ENCORE/RODEN Early Albatros D.II WIP BUILD

[mgtaylor]

Next Stage was the Profile. I thought of masking and painting the personal marking BUt i am NOT the most professional masker even if I could cut those crisp detail lines. I needed Decals. Off the Shelf Decals do not exist.

Most are not aware AS Spada's US Distributor and quasi-partner, SPADA before completely retiring from the hobby and his buisness was Fantasticly kind enough to will his legacy to me in the form of a copy of his catalog files.

I have had software problems this year and have been unable to update MKUSA for near the whole year. However I am in process of a complete re-write of the site and when its uploaded I will be able to re-post Spada's entire laser line including a limited number of his WWII work.

Long Story-Short I was able to use the very expensive graphic software I had to aquire to open his files and laser printer I was forced to buy and I made my own Custom Decal set for this build. If anyone likes it I will see about adding to Spada's albatros series as the first new profile in its resurection.

I did a Google Search for arabic swords and discover it was actualy a Persion Sword. I traced its full size outline, Scaled it to the profile, Filled it in with color, copied it, fliped it and crossed them and printed em on a white background decal stock.



I also had to re-paint the upper surfaces using DSA Article on D.II colors and Advice.

[mgtaylor]

NOW here's where I depart from Pure-ists who feel that if a Serial number is unknown it ought to be left off enitrely.

Most often the patterns and paint schemes of these colorful aircraft can be made out from the B/W photography of the period. BUt More often than not the resolution, contrast and shading do NOT allow the exact serial number to be discerned.

Through information on the particualr 3-color wing camo pattern provided by DSA. I was able to narrow the side number of this plane down to 20 of the hundreds built. That minus the side numbers known on the limited number of Albatos D.II's I had I chose an apropriate aircraft serial number and applied it !

When the actual number is not known artists often leave the stencil and serail number markings all together. all to often it is assumed they are actually not there. But this is My personal feeling on this. These machines were war material. each and every part and peice of them were paid for with reich marks. You best beleive in order to be paid each and every one of those machines were numbered cataloged and marked. yes some factory markings would have been obliterated in the field but this is a varnished fuselage scheme and I feel certain the markings were there. SInce I was going for a rather new-ish look I added them.

[mgtaylor]

Well here we are today. I ve added the PE details back to the Plane. Glued the Exhust pipes on, added the Guns, Windscreen and wing access panels.

Ive only to add the PE to the Tail and underside of the top wing to be able to put it all in the jig and start attaching struts and add the under carriage.

It will be Flying rigging then. That will take patience. But so far I have a plan.

I wont have anythign else to add to this post for a few weeks as i am returing to work again tomorrow.

[mgtaylor]

[Deedoubleyou]

Mike,

Excellent effort all around! My compliments to the chef. How much of the Spada catalog do you have available now? I'm particularly interested in the wood grain sets.

Regards, Dwayne

[drIace]

Dittos, lookin good, await completed pics.

[mgtaylor]

Ross does a Bang Up job of runing this site. My many great thanks to having him. I want to be respectful though other modeling site's due to their heavy model supplier and distributor sponsership are Very sensitive to any Cottage industry retailer posting free info. and would have me censored or erased. They claim SPAM control as an exuse but the Aerodrome has demonstated an enlightened tolerant policy encouraging a free flow of info which has not resulted in an attack of Spam.

Although personal software technical difficulties have prevented me from comunucating directly thru my own site's updates.

Simply FYI:
The whole Spada Laser Line Catalog is available now for re-print. Although I have to re-post the WWII P47/FW190D9/P36/etc profiles soon within the next few weeks for people to see.

the Whole 7 Seven pattern Wood Effect Series has been in re-print already. Since I no longer have international Shiipng costs and Euro exchange rates to contend with, Ive doen my best to lower costs as much as possible and pass them on to us modelers. All WE is priced $10.00 each and all Profiles have been simiarly rounded down in price.

I will have a compete update posted to www.misterkusa.com within a few weeks.

I didnt mention before, becuase many would already know the Colors I used were MKGC01 Red Brown/MKGC04 Pale Green/MKGC05 Alb Green/MKGC03 Alb Blue and MKGC08 Lt Grey

Yours Mike

[Doug Baumann]

Mike you did a very GOOD job on the swords and the D number,, my complements .. Doug

[bobs_buckles]

Mike,
Are you on steroids?
Man 'o Man you slung that old girl together a bit rapid.
Looking really nice old bean.
Crack on!

Bob

[mgtaylor]

Dear Bobby.

No not any more ? Wait, Who told you ?! I had to give those up. My Jewels shrunk up and it made me want to beat my Wifey More than ussual ? So I stopped

Heh Thanks!! DId you see your package of Buckles in the back ground of my work desk on the lamp base ?

I apreciate the Compliments too Dougie !! Hope to get slung up in the jig or get the struts on and then it will be the careful riggin process.

Yours mIke