/48 Roland D.II "Haifisch" (Shark)

Brad Cancian · 6 February 2005, 03:39 AM

Hello all (Danger, long post ahead!),

This is my first post on the site and I Just thought I’d share some pics of my latest project. As far as models go I have up to this point built mainly WW2 aircraft, however I thought I’d start getting into the WW1 stuff a little more seriously. Not having done too much in the way of biplanes and WW1 aircraft I thought I’d start with something simple and start experimenting with a few techniques.

To this end, I decided for my first proper WW1 build I’d tackle the Hi-Tech 1/48th scale LFG Roland D.II “Haifisch” (Shark), which I found on the shelves of my local hobby shop.

The kit internal structural details were sparse, consisting only of a control panel, cockpit floor which the control column (inaccurately) butt-joins onto, and supports for the engine. There was no attempt at internal former and stringer details. Hence, with some modification to the kit supplied parts, I scratchbuilt the formers from plastic strip, as seen in the pic below, using the Windsock Datafile No 47 as my main reference.

The kit’s resin and white metal engine was nice and needed little modification – very little of it can be seen once installed as most of it is hidden under the centre section “hump”. I added small details such as rocker arm springs on top of the cylinders and other details from stretched sprue and fuse wire.

The control column and associated mechanisms are scratch built, with the handgrip being stolen from an old Eduard Albatros. Rudder pedals and instruments are kit parts – I just added decals to the gauges, using white glue for the glass faces, and added handles to the switches. The seat and seat harness are the kit parts with cushions added to the seat from Tamyia putty. All flight controls were deliberately offset and rigged with invisible sewing thread painted black.

The guns are the kit parts with minimum details added as only the butts are visible from the cockpit. All I added was butt-plates and cocking handles. I scratchbuilt the ammo container and the oil tank and filler pipe which sits under the cockpit floor beneath the instrument panel.

I also tried to achieve the “varnished red wood” effect on the internal structure using oil paints to give a “grain” effect over an acrylic base colour, sealing it all in with a clear satin with some yellow mixed in. The grain isn’t too apparent in the photos, but it is there. I’m not 100% happy with the effect but it was my first attempt so it isn’t too bad.

Brad Cancian · 6 February 2005, 03:44 AM

Quite a few modifications were made to the fuselage - The kit represents an L.F.G manufactured aircraft, however I wanted to model a Pfalz built aircraft so the moulded on tail skid fairing was cut off, the area filled with scrap plastic and glue and sanded smooth to meet the contours of the fuselage. Most of the panel lines needed filling and rescribing as they were in the wrong locations when compared to the datafile. Multiple access panels were also added to the forward fuselage, including gun access panels which for some reason are not shown on the line drawings in the datafile but are clear in photos of the real aircraft. Also, the kit rudder was the wrong shape so I scratchbuilt a new one from sheet plastic based on the datafile drawings.

The lower wing joint was bad and needed extensive filling, sanding and clean up - just to add to the fun the landing gear legs needed to protrude through openings on the wing and be able to join onto the fuselage. The coaming around the cockpit was made from Tamiya putty - this was harder to do than I thought it would be! The prop is a modified item from an old Eduard Albatros cut and sanded to shape and painted the same way as the interior. Rigging is “Ez-line” elastic. Other small details were added from the spares box and/or scratchbuilt.

The kit offers only one choice of markings for an aircraft which served on the Western Front with Jasta 32. I chose to paint the aircraft as one which served with an unidentified Jasta on the Eastern front in mid 1917 which is profiled on the rear cover of the datafile. The model was painted with a combination of Gunze and Tamyia acrylic colours which were based on both the datafile profile and on what I thought looked good. Decals were fragile and the wing crosses ripped whilst I was trying to apply them – as I had no spares I had to re-assemble them on the wing, liberally douse them with Microsol and touch up later with paint - fun fun.

Whilst nowhere near the quality of the recent Roden and Eduard releases, overall the Hi-Tech kit is a nice one which needs a little work, but not beyond the skills of the average modeler (such as myself). I now have a nice unusual aircraft to start my WW1 collection.

BTW, apologies for the pics – I am a horrible photographer!

Brad Cancian · 6 February 2005, 03:51 AM

Last pic (Still learning how to "drive" the forum

)

Whilst my efforts are no where near the callibre I have seen on this site, I would appreciate any feedback, good or bad.

Cheers!

BC

6 February 2005, 05:03 AM

Great Roland build Brad! I really like the colors you chose and I think your work on the engine is outstanding! I really like seeing builds of odd subjects like the Halfisch. Thanks for sharing your pics with us (which are much better than the ones I take).

Brian da Basher

Rendsburg · 6 February 2005, 05:06 AM

Hi Brad,
Excellent! Can you do

the model for my great uncle's plane?How is the size of your model (in cm. please)
Otto

NeilE · 6 February 2005, 05:23 AM

Hi Brad;

That's a nice build of a not so shake n bake kit. Great work! The Hi-Tech Roland D-II is a kit I've had my eye on for some time.

What's your connection to 10 Sqn RAAF?

Regards

Neil

edmondthieffry · 6 February 2005, 05:41 AM

Greetings Brad,

Firstly, a warm welcome to the Drome from Belgium.

Very nice built and you made an outstanding job on these engine.

Best regards from Belgium

Philippe

StephenLawson · 6 February 2005, 07:09 AM

Brad Cancian;Welcome to the "Drome"!!! Very nicely done LFG Roland D.II! Your gonna fit right in. For a first post WOW!

jumpinjan · 6 February 2005, 07:20 AM

Brad,
a few words of caution on using Ray Rimell's color profiles on the back cover, is they are too dark because maybe they were printed in a high color saturation? They don't reflect the Methuen color codes that he suggested at the top of page 34, so I think it's a printing anomaly.
Here are those colors on page 34 (as well as many others):
http://www.sunbeamalpine.org/jans_pics/aircraft/Alb_top_wing3.JPG
The greens are listed, but the top row are all over the place (?), but the second row is more to the liking of Dan-San Abbott's recommendations, Moss Green. The brown (6E8) is defined as the color of "Rust" in the Methuen book. Notice that the undersides are a pale blue (24B4).
Here's an interesting D.II model article that has a Robert Pearson's profile in the above colors:
http://www.wwi-models.org/IM/German/roland.html

I want a Hi-Tech Roland D-II kit too. Your work is superb! How much are they and where can I buy one?

John Masters · 6 February 2005, 09:27 AM

Yes inded, a very nice build. Great attention to engine detail and also the research needed. Welcome to the Forum!
JDCMasters