Wingnut Wings 1:32 Roland C.IIa (Early) Feldflieger-Abteilung (A)292b

[FarEast]

I managed just over an hour at the bench last night and finally got the wing mirror (Pun Intended) rearview mirror finished.

I really wasn't happy with the mash of using the part E19 and a piece of sprue - for some reason the seam line just wouldn't disappear so I decided to make one completely out of sprue.







  So all there is to do now is the flare rack, add the final wing insignia and a little weathering and washes.

[Pgtaylorart]

Nice!

I have to admit, James, this was never my favorite aircraft, but you've made me reconsider. I like it!

George

[FarEast]

I like the not so popular ugly ducklings of WWI.

[uncletony]

Roland C.II ugly? you cray.

[FarEast]

Bo you're right - the C.II in all its variants is not an ugly bird - I love the lines on it. I should have written unpopular, as there are very few who appreciate this incredible machine.

I also have to admit that the more I get into a build the more I fall in love with the aircraft.

Tonight I will complete the flare rack and maybe make a start on the leather cockpit trim.

[RAGIII]

Another excellent update James! You are well on to the Home Stretch now!
RAGIII

[Pgtaylorart]

Bo you're right - the C.II in all its variants is not an ugly bird - I love the lines on it. I should have written unpopular, as there are very few who appreciate this incredible machine.

I also have to admit that the more I get into a build the more I fall in love with the aircraft.

Tonight I will complete the flare rack and maybe make a start on the leather cockpit trim.

I didn't mean to imply that it's ugly, just not one that had really caught my eye... But James has opened them for me!

George

[FarEast]

The final weekend is here and I am knackered, mentally and physically! I've never built to a deadline and wanting to use the final weekend to finish things up was a real push!  Not only that but the weather was appalling so my plan to go outside and photo the finished model was well and completely out the window as it spent the whole weekend raining.

So lets begin,

I finished up all the tiny parts on Friday night and Saturday morning - I was especaily please with the anemometer and I decided to giver the stock part a little more love and attention having decided to not use the Gaspatch part as I felt it was oversized in comparison to the archive photo I was using as reference.

So using a 1mm drill I bowled out the wind paddles and painted it up - rather pleased with myself also for resisting the temptation to install it there and then. (photo taken much later )



Next up was the Flare rack - now as this aircraft depicts that of Feldflieger-Abteilung (A)292b after returning from a sortie I thought that having a fully loaded flare rack would be very unlikely, so I removed all but 4 of the flares and painted up 1 red, 2 green and 1 white. Now I scourged the interwebs and couldn't really find anything definitive on the colours so I went with the scheme I have now with coloured bands depicting the flares colour - I then rag rolled the frame to match the rest of the fuselage.



The next job was to paint up the leather trim to the cockpit and this is something I enjoy doing.

Step 1: Base coat of Vallejo woodgrain and orangebrown 70/30 mix



Step 2: splodges of orange brown thinned and worked up in layers to create depth



Step 3: Highlight the edges and stretched points with Dark Sand



Step 4: Blend all the colours in with Woodgrain wash



Step 5: Give it the warm glow of leather with Burnt Umber (for the new look) mixed with Uschi van der Rosten Blitz Dry



Finally I painted up the cockpit glass and installed all the additional parts to the fuselage - sat back and looked upon my creations!




   

[FarEast]

But she's not done yet!

So also on Friday night I started on my display base - the Tamiya ground effect needs a good deal of time to dry (Unless you put it in the oven while the wife is at work No I did not do that!)



What lies beneath!



while it was still wet I laid a piece of clear wrap lightly over the surface and tipped the nose over of the Roland creating an impressing in the dirt which was then exaggerated to represent the weight of the engine and the prop strike.



So Saturday morning it had dried (without the help of the oven) it was time to apply my home made static grass with my home made applicator.



I use watered down PVA glue as the bond as it transfers electricity very well - too well in fact ...ZAP!



I'm aware its rather featureless as far as bases go but again I am representing the photograph which seams to place the aircraft on what I can only describe as a golf course!

[FarEast]

So now to populate the scene - I was originally intending to do a representation of the actual photo but with the deadline looming and the lack of figures in the exact poses It was impossible to say the least.

Although I was adamant that I would included the the mechanic in the far right holding the wing tip as I felt he brought so much to the original image.

To create this gentleman I used the miniature by the very talented Martin Hille of Kellerkind Miniaturen. So out with the knife and after beheading and removing his right arm I went about reshaping him for the job.

Sorry Martin!





Time for paint!





So where to go from here? Looking at the original there are actually 5 people in the photo , 3 mechanics and the pilot and observer, why not make a scene with the other mechanics....... RIGHT ON IT!

[FarEast]

So now for the two guys out of shot. I got thinking "How the hell did the pilot get up on the cockpit cowling? Did he climb? I think not as the chief mechanic would have had a fit! Ladder, he must of had a ladder and there is no bloody way they would have left him up there without seeing it was safe to do so first......SAFETY FIRST SIR!"

So on to my next chap.



I just love this guys expression - such a shame the ModelKasten figures are very badly molded!



So whats he laughing at, well that would be the comedian of the squadron Jurgen Koch! (Made up name)

"Can you smell kerosene?....oh I laughed my head off!"

Sorry I'm getting mentally tired and maybe a little high on the fumes!





So with time short I needed to pull the plug - I have one more miniature that is 4% complete but rather than rush it I decided to add him and the observer at a later date I think the 3 mechanics do a wonderful job of setting the scene.

[FarEast]

SO...... I guess you want to see the finished thing???

I present to you "Feldflieger-Abteilung (A)292b"











The full 360:

[Pgtaylorart]

James, this is your best work to date! I've really enjoyed watching this take shape. Your end results are superb!!

George

[FarEast]

Thank you George, it was mentally and physically exhausting work. I have never worked to a deadline and trying to complete 4 miniatures in 8 hours broke me. The forth really is almost done but I just had to stop and walk away...... I also had to go buy some lamps for the photography work.... got a great bargain on some 20,000Lm lamps for photography!

[radio]

This is an fantastic build, James.
I love it.
Cheers
Martin