Roden 1:32 Siemens Schuckert D.III

[lcarroll]

    I started this Build a little over a week ago, and here's the first chapter in the saga. This subject has been high on my list of "wants" for some time. A beautiful aircraft and though not a large number reached the operational stage due to initial problems with the 160 and follow on 200 HP Siemens Halske 11 cylinder bi-rotary engine the aircraft served well. It was able to climb to an operational ceiling of 6000 meters in 21 minutes, half the time required for even the vaunted Fokker D.VII, and thus proved well suited for interception of high flying Entente aircraft in a "Home Defence" Role. Under the terms of the Versailles Agreement all but a few of the D.III's and all of the follow on DIV's were destroyed in 1919.



......and the mandatory sprue shot:



    The Kit has a few short comings but overall is a good one. My references are somewhat limited however, as always, having the excellent Windsock Data File trumps quantity! Rowan at Pheon also provides some great advice on improvements that can be added along with his excellent Decal Sheet for the aircraft.





   I'll be using Aviattic's now "mandatory" Lozenge Decals, using both the clear and white backing 5 Colour upper and lower sheets.



   The first step in this Build is to add the virtually absent rib detail, for this I'm working with Evergreen Styrene strips of various sizes using CA to attach, then Tamiya Surface Primer to blend and then hours of tedious sanding. It's a long haul but well worth the results.



...........work in progress.......



..........   and some of the components completed.




   The fuselage also requires some improvement; the panel lines being grossly exaggerated need filling and re-scribing and the lift and handgrip ports need to be opened up. Here's the "during and after" view......



   I'm awaiting the arrival of the Brengun PE After market Set ordered from Hannants; it has engine access hatches and the lower "chin" cowling with cooling louvres that I'll be applying. In the interim I've started on the engine and main cowling assembly.



   So far all is progressing well, it's refreshing to have the need for some scratch and modified building inputs to the Kit, keeps a spoiled WNW fan on his toes!
Cheers,
Lance

[Des]

You have made an excellent start Lance on what I found was a fairly decent kit. It never hurts to have to do a bit of 'real' modeling during a build, the modifications you have done are looking great, in your talented hands this will end up being a show stopper.

Des.

[coyotemagic]

Fantastic work refining the kit parts, Lance!  I can already tell she's gonna be a stunner.  Have you settled on a scheme yet?
Cheers,
Bud

[radio]

Fantastic beginning, Lance.
Cheers
Martin

[RAGIII]

Outstanding sstart Lance!
Excellent work onfixing the panel lines!
RAGIII

[dtomko]

Very nice work, Lance.

Drew

[GAJouette]

 Lance,
Outstanding start my old friend. I have the same kit but never got around to it. What marking are you using from Pheon? Looking forward to following along and admittedly stealing some excellent tips too.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Nigel Jackson]

A great start, Lance and I will be following your work with real interest. The same kit has lain unpurchased on the shelves of my local model shop for several years. It seems expensive, but who knows, one day I might provide a caring home for it!

Best wishes
Nigel

[LukasTheLight]

Hi Lance!

great to see you tackling another beast I still need to add this one to my stash, so far I only have Albatros D.I and D.III from Roden and I cant wait to put them on the bench... that tutorial on ribs will be well handy for their wings too...
Guys from CZrep warned me before this one though but I shall keep my fingers crossed for you and one day for me

Looking great so far, looking forward for more. Also, it has been asked but I would also like to know if you have decided on the scheme...

Cheerio
Lukas

[bobs_buckles]

Great start, Lance.

This will be a fun build to follow and we all know the end result will be a top notch D.III.

Vb

[Kai]

Good work.

Aviattic's engine would look great with that kit.

[lcarroll]

   I very much appreciate the responses and interest shown so quickly to this Post!  In answer to the many queries on the subject of colour scheme "What marking are you using from Pheon?" the only decision I've made is "I need to decide"! I was leaning towards one of the two blue schemes (included here for illustration purposes only)   ...............



or................



........however the dark brown stain on the wood finish is nagging at me, hard to resist as well..........



    This will be a slow Build as I'm awaiting the arrival of the Brengun PE Set as mentioned earlier, and had somehow missed the Aviattic Siemens Halske Resin Engine which is going to have to be incorporated into the plan!
Cheers,
Lance

[lcarroll]

Quote from Michael:
    "I am still a newbie at a lot of this so allow me to ask a rookie question: I understand filling the panel lines but do they need to be rescribed? Is it possible the sheets were actually butt joined, as they were on the Albatros, with no discernable gap between sheets?"

    I had the same thoughts, Michael. I spent some time closely examining the photos in the Data File and on line; very few are clear, the majority being very dark due to poor lighting. Most indicate a "seamless" finish of the panelled areas however, to my eye, the seams are visible in the clearer shots. The Kit has very exaggerated seams, far too deep and wide, so I chose to partially fill them and then re-scribe them. (perhaps an effect of "AMS", of which I am an admitted victim!) I use one of RB Motions scribing tools, a product I really like, and it does a great job on a touchy task. The proof will come in the primer coat, if the effect doesn't work out I'll refill the lines and sand the fuselage flush as the backup plan.
Cheers,
Lance

[lcarroll]

    Another step I missed to this point is correcting the hand holds on the fuselage re: their alignment. Thanks Des, for the much appreciated "prod"! I had this task in the notes I prepared during the informal research stage but in a typical "old fart" moment or ten completely forgot! I'll be addressing that hopefully today, more to follow.
   Nigel, it seems expensive and I'd been dragging my feet on getting one for a couple of years. Fortunately I had the chance to buy the Kit from fellow member Mark (MGunns) and we did a "drug deal in the dark of the Hotel Bar" during our get together in Ottawa last month! I still feel like it was a gift at the price I paid him!
   Again Gents, many Thanks for the encouragement and interest you've provided here, great motivation and support all round! More to follow.
Cheers,
Lance

[kornbeef]

Lance, this is one of those kits I keep meaning to buy so I too will be following along intrigued to see what you do with her. 

Keith