Eduard 1:48 Hippert "Mimmi" Fokker D.VII build

charlie bucket · 4 August 2008, 02:20 PM

Just finished this one. I'm a newbie at this modeling stuff, really (more of an artist than a modeler), but this place has helped me learn some things very fast, so thank you!

I posted this thread back in February when I first joined the Aerodrome list:

Aeromaster D.VII Hippert "Mimmi" decals

Thanks everyone for helping me out in that. I ended up taking Charlie Duckworth's advice to do the checkers, and other than some very tedious fine cutting, it ended up being relatively pain-free, and the Eduard kit is really easy and fun to build.

Lots of historical errors, although I at least cut some the air holes out of the nose section just like Hippert did, even if the circle was drilled too low (oops). The biggest problem was using the Aeromaster decal sheet that I used for the "Mimmi" bit and trusting it as any sort of reference. I used the tiny wing cross that came with the Aeromaster set, didn't even realize it even though I'd looked at the picture of Hippert's plane before, and also I did the salmon/purple rib tapes that were indicated in their picture instead of the cut lozenge strips, for instance. C'est la vie. I also put the anemometer on the wing (not visible in the pic of Hip's plane), but left it there anyway just because I like the thing.

Images fixed, I think.

Lancaster630 · 4 August 2008, 03:48 PM

that looks really good

well done, if it isn't historically acurate but you like it then thats all thats needid imho

charlie bucket · 4 August 2008, 08:51 PM

Thanks Lancaster.

It's true. I'm ultimately happy with it, but I'm definitely starting to become swayed to the side of doing as much accuracy as I can fit in a kit, just from checking in here every day. This was a lesson for me in (not) double-checking stuff. I'm surprised Aeromaster put the little wing crosses in as the kit decals for this plane. The rib tapes I can deal with, but the crosses...ugh. At least I know I'm not the only one out there who did this, if the examples of this plane on the wwi-models.org site are any indicator. I might actually do this one again when I get a few more kits under my belt.

More than anything I'm posting this as both thanks for the help from the members here and also to show a newbie build in contrast to all the museum-quality stuff around here, as per an earlier thread on the subject. This was a big leap in build quality for me, although I intend on improving on that more and more as I go along.

Kofoed · 5 August 2008, 04:23 AM

Charlie,

This looks fantastic. Really nice.
How did you do all those checkered surfaces?

Thanks for showing,
Kofoed

charlie bucket · 5 August 2008, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kofoed

Charlie,

This looks fantastic. Really nice.
How did you do all those checkered surfaces?

Thanks for showing,
Kofoed

Thanks Kofoed!

For the checkers I just used cduckworth's method. I painted the aft end of the fuselage white, then individually cut each little black square or triangular shape from black/clear-checkered decal sheet (see below). You have to cut a few irregular shapes to make it work where one plane/edge of the fuselage meets another, since the design doesn't have evenly square checkers all around, but this isn't too tough. You can kind of eyeball what shape needs to go down pretty easily. After you place the first checker (I did this on the port side just underneath the machine guns, where you have a straight line to work with), everything else falls into place bit by bit, square by square. It was all really easy, actually - just a bit tedious.

When I got to the tail section, instead of cutting the individual checkers out, I just ended up laying the kit parts over the checkered decal sheet and tracing it with a pencil, then cutting out my trace and laying it out over the part, which worked just fine. You still have to line it up as best as you can to be consistent with the checkers you've already laid down. The aeromaster checkers wouldn't work at all, though I still bought that set for the "Mimmi" and the little stars on the wheels.

Microscale sells 1/4" decal sheets of checkers that just so happen to work perfectly for this plane in this scale. If you go here: Model Railroad Decals and Stickers - Microscale Industries ...and do a search for "checkers," you can find them for $2.20 US, although they have a $20 minimum purchase, so I just stocked up on all their bottled modeling stuff - microsol, microgloss, micro liquitape, etcetera...

Kofoed · 5 August 2008, 02:24 PM

Wow Charlie,

That's a great description, makes me want to try it.

Thank you very much,
Kofoed

StephenLawson · 5 August 2008, 03:10 PM

Historical is good but your personal alterations do not lessen the quality of this build. Nicely Done! Model On!

MerlinV · 5 August 2008, 03:19 PM

Woohoohoo, Charlie.

This is a stunner! I like it very much. From the scheme itself to the execution. A veritable beauty.

Cheers,

Hugh

MicroSculpt · 5 August 2008, 06:55 PM

Charlie:

Very pleasing build. I like your subtle toning of the white areas.

I have always been fond of the "Mimmi" scheme. I think the checkerboard pattern really suited the D.VII lines.

I look forward to your next build.

Tom

Trackpad · 5 August 2008, 08:59 PM

Charlie!

I just posted to another thread, encouraging you to post photos of your work, and I now find this thread with you doing just that! Very nice work on the checkerboard design, and the model itself, and an excellent lesson on how you did it. You've just taught ME a technique: thanks, and Well Done!