WWI Digest 226 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: Difficult models by "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" 2) The Kit of Death by Erik Pilawskii 3) Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L by Alberto Rada 4) Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L by Alberto Rada 5) Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L by Rob 6) Re: The Kit of Death by Mark Lawrence Shannon 7) Re: articles for OVER THE FRONT by "PETER KILDUFF, UNIVERSITY RELATIONS, 21791" 8) D.VIII by NPWE28A@prodigy.com ( KENNETH L HAGERUP) 9) Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L by Alberto Rada 10) Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L by bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) 11) Re: PBS WWI Extravaganza Update by DavidL1217@aol.com 12) Re: PBS WWI Extravaganza Update by SCLexicat@aol.com 13) Re: The Kit of Death by meba@cso.com 14) WWI Novels by Brian Nicklas 15) Re: WWI Novels by meba@cso.com 16) 16 August 1916, Buc by "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" 17) New WW1 aviation web site by Rob 18) Meikraft Lloyd Triplane by SHUSTAD@email.usps.gov 19) Re: New WW1 aviation web site by meba@cso.com 20) Re: Meikraft Lloyd Triplane by meba@cso.com 21) Re: New WW1 aviation web site by Charles_A._Duckworth@notes.up.com (Charles A. Duckworth) 22) Re: New WW1 aviation web site by meba@cso.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 16:58:05 -0700 From: "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" To: wwi Subject: Re: Difficult models Message-ID: <3213B98D.5B2F@host.dmsc.net> meba@cso.com wrote: > > On 15 Aug 96 at 15:48, PETER KILDUFF, UNIVERSITY REL typed > diligantly: > > > So, while you're waiting for the decal softener to take effect or > > the paint to dry, how about thinking about doing a > > research-oriented article? > > I've actually thought about it. However, I am not a writer, nor do I > understand writing guidlines. Any? > > There's something else, too: while doing research, we find out that > the ailerons on SPAD A4's weren't the same as SPAD A2's. What kind > of article is that? ;-) > > Let me ask you this: I'm in the process of documenting photographs > *I have in my possesion* - which are from books or magazines - of > the machines of the Lafayette Escadrille. This documentation > includes source, page, photonumber (if exists), pilot's last name > (and first initial, if needed), type of plane, and serial number if > shown on the photo. How can that be put into an article (seriously > - I wouldn't mind writing one)? > > Matt > meba@cso.com I'd buy any magazine with that information in it! --Bradley Omanson ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 14:36:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Erik Pilawskii To: ww1 mailer Subject: The Kit of Death Message-ID: Greetings All, Time for a new and useless (though entertaining) thread: Describe the *worst* kit (WWI, of course!) you've ever built, and what happened with it. Without question, the most awful blob of plastic ever to contaminate my work bench was the Merlin AEG G.IV! Upon removing the kit from the suspiciously tiny white box, I was struck by the utter lack of pieces! A machine of this size and complexity, and I'm lookin' at two dozen parts! Christ! First inspection revealed a mainplane that was warped in three dimensions; rather somewhat resembling a child's stick-and-propeller toy. The fuselage halves, found to be equally well-aligned, were of sufficient thickness to warrant the investigation of the possibility of completing an Mk.I Male from these parts; subsequently, I determined that too much surface detail would have to be re-scribed, and abandoned the notion. The lower wing panels also deserve note, in that they introduced the curious idea that, indeed, AEG had pirated their lower sesquiplane design from Nieuport for this machine, a fact of which I was previously unaware. Attempting to straighten the wings and fuselage, I subjected them in turn to boiling water, heat gun, chemical treatment, and open flame. Only in the latter case did any progress develop, but this involved the removal of the kit's "wing rib" detail, consisting as it did of various raised lines on the wing. There was much rejoicing. Part of the rear fuselage actually caught fire, however, requiring the application of considerable amounts of white putty. Turning to the superb instructions sheet, I quickly became disoriented as to the exact shape of the aircraft, and proceeded to glue the lower planes too high on the fuselage. Upon removal, a vast area of the fuselage's hex-lozenge was destroyed, necessitating the abandonment of such a scheme in favor of an over-painted fuselage machine. Further difficulty in this regard ensued when completing the rather complicated inter-plane and inter-nacelle bracing-- which apparently the original manufacturer had considerable difficulty in executing properly, adding and moving struts that were clearly not present on my sheet. In attempting to align the mainplane on its strutting, I believe I failed at least 12 different times, breaking most of them in the process. Finally strutted, I then had unending problems with the rigging, which I crossed and un-crossed improperly in almost every case, and with the thread media I use for the purpose breaking loose from the machine and tearing away great swaths of lozenge with it. At last, I had to purchase another sheet of night loz. for repairs. At last, 1 year later, I completed the model (as such) and resigned myself to the fact that it was NOT a show-piece effort, but rather a monument to the insurmountable doggedness of the Modeling Spirit.... Cheers, Erik :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "...Then lobbest Thou thy Holy Hand-grenade of Antioc towards thy Foe, who, not being in My sight, shall snuff it...." "...AMEN...." .............................................................................. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 19:02:11 -0400 (AST) From: Alberto Rada To: wwi Subject: Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L Message-ID: <199608152302.TAA18547@fw.true.net> At 10:16 PM 8/14/96 -0400, you wrote: >Alberto, > In the Washington area, you could try Air, Land & Sea, a good >model and book store run by a slightly unsavory character; nevertheless, >it is well worth a visit if it is still in business. 1215 King St. in >Alexandria, VA, (703) 684-5118. > In Atlanta try AAA Hobbies in Marietta, a good all-around store. >I don't have the address but the number is (770) 933-0768. > Finally, while in Miami you should definitely go by the Weeks >Air Museum in the SW metro area--you'll find some neat surprises there >in a variety of eras. Just check the local phone book for the number and >address. Have fun. > Carlos > Carlos Thank's a lot for your tips, I'll certainly visit them, as on Week's Museum, in Miami, I know It well, as a matter of fact I visited it the day prior to hurricane Andrews, and when back in Miami found out that it had completely disappeared. I have been there several times since and seen the effort they are putting reconstructing it. Do you know if there is a member of this group that actually works at the Smitsonian? Saludos Alberto ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 19:03:11 -0400 (AST) From: Alberto Rada To: wwi Subject: Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L Message-ID: <199608152303.TAA18567@fw.true.net> At 10:36 AM 8/15/96 -0400, you wrote: > >Try Aeroplane Books in Williamsburg, VA. >Rob, >robj@speechsys.com. > Thanks a lot Rob, I'll certainlly will Saludos Alberto ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 17:57:21 +0000 From: Rob To: wwi Subject: Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L Message-ID: <9608151750.aa16150@scosysv.speechsys.com> Alberto: You write: > Do you know if there is a member of this group that actually works at the > Smitsonian? No. But you should definitely all ahead to schedule a visit to the Smithsonian's Gerber Restoration Facility in silver Hill, MD. Hangers full of amazing airplanes that you can get right up next to (and usually have to). Highlights for me were the Caudron twin and the Felixstowe F2A (or F5?) hull--breathtaking! Rob, robj@speechsys.com. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 21:07:10 -0700 From: Mark Lawrence Shannon To: wwi Subject: Re: The Kit of Death Message-ID: <3213F3EE.7A3@ix.netcom.com> Erik Pilawskii wrote: > > Greetings All, > > Time for a new and useless (though entertaining) thread: Describe the > *worst* kit (WWI, of course!) you've ever built, and what happened with > it. All I can offer is my Glencoe Albatros D.III in Voss' markings. I was excited to build it, started it almost as soon as I got it, and enjoyed a lot of the things with doing it. That said..... First thing I did was go out and buy some Evergreen .015X.010 strip that I melted into the upper surfaces of the wing for the ribs, then sanded the scalloping and ribshaping. Second, I gave up on the kit pieces for the (supposedly) Spandaus and bought the Tom's Modelworks PE kits. I decided what-the- heck and bought the German Interiors PE, too. Little else for it, then. I carved off all the "DETAIL" that had been built into the nose, created the louvers, and used a punch to scribe the access doors. I sanded the port fuselage side flat, got the fuselage together, built a 'rib' shelf to put the cowling top on, put the &%^*&@$%* horizontal stab on, then sat back for a few days while I contemplated the best way to fill that wedge shaped hole. Once finished with that (of course, sheet wedges, Zap-a-Gap, Green Stuff, and five grades of sandpaper later) the rest was a breeze. Sanded the struts down rather than replace, built a spar to put the lower wing on, started painting, and discovered that I'd scribed two panels only used on the Austro-Hungary 153s, (grrrrrrrrr). Fixed that, repainted, and started with all that PE. Rigged it and finished it out. The only disappointment I had with the final product was I found that the engine sat too high when I went to add the guns. So they sit too high. Oh, well, I like the look of the markings and all. -- This has been Mark and/or Mary Shannon at Shingend@ix.netcom.com The good thing about being a pessimist is -- it lets you be pleasantly surprised -- on rare occasions. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 21:43:08 -0400 (EDT) From: "PETER KILDUFF, UNIVERSITY RELATIONS, 21791" To: wwi Subject: Re: articles for OVER THE FRONT Message-ID: <960815214308.2343ee00@CCSUA.CTSTATEU.EDU> robj@speechsys.com writes: >>Actually, I've been thinking about doing one or more articles for >>someone on WW1 British nightfighters with extensive illustrations >>prepared in CorelDraw. >>Any interest? "Interest"? Are you kidding? My response is RUN (don't WALK) to your nearest OVER THE FRONT editor or managing editor Jim Streckfuss (e-mail: JStreckfus@aol.com) and show your stuff! This type of in-out is what keeps OVER THE FRONT pulsing with life! The journal and organization exist to share info, artwork, etc., etc. You can run, Rob, but you can't hide! Turn yourself in and you'll get a lighter sentence . . . (yeah, I know, watching too many old movies). Hals und Beinbruch! Peter Kilduff ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 21:38:55, -0500 From: NPWE28A@prodigy.com ( KENNETH L HAGERUP) To: wwi Subject: D.VIII Message-ID: <199608160138.VAA25192@mime2.prodigy.com> -- [ From: Kenneth Hagerup * EMC.Ver #2.10P ] -- Carlos wrote, >3. In another letter, the researcher for DML's D.VIII Goerth kit presented a list of references that >supported the kit's instructions regarding the YELLOW markings of the plane (interestingly, Ray did >not offer any comments). So perhaps a yellow-nosed and -tailed D.VIII is OK after all--very good news >from my perspective. Any other thoughts on this. I would REALLY like to use this scheme on Eduard's 1/72 D.VIII. Thanks, Ken ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 22:21:18 -0400 (AST) From: Alberto Rada To: wwi Subject: Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L Message-ID: <199608160221.WAA22288@fw.true.net> At 07:56 PM 8/15/96 -0400, you wrote: >Alberto: > >No. But you should definitely all ahead to schedule a visit to the >Smithsonian's Gerber Restoration Facility in silver Hill, MD. >Hangers full of amazing airplanes that you can get right up next to >(and usually have to). Highlights for me were the Caudron twin and >the Felixstowe F2A (or F5?) hull--breathtaking! > >Rob, >robj@speechsys.com. > Now thats an splendit tip, thanks a lot, I'll certainly go, on return i'll coment saludos Alberto ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 20:46:38 -0700 From: bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) To: wwi Subject: Re: Morane - Saulnier tipe L Message-ID: <199608160346.AA26508@ednet1.orednet.org> Alberto wrote: >>No. But you should definitely all ahead to schedule a visit to the >>Smithsonian's Gerber Restoration Facility in silver Hill, MD. >>Hangers full of amazing airplanes that you can get right up next to >>(and usually have to). Highlights for me were the Caudron twin and >>the Felixstowe F2A (or F5?) hull--breathtaking! >> >>Rob, >>robj@speechsys.com. >> >Now thats an splendit tip, thanks a lot, I'll certainly go, on return i'll >coment But call -now- for a reservation. They only offer two tours a day and they are limited to about 40 folks per tour. The tours tend to book up well in advance during the 'tourist' season so ya' need to get your name on the list as soon as possible. Couple other things to mention - if you are intending to take photos, take a good 35mm, fairly fast film and a tripod. The light in most of the hangers is pretty poor and the usefulness of flashes is pretty limited. You'll get a lot better photos if you can take 1/4 second and 1/2 second exposures using a tripod and a cable shutter release. Also, there is a minimum age for children on the tour - I think I remember it's 12 but double check with the Garber Facility when you call for reservations. This means if you've got young 'uns, you may have to make alternate arrangements for them if they are too young for the tour. Bring a water bottle or two, the hangers tend to get very hot and I only remember a single drinking fountain on the entire 3+ hour tour. Cheers, -- Bill Shatzer - bshatzer@orednet.org "Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony." ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 02:15:16 -0400 From: DavidL1217@aol.com To: wwi Subject: Re: PBS WWI Extravaganza Update Message-ID: <960816021516_260969434@emout18.mail.aol.com> It is a shame that a German production company such as Bavarian Atelier ('Das Boot') was not asked to lend a hand..... Let's hope that this is not too Anglosized. (sp?) In the statew, most people are victims of not being multi lingual ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 06:04:35 -0400 From: SCLexicat@aol.com To: wwi Subject: Re: PBS WWI Extravaganza Update Message-ID: <960816060433_502687570@emout14.mail.aol.com> In a message dated 15/08/96 16:22:06, you write: >a new eight-part documentary series >that reveals the impact and importance of W.W.I premieres on PBS stations >nationwide on Sunday Nov. 10, from 9-11 pm ET ... Hmm... great news that it's a BBC co-production as this means it will probably be part of the BBC's autumn (fall) lineup. Better buy some more VCR cassettes... Simon Craven, Lexicat Ltd, England ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 07:09:53 -0500 From: meba@cso.com To: wwi Subject: Re: The Kit of Death Message-ID: <199608160707.HAA04475@cso.com> On 15 Aug 96 at 17:34, Erik Pilawskii typed diligantly: > Time for a new and useless (though entertaining) thread: > Describe the *worst* kit (WWI, of course!) you've ever built, and > what happened with it. Although I have numerous Merlin's, I haven't started any. However, there is one kit... Meikraft's Albatros D.II. The wing thickness is better in 1/48th!!! After removing close to an inch (okay, maybe a small exageration), they are still too thick. The fuselage thickness is also best for 1/48th or larger. Heck, it's best to say: this kit is *thick*. I can't think of any parts that aren't thick. All struts, the entire tailplane, etc. The side-radiators are a joke. However, there is one saving grace of this kit, which makes it worth seeking out: the decal sheet. Before Meikraft got cheap and stingy, he supplied great decals in his kits. The D.II had (I think) five examples on the decal sheet. The original Pfalz had something like 11. The photoetch isn't bad either, but not worth the cost of the kit. My recommendation? Buy the kit (cheap, if you can find it) for the decals, then buy the Classic Plane vac and build that. It will be *less* work, and look more like a real D.II instead of a toy. Matt meba@cso.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 96 10:48:29 EDT From: Brian Nicklas To: Subject: WWI Novels Message-ID: <199608161447.KAA14619@pease1.sr.unh.edu> An officemate is reading a novel "The Bloody Red Baron" in which BvR is a vampire, in addition to being an ace. Has anyone on the list read this (and care to admit it)? My friend seems to like it, but I think this is one book that I'd rather be using my time modelling. brian ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 10:16:37 -0500 From: meba@cso.com To: wwi Subject: Re: WWI Novels Message-ID: <199608161014.KAA17021@cso.com> On 16 Aug 96 at 10:47, Brian Nicklas typed diligantly: > An officemate is reading a novel "The Bloody Red Baron" > in which BvR is a vampire, in addition to being an ace. > Has anyone on the list read this (and care to admit it)? > > My friend seems to like it, but I think this is one book > that I'd rather be using my time modelling. I read a review of this in _Realms of Fantasy_, and thought it sounded too hokey to go searching for it. Think about it: vampires can only come out at night, and night flying was *not* recommended back then. That right there blows the whole premise of the book out of the water! Matt meba@cso.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 11:21:59 -0700 From: "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" To: wwi Subject: 16 August 1916, Buc Message-ID: <3214BC47.F76@host.dmsc.net> Fair day got one short flight in early a.m. but too windy for comfort. Wrote letter to darling Gertrude in p.m. Also to Colonel of the Legion for a report of my character as a soldier there. Wrote article about Down and sent it to Hedin of the Brooklyn Eagle. Went out for 2 flights in late p.m. Quite windy. Ate supper in Buc. Want to get onto the 60 hp Bleriots soon if possible. Have been on 50 hp too long. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 09:31:50 +0000 From: Rob To: wwi Subject: New WW1 aviation web site Message-ID: <9608160924.aa22618@scosysv.speechsys.com> I have finally got my web page set up. It is configured as an aviation history magazine with substantial WW1 content. The current issue contains an article on Barker in Italy and a review of the latest Windsock Datafiles by our own Charles Hart. Articles are illustrated with original color profiles. The URL is: http//:www.csn.net/~rcjohnsn. Let me know what you think. Rob, robj@speechsys.com. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 11:47:00 -0400 From: SHUSTAD@email.usps.gov To: "wwi(a)pease1.sr.unh.edu" Subject: Meikraft Lloyd Triplane Message-ID: <0033000001474829000002*@MHS> To the wwi list, Just to let everyone know, that when I got back from vacation (why do I bother! - but *that's* a different story!) I found in the mail the two 1/72 Meikraft Lloyd Triplane kits that I'd ordered almost *FOUR* years ago! Now, since I've complained about Meikraft in this forum on more than one occasion, I thought it only fair to post that I did indeed finally receive what I'd ordered. (For a review on this Lloyd kit, see Matt's postings in the archives). The kit looks pretty good to me, but not the finese of his other recent efforts. I guess I'll have to take back my previous 'out of spite' vow not to buy meikraft's new 1/72 Fokker D.I kit! - but maybe I'll just wait almost four years to do so! ;^) Steve H. (The Mad Norseman!) P.S. - Join the League of WW I Aero Historians (Over the Front), I've been a member for about five years and it's a great outfit & publication. I especially like the "League of Modelers" section in the recent issues. It's about time that modelers are recognized as making up a high percentage of their/our membership roles! ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 10:45:14 -0500 From: meba@cso.com To: wwi Subject: Re: New WW1 aviation web site Message-ID: <199608161044.KAA19573@cso.com> On 16 Aug 96 at 11:30, Rob typed diligantly: > I have finally got my web page set up. It is configured as an > aviation history magazine with substantial WW1 content. The current > issue contains an article on Barker in Italy and a review of the > latest Windsock Datafiles by our own Charles Hart. Articles are > illustrated with original color profiles. > > The URL is: http//:www.csn.net/~rcjohnsn. > > Let me know what you think. URL Correction: http://www.csn.net/~rcjohnsn Overall, it's not bad. However, all of the images appear to be embedded, instead of links. Not too bad, but poor for us lynx users. If we wanted to get the image, we can't when they're embedded, but can if they're links. Just something to think of. Matt meba@cso.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 11:40:56 -0500 From: meba@cso.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Meikraft Lloyd Triplane Message-ID: <199608161138.LAA25357@cso.com> On 16 Aug 96 at 11:35, SHUSTAD@email.usps.gov typed diligantly: > Just to let everyone know, that when I got back from vacation > (why do I bother! - but *that's* a different story!) > I found in the mail the two 1/72 Meikraft Lloyd Triplane kits that > I'd ordered almost *FOUR* years ago! It's about frickin' time, eh Steve? ;-) > P.S. - Join the League of WW I Aero Historians (Over the Front), I've > been a member for about five years and it's a great outfit & > publication. I especially like the "League of Modelers" section in the > recent issues. It's about time that modelers are recognized as making > up a high percentage of their/our membership roles! Consider this another "vote" for the League. I've been a member since Vol.4, and have enjoyed all issues. The highlights for me were the issues devoted to the Wurtemburgers, and the "other" German states (other meaning non-Prussian, et.al.). Take a look at the last issue: the color article on the Halberstadt Cl.III is a must for *anyone* building - or contemplating - building this 'plane. A great organization!! Matt meba@cso.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 14:10:05 -0500 From: Charles_A._Duckworth@notes.up.com (Charles A. Duckworth) To: wwi Subject: Re: New WW1 aviation web site Message-ID: <1996Aug16.120118.1155.590176@uprr-internet.notes.up.com> Matt, very much enjoyed Charles' reviews of the Datafiles. Thanks for the new web site. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 14:24:44 -0500 From: meba@cso.com To: wwi Subject: Re: New WW1 aviation web site Message-ID: <199608161422.OAA06656@cso.com> On 16 Aug 96 at 15:09, Charles A. Duckworth typed diligantly: > Matt, very much enjoyed Charles' reviews of the Datafiles. > Thanks for the new web site. Tisn't mine. Tis Rob's. Thanks, Rob! Matt meba@cso.com ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 226 *********************