Fokker D.VI 1/33

[Pgtaylorart]

Hello,

I wasn't planning to do a build thread on this because Ron0909 did such a great job on his, but I've modified my kit to the point that I thought I would share what I'm doing, so here goes, my first build thread...

I was inspired by Ron0909 to build the 1/33 scale Fokker D.VI by Marek which I downloaded from ecardmodels.com. After building the fuselage and wings as per the original design, I started to build the engine but I wanted to see if I could make a more realistic version. (And the 7 cylinder rotary isn't correct for this, as pointed out in Ron's thread). I used wire wrapped around paper ear buds to make the cylinder cooling fins. I tried to add as much detail as I could based on my reference and paper versions I found on this forum.

-George

[Pgtaylorart]

Here is the finished engine:

[rockpaperscissor]

Outstanding work! The engine is amazing, and I don't think I've ever seen a smoother cowl - looks like a one piece resin casting.

[peter taft]

Stunning work thus far.

[Texman]

Very nice work! As someone who scratchbuilt an engine for the D.VIII, I appreciate what you've done!

[Pgtaylorart]

And here is the propeller built from Lief Ohlsson's great 18 layered prop (thank you Lief for all you've given this community!) made from two colors of cardstock. I coated it with acrylic matte medium and sanded it until it was as smooth as I could get it and have the correct shapes. I put on a coat of Tamiya transparent orange to give it that varnished wood color then gave it about 5 coats of Future floor polish. The prop hub is scratchbuilt from cardstock and painted with metalizer paints. I used a Japanese punch drill to make the various holes and bolts.

-George

[Pgtaylorart]

And now my work thus far on the Spandau machine guns. I already made the kit version but I thought I should challenge myself. I completely scratchbuilt them from plans and photos of the real deal. I spent a good day cutting out the little holes in the cooling jackets and now have carpal tunnel in my wrists . But I've been inspired by what the pl@$#c guys are doing with the Wingnut Wings kits over on the ww1aircraftmodels.com forum. I wanted to see if I could attain that level of detail, weathering, and realism in paper.

[Pgtaylorart]

And now comes a problem...

Once I put the new engine, propeller, and machine guns on the original kit it didn't seem to fit somehow. Everything was the right size and it went together just fine but it looked like it was from two separate kits. So now I'm in the process of a complete repaint and rebuild of the original fuselage and wings. I guess while I'm at it, I'll see how far I can go with the cockpit and build it from scratch with all the bells and whistles. (WWI biplanes had bells and whistles, right?) If I can get half the quality of Texman's Fokker D.VIII cutaway I'll be happy. Here are some pics showing the original and the repaint.

-George

[eatcrow2]

Amazing and inspirational modeling!!

[georgerutherford1861]

Wow, wow, wow!

Doug