Pfalz E.I

I wanted something different so I selected the Pfalz E.I.  

I ordered all of the 1/48 scale rotary engines direct from Small Stuff. The plan is to get an aircraft to match up with each engine. The Pfalz E.I seemed like a unique option for the Oberursal U.0. 

The Small Stuff engines go together without too much trouble. They have a video on their website which is helpful. There are some extra pieces and parts which is very handy because you will most likely lose a few. This engine was painted with AK Interactive Extreme Metal paints. The ignition wire is a small copper wire.  

The fuselage has some sinkholes in the rear and needs some filling. The interior needs to be thinned out in order for the frame to fit inside. You can build the cockpit framework on the tray and slide it into the fuselage which helps. 

The cowling has to be thinned significantly for the engine to fit. I really like the Pfalz emblem on the front of the cowling 

The PE added to the fuselage and getting ready for the final coat of primer. 

I rigged the majority of rear and lower cockpit bays without turnbuckles. You won't see these areas and I can save some time and money on the turnbuckles. The bays on the left and right of the pilot will get turnbuckles as these are visible from the top. 

The elevator and rudder cables were attached to the stick and rudder then installed in the cockpit 

I cut the ends of the PE seatbelts off and glued them to some scrap micro cloth I saved from a set of 1/32 scale HGW seatbelts. Old retired guys have to save money where we can. 

The gas and oil tank straps are black scrap decals cut to the appropriate width. The gas tank pressure pump is brass tubing. I will add the elevator and rudder control cables to the stick and rudder and then glue that in place. The wire bracing on the sides will be the last thing that goes on. 

Bracing is Infini Aero Rigging, .5mm MBT and GasPatch Resin turnbuckles 

The instrument panel will be mounted then the entire assembly will be placed in the fuselage. Unfortunately very little of the cockpit is visible. 

If you line the upper decking up with the front of the fuselage there is a 1mm gap behind the seat where the metal decking meets the fabric. 

The front firewall needs to be carefully positioned to ensure the cowling fits correctly. 

This is lower control horn for the wing warping mechanism. The cut in the strut has to be as wide as the exit point on the lower fuselage. The pin is .5mm styrene rod. 

The same mechanism with the additional brackets attached. 

The kit PE attached to the wheel and wing bracing struts. I hope the CA holds. 

I rolled the cooling jacket around a drill bit. The gun barrel is .7mm MBT. 

Primer and then a coat of Tamiya flat white with a couple drops of XF-55 Deck Tan. 

This is the aircraft I'm building. The top of the wing ribs have a black line over each. The black metal looks glossy.  

I painted in the wing spars and fuselage skeleton. I might have overdone the fuselage. 

The spars would be much more visible from underneath on a sunny day by I didn't want to make it too prominent. 

When the fabric dries I'll mask it off and paint the black metal parts. 

I still have to spray some gloss black on the back side of the cowling and then gloss coat it. The rear portion of the fuselage needs to have the black decals added to the edges. 

I mounted the Small Stuff Oberursel U.0. There is very little room inside the cowling. 

The underside of the wings and elevator as a test with some gloss black touch-up. The decals are brittle but settle down nicely. The elevator and rudder decals have a clear film which cover the whole control surface, I cut it out. Many of the decals are so long or large they break, I cut many of them into smaller pieces which made them more manageable and prevented excessive cracking. 

The Pfalz is pretty much assembled with the exception of the windscreen and propeller. Next comes the rigging. 

The rigging is MBT05, Infini Aero rigging and GasPatch turnbuckles. I made the eyes from copper wire. I try to do as much rigging as possible before it gets mounted to the aircraft. 

Rigging is complete 

The landing gear bungee is thread from my wife's quilting supplies 

The kit has PE control horns with the holes already drilled in them making it easier to attach the cables. 

I still need to mount a propeller and windscreen and add some weathering and oil stains. 

Finally finished. It always takes me a while to get the laminated look of the propeller finished.