BATTLEAXE Fokker DVIII Build

[mgtaylor]

SInce the Interior and undercoat for the wing and Fuselage side panels are wood I used Model master "WOOD" even though its a little on the Tan side of wood where I might have prefered a more bleached type light color for the unfinished plywood color although it would have have a yellowish varnish color I imagine. The rest of the interior as is reverse or interior Lozenge which I made from home made Decals and put on top of a Light Grey Undercoat. Of course the Initerior tubular Frame I am going to finish with Misterkit (MK) GC08 Light Grey, The Upper Forward Fuselage and Landing gear Interplane and Engine Cowl will be in MK GC06 Factory Olive, While there is lozenge fabric decals for the rest of the fuselage. The WIng since Dans Sans Colors were actully Water based Dyes that were applied and modern attempts at their application have produced what seem to be very pale coveering, I am assuming the actual colors as they were applied and come thru to appear in the B&W photos were MUCH Darker and Vibrant. I am planning on experimenting with MK GC20 Gotha LVG Built Blue, and MK GC21 Gotha LVG Dark Violet? Both these planes would have been in production near the same period. For the TOp I was planning on trying MK GC05 ALbatross Green and MK GC01 Albatross Red Brown? I put a clear Future coat down becuase I have to paint these colors in the same Streaked camo scheme as the Triplane useing a narrow flat brush with careful deliberate strokes on the diagonal from leading to trialing edge alternateing the two contrasting colors asymetrially panel by alternateing size panel.

Actually I hope it dosen't seem like a Cop out? It might seem as if I would use them because they would appear to be "Free" for me, however I actually bought a set of the entire line of colors near almost a couple of years before I volunteered to bring them over as stock for direct order distribution. At the time I bought out what I could from Rosemont Hobbies and whence I discovered their origianl source from the manufactuer I ordered the rest of the entire 66 colors. I had our twins near the same time so my building ground to an immediate and sudden halt!

However experienceing the pain and difficulty in tracking down my loved and desired OOP Items and Kits I had always taken for granted as a kid would "always be available" I learned a hard lesson and since have bought EVERYTHING and anything I have possible thought I might ever build or put to good use on a build such as PE & Resin detail kits as soon as possible and where ever possible even if it would sit on a shelf for eternity after that as long as the one day I figure I could use it, I would be able to just walk over to it and pick it up.

In the meantime however I have accumulated enough to literaly stock a small LHS, my hobby budget has dissappeared and I am hoping to steal away the time to put these beautiful puppies together?

[mgtaylor]

OK ITS been what two months? Well after leaving it for some time I came up with what seems like simple fixes to scratching the rest of the interior. More Importantly the Control Colum and Instruments. I have a Eduard Fok Dr I Detail Fret to go in for the Instruments and other Cocpit details, but the Controls Kit Pieces really don't cut it at all.

I go the Rear Cockpit bulkhead fitted to the frame which really began to accellerate things. It wont look like it but it has. I re-painted the rear of the seat with Lt Grey so I could re-cover it with home made copy of the TOP Lozenge Fabric Decal. I didn't like the way it came out on top of a Sivler metal base coat. I still have to paint the seat cushion Leather and re-apply the Decal.

I put in a couple of the rear bulkhead cross members which will allow me to mount the seat and attach the Eduard Seatbelt Straps and Attach point hardware.

I cut Brass Rod and Sawed a silver of Brass tube and mounted them on top od two tiny picescs of Plastic rod for the base of the Control Colum. I started on the Joy stick but dont have the pictures of it yet. That will attach to the top and bottom of the Brass tube ring.

I used some Model Ship rigging brass rings and attached them to the corners of the fuselage frame tubing. I have some strands of un-braided electrical wire which looks great threaded thru the holes and doubled over to make the cable cross bracing between the frames. I haven't threaded the wire yet becuase I still needed access to fit the Control Colum.

I am headed down the stratch here. There is tons of light now streamimg from the other end of the tunnel. I still have to sctrach the rudder bar and mg attchment cross members as well as the ammo can feed and discharge chutes which I sawed from the Cans and which reshape and reattach later after fixing the exact location of the guns.

[mgtaylor]

Slowly I am able to sneak away a little build time and things while they don't look like they are getting far are moving quite well.

I thinned out the floor of the foward fuselage with the dremel and was able to cut open the engine accessory access panel which lets a lot of light into the area.

I also thinned out areas where the control lines pass thru the fuselage and I am ready with a little Filler to put on the PE Fillets over the Openings in the Fabric.

I fashioned a control stick from Brass wire and added the Eduard PE triggers. It was hard to catch a photo of this detail. I am debating weather to wire the throtle and triggers on the control coloum. THeres so much going on already.

I am at an impass. I have to paint and install the pilot before I can attach the PE seat belts so I can "strap" Him in.

I may wire the cross braces now so I can add a few of the Ed Cockpit details.

I worked on the wings and I did the best I could with the Streaking and colors. I used a couple of Gotha Colors, Dark Green and LVG Violet and a couple of Albatross colors Red Brown and Sky Blue. I had to go back and add a little of the underlying "Plywood" covering that would have shwon thru. I tried. It's ready to seal with a coat of future wash the panel lines back in and decal. I was thinking to go back and seperate the ailerons so they can be re-attched in postion.

When you open the links you have to click on view the original photo to get the full detail of the pictures.

[mgtaylor]

SOme Progrss made. here is more of the Cockpit on its way toward compleation. THe Seat and belts are installed. THe throtle and compass and ingintion switch are mounted.



Here by the way were the Kit Parts for the Control Colum and Compass

[LedZepplane]

mgtaylor:
Nice work, I especially like the lozenge covered set!

Danny

[mgtaylor]

Dear Dan Thank you !!! I made copies of the Kit Decals, TOned down the "Gamma" and printed Interior Lozenge and used copies of the top lozenge for the Seat.

Here are the Copper State Mg's near completetion. I had to drill a small hole in the White metal stocks to take the Wire "barrel" inside the cooling jackets. I used a Small Shop PE Rolling Jig to roll the Jackets after I annealed them. I used the cocking detail from the Eduard Fret and the resin muzzels are from the Orignial Resin guns included in the Kit shown. I used the Mg Mounting brackets from the Tom Modelworks set.

If you click on the "View Original image" link the full size photo will show.

[LedZepplane]

mgtaylor:
I'm anxious to see your finished model. Your approach to altering the decals was well thought out, and very impressive. Are you going to finishing the wing in the multi colored streaked camouflage that is being discussed hear in the forum? I never heard of it before or being applied to Fok. E.V/D.VIIIs as described by Dan-San, but nothing surprises me any more and Dan-San’s posting explaining the chronological order of German wing-camouflage was out standing and he gave a good argument. Well worth printing out.
Copper State Mg's are kits in themselves. Can’t wait to see your finished model.


Danny

[mgtaylor]

Dear Danny
Yes belive it or not the Wing is finished. All I need do is Decal give it a coat of future to seal it and put the panel lines back in. I actually emailed Dan San some time ago and he sent me a particular pattern for the Four Color Wing Streaked Scheme for a plane I was interested in the Datafile so I have used that one. I posted the link a couple of reply's ago. I am sorry I haven't figured out how these guys post thier thumnails and they stay active and download. But I think Ive had trouble with the Photo SIte Ive been using so I just post the link here and if you click on "original Image" It will give you the FULL Size Version.

This is how I started with the wing after I had it assembled, filled, sanded and primed in a wood color undercoat.



Here its ready for decals. I thought to seperate the Ailerons but I think I may give it a miss?






Here are the Original Wood Stain Colors from the Austrailian Replica Build Thread which they discovered still in production from an Austrian Wood Stain Company.


I picked a couple of Gotha and Albtross Colors from the MisterKit Line which as these are newly discovered markings haven't been specificly produced yet.

[mgtaylor]

I will put some more work on it this weekend thru thru Sun while Iam home.

[mgtaylor]

After I got that cockpit completed I felt like I am "ready for the World" I mean there was Nothing to go on except for the Rear Bulkhead Slots on the Fuselage halves. The whole frame and placement of each item was like locating a lost Jigsaw puzzle Piece. Each one though built on the next until I finally got it all together.

After the fuselage halves were closeed I went to Dry Fit the Elevator:


The Bottom of the Elevator is SLotted like a V so there no mistakeing how it fits and matches up to the rear of the fuselage so the Rudder will clear and attach in the proper place.