Hello group,
I have finished my Pfalz D III. No build log this time but I hope to do one in the future. This post will have a number of pictures though. I will likely post those over the next few weeks along with info. on materials and paints used along with technics tried.
I want to start off by listing the goals I had with this model.
1 I wanted to complete a model! This is the first model I have built in 4 years and the first I have completed in over that. Come hell or high water, right, wrong or indifferent I needed to have a completion under my belt. I tried to do a good job but did not obsess. Mistakes were made and that was fine.
2 I wanted to rig a biplane. This is new territory for me and I had no idea if I could pull it off. It is a bit intimidating. Now that I am done I have to say it was not so difficult. Also, it is really enjoyable work. Success only came from much help though. The info Des provides on his website was invaluable. There were many others on this forum as well. Also, I found this very helpful.
http://www.austinsms.org/Rigging-Scale-Mode-Biplanes.pdf Besides the help on rigging, two tools were indispensable: my Optivisor and Squadron Fine Point Tweezers. Using the Optivisor is like having Xray vision except that you see the invisible instead of the hidden. I have many pairs of tweezers, the Squadron fine point are incredibly better at handling the rigging line.
3 I wanted to just have fun with it. Knowing this model was more than anything, a learning step, took the pressure off. Although I started out with visions of this plane in a very sweet display case I have yet to build, it became apparent that it wasn't going to make the cut. It was then that the joy of building, much like when I was a kid, came back. At some point I will build something (I hope the FE 2b or the recently ordered Snipe) that will occupy a display case in the home. Until then my models will be staged around my shop where I can see them.
4 A secondary goal was to try new technics, mostly in the area of weathering. When I gave up modeling before, I was just starting to try some dry brushing and pin washes. I never became proficient. Now there are even more ways to weather or add realism. With this model I took some tentative steps but I didn't want to ruin an otherwise acceptable model trying something new. I came close with doing just that and will explain in a future post.
A note on the pictures. The camera has a way of changing the way something looks. Usually it makes it look worse. I have to say in my case it seems to have made the model look better. Maybe it is because I tried not to include any of the flaws in the pictures? There are plenty and lessons learned. Be very careful handling the model after spraying with Dullcote. I have a couple finger prints that testify to that advise!
