Three Pfalz D-III and IIIa's, MAC Distribution 1/72

[vincentm]

Thanks.
I don't know if it's a matter of patience to build small parts. It is rather a question of will. Then it takes the time it takes, no-one waits after my models to be completed...except me, I must admit I'm eager to see the way the birds will look with their bright colors.

[Alexis]

So I'm I looking forward to seeing these brightly coloured birds . The work you have done so far is coming along quit well 





Terri

[vincentm]

Thanks! I just hope Böhning's a/c will look as good as yours!
I've improved the surface of metal panels using an embossing tool. It works really well. The D-III is shown here, with the most complex fairing shapes.


Next, I've built the engine side panels of Marwitz's machine from aluminum sheet, using the plastic fuselage parts as a template. Then the panels have been cut away:

[RAGIII]

Very clever and IMPRESSIVE use of materials! Looking great!!
RAGIII

[coyotemagic]

Very clever and IMPRESSIVE use of materials! Looking great!!
RAGIII

I agree with my amigo!  VERY impressive.
Cheers,
Bud

[Alexis]

Very clever and IMPRESSIVE use of materials! Looking great!!
RAGIII

I agree with my amigo!  VERY impressive.
Cheers,
Bud

Same here as well 



Terri

[vincentm]

Thanks. I've been surprised how much the adhesive aluminum can be pushed and stretched inside the hollowed areas, I could even push it inside the gun holes on the D-III, as can be seen on the pics. Then bolts have been punched in with a sharp spike, and smoothed using the embossing tool again. I will certainly go on using aluminum tape in the future.

I still have a few more panel to cut out and stick at various places, and I've already rebuilt the stabilizer stiffeners this way.

[Ernie]

Facinating stuff, Vincent.   Your models are coming along well.
Excellent imagination as to using different materials. I look forward
to seeing your next updates.

cheers,
Ernie

[vincentm]

I browse a lot of aircraft modelling forums and pick up tips here and there. I know a guy who entirely covered a WWII Wildcat with aluminum tape, it just looks so real as the kit is actually covered with metal sheet. I had already used this material for replacing panels on a P40 wings, and making bullet holes.

[stefanbuss]

Isn't it rather boring to do five engines at the same time?

As the Roden Pfalz DIII in 1/72 was my very first WW1-related kit, i will be watching this with a lot of interest. The use of adhesive aluminium is a very good idea - if you don't mind i will "steal" this from you, and try using it myself.

Stefan

[vincentm]

Isn't it rather boring to do five engines at the same time?

Sure it is, but it is less boring than the idea of having to start all over again at each kit with a Mercedes D-III...

The surfaces are a little bit better on the Roden kit, but the bad side IMO, is the separate cowling which forces you to sand the fuselage sides and damage the tiny details.

To apply the aluminum tape on each fuselage half, I aligned the patch bottom straight end with the scribed metal panel lines. Then I pushed it inside the angle the panel makes when it becomes vertical, and smoothed it till it reaches the top edge of the fuselage. After that, I had it match the shape of the fuselage towards the front first, and then towards the rear, cutting away the excess with a sharp blade following the kit recessed panel lines. Finally, I re-smoothed the entire surface with an embossing tool to have it match the fuselage shape as well as possible. The final step was scribing lines and nut holes.

[vincentm]

I have scratch-rebuilt the control cable fairings. That makes 18 small parts on all 3 fuselages, sometimes chain-work is definitely boring...The good side is that all preliminary work on the fuselages is done and I can (at last) start building the cockpits.


2 of the birdies will sit in a remote repair unit, so I found it was a good occasion to try and scratchbuild fabric-covered moveable surfaces. I built both the rudder and elevator for the D-III, from plastic rod and copper wire. Here are the steps: 1 glueing the rods on a scale template, 2 adding copper wire to complete the structures, 3 checking the parts on the a/c plans, 4 basic painting (wooden elevator and welded-tube rudder):


Next step, "fabric" covering. I've covered the rudder with rolling paper, which then has been painted CDL. Well at the moment, it still lacks the coat of varnish to deserve the "CDL" name. The varnish should have the paper stretch a little more, and protect it for further painting operations. An interesting side is that the part is slightly translucent like the real one. I plan to tear off the paper in some areas like if the rudder had been damaged.

[uncletony]

I love this Vincent.

[Nigel Jackson]

Wow, interesting and very impressive Vincent. How on earth do you people who work in this scale manage such things!

Best wishes
Nigel

[vincentm]

Thank you!

How on earth do you people who work in this scale manage such things!

I use very thick magnifiers!!

I was wondering if it would be possible to scratchbuild wings and simulate fabric covering, in order to get translucent wings like on some SPADs or early WWI a/c.  I've built a few balsa models in my youth and thought it should just work the same in a smaller scale. This experience on control surfaces shows it is possible.