ENCORE/RODEN Early Albatros D.II WIP BUILD

mgtaylor · 30 September 2009, 08:48 AM

I started a build sometime ago and have been making somewhat slow but some signifcant progress. She nears completion. I have the upper wing to prepare with Decals and PE. I have the elevator, contorl horns PE and control wires to attach and then its ON to the Wing JIG !! to Attach the struts and landing gear and then begin attaching flying wires.

I hoped posting would keep me motivated to plunder ahead inspite of the numerous "goof's" during final construction. My goal is simply to finsih A Kit. Period. If I do that ! I can worry about being Perfect next time.

I picked a Profile of Vzfw Kohler's Alb D.II in Feb 1917.

I though it to be interesting becuase I believe the personal insignia on it to be the inspriation for the Fok. Dr.I emblem they used in the Hollwood Movie Flyboy's.

I had seen two profiles of it. a Bob Person Profile
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and of course a Squadron Albatros in Action profile too.

I was very fortunate to learn much more than I imagined I could by inquiring about the profile on Aerodrome's Camo and Marking Board.

Dan-San Abbott
DSA pointed out the correct 3 color Camo for the wings which set me to repaint them from the early Alb D.I Two color camo I had stabbed in the Dark and picked.
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mgtaylor · 30 September 2009, 09:28 AM

I enjoy the Hobby. Ever since returning to it as an adult in 2000 and discovering to my horror the Revel Sopwith Camel was OOP, I cant stop buying everything I see that I think I might even have the slightest interest in building one day not to mention EVERY piece of Resin and PE that might go with it ?!

This being said because in fact I am only an average builder now. I am inspired by all the Contest Quality builds and Master Builders here. I archive and save all of thier build pics to learn and document some of their simple yet effective techniques to hopefully try one day myself.

However unlike when I enjoyed this hobby as a child, the Duites of Life, Work and Family keep me from having all the time in the world and nothing better to do than build and play with things. SO progress is very very slow. I got excited recently and tired ot hurry only to near destory all the work I had accomplished so far. SO for now I am returnignt o work this month and will slow it down again and take my time.

THe steps left are notthat big in and of themselves and nothing I dont think I can handle with some patience.

I have a huge Stash/Building Stack in my Garage filled with kits, paints and tools, where I keep the compressor and Airbrush. I had complained to wifey for long that it was too hot and not a proper work place for all the delicate, intricate tiny PE parts and pieces I had accumlated and I was FINALY granted a Small former Computer Desk in our room to work at during late , quiet nights !

I owe this build to that desk , my wifey and LOTs and Lots of Coffee !

mgtaylor · 30 September 2009, 09:35 AM

I started with the engine. I tired to super detail it out and discovered after I installed it in the fuselage months later, WHY ? You barely can make out the top half with the rocker arms and valve springs.

I was extremely ambitous at first, thinking i would try to paly catch up on my stash and make this a double build with a Roden D.I. HAHHAHAHAH@!
reality set in months later and I settled on just completing the D.II first.

mgtaylor · 30 September 2009, 09:45 AM

I feel a bit "old school' going back to the Revel/Hasegawa days and I am partial to Pilot figures which were Included in a kit. Even if they looked like an Upright mummy figure dressed in puffy flying suits and boots with parachute straps criss crossing thier chests ! SO the next thingy I did was make a pilot and fit him to the build. Thanks to PJ Productions !!

He was an easy choice and build. My great graditude to Phillpe of PJ Productions. I had admired his AM seated Pilots for some time and had aquired several for other builds in my stack. I thank him persoanly however becuase I approached him a year ago complaining of the lack of ANY WWI seated figure IN THIS SCALE and to his credit he no only listened HE produced a pair. Which as such are very versitle in that they can be painted, and/or fitted or modified in so many ways as to fit ANY WWI build.

Yoour Mike

rhaitsma · 30 September 2009, 09:48 AM

MG,

It looks good so far.

I like the desk as well. It doesn't matter how big your modelling area is, once you start working and get into that rythym... it's all good.

I have just gotten back into building models again and the lure of those beautiful Wingnuts' Wings kits really fired my interest in WWI subjects.

It will be good to see you progress with this kit. Keep up the good work!

Rob

'14-'18aviationcollector · 30 September 2009, 09:49 AM

Hi,

Thanks very much for posting the information on your build! I Have often wondered about the three colour patch camouflage scheme. Is it a relatively new theory? I always thought that the early Albatros fighters had green and brown patch camouflage - one shade of green that is, not two. Has this been proven to be incorrect? I am sure it must have been discussed extensively here on the forum, but if this is the case, I must have missed it.

Thank you very much for any information,

David.

FOKKERJ · 30 September 2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgtaylor

I started a build sometime ago and have been making somewhat slow but some signifcant progress. She nears completion. I have the upper wing to prepare with Decals and PE. I have the elevator, contorl horns PE and control wires to attach and then its ON to the Wing JIG !! to Attach the struts and landing gear and then begin attaching flying wires.

I hoped posting would keep me motivated to plunder ahead inspite of the numerous "goof's" during final construction. My goal is simply to finsih A Kit. Period. If I do that ! I can worry about being Perfect next time.

I picked a Profile of Vzfw Kohler's Alb D.II in Feb 1917.

Greetings Mikey,

Nice choice.

Hopefully this will provide inspiration to others of us that just can't seem to finish a model, but I think that it's only going to work if you post some pictures of your progress!

I just started playing with (carving on) a thick winged 1/72" scale Albatros D.I/II. I wish that I had a drum sander!

Until I come up with a quicker way to thin the wings down I picked up an Albatros C.I vac-form as I knew thick wings would not be an issue!

I just remembered that I have an old 1/48" Albatros D.II with decals for "Vzfw Kohler's Alb D.II in Feb 1917", it's probably suffering from "Too Thick Wing Syndrome"!
Where's that damned barrel sander?

Keep us posted, FOKKERJ

P.S. I have fianally given up on perfect!
Maybe I can get something done now!

rcsruss · 30 September 2009, 10:00 AM

Mike,

It's looking good and you've inspired me to tap the stash and start building myself after a ten year or so layoff.

Go for it!

Russ

FOKKERJ · 30 September 2009, 10:05 AM

Hi Mike,

I see that during my time to write my post and recieve a phone call that you have posted some nice pictures and it does appear to be in 1/48" scale.

Nice work and a beautiful job on the engine!

Amazing things do happen when you are allowed to work on these projects in the comfort of your own home!

I work on an oak plank that rests on my lap. It kind of limits the scale that I work on. I guess that when I move up to larger scales that I will just have to find a larger board.

Thanks Jay

P.S. I will have to find that Thread on the "Three Color Camouflage".
Maybe you could post the link here for us challenged folk.

This looks like it:

Comment/Info/Suggestion Vzfw Kohlern Alb.D.II Profile

Umlaufmotor · 30 September 2009, 11:46 AM

Mike, a very nice pilot in your Albatros..................

Servus
bertl