MetalEarth Fokker DR.I
The Sheet & the Sheets - Love all that colour!
Here's the finished pilot's seat & floor, from 2 pieces - pretty easy assembly so far - no control column!! !;^)}
I used my "Small Shop" rolling tool & base to start the curves on the cylinder heads - It's a Radial 8 cylinder, so 8 cylinder heads.
8 partly rolled - I then completed each one to a 180 degree roll, so their tabs would fit the receiving slots, and also (just because) put in a tighter roll on the cylinder necks.........
Here's the 8 cylinder heads fitted to the backing plate - Hey, it looks as good as any photo-etched radial engine in 1:72 scale. You'll have to zoom in closer to see that tighter roll I put in.
And of course, with any decent "model" you then go and partly cover up all that good work - only something a fellow modeller would understand!
Fuselage bending & joining time - I got a bit over-enthusiastic on the bending & had to back-it-off a bit! Vary careful crimping around the rudder, to keep all that paint intact. The pilot's seat is installed at this stage.
Adding the engine assembly to the front of the fuselage, after carefully bending all the engine cowl.
And that's all you get to see of the engine........(sigh)
Time to attach the bottom of the "middle" wing to the fuselage - I decided to strengthen this with a couple of dabs of CA Superglue. Also, remember to fold up the wing edges at this point.
Also attached is the elevators & fuselage top - I decided to use hidden tabs/eyes for these 4 connections. Looks better, but quite fiddly.
Also attached is the elevators & fuselage top - I decided to use hidden tabs/eyes for these 4 connections. Looks better, but quite fiddly.
Close up of the top fuselage with hidden tabs/eyes. patience required doing it this way!
next to make the machine guns to fit the top of the fuselage/middle wing.
You'll need your finest width pliers here - around 1mm should do it. some very tricky fold & connections.
You'll need your finest width pliers here - around 1mm should do it. some very tricky fold & connections.
More of the machine guns, showing the size of the next 3 parts
Machine guns finished - seem a bit flimsy.....
Machine guns mounted - this firms them up a lot.
On to the upper wing brackets......
There's a little-known Star Wars quote to be applied here...
"Don't use the force here, Luke - There's no strength to be found here!".......!;^)}
ALERT: don't forget to mould the upper aerofoil shape into the top of the wing. If you don't do this (like I just did!!) it wont fit into the eyes on the under-wing section in following steps.
On to the upper wing brackets......
There's a little-known Star Wars quote to be applied here...
"Don't use the force here, Luke - There's no strength to be found here!".......!;^)}
ALERT: don't forget to mould the upper aerofoil shape into the top of the wing. If you don't do this (like I just did!!) it wont fit into the eyes on the under-wing section in following steps.
These brackets firm up a little when attached to the wing - but not much.......
However, when it gets attached to the fuselage, it's much better!!
You may have to stress the brackets forward to get the tab in the slot behind the motor. Of course, the aerofoil shape helps!
The correct aerofoil shape on the middle wing - not great, but the best I could manage "after the event" correction.
Bummer!!!
Bummer!!!
Using a small dowel at the front of the winglet to start the aerofoil.
building the aerofoil shape into the upper surface undercarriage "winglet" - use the lower surface as a guid to how much aerofoil you need to put in place.
The under-surface of the lower wing & fuselage. Be sure to check that the "Z" bends you put in place don't skew the wing-line.
Lovely little details included in the bottom of the fuselage - pilot's step & mechanic's grab-handles.
undercarriage brackets & winglet in place.
Upside down to show the extra work in readiness for wheels - winglet ends etc
Page 4 of 4: Preparing the aerofoil curve for the upper surface of the lower wing - used a 5.0mm dowel to start the curve, then matched it with the bottom surface of the lower wing
Fits well, so can continue the build
Wing pylon added to the lower wing - starboard side
and port side
Upper wing "aerofoiled" and fitted
Closer shot
No to make the prop - looks a little like a dragonfly
Prop fitted - just had to tidy up some of the braces - Calling it done!
I'm sure I could do a better job, but too hard to retro-correct
I'm sure I could do a better job, but too hard to retro-correct
A few views
Looks like a Fokker
pretty distinctive
looks OK
Done
Done - As I said, I screwed up the middle wing!!
Ready for take-off
Kommentit
4 28 May 2021, 03:06
Roger Trewenack
I'm sure he'd love it!! - Hey, there's enough reason to paint all you German armour & aircraft in metallic finishes!!!!! - hmmm...... Tiger I in Metallic Green - Wow!!
I'm sure he'd love it!! - Hey, there's enough reason to paint all you German armour & aircraft in metallic finishes!!!!! - hmmm...... Tiger I in Metallic Green - Wow!!
28 May 2021, 06:36
Album info
Yet another new pre-painted "model" from Fascination - I say "model" because this one actually shows a scale of 1:70. So lets see how that compares with a 72nd scale model of a Fokker DR.I (Not that I've built one, but I have 1 in my stash, so I can compare a little.)
Looks pretty good from the outside....................let's go inside
Completed - Loved it!! - Magnifying lenses all the way on this one, and small pliers, and BIG patience!!
And read and UNDERSTAND the instructions, including not forgetting the basics of flight - aerofoil!!!