Kit: ESCI (1:72)
This Albatros D.III is almost a “group” project – I got help from a lot of people in order to build this one. I first saw Ernst Hess’s Jasta 28w Albatros (serial 2041/16, the W denotes Württenberg) thanks to a Bob Pearson’s profile. Then, Dan-San Abbott helped me with the wings camouflage. When it came time for assembling the Copper State Models photo-etched Spandaus (my first experience with photo-etch), other folks came to my help, especially Eric Hight, Diego Fernetti and Steve Perry. Thanks to them all! The ESCI kit had a lot of plastic to be removed in the interior, and I used a Revell Dr.I seat. The colors I used for this plane are: fuselage: Humbrol 147 (also for struts and wheel axis), 63 and 101. Wing uppersurfaces: Humbrol 120 and Revell 361 and 381. Wing lowersurfaces: Humbrol 89. Tail, Humbrol 24 and 33.
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Kit: revell (1:72)
This is the 1/72 Revell Fokker D.VII painted as Rudoplh Berthold's plane. The only additions to the model were prop decals and Aeromaster lozenge – I decided not to paint the lozenge decals that came with the kit, and also didn't include the pilot. I had to cut the struts between fuselage and top wing because they were too long. Really a nice kit to build, in my opinion.
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Kit: revell (1:72)
Sooner or later I'd build the Red Baron 425/17 triplane, and here it is, finished in May 2002. This is the Revell kit (probably I won't build another in my life), almost OOB except for the machine guns. I replaced the kit ones with Rosepart resin Spandaus. The result was much better, although the contact surface between machine guns and fuselage is too small.
I also chose this kit for my first rigging experiences, since the triplane doesn't have so many wires. I used stretched black sprue and rigged only the landing gear and cabane struts area. Although the alignment isn't that perfect, I think the results were pretty good :-)
In this kit I tried to use that Humbrol gloss varnish, the one with the square bottle. The result was awful and the model was "sticky" even after weeks. So, after placing decals, I gave the model another coat of gloss varnish, this time using the Humbrol 35 tinlet, and saved the work from a disaster. I don't advice anyone to use this square bottle Humbrol varnish.
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Kit: roden (1:72)
This is the Roden D.III in 1/72, built as Alois Heldmann's airplane. It's built OOB, but the painting instructions for this plane are wrong. I got the correct scheme and colors thanks to a profile by Bob Pearson. Once again I had some problem with the cowling-fuselage fit. Other than that, the kit went pretty well. I finished this one in May 2003.
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Kit: roden (1:72)
This is the 1/72 Roden kit, built OOB with the markings for Ltn. Carl Degelow, Jasta 40. I enjoyed the build, and this is the first time I used gloss varnish to improve the overall looking of the plane and to avoid decal silvering (it worked, but not 100%). Minor problems were in cabane struts and with the join between fuselage and cowling, things I'll pay more attention at in my next Pfalz, since I plan to build more of them. A beautiful plane with beautiful markings and a nice kit, in a few words.
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Kit: heller (1:72)
This is the Heller 1/72 kit, build exactly as the instructions say, including painting (this strange Humbrol 90) and decals. No replacement pieces or conversion, these nice things you experts always do with the models :-))) I just found that the fuselage halves didn't fit too well, but I can't say all Heller Rolands have this problem or if it's just mine.
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