Begin to build models again.

Matt_Bittner · 6 December 2001, 05:32 AM

As far as 1/72nd goes, your best starting point is the Eduard Fokker Dr.I. Goes together really well, accurate and has good detail. Don't worry about the "profi-pack" (the one with photoetch) until you sink your teeth more into modeling.

Other choices include the Airfix Sopwith Pup, Eduard Albatros D.V/D.Va (again, non-profi) and Revell Fokker D.VII. The Roden Fokker D.VII has some problems with the kit that a person just starting out shouldn't/wouldn't want to deal with.

I'm working currently on all three of the "new mold" Fokker Triplanes (Hawkeye, Roden and Eduard) and while Hawkeye wins in accuracy, Eduard wins in ease-of-building. Roden is decent, but like the D.VII there are issues to deal with.

Now, when you get farther along in modeling, then I'll start moving you into the right direction - building models of French aircraft.

Albatroid · 6 December 2001, 05:56 AM

Craig,

I'm glad you responded to rebut my post concerning the CSM vs. Blue Max Pfalz D-XII. I based my statement on seeing an unbuilt example at a friend's house- it seemed much nicer than my Blue Max copy. Based on your experience, would you advise that I just add the CSM Pfalz photoetch set & some Eduard machine guns to the Blue Max D-XII that I already have?

BobE · 6 December 2001, 05:59 AM

Matt,
You apparently wanted to keep it brief but I am interested in the "issues" you spoke of with respect to the Roden kits. I haven't built any yet but have a Sopwith Snipe and two Nieuport 11s in my inventory. Any "issues" I should be concerned with with those kits?

Old Nick,
Matt's advice is right on. He is one of the premier modelers on this site. Also recommend you go to The WWI Modelers Page.

Bob E

6 December 2001, 06:00 AM

Agreed - Eduard kits are by far the best value in price and quality. Im surprised that you had construction problems with the Blue-Max kits. I built 2 of their kits and aside from the spaguetti-like wing struts (which I replaced anyway) I had no problems with them. Not so with the Copper State Pfalz D-X11 which did give me quite a bit of construction problems- it must be that quality varies with some kits.

Also worth looking into are Aero-Club, Hi-Tech and Dragon.

Matt_Bittner · 6 December 2001, 07:54 AM

Not sure about the Snipe (it may have been reviewed at Internet Modeler) but don't get me started on the Nie.11/16. While you can - and people have - built it out of the box and it looks good, there are still plenty of problems with it.

One area that seems to be an almost constant problem with Toko/EE/Roden (minus the Dr.Is and D.VIIs) are the wing struts, especially the center struts. On most of the kits the center struts won't fit.

CharlesNungesser · 6 December 2001, 08:06 AM

Gentlemen, Thank You!

It seems that I must buy some of the Eduard kits, anyone else that you can recommend? what about hobby stores in Glasgow Scotland? I´ll be moving there in about roughly a week, could be nice to know where to go. Books, I need books as well, which do you recommend, both for help and inspiration?

Old_Nick · 6 December 2001, 09:05 AM

The web is a wonderful thing. No sooner do I get good advice on what to build, but its off to a site I can order the model kits from! Another dent in the old credit card

Matt
Ok, I am game, which French kits do you recomend? I wanted to build the SPAD based on a home town boy, Walter Lovell who fly with the Layfaette (sic) Escadrille.

Many thanks!!!!

Old Nick

Albatroid · 6 December 2001, 09:07 AM

I don't know about model shops in Scotland. But if you have trouble you might try Hannant's online store:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/index.html

When I visited their Collindale Station location last Spring they had heaps of great WW1 kits.

PeterL · 6 December 2001, 09:17 AM

There is a listing for Glasgow model shops at

http://www.ukmodelshops.co.uk/counties/sho...hops/sclan.html

Never been north of Newcastle myself so I don't know how good or bad any of them are. I can, however, endorse Albatroid's recommendation of Hannant's. We are well blessed for mail order hobby outlets in the UK and Hannants is the biggest

Matt_Bittner · 6 December 2001, 09:36 AM

Asking me about French models opens up a pandora's box.

One thing I definitely recommend is to check out my French modeling page at the WW1 modeler's site:

http://www.wwi-models.org/misc/FrenchWW1/index.html

I personally feel the only accurate 1/72nd Nieuport out there - currently available - is the Omega Nieuport 21. As far as the SPAD goes unfortunately 1/72nd isn't that well served. The Airfix SPAD 7 isn't that good, especially the wings. The Revell SPAD 13 is not 1/72nd. The only good SPAD single seater is the Pegasus SPAD 12. Czech Masters does the 13, but it's difficult to find, and Meikraft did a 13 as well, but it's way out of production.

As far as the Morane-Saulnier types go, the best is definitely the Czech Master Type AI. Eastern Express (originally released as "Temeks") does a really nice Type I. The Revell Type N is totally wrong and best left untouched. HR does a nice Type L as well as a decent Type N.

Then there are the rest...

It has been announced that MPM/Azur is going to do the Salmson 2A.2 and the Breguet 14, but no release dates have been mentioned.

Hope this is a good start. Check the site first and ask questions direct if you want.