Can I join in please?

I have this lovely Airfix 1/72 DH4.



Part of my recent Vinces mega box purchase. Looks a sweet little model too. I don't imagine progress will be rapid unitl after Telford, but you never know! I also have an Eduard Fokker Eindekker in the queue if I finish this one fast enough.

Jen.

Ooh, that's a lovely kit, one of Airfix's nicest looking WWI kits, along with the Pup. I've had the DH4 in the loft since they issued that boxing, nearly 20 years ago. One of these days I might actually build it, but hey, why change the habit of a lifetime!

Nice subject matter Jen! Brave doing one in 1/72 though, 1/48 made my eyes when it came to rigging!!

Karl.

Of course Jen!

Welcome on board, and I look forward to seeing how this one turns out.

Must make a note of how many builds we've got going on this GB. By reckoning, I think it's at least twelvety.

Cheers,

Nick

No you can't - we have enough with old buckle head showing off without you getting
in on the act - go push a Herc somewhere far away.

David.

PS x

Anyway you have started it - the box has been opened!

It was already like that grumpy!

As if I'd push a Herc anywhere, pfft

Anyway, grumpy old men aside, I started on these two tonight. Here's a box shot of the EIII



Progress so far has been painting the interiors of both in a pretty linen colour. I put the base colours on the Airfix pilots, and built the base of the Eduard cockpit interior. I also sprayed some of the etch bits ready for fitting. I'll pop some pics on later when Ive done a bit more.

Jen.

( )

Is this the road to madness?



The Eindekker is small. I know I used my special huge Humbrol tinlet for scale, but this model is really not very big.
The cockpit is nicely dressed up by the etch fret which all fits beautifully. The floor bit was a bit awkward because of the multitude of bends required. The rest was awkward because it will bend if you so much as look at it harshly!
It's all in now though and I've glued the fuselage together and left it in clamps to dry.

Jen.

Wow, that is small!

Looks like it'd be a real fiddly job getting all that detail in there! Well done...

Karl.

Here's the latest progress on these two. The builds are sort of drifting along and getting done while I'm not looking it seems.

The DH4 is now semi complete building wise, I probably won't add that much more before paint anyway.



A helpful friend pointed out last night that the interior ought to be a different colour since it was made of wood and metal at the front, not fabric
I might be able to slap a coat of brown in through the cockpit openings though, if not I will argue that the forces paint everything in magnolia, so why should this be any different?

The little Fokker is coming along nicely, with no colour fubars since Eduard bother to tell you what colour to paint things in.



Of note is the absurdly fragile tailplane joining bit! Again, I don't think I will be adding much more before I paint it. I'm not sure about the big overhang along where the front decking fits, it seems like it's meant to be like that....?

Jen.

looking good there Jen. they look like lovely little kits

Yeah... s'pose they are not too bad.....for a girl!


David.

Both look good so far Jen.
Did the DH4 go together without much persuasion, or was there any fit issues?
Love seeing the Airfix stand being put to good use again, ain't come across one of those in years!

The DH 4 goes together a treat. It isn't as good as the Eduard Fokker, but by Airfix standards it's brilliant!

I've been toiling away. I have done a bit more on the Fokker but not worthy of a report yet.
The DH on the other hand is coming along nicely. I got it all painted over the weekend. I didn't have a clue what colour it was supposed to be
Airfix recommended H29 but I didn't like the sound of that. I found an ancient tin of Humbrol Authentic colour 'RFC Green' so I slapped some of that on. The front half is Dark Sea Grey.



The decals performed very well given their age. They were a bit thick and looked like they were'nt going to play, but after they'd dried overnight they have settled down beautifully.
Tonight I have been making the top wing.
I added all the struts, then painted the whole thing with sail colour. Once that was done I picked out the strut bodies in brown, and then added the rigging.
The idea is to plug the whole lot in as a unit. It's certainly a lot less fiddly than trying to do it with the wing on!



I test fitted it before I put any rigging in and it looked like it will work. I also deliberately pulled the thread only just taut, so there isn't too much tension on it which will help when I push and shove all the strut ends into place.

Jen.

That antique tin of green did a lovely job Jen, has a nicely faded and weathered look to it.
Am I correct in thinking you're using Lycra thread for the rigging? Getting close to that stage myself and like the look you're achieving.

Super work Jen

It's Aeroclub rigging thread, which I believe is lycra. The paint looks good, it's very dark but at the same time manages to have that brownish look to it.

Jen.

God Jen, that rigging is amazing!!!!

Clever stuff, honey!

Le Grumpie

Cheers Jen, looks like I've found another good reason to get an order off to Aeroclub.
Well, you need a Christmas present to yourself, don't you

Well Col, the thread is only about £3, and as far as I'm aware, that isn't expensive enough to be called a present

Ok, my DH4 is finished

I added the small parts earlier this evening and that's it done.







I will get some proper pics for the gallery when some daylight conicides with me being at home!

It's been a nice build, not in the same league as the Eduard kit but surprisingly good in places. The machine guns are absolute little gems, it fits well and it looks the part finished. I'm pleased with it.

On to the Eindekker

Jen.

That looks superb - how on earth do you build them so quickly and expertly? I am really grumpy now!!!

David.

Cracking build Jen, and ten out of ten for winding David up!

Well, winding up grumpy old men is something I get a lot of practice at, at work!

Jen.

Lovely build, Jen.
You certainly make the all round modeler.

Bob

That is ageist and sexist - complaint being formulated.

Lovely looking DH4. Great finish on the prop. and suitably muddy wheels. I like it.

cheers

Grant

Thanks everyone, and you are quite right Bob; I am well rounded!

I was actually lying when I said it was finished, I had forgotted to put the fuselage decals and the tail fin markings on, and there was another bit of rigging to do.
It is done now though, and since there is some sunshine this morning I have taken some proper photos. There doesn't seem to be a gallery so I will put them in here for now.











I don't know where the control wires are supposed to go so I've left them off, and there is a distinct left hand squint when she sits on her undercarriage (thank goodness for the stand!) but I am very happy with the look of it overall.

Jen.

Jen - I thought your idea for the rigging a good one and wondred if it would work on the Gotha. Emphatically no! The struts were so fragile that the slightest prresssure made them literally crumble. I knew the plastic was a bit grim but really...... So am now fashioning new struts throughout.

Good Lord!

The man moveth forward on the Gotha?

Sideways would be more precise!!!!

I'm really sorry to hear that David. It worked like a charm on my kit, but I was careful not to pull the thread very tight.

Jen.

Cracking job Jen!

Great idea with the rigging, you pulled that off perfectly! Well done!

Looks a great little model doesn't it, I'm going to have to do another one soon the Pfalz I did looks a bit lonely and out of place in the cabinet at the moment.

Karl.

Thank you Jen - the struts crumpled and snapped so easily that I feel had I been successful it would have been exceptionally fragile anyway. So blessing in disguise! Do you know if plastic gets more brittle with age - it is an old kit.

I know certain types deteriorate from prolonged exposure to UV light. May it have been sitting near a window for any time?
I'm sorry to hear you're hitting problems with her but glad you're still making progress, hope you can post an update soon David.

Oh, before I forget. Nice build Jen!

Wary of the deadline, I spent a bit of time on the Eindekker today. I've added the undercarriage, and a few etch bits. I even had some success making etched wire wheels.
All was looking well until I realised that somehow I've managed to lose my engine cowling

If anyone has a spare one please drop me a line. I'm going to finish it anyway and if needs be I'll buy another kit to replace it.

Jen.

Bit more today, finished the main undercarriage and rigged it. Fitted the etched metal tailskid support successfully and then went and pinged the actual tailskid into oblivion with the tweezers!
I made a new one out of wire but it isn't a great substitute, goes from bad to worse dunnit! I also finished making the wheels. I'm pleasantly surprised at how easy they were in the end. Here's a progres pic.



Jen.

Done and dusted

I'll get some gallery photos tomorrow hopefully, but here's a taster.



Jen.

Lovely one Jen. Lovely.

Nick

I found the cowling!!!!!!

I had a clear bench last night and decided to do a bit more on my Eduard 110, got out the instruction booklet and what should drop out of it but my wickle Eindekker cowling

Finished pics are now in the gallery. Thanks all, been a nice little Gb, although I will admit I'm in no particular hurry to start on the 1/72 DH2 I have in the stash.....

Jen.

2 great looking builds Jen, might have to buy some string bags for the stash