So I've only built one WWI model before, a 1/72 Eduard Fokker Dr.I Weekend edition finished in Lothar von Richthofen's livery. I have three 1/72 Eduard Fokker Dr.I Dual Combo kits in my stash and just recently had the idea to build three models at once. My plan is to give one to my father, one to my uncle, and one to my older brother for Christmas. If I have time I'd like to also make 3 small bases to place them on.
The three kits I have in my stash. 6 models total. Why do I have so many? I really like small biplanes haha.
My father will be receiving Manfred's Fokker
My uncle will be receiving Kempf's Fokker
and my brother will be receiving Korner's Fokker
Clean start on my workbench
The next step is to build each cockpit up. My little knowledge of these pilots aircrafts tell me that their cockpits should all look the same, it's the outside of the planes I need to focus on looking different.
I first had to remove all the premolded detail on the walls, and then build the wooden panels. I did this by stretching some sprue and forming the triangle shape of them. I then painted them Radome tan for the unpainted linen on the inside, and masked it off to paint the wood panel. I ran over the panel with burnt umber oil paints and gave it a streaking job for the wood grain effect. Not the best work, but this part of the model will hardly be visible.
Another shot of the cockpit walls
I performed the same technique with the wooden floorboard. In the future, I might use varying shades of brown and yellow to liven up the wood grain and bring some more detail into the cockpit
My photo-etch journey
Photo-etch is still very new to me. I bought this tool to help me bend some of these pieces. My main problem with photo-etch that I learned from my last model was how hard it is for me to give it a good bond to the plastic. I use "Extreme Power" super glue and am wondering if there is a better glue out there for photo-etch.
Cockpit frame
I'm also learning how fragile photo-etch can be. You can see a small bend in the X shape rigging that has since been fixed.
And that's where I stand on this project so far. I am open to any criticism any of you might have for me as I am very eager to learn from my mistakes.
