Roden Triplane Progress Review

[Trackpad]

Hello, Everyone,

Here are a few photos of my long-standing 1/32nd triplane build: Lothar von Richthofen's aircraft. This has been on the books for about two years, for more reasons than you'd ever want to know!

The engine was done using Alclad II, with a touch of weathering/oiling with Testors Rubber:



I added the blast plates to the upper decking with sheet styrene and Grandt Line rivets:



A general view of my "bits and pieces" before getting into the heavier construction:



I used enamel to prepare for the streaking: mixed CDL, then I "striped" the surfaces with a masked darker brown, but only lighter and darker areas, not a uniform solid colour. I did this to quicken the streaking process:



Nest step: gently streaking the surfaces with a thin acrylic (1:1 paint-thinner ratio with a drop or two of retarder), in this case Gunze Sangyo Olive Drab. Marlon Schultz gets the credit for the GS and application technique. He builds up the finish from the CDL stage, while I wimped and sped up the process by my "striping" method. This is the first pass with the GS acrylic. I subsequently added more GS streaking here and there to build the final appearance:



Here's the final effect prior to painting the yellow rear fuselage. In hindsight, I think the finish might be a tad dark, but still in the ballpark:



I'm well ahead of the power curve with this build. The undercarriage went on tonight, and the upper wing only needs it's crosses and ailerons before it, too, gets fitted to the main assembly. Then the final rigging, smaller parts and weathering are in order. I welcome and hints, tips, and suggestions. But puh-leese let's not get into the "upper wing colour" topic! <G>

I'll post a few more photos as I near the finish line!

Cheers,

TP

[charlie bucket]

Stunning. Beautiful technique.

-CB

[Elfen]

Very well done!
Love the detailing. Would like to see it completed.

[StephenLawson]

A unique approach.

[John Masters]

First rate!

John

[Iwik]

Hi there!
Beautiful work. Pre shading? Mmmm, I'll think about that for my (next?) project.
Why didn't you use oil paint for the streaking? Don't like the medium? Personnally I think it's easier.
Did you have any problem adjusting the cockpit "cage" when you closed the halves fusilage, or did you have to cut some width to have it properly fitted?
Ciao
Iwik

[Trackpad]

Hi, Iwik,

Thanks very much for your compliment!

I guess I did the preshading with enamels and airbrush because I just love airbrushing! Because of that, I probably have more paint than any standard hobby store. The idea of using oils never crossed my mind, although I do have a few tubes for panel line washes and (if I can eventually learn the right technique) for wood grain finishes. If you have a method for preshading in oils, I'd like to learn it.

The cockpit presented two problems: fitting the seat, ammunition boxes and fuel tank assemblies; and widening the openings for the machine guns. I cut down the "shoulders" of the frame on which the seat was mounted, and continually dry-fit the boxes and fuel tank until I got a decent fit. The key to that exercise was always to check the fit of the engine firewall assembly to be sure that it was all right.

The gun assemblies just did not fit the fuselage openings well at all. I had to widen the opening for the right hand ammunition feed tray, and the one for the spent cartridge collector of the left hand machine gun. Then I had to modify the collector for the right hand gun by trimming off part of the upper end of the collector, thus bringing the part "closer" to its gun. That collector was impacting on the feed tray of the left hand gun. All in all, I felt like a dental surgeon after that work!

Thanks again for your comments: much appreciated!

Cheers,

TP

[Iwik]

Hi!
For the oil wood grain finish, here is my method if you haven't seen the thread already:
Albatros DII 1/48

Thanks for the tips. However, you didn't answer my question, or I didn't ask it clearly (sorry): does the "cage" of the cockpit, the frames made by the inside tubing, need trimming as well or does it fit right? Can I glue it all together and glue the whole thing to one side before closing the 2 halves?

Thanks!
Iwik
PS When I mentioned oil paints, it was meant for the streaking itself. I did it for Revell 1/28 Dr1 that you can see here (in french the pix speak for themselves):
Rittmeister 194 :: Voir le sujet - Fokker Dr1 1/28

[Trackpad]

Hi, Iwik,

Sorry: I misunderstood your question.

Concerning the question of oils, I had never used them before, but I had much experience with model paints. So it was simply a question of using what I knew best!

From my build, I do not know for sure if you could build the entire "cage" and then fit it inside the fuselage. I think that you can, as long as you trim the upper "shoulders" of the frame that holds the seat. I suggest being very, very careful, so that it fits properly when the fuselage is put together

I assembled most of the framing inside each of the fuselage halves, adding PE and scratchbuilt parts. Then I joined the two fuselage halves, fitting any transverse parts (like the seat frame) at the same time. By that time, I had seen a few fit problems with the kit, and so I decided not to build the "cage" separately, but to do as I described above. I did not want to face the problem of taking the cage apart, in case it did not fit inside the fuselage properly.

Et merci beaucoup pour les deux "threads:" je ne sais pas le mot en francais pour ca! Deux maquettes formidable: felicitations!

Salud!

TP

[bobs_buckles]

You probably already know this:
The only advice I can give you is to cut the one piece struts in half before fitting. Makes the whole job easier.

Cheers,
Bob