. Second this has been in my stash for more years than I care to remember. Third I am participating in a GB on another forum and the model must have a minimum of 50% Airfix parts. Finally I built one of these when I wanted desperately to build something different from what was in the bag but did not have the skill to do so and in order to try to get around this problem, I painted my model in a zebra-stripe scheme which I had read about in a boys comic - I do not remember who the pilot was but it certainly grabbed my imagination. A couple of months ago I remembered that model (don't know why), and thought that I would research the colour scheme - just out of interest, no more. On the Rise of Flight website I found Lt Rudolph Windisch had flown an aircraft in such a scheme, although several other pilots also had similar schemes. I still do not know who the pilot was whose machine I tried to portray …….. years ago, but when I saw the GB coming up I decided to take a trip down memory lane and use it as the impetus to build another kit… and it has to be Airfix!
WNW this is not, nor will it ever be, but then it only cost a fraction of even the cheapest WNW kit. There are several problems with the outline, the most serious being the nose which is too short and too shallow, but putting that right would take more time and effort than I am prepared to give, so I will make do and accept the errors. The cockpit is empty (normal for a kit of this age), and the flying trailing surfaces are too thick - nothing a bit of glass paper and a file cannot cure. I discovered that the engine (or piece of plastic which was supposed to represent the same), was missing, which was just as well because I intended to replace it anyway. The machine guns are also useless but I happen to have a pair of Aeroclub Spandaus which I can use. Other parts may be modified or replaced as I go along. The transfers look as though they will fall apart in water so I will need to try to find some alternatives. What I really want to achieve is a model which will bring back some (very) happy personal memories and which will look a bit like an Albatros DV if looked at from a distance through rose coloured spectacles.
Or even just a bit like a DV! (Bo, please stop reading at this point as I do not want you to die laughing).
Just so that you can see what I mean here is a picture of what you got in 1957 (or in my case, 1978):
And remember that the engine is missing……..and yes they are ejector marks that you can see on the wings. If this comes as a shock for some, it just shows how far plastic kits have come in half a century, including kits made by Airfix. The question then is where to start? I have decided that some internal detail is needed in the cockpit, although most of it will be for ever invisible so I am not too concerned about accuracy there. I also needed to remove the upper engine covers so that part of the engine can be seen, and added the side pieces that lay between the engine and the fuselage sides, so this is progress on this section so far:
The top wing cut-out is the wrong size and shape and the ejector marks needed sorting out on both wings:
Finally I have started to build an engine. I know that I could buy a resin moulding which would be infinitely better than anything that I can make but remember that the nose is too short, so a full size engine will not fit. This one has to be under-size to fit - I am just hoping that when it is finished no-one, (except you lot), will notice. First a simple engine block from laminated card and some cylinders from sprue. I drilled out some holes for the fuel intakes and exhausts, shaped a piece of card for part of the carburettor, put on some pieces of card and rod for the rocker covers and cam shaft, and added something that will pass for the gubbins on the back:
Well if you have got this far and have not already switched to another thread, all that I can say is……
………..thanks for looking.
