Roden Triplane Progress Review

[Trackpad]

Hi, Bob,

Yes, I thought of that, and I'll probably give it a try on a future build. I went with the solid interplane struts here because I'd found a few problem areas with fit and thought that I'd need the firmness of the solid struts to support the big upper wing. It worked out better than I had hoped, with only a smidge of filler needed on one of the mid-wing joints.

This is NOT a kit to rush! I've spent almost a much time thinking things through, dry fitting and adjusting than actually building.

Cheers,

TP

[Trackpad]

Hello, All,

Here are a few more photos as I near the finish line.

All the decals are now on, and I've gone into the "dullcote and touchup mode." The leading edge bumper pads are suitably sized Grandt Line rivets. The molded-on versions disappeared in the wing cleanup phase!



Did a touch of weathering, as you can see on the wheels (also on the axle cover, underwings over the wheels, and along the under-fuselage). The model is as the aircraft probably appeared in March, 1918 on a dampish, muddy-ish airfield in France: kept as clean as possible under the circumstances, but there would be some dirtying-up.



I was a bit concerned that the streaking might be a bit too dark. In the event, with a bit of dullcote applied, it seems to have lightened a tad:



I may do a bit of an overspray with a satin finish here and there, but I'll see what the overall effect is before I try that.



I received my Digmayer props a little while ago,and they are really great. The finish is like glass on these items. I might dull this one down a bit: satin finish or some such. But the prop and the Copper State hardware on it really bring the model to life!



I plan on entering the model in competition in early March. If anyone has any suggestions, I'll be only too glad to hear them!

Cheers!

TP

[MerlinV]

Hiya Trackpad,

I love the streaking effect. Looks very convincing.
What is the source of that beautiful Prop?
Yeah, I'd give that a coat of Satin.

Cheers,

Hugh

[StephenLawson]

The propeller looks like one of Martin Digmayer's gems from Copper State Models.

[Trackpad]

Hello, Hugh,

Thanks for your comments on the streaking. I've had quite a fun time trying to figure out my method (which is a modification of the technique developed by Marlon Schultz: he gets most of the credit!)

This is one of the Digmayer propellers, available through Copper State Models. Martin Digmayer in Europe handcarves these beauties in 1/28th, 1/32nd and 1/48th scales, as I recall. I had to wait a fair length of time, as he was relocating both home and business, but I think that he's up and running now. Here's the CS website: Copper State Models

As you'll see on their website, CS also has the prop bosses and assorted nuts and bolts for them (plus lots of other goodies!). I can resist everything but temptation so I just had to go the whole nine yards!

And yes, I think the satin just has to go onto the prop. It looks great, but perhaps a tad too shiny for the rest of the model.

Cheers,

Gary

[foxbat08]

hi guy
I like it very very much, I like propeller and painting of ther model.
Have you seen my roden 1/32 esswein in this forum?
please let me know if you like
gianni

[Trackpad]

Hello, Gianni,

Sorry to be so late in replying: I've been away for a few days. Yes, I very much like your Esswein. I studied it for quite while to get a few ideas for my model. You did a very good job. I especially liked the masking and airbrush painting of the markings: well done!

Best Regards,

TP

[Trackpad]

Hello, Everyone,

I've been away for a few days, but I've been able to get a bit more done since returning home: upper wing attached, cabane struts attached (more or less), and some rigging on the undercarriage and cabane areas. Here are three photos.

The stacking pads are Grandt line rivets, I scratchbuilt the turtledeck filler caps, and the leading edge tapes from Cutting Edge went on a lot easier than I expected:



The centered upper wing viewing panel is a piece of acrylic sheet. I cut out an area larger than required, CA'ed the clear part in place, then filled and sanded it. I fitted a piece of masking tape in the right place, then proceeded with the build. A year or so later, with all of the painting done, off came the tape and there is the viewing panel!



And yes, I have read virtually all of the threads on the LvR upper wing question ! I just happen to be in the "Streaked" school right now, hence my offering of the aircraft in question



I still have a few bits and pieces to add, some touchup painting to do, and a smidge more weathering to apply. Can anyone aim me in the right direction for a suitable /32nd pilot figure (standing) for this model?

And, the cabane struts didn't fit as well as I would have liked on the lower surface of the upper wing: comments and suggestions for ideas to fix this are always welcome!

Cheers,

TP

[alan giles]

I put a couple of pins into the wing,gapped to match the length of the 'top bar' of the cabane. Then take a minute slice from each end of the bar so the strut's a snug fit between the pins. Glue,allowing some daylight. When painted,the pins become the ends of the strut top bar. Looks even better if you make the pins long enough to just overhang the ends of the struts,then you've got the mounting bolts too! Look at lots of pix of the area and you will see it's not as complicated as I've managed to make it seem.

[Trackpad]

Hello, Alan,

I'll give your method a try. It seems a good technique: thanks for your reply. I assume that you remove the molded "pins" on the wing underside, do a dryfit of the cabanes to locate the new pins, then go from there.

Do you, by chance, have a photo or two of this area of your model? I'm pretty sure that I understand the method, but it would be helpful to see the end result. Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Gary/TP