WWI Digest 831 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 1916 by "Charles Duckworth" 2) Re: mailing weirdness - as well by KarrArt 3) Re: Nicknames (was Message kickbacks) by KarrArt 4) something to ponder by Ernest Thomas 5) Re: Kit of the Year by lothar@televar.com (mark) 6) Hasegawa New kit by Hirohisa Ozaki 7) Re: HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! by bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) 8) Re: HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! by Ernest Thomas 9) Re: Kit of the Year by Riordan and Michelle Goodwin 10) Re: Kit of the Year by Alberto Rada 11) Re: Kit of the Year by Ernest Thomas 12) Re: To rich for my blood... by Graham Nash 13) Re: Kit of the Year by mbittner@juno.com 14) Re: Possible early French 3-color variation by mbittner@juno.com 15) Re: Smer Nie. 11 construction notes by bucky@mail.ptd.net (Mary-Ann/Michael) 16) Re: Finishing kits by "Paul Schwartzkopf" 17) Re: mailing weirdness - as well by aew (Allan Wright) 18) Re: mailing weirdness - as well by Alberto Rada 19) Re: Fokker D.VII by Charles Hart 20) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Matthew Zivich 21) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by KarrArt 22) Re: Smer Nie. 11 construction notes by Riordan and Michelle Goodwin 23) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Riordan and Michelle Goodwin 24) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Riordan and Michelle Goodwin 25) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Bob Pearson 26) Re: Aurora DH4 by Riordan and Michelle Goodwin 27) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Matthew Zivich 28) Re: Kit of the Year by BStett3770 29) MPM Brandenburg W.29 (part 5 and final) by Shane Weier 30) Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules by Matthew Zivich ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Aug 1988 19:48:01 -0700 From: "Charles Duckworth" To: "ww1list" Subject: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - 1916 Message-ID: <199801050150.TAA01401@mail.primary.net> Given all the aircraft that got into production during WWI am wondering what the list would consider the Good (best), the bad (worse) and the Ugly(ist) aircraft used in 1916. Fighters, bombers and floaters - even prototypes can be voted on any country. Would also like to know your reasons for each catagory...now where did I put Hallion's book Rise of the Fighter A/C? nb: AVRO 'D' Charlie Duckworth ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 21:11:12 EST From: KarrArt To: wwi Subject: Re: mailing weirdness - as well Message-ID: <7ddf0abb.34b04142@aol.com> In a message dated 98-01-04 17:35:29 EST, you write: << I went to the trouble of composing a Christmas message to you all, and had exactly the same thing happen. Now I'm not sure whether anybody got it. Can anybody tell me if it came through? Mick. >> Indeed your fine Christmas messagecame through! Robert ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 21:11:11 EST From: KarrArt To: wwi Subject: Re: Nicknames (was Message kickbacks) Message-ID: <3022cfbc.34b04141@aol.com> In a message dated 98-01-03 06:25:17 EST, you write: << "Tin Whistles". >> Reminds one of the old joke "If tin whistles are made of tin, what are fog horns made from?" Robert ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Jan 1998 20:53:55 -0600 From: Ernest Thomas To: multiple recipients of list Subject: something to ponder Message-ID: <34B04B43.2624@bellsouth.net> If "con" is the opposite of "pro", Does that mean "congress" is the opposite of "progress"? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 19:06:05 -0800 (PST) From: lothar@televar.com (mark) To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <199801050306.TAA04697@concord.televar.com> David wrote: >I had a conversation with Mike Eacock who is Skybirds. He is simply not >making money at this. He may consider doing limited run kits, no advertising >basis if he knows he could sell at least 50. I suggested the RE8 in 1/72 even >though the wooden struts do not lent themselves to Strutz. He has got alot >of up front costs and his production rate is roughly 8 kits a day. But let's >face it, these are, perhaps, som of the finest castings and best engineered >kits available! Isn't this the guy going through the messy divorce who has molds for a 1/48 Halb. DV? If so, did he say anything about doing it? He'd sell at least 50 to the people on this list alone... Mark ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 12:31:02 +0900 From: Hirohisa Ozaki To: wwi Subject: Hasegawa New kit Message-ID: <199801050332.MAA02437@zoo.miln.mei.co.jp> Hello to ALL, Hasegawa released new WWI airplanes, Sopwith Camel and Morane Soulnier type N. These are items of new series, "MINI-PLANES". Only toys, scale is about 1/100 both. But I like these because I remenber old toy-kit which bought and build and broke when I was child. All items are: MP1 Wright brothers Kittyhawk MP2 Fw190A MP3 F4F Wildcat MP4 C-47 Skytrain MP5 Morane Soulnier type N (RFC, No.24sqdn, A.178 / RFC, No.60sqdn, A.186) MP6 Ju88A MP7 P-51D Mustang MP8 Hawker Hurricane MP9 Westland Lysander MP10 P-38J Lightning MP11 Sopwith Camel ("CHU CHIN CHOW", N6345 / RAF, No.3sqdn, D9443) Happy New Year, Hiro. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 4 Jan 1998 19:30:28 -0800 From: bshatzer@orednet.org (Bill Shatzer) To: wwi Subject: Re: HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! Message-ID: <199801050330.AA04757@ednet1.orednet.org> Ernest Thomas typed: >Ernest T. here. I'm in possession of the Aroura Sopwith Camel 1/48 in >the 1956 box. Still in the shrink wrap. I belive the shring wrap is >original because the box is not crushed or sagging in the middle and >shows no wear and tear on the corners. What's your best offer? I'd be >willing to swap it for something I'm more interested in building. >But it has to be something GOOD! >Let me know. The current collectors' value for the 1956 Camel is about $25 - $30 or about the current selling price of a Pegasus or Edward kit. Ya' ain't gonna get rich off these. Original Aurora kits were not, incidently "shrink wrapped" - rather they were cellophane wrapped and the cellophane was folded over on the ends and sealed, much in the manner of a Christmas package wrapping. If you can't see the "seams" on the ends where the cellophane was folded, the packaging is _not_ original and was re-sealed with more modern methods sometime after leaving the Aurora factory. The sealing, whether or original cellophane or not, adds nothing to the value of the kit for collectors' purposes. Modern shrink wrap should, of course, be removed immediately and the contents inspected - a re-sealed box may be concealing missing or damaged parts or, in one case I heard about, nothing but pieces of sprue and assorted loose parts from someone's junk box. Even the original cellophane should probably be removed and the kit inspected - if it was a defective kit from the factory, it's a little late to write Aurora and ask for a replacement part. Cheers and all, -- Bill Shatzer - bshatzer@orednet.org "This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Jan 1998 22:28:27 -0600 From: Ernest Thomas To: wwi Subject: Re: HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION! Message-ID: <34B0616B.240E@bellsouth.net> Bill Shatzer wrote: > > Ernest Thomas typed: > > >Ernest T. here. I'm in possession of the Aroura Sopwith Camel 1/48 in > >the 1956 box. Still in the shrink wrap. I belive the shring wrap is > >original because the box is not crushed or sagging in the middle and > >shows no wear and tear on the corners. What's your best offer? I'd be > >willing to swap it for something I'm more interested in building. > >But it has to be something GOOD! > >Let me know. > > The current collectors' value for the 1956 Camel is about $25 - $30 > or about the current selling price of a Pegasus or Edward kit. > Ya' ain't gonna get rich off these. > > Original Aurora kits were not, incidently "shrink wrapped" - rather > they were cellophane wrapped and the cellophane was folded over > on the ends and sealed, much in the manner of a Christmas package > wrapping. If you can't see the "seams" on the ends where the > cellophane was folded, the packaging is _not_ original and was > re-sealed with more modern methods sometime after leaving the > Aurora factory. > > The sealing, whether or original cellophane or not, adds nothing > to the value of the kit for collectors' purposes. Modern > shrink wrap should, of course, be removed immediately and > the contents inspected - a re-sealed box may be concealing > missing or damaged parts or, in one case I heard about, nothing > but pieces of sprue and assorted loose parts from someone's > junk box. Even the original cellophane should probably be > removed and the kit inspected - if it was a defective kit from > the factory, it's a little late to write Aurora and ask for > a replacement part. > > Cheers and all, > > -- > Bill Shatzer - bshatzer@orednet.org > > "This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Hey Bill Shatzer, Thanks for the info on the old Aroura kit. I'll have to look and the clear stuff and see if it meets your criteria for original. As far as the price goes, I know what it's worth and I'm not trying to get rich off of it. I would swap it for one of the Eduards that I don't have but I won't swap it for a Smer or some other dog from hell. Or for anything that I don't have much interest in. L8R. E. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 04 Jan 1998 22:30:12 -0800 From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <34B07DF4.2E12@ricochet.net> DavidL1217 wrote: > > Skybirds are not cheap You have a flair for polite understatement. The prices of these undoubtedly fine kits by Mr.Eacock unfortunately place them out of reach to modelers of mortal means. All I can do is sigh and ponder vac-form or Merlin alternatives. Of course, I'm admittedly a bit more thrifty than many on this list-I cringe at Chris Gannon's prices, which aren't that high for good limited injection kits. Cheers, Riordan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 03:19:37 -0400 From: Alberto Rada To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980105031937.0070686c@pop.true.net> Hi Kevin Are they not a bit expensive for being teeny weenies ? SALUDOS Alberto At 07:59 PM 04-01-98 -0500, you wrote: > >>Are these 1/48? >> >>John Cyg. > > >John, > >All 1/72, thank goodness! > >Kevin Barrett. > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 01:31:14 -0600 From: Ernest Thomas To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <34B08C42.6669@bellsouth.net> Riordan and Michelle Goodwin wrote: > > DavidL1217 wrote: > > > > Skybirds are not cheap > > You have a flair for polite understatement. The prices of these > undoubtedly fine kits by Mr.Eacock unfortunately place them out of reach > to modelers of mortal means. All I can do is sigh and ponder vac-form or > Merlin alternatives. Of course, I'm admittedly a bit more thrifty than > many on this list-I cringe at Chris Gannon's prices, which aren't that > high for good limited injection kits. > > Cheers, > > Riordan Me again. Who's Chris Gannon? What does he make? Is it 1/48? Where can I find a list? TIA E. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 09:55:38 -0800 From: Graham Nash To: wwi Subject: Re: To rich for my blood... Message-ID: <199801050944.AA22519@egate2.citicorp.com> David Couvillon wrote: > > I had made an iquiry to Amazon.com on some WWI aircraft books. This > is one of the responses they sent me. For current lack of funds, I > had to cancel the order. > > Soooo, if anyone else out there is looking for this tome, Amazon.com > can get the set... > > > >> Ordered item: John McIntosh Bruce "War planes of the first > > >> world war" > > >> > > >> Title located: "War Planes of the First World War: > > >> Fighters, Vols 1-5." > > >> > > >> Price: $214.50 > > >> Shipping & handling charge: $3.95 > > >> Total charge for item: $218.45 > > >> Binding: Hardcover > > David Couvillon > Major of Marines, Righter of Wrongs, > Wrong most of the time, Lover extrordinaire, > Chef de Hot Dog Excellance, Collector of > Hot Sauce, Avoider of Yard Work > > Check out my homepage at > http:\\www.cust.iamerica.net\captcouv\ Sounds much more like they're confused. The price is about right for British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 by Putman as opposed to the Warplanes of the First World War series. issued by MacDonalds.(No, not Ronald...hey I just realised that Ronald is an anagram of Roland-I've really got to get a life.:^0) Charles, as a matter of interest, do the two editions of vol.1 that you have have any substantial differences? Happy New Year ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 04:47:27 -0600 From: mbittner@juno.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <19980105.045419.4302.0.mbittner@juno.com> On Mon, 5 Jan 1998 02:37:21 -0500 Ernest Thomas writes: >Me again. Who's Chris Gannon? What does he make? Is it 1/48? Where can >I find a list? TIA Chris Gannon currently has two lines. Pegasus is 1/72nd, and Blue Max is 1/48th. Be aware, though, that they are not cheap. Blue Max in the US, new, are around $50. Yes, you can get them cheaper from the source, or wait for someone to put them on sale. Blue Max has put out a few good kits - if you're into Braille Scale. :-) Pegasus, on the other hand, puts out better ones. Matt Bittner ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 05:00:41 -0600 From: mbittner@juno.com To: wwi Subject: Re: Possible early French 3-color variation Message-ID: <19980105.050215.4302.2.mbittner@juno.com> On Sun, 4 Jan 1998 12:00:43 -0500 "Tom Werner Hansen" writes: >I'm finally well into the ESCI Ni.17 with *major* surgeries performed >+ Tom's Modelworks interior bits. >So I'm getting ready for another Nieuport, this time the SMER one >which has been lying around for a while, so somebody else's experience with the >same one would be appreciated. Tom, I would like to know everything you did to your Nie.17. Any pictures? Matt Bittner ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 07:58:47 -0500 From: bucky@mail.ptd.net (Mary-Ann/Michael) To: wwi, Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Smer Nie. 11 construction notes Message-ID: <199801051258.HAA15947@pease1.sr.unh.edu> At 06:57 PM 1/4/98 -0500, Riordan and Michelle Goodwin wrote: >Ernest, Tom, et al, WE'RE TALKING MAJOR DELETIONS HERE....... Good luck with Lewis mounting on upper >wing; post on Aeroclub unit is a bit short. >Nie.16 conversion: LeRhone 9J 110hp and headrest from thick Sprue. >Contemplate alternate schemes to CDL. > >If you don't quite achieve a masterpiece, don't sweat it; after all, its >a Smer- not a Blue Max. These kits are perfect for learning on, and they >can't all be gems. It's not that hard to mount Lewis gun. I have been using the one on the Testors kit. A little trimming and it fits into the wing hole. Then, just use somevery thin stretched sprue or plastic "sticks"(don't know what else to call them) and you cant pretty easily do the French mounting system. I hardly make any major revisions to kits, so if I can do this, anyone can. HTH Mike Muth ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 08:12:00 +0000 From: "Paul Schwartzkopf" To: wwi Subject: Re: Finishing kits Message-ID: <199801050440.WAA01401@tscrypt1.transcrypt.com> > One of the greatest feelings for me when finishing up a kit is cutting up > the left over sprue and throwing it away. > > Matt Bittner With the prices of kits today, I figure I have half my investment in the sprue alone, so I keep it :-) Some gets stretched into rigging (yes, I know, but I just happen to like stretching sprue) Now if I could find a manufacturer who pays for recycled styrene.... Paul A. Schwartzkopf ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 09:25:33 -0500 (EST) From: aew (Allan Wright) To: wwi Subject: Re: mailing weirdness - as well Message-ID: <199801051425.JAA16224@pease1.sr.unh.edu> > Mick Fauchon wrote: > > Yes, I'm getting exactly the same thing. > Me, too. > Riordan I think I've figured out the weirdness and killed the suspect address. After the mail queue on my system empties out things should be better. Let me know if things don't go back to normal. Sorry for the delay, but I was out of the office on Christmas shutdown. -Allan =============================================================================== Allan Wright Jr. | You fell victim to one of the 'classic' blunders! University of New Hampshire+--------------------------------------------------- Research Computing Center | WWI Modeling mailing list: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu Internet: aew@unh.edu | WWI Modeling WWW Page: http://pease1.sr.unh.edu =============================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 12:34:48 -0400 From: Alberto Rada To: wwi Subject: Re: mailing weirdness - as well Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980105123448.00707a58@pop.true.net> Hi Allan Just got the same weird return a couple of minutes ago, a message sent yesterday, got through the list but was also returned to me as undelivered SALUDOS ALBERTO At 09:29 AM 05-01-98 -0500, you wrote: >> Mick Fauchon wrote: >> > Yes, I'm getting exactly the same thing. >> Me, too. >> Riordan > >I think I've figured out the weirdness and killed the suspect address. After >the mail queue on my system empties out things should be better. Let me know >if things don't go back to normal. > >Sorry for the delay, but I was out of the office on Christmas shutdown. > >-Allan > >=========================================================================== ==== >Allan Wright Jr. | You fell victim to one of the 'classic' blunders! >University of New Hampshire+--------------------------------------------------- >Research Computing Center | WWI Modeling mailing list: wwi@pease1.sr.unh.edu >Internet: aew@unh.edu | WWI Modeling WWW Page: http://pease1.sr.unh.edu >=========================================================================== ==== > > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 10:12:56 -0700 From: Charles Hart To: wwi Subject: Re: Fokker D.VII Message-ID: >Speaking of DVII's, has anyone received the new Albatros DVII book? If so, >advise if you are in the US. I have one of these on order direct from Albatros, but with surface mail, it may be another three weeks before it arrives. I have spoken yesterday (Sunday) with someone who had some xeroxes of pages of this book sent to him by Greg Van Wyngarden and it sounds nice. A number of photos from the Ferko collection, now at U Texas-Richardson are included in this volume. This first D-VII special (of three volumes) covers mostly Fokker built aircraft. Vol. 2 should cover OAW built machines. I'm a bit hazy on what vol. 3 will include, but it will not be big on post-1918 useage. Patiently waiting. Charles hartc@spot.colorado.edu ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 15:07:26 -0500 (EST) From: Matthew Zivich To: wwi Cc: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: On Sun, 4 Jan 1998, Joey Valenciano wrote: > Thanks for the notes, Riordan. > > Ditto, Riordan, But on behalf of the SMER lovers amonst us let me add that recently I was willing to forego the panache of the Blue Max label when I returned my B.M. Pfalz D-IIIa and got my thirty bucks back. When I made comparisons between the BM Pfalz D3a and my old Aurora DIII I noticed a trade-off in a manner of speaking. I noticed that although the old Aurora had numerous crudities already mentioned in earlier discussions, it also had certain small, incidental details and facility of joining that the high falutin Blue Max lacked. (SMER or Glencoe - they were all Auroras first). I knew there was a Pf.D3, Glencoe available for about $10, so I eventually got one, did some research for the D-IIIa and made the necessary changes. It was a worthy learning experience as well as a challenge. MZ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 15:18:12 EST From: KarrArt To: wwi Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: <79e6840d.34b14006@aol.com> Aurora! Knowing that Glencoe is going to eventually release the DH-4, I dug out my ancient built-up of same.After Glencoe gets the old embossed markings removed- that's gonna be a great kit.Except for SLIGHTLY underspanned wings, everything else measures out pretty closely.Much better than Aurora's Brifit.As always extra work can be done on things like guns,wheels,prop, and engine, but the basics are there! Robert ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 12:56:24 -0800 From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin To: wwi Subject: Re: Smer Nie. 11 construction notes Message-ID: <34B148F8.3F8B@ricochet.net> Mary-Ann/Michael wrote: >It's not that hard to mount Lewis gun. Agreed. I've just not reached that step yet. > I hardly make any major revisions to kits, so if I can do this, anyone can. I, too, have opted to keep my mods to a minimum in order to finish projects. Most of the corrections listed were not performed, as I'm more interested in overall appearance, unusual schemes & 'feel' that absolute accurracy. I'm more than happy to share notes & observations for the benefit of more accomplished or ambitious list members. Riordan -- --------------------------------------- This e-mail has been brought to you by - Riordan and Michelle Goodwin - ***************************** Great Gift Ideas at Jewels of the Silk Road http://www.silkroadjewels.com ***************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 13:11:24 -0800 From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin To: wwi Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: <34B14C7C.6110@ricochet.net> Matthew Zivich wrote: > But on behalf of the SMER lovers amonst us I suppose I must be Smer fan as well, because I have at least one of every WWI kit except for the dreaded Dr.I. As an archaeologist, I'm compelled to keep hobbies within my modest means. If it weren't for Smer, Airfix and Revell and to a lesser extent Eduard, I might not be on this list. I noticed that although the old Aurora > had numerous crudities already mentioned in earlier discussions, Have you put the wings on yet? While I'm also almost fond of this kit, there's a couple glaring crudities you might want know about, such as the elongate cabane struts and consequent excessive space between upper & lower wings. > It was a worthy learning experience as well as a challenge. It ceratinly was both of these. Cheers, Riordan -- --------------------------------------- This e-mail has been brought to you by - Riordan and Michelle Goodwin - ***************************** Great Gift Ideas at Jewels of the Silk Road http://www.silkroadjewels.com ***************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 13:14:48 -0800 From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin To: wwi Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: <34B14D48.3A76@ricochet.net> KarrArt wrote: > As always extra work can be done on things like guns,wheels,prop, and > engine, but the basics are there! Is the Aurora/Glencoe an RAF,BHP,Eagle or Liberty-engined version? Riordan -- --------------------------------------- This e-mail has been brought to you by - Riordan and Michelle Goodwin - ***************************** Great Gift Ideas at Jewels of the Silk Road http://www.silkroadjewels.com ***************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 13:23:50 -0800 From: Bob Pearson To: WW1 Mailing list Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: <21235064120961@KAIEN.COM> Ooh, good question ! ! ! ! ! Bob Pearson ---------- > From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin > To: Multiple recipients of list > Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules > Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 16:20:43 -0500 > > KarrArt wrote: > > > As always extra work can be done on things like guns,wheels,prop, and > > engine, but the basics are there! > > Is the Aurora/Glencoe an RAF,BHP,Eagle or Liberty-engined version? > > Riordan > -- > --------------------------------------- > This e-mail has been brought to you by > - Riordan and Michelle Goodwin - > ***************************** > Great Gift Ideas at > Jewels of the Silk Road > http://www.silkroadjewels.com > ***************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 05 Jan 1998 13:41:34 -0800 From: Riordan and Michelle Goodwin To: wwi Subject: Re: Aurora DH4 Message-ID: <34B1538E.27D2@ricochet.net> Bob Pearson wrote: > > Ooh, good question ! ! ! ! ! I'm guessing Liberty would be the most likely. Riordan ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 16:58:29 -0500 (EST) From: Matthew Zivich To: wwi Cc: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: Wasn't that built-in rear wind screen fantastic!!!! MZ On Mon, 5 Jan 1998, KarrArt wrote: > Aurora! > Knowing that Glencoe is going to eventually release the DH-4, I dug out my > ancient built-up of same.After Glencoe gets the old embossed markings removed- > that's gonna be a great kit.Except for SLIGHTLY underspanned wings, > everything else measures out pretty closely.Much better than Aurora's > Brifit.As always extra work can be done on things like guns,wheels,prop, and > engine, but the basics are there! > Robert > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 16:45:57 EST From: BStett3770 To: wwi Subject: Re: Kit of the Year Message-ID: <3cf77e6d.34b15498@aol.com> Hi Chris G. makes the 1/72 Pegasus range & the 1/48 Blue Max range. Best to buy them direct from him in the UK . Squadron is the US distributor and jacks the prices up. Keep Modeling Barry Rosemont Hobby ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 07:17:00 +1000 From: Shane Weier To: "'wwi'" Subject: MPM Brandenburg W.29 (part 5 and final) Message-ID: <199801052227.IAA01109@mimmon.mim.com.au> Hallelujah !! Finished. Okay, so my annual diversion into the teensy scale is now complete and while I don't think it's contest standard it turned out pretty well. At the conclusion of the last episode, I was about to apply the hex decals to the kit. I can report that they all went on perfectly well, though you should be warned that the decals are both tough and thin and need care. Use plenty of water underneath, position as closely as possible to the final position and only then slide off the backing paper direct to the model surface. Make sure the paper is in contact with the model, as these decals have a tendency to slide right around the paper edge onto the undersides. Although mildly awkward to use, the results were superb. I never used any softening agent, but the decals conform tightly and have proven very robust against my clumsy handling. National markings etc. came from a mix of kit decals, Americals and some laser printed aircraft numbers for the plane I'd decided to build. I had more trouble with the kit crosses than the hex, but only because the cross shape is harder to get off the paper without edging under at some point. I ended up with a minor blemish which I fixed at paint touchup time. Struts are a nightmare in the making. The MPM ones are brittle and not accurate in length or shape. Notably the "V" shaped struts which attach to the fuselage lower longerons and the centre of the float cross struts are too narrow by far to sit as intended. It may be possible to open them up somewhat, but that will make them shorter still and they are already too short. I made a jig, manufactured the front and rear "M" shapes, built another jig and used that to connect floats, "M" and fuselage, then added the six wing support and the fore and aft bracing strut one at a time. I used contrail struts which (perhaps *because* of their lack of rigidity) popped in quite nicely and when finished give a strong structure with a good scale appearance.. Only the details left. I used the kit elevator horns, but cut the rudder horn away from its etched "wire" and used just the horn. These look fine with monofilament control lines. The steps and grab handles from the kit etch work nicely too, and add that touch of fine detail which is critical in fooling the observer into believing you're a better modeller than in reality. I used the observers gun, but it needed a LOT of refinement, adding a scratch built mount from brass shim and rod, an ammo reel from disks punched from styrene sheet with the trusty Waldron, and a brace for the ammo reel from ceramic wire rigging material. My model represents one of the radio fitted machines so I needed just one (starboard) Spandau which was done with an Eduard etched gun. This adds a great deal to the look of the nose BTW. Only seat belts (front only, I am ambivalent about whether the kit style belts were used by observers) and the windscreen (an easy to trim vac, though a tad thick) and then a little engine detailing to finish. I replaced the too thick and clunky exhausts with new ones from styrene rod, the coolant pipe from copper wire (rather than the unconvincing flat, etched part) and all was done. Summary. Nice kit, damn fine decals (if touch to apply) of a spectacular looking plane. The only critical outline error is the outer panels of the wings which really *must* be turned down or the kit looks nothing like the real plane. Otherwise, any problems are typical minor fit difficulties inherent in shorter run kits, or due to the relative crudity of the detailing parts - and perversely this added to my pleasure by giving me more to do than just slam it together. That's all folks. I hope all of you who haven't bought one of these kits thinks about doing so. MPM deserve a boost for producing *any* WW1 subject, and this one is - in Australia - $10 cheaper than the Pegasus and definitely not $10 less in quality. Shane nb: Bristol F.2b Fighter ( yeah, yeah, I know) nu: nothing. If I don't finish the ^%$@#$ Biff I'll sell all my kits and retire. nr: "Sticks, Rags and Wire" - about the rise of commercial aviation in Australia - who know which is the oldest continually operating airline in the world ? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 5 Jan 1998 17:25:44 -0500 (EST) From: Matthew Zivich To: wwi Cc: Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Smer(Aurora) Rules Message-ID: On Mon, 5 Jan 1998, Riordan and Michelle Goodwin wrote: > Matthew Zivich wrote: > > > But on behalf of the SMER lovers amonst us > > I suppose I must be Smer fan as well, because I have at least one of > every WWI kit except for the dreaded Dr.I. As an archaeologist, I'm > compelled to keep hobbies within my modest means. If it weren't for > Smer, Airfix and Revell and to a lesser extent Eduard, I might not be on > this list. O.K., I'll bite. What's wrong with the Dr.I? (I bet you thought no one would ever ask). > I noticed that although the old Aurora > > had numerous crudities already mentioned in earlier discussions, > > Have you put the wings on yet? While I'm also almost fond of this kit, > there's a couple glaring crudities you might want know about, such as > the elongate cabane struts and consequent excessive space between upper > & lower wings. > Yes, the wings are History. And I might add I feel pretty good about the filing, filling and sanding it took to create the proper contour of the body and the necessary fore & aft fairings. After sanding the aft part of the body/wing area I actually went through the surface and had to rebuild that area. Nope, I did not decrease the upper wing incidence. I was aware of it, and should have, and I will regret it some day. But going that far might have ruined my amateur standing. Oh, but I did move the uc rear strut back a bit to line up with the main wing support where it enters the body. I also filed the trailing wing edges down to a thinner edge and added misc. minor details to the underside of the fuselage. I used the controversial "Scale Aircraft Drawings" for a guide, and found them to be very helpful, especially for interior detail. Hey, what can I say, "In the land of the Blind, the one-eyed man is King!" MZ > > It was a worthy learning experience as well as a challenge. > > It ceratinly was both of these. > > Cheers, > > Riordan > > -- > --------------------------------------- > This e-mail has been brought to you by > - Riordan and Michelle Goodwin - > ***************************** > Great Gift Ideas at > Jewels of the Silk Road > http://www.silkroadjewels.com > ***************************** > ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 831 *********************