My First WNW! Albatros D.V complete!

[GazzaS]

Thank you fellas!  I'm really enjoying this build.  The way things fit really makes these WNW kits special.

Gaz

[wmoran]

Gaz,

Your weathering of the engine and compartment look great.

Bill

[GazzaS]

Thank you, Bill!

[kensar]

I, too, have experienced some trying models, but you are on your way to a good result.  Keep at it!

[GazzaS]

Thank you, Ken!

Gaz

[NigelR]

Good progress, she's looking very good so far. You've encouraged me to dig my WNW DV out of the stash and start working on it!

[GazzaS]

Thanks Nigel!  I'm glad I've inspired.

Gaz

[PrzemoL]

Crisp and clean. Very very fine progress, Gazza!

[GazzaS]

Przemo,
   Thank you!

Hi everyone.
    despite a week long feeling of a lack of accomplishment, there has been some progress.  Though not where I wanted it.  My big thing today was going to be spraying the famous green tails of Jasta 5.  But, much to my dismay, the Tamiya white thinner was marred where the putty in the fuselage join had sunk a little.  So, I had to bring out the Mr. Surfacer and fill the spots.  Sadly, Mr. Surfacer had thickened over time and had to be thinned with lacquer thinner. 


I hope to sand it smooth tomorrow and re-prime the seam.

On my first Albatros, I wasn't happy with the finish on the wings.  So, I'm taking it more seriously and hoping to get some proper pre-shading done.

The masks aren't for hard masking.  More like soft guidelines for the pre-shading.  I cut kabuki tape into 2mm wide strips for the rib tapes.  And I used 1mm tape for the tubing details on the control surfaces.  I used 2mm Tamiya flexible tape around the edges where red edging will be required.  I'll tape the vertical stabilizers once I've sanded the fuselage seams.

What do you guys use for a cutting board?

I use a Corelle Ware plate.  It's blade proof, and I was quite surprised to find it here in Australia.
It's amazing stuff, really.   Sometimes almost indestructible...  But if it lands the right way after being dropped, it sort of explodes.

There's not much natural wood since Jasta 5 painted them from stem to stern.  But here are the propeller and wheel axle fairing.  More experimentation on wood grain and propeller laminations.  Could redo it...  but probably won't.


Thanks for looking!

Gaz

[RAGIII]

Nicely done prop and axle fairing Your prep work looks as though it will work out well.
RAGIII

[aliluke]

Looking really really good Gaz. Prop looks amazing and I reckon you've got those laminations about right. I'd dull it down now with washes as otherwise it'll draw the eye too much. A very humble opinion on my part and perhaps on your radar too.

I never would of thought of cutting on a plate. I will have to give it a try.

Cheers
Alistair

[GazzaS]

Thank you fellas!  Thanks for the suggestion for giving the prop some washes.  Should help!

Gaz

[NigelR]

Nice work here, good to see you making progress.

One possible thing to consider, the axle fairing was apparently two parts, with a join down the middle. You've prompted me to start getting ready for this build and I was reading the Ray Rimmel special on building the Wingnuts Albatros, and he points this out and corrects it by scribing a line down the middle. It seems an odd thing for WNW to miss out.

The TVAL Albatros shows this quite clearly, as do several photos of original aircraft (just Google "Albatros DV undercarriage" and you will get some). I assume this would be the case with all aircraft, but I can't say for sure. Would be a simple fix at this stage if you can be bothered.

[GazzaS]

HI Nigel, and thank you. 

I appreciate the tip on the fairing.  I hate rescribing, especially after paint.  I guess I'll have to strip it entirely.

Cheers,

Gaz

[Borsos]

Again I really like your progress! You actually cut masking tape on a plate? Don’t the blades go blunt very quickly that way?
Borsos