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Kit: Eduard (1:48)
This is the old Eduard kit 8013 that had the PE cabane struts. I found this kit rather difficult to attach the top wing. The history of this build for me is quite eventful. I started this kit about a year ago only to smash it during top wing alignment due to pure frustration. I put it up out of sight only to vow never to let it beat me. The completed model is what you see here. I modeled this Albatros D.V. after MvR's 4693/17. There is a lot of confusion with this mount and the one he was wounded in but they are two different aircraft. For this build I altered the ailerons on both upper wings, and opened up the top left maintenance port on the cowling. The lozenge fabric wings were all home made by me using photoshop and some decal paper. The wheel struts were lengthen to the correct size and were pinned. The horizontal stabilizer on the landing struts was also pinned. I like this method of attaching parts and will probably employ it regularly in my builds. The rear horizontal stabilizer was also altered. Misterkit CDL was used for the base coat on the factory wood finish. Then artist burnt umber was applied to achieve wood grain effect. Then several coats of Tamiya clear yellow for that warm straw look. Master Modeler flat red was used for the cowling and rear empennage, and future was applied to the entire model before it was rigged. Mono fishing line was used to rig, and a wash of burnt umber was used to add weathering.
I finished this Albatros DV as Bruno Loerzer's mount. The Albatros DV aircraft is probably my favorite WWI airplane, and I have always liked Loerzer's paint scheme. I started with the express mask but actually used artists frisket paper for the black/white segments. Although the lines didnt turn out as crisp as I wanted, I couldnt get the Eduard mask to burnish down enough. Built oob, this kit was easy and very enjoyable to build. This was actually my first attempt at lozenge fabric camo, and I am pleased with the end result. I must give a million thanks to Dave Calhoun for his unselfish time in answering all my questions. A true gentleman, and promoter of the hobby.
Kit: Glencoe (1:48)
This build represents my first model after being away from modeling for approx. 30 years. I chose this inexpensive Glencoe kit to see if I had any skill left as not to ruin a nice eduard or roden kit. This kit has many shortcomings. Decal registry was way off, tires were too large, ribbing on wings were out of scale etc. But it gave me a gauge as to what I was up against coming back after years off. Built oob with addition of rear stabilizer controls, and I added seatbelts made from cut masking tape. Paint was Testors enamel.
Kit: Special Hobby (1:48)
This is the Austro-Hungarian Phonix D.II in 1/48 by Special Hobby. This is not a bad kit, but this one had different length interplane struts which had to be corrected. This version is probably not near historically accurate as the versions I did research on carried a stippled green/brown camo pattern entirely. I wanted to try my hand at woodgraining so this is my first attempt at it. I started with a base coat of acrylic CDL from misterkit and then drybrushed artists burnt sienna until I got the desired look. Then several coats of tamiya clear yellow. Built oob.