stevehed

I ran out of suitable iron crosses which led to a slow down in production. I made the ear type side radiators. There are sections on the card that have grille patterns to use. I shaped a couple and added 10 thou strips to the outer edges and a couple of pieces of strip as the base which allows a gap between the radiator and the fuselage. Apparently this gap improved the efficiency compared to earlier sorts used on the Roland's for instance. An over engine reservoir is again required and this one is a slightly different design. It was shaped from a bit of card and sits on rod pipes. I have built WW1 kits for close to fifty years but still regard rigging as a chore which I try to keep to an acceptable minimum.

Working my way through the tricky bits before adding the wings. Tail units are butt jointed with struts supporting the elevators. Evergreen 20 thou rod which is also what I used to make the cabane framework. The side radiators are provided as a single piece but the individual units can be separated for better effect and then the water pipes are added to the rear. The side radiators require a water reservoir which sits over the top of the engine. In this case it is simply a pipe which only needed a piece of 35 thou rod. A single pipe at the front and two at the rear complete the layout. I've drilled some rigging holes in the fuselage and hopefully can get the lower wings on soon. Ian, I like Joystick and think they are compare with the better Formaplane. The early types, such as the Lloyd CII and this kit lack white metal engines but I think most modellers will find enough kit to be able to build something half decent.

Thanks Steve, you should really try one. BTW Franz und Emil are the observer and pilot respectively. My source is PM Grosz of WSDF fame. Frederick is probably a von somebody.

It's a tart up as I've ran out of engine parts, for example the half Roden pieces that were left over from the Austro Daimler/Mercedes choices in the Albatros D kits. There is a kit supplied white metal exhaust which is handy because it is not the normal run of the mill pipework. As I had spare manifold pipes from a conversion the decision was made to spruce up the kit moulds. Seemed the easiest option.

Very nice job. A smashing kit with a wide variety of options regarding nationality.

Resin tended to take over from vac form. As with all genres there are good and bad but the best are excellent. However, personally, I find them expensive and struts and undercarriage tend to need replacing. That makes them little different from vac forms. If you compare Joystick, for example, to some of the East European resin makers they are often half the price.

Looking good. You've inspired me to resume the Emhar kit bash.

Been painting both builds but concentrating on the C1 at the moment. There are transfers with this kit which is very handy as I've ran out of Iron Crosses. Had to order fresh supplies.

Thanks Adrian. Most of these aircraft had natural wood fuselages so I'm going for that. I have been using Revell SM382 to replicate ply recently, particularly on Austro Hungarian types. Using a dry brush with paint only on the tip I lightly tap the surface to try and get a wood effect. This time I would like to get something nearer to the warm yellow description hence the addition of HU 7. My colour guide is the WSDF 77. Regards, Steve

Wings are painted and I've made a ply colour mix using HU7 and Revell 382. I'll have to add the forward mg and windscreen before the wings are started. The holes for exhausts too.

Thanks Ray. Many years ago after working my way through the Revell and Airfix WW1 ranges I discovered vac forms and aircraft I'd never heard of. Have been a fan ever since. Got the fuselage together and am going with a sky camouflage pale blue with grey top surfaces. First coat on but think the second should be a little darker.

It has been the go to kit for a Wapiti for decades. This was posted about six months ago in the WIP section.

A little progress to report. Cockpit internals installed. Extras include a control column and rudder pedals from spares. I'd have liked a control wheel but there's none left and tiny wheels would drive me to distraction. In the rear cockpit I've added a flip up seat and a black box to act as the radio. Gunner is Franz from the Airfix Hannover. The upper section of the engine is also in place and the wings are going to get another coat of Spanish Blue.

Hi All, While waiting for paint and filler to dry I decided to start another kit as I usually have a couple on the go. My shelves are short on early German designs so I've gone with one of the early C types. I've built Joystick before and been quite impressed. To date there has been cockpit floors and seats etc and strut material. Mine have had white metal parts although not all have the engine. This kit is one of them and has the cylinders as part of the fuselage mould. I've got spare manifolds and there is a white metal exhaust so I'm going to try and improve on the original cylinders. There are Iron Cross transfers and touch wood those previously supplied have been ok. Made a start with the cockpits. Added a seat for the observer, three sprue ends as magazines and a piece of sprue to represent a hand held camera.

Lovely job.

Have made a start and cut out the main parts. The lower wings are painted using Hu 65 Spanish Blue which isn't a bad match to the WSDF colour patterns. Internally there is a floor with a petrol tank and the seat sits on top. Three bulkheads will come in handy and I'll probably add some strip to aid with aligning the fuselage halves. White metal parts include the prop and spinner, exhaust, axle claw brake and a spandau and parabellum. No ring for the latter but I have a spare. There is also a Benz engine but I'm going to model the winter version which has most of the engine hidden behind the raised cowling. I'm saving the Benz for another project so I'm going to use the cylinders and tappets from an Eastern Express Starstrutter. These just have to show a little above the top of the wind guards so should be ok. I'm going to crew up so I'm not going overboard with the internals.

Including this one I have six in the stash. Built the other in the WW1 100year anniversary in 2014. It was an AEG GIV twin and went together very well I thought.

I like this. Tried to kit bash one using an Emhar Anasal but failed. Got the WSDF so will be watching with interest.

I'm going with this vacform. It's 1/72 and I've had a bunch of vacs from this company for a while.

My favourite genre is stringbags and luckily for me Airfix released the Bristol Fighter in 1956 and the Camel, Fokker Triplane, Albatros DV and the RE8 in 1957. I have two of the latter in the stash so count me in please.

You can count me in for this one. I've got quite a choice. Regards, Steve

I'd like to have a go with this one.

I can't supply a photo but the Windsock Datafile 42 for the BE2c has photos of Belgian aircraft equipped with Eteve mountings on p23. Regards, Steve

Brilliant. I'd have hated to fly it.

Obviously a failure. Have to try again. Hurrah, gotcha. Second time lucky. Or should that be I read the instructions properly this time.