Epeeman

John, Well done, mate - your usual high standard of workmanship on display here. Best regards Dave

Great one! I admire you for this - I would not not where to begin! Dave

Thanks for your thoughts on this rigging material. Lovely model you have made there - was this one from a kit? Dave

John - Great work - looking the business now! Dave

Sorry to be joining in on this thread late - I'm really impressed if this is your first WW1 plane - your turnbuckles are very good and very effective. Well done on an excellent build! Dave

All, I had a week off over the Easter break so had the opportunity to completely OD on model building (in between entertaining the family!) and reckon I have done two weeks work in five days. I have therefore built this one pretty quickly. Mostly built OOB with some very basic details added to engine and cockpit (very sparse in this kit) and brush painted as usual. Aside from the engine/engine covers fit problem, the rest of this kit fitted together very well indeed. The main thing that strikes me comparing a Wingnut Wings kit with a Roden one (apart from cost of Roden kits) is the amount of prep work involved cleaning seams, pin holes and sink marks (in difficult places) that needs to be done. This is my first use of trying out EZ line for rigging as well. I found this elastic thread tricky to use especially when following the WNW method of applying. I even found it difficult to thread (due to being pretty 'floppy') through pre drilled holes. In the end, found it best to drill out a larger hole than needed to make threading easier. Despite this, I like the fact it looks tight but has a lot of 'give' if you touch it and then springs back into place afterwards. I also like the colour of the thread too - I did not need to paint the rigging on this after installing. I will probably use again, but will need to think about how best to apply it. I still wonder if the thread is a bit too fine though - what do you all think? Anyway, some pictures below. Dave

Many thanks, everybody - As it happens, I don't feel too bad now from what you all say regarding this kit! I think what I will do is either leave off covers completely, or if I can try to fit with them on but open. I have a few more Roden 32nd kits in my stash (incl. Spad VII which I was already aware from reading on internet the engine does not fit with closed cowling) so will be aware of this on future builds. Mainly using this kit as a trial run on using EZ line for rigging in preparation for my WNW Pfalz DXII anyway. Just a shame Roden do not give you the option and should at least make it clear in the instructions. Regards Dave

All, I'm currently three weeks into this build of Roden's SE5a kit in 32nd scale. All has been going really well (flying along in fact) so far with no fit issues until yesterday evening. As it currently stands, I have completed cockpit, fuselage, engine and lower wing. I fitted engine into engine bay (no problem) but then the problem - the two separate engine covers do not fit at all. Now, I had planned to display as I have on my completed WNW Albatros DVa with one cover on and the other off. The fit is so out that not even any careful trimming, filing and sanding will make this work. This now will not happen, so will have to display without any cowling on - bother!!! Never mind, will show engine in all it's glory I suppose! I post this mainly to share experience. It would seem it is critical to get the angle of the V engine correct so that it sits properly within the engine compartment. I built engine first, so did not see this coming. It would therefore seem better to build up engine once all else is complete so that engine can be correctly aligned here. I'm just a bit disappointed here as I had made another attempt at some pretty basic detail up work on both cockpit (which is very basic from the kit) and engine. As I think I have said before, I just wish I were able to build a kit without making a blunder along the way!! A few pictures below just to illustrate the problem - apologies for my lack of photography skills - even worse than my modelling one! Regards Dave

Great, stuff, Steve - Clever how you do these conversions, mate. As this is nearing the end, what will your next project be? All the best Dave

Looking good, Pete - I used 'burnt Sienna' on mine, what colour oil paint are you using? Dave

Your probably right in that case, John!! I agree using on aircraft with less wires a good idea. I used these for the second time on my completed WNW Albie and seem to have started to get the hang of stretching to a more consistent width. I think they work quite well as a cheap and simple method - see what you think of them. There is a definite knack to stretching them though. If you pull them straight after heating over candle they just stretch out to a really fine thread. To ensure they come out thicker, remove from flame and then wait about half a minute before pulling out. Regards Dave

No problem, mate - Good of you to take an interest in my thread - I hope you did not hit your head too hard..............?! Dave

Thanks for the link, GCN - I've not looked all the way through this thread, but so far this referring to the DIIIa - are some aspects of this build that are also relevant to the DXII then? How are you finding building this kit so far? Dave

Looking fantastic, John - As the rigging - just to 'throw my hat into the ring' I also prefer (where possible) to drill through top wing. This is because I find it easier to file and sand out the filler on the top rounded surface. Not so easy on lower wing. That said, sometimes you have to go through lower one though. John, are you going to give the stretched cotton bud handles a go to simulate turnbuckles on this build? Dave

Looking really great thus far - your usual high standard of workmanship on display again. Couple of questions, please Pete - How did you make up a cushion for the seat?- that looks perfect. I think it's a bit of a shame WNW don't provide one in these kits. I would like to know how you achieved that for my future builds; and What colour wash did you use around the fuel tank?- really effective what you have done there. Regards Dave

Many thanks, Jack - kind of you. I'll have a good read of your review when I get home later from fencing - will be just the thing to relax down before turning in for the night. Dave

All, Completed after eight week's work - This was a first in several areas - first WNW kit, painting wood grain using oils and putting together photo etched machine gun jackets. As you have already seen from another thread elsewhere, this will definately not be my last WNW kit. In fact, I am a convert! Apart from a couple of blunders on my part, this was a totally and utterly enjoyable build. The standard of fit is superb on these kits and it surprised me how precise these are molded - any paint on joining surfaces made fitting difficult unless paint completely removed. Special thanks for advice on building these particular kits must go to Pete ('T-Tango') - much appreciated. Also, thanks to everybody who gave me support during the build. Overall, I am very pleased with the result although a bit disappointed that I did not straighten out the top wing a bit more as I have a slight 'bow' to upper wing which also means the lower wing have angled up a bit too much. Something I intend to correct in the future as I intend (at some point) to build the earlier DV. I have tried to weather things up a bit (as best I can given that all my builds are hand/brush painted) but actual application may not be up to the standards of you good folks. - Anyway, some pictures of the completed build below - so you can judge the results for yourselves. Please let me know what you all think. Regards Dave

Certainly looks lovely in the box, John - Not sure which version yet, but may be either Jasta 77b or 49 - doing the camoflage versions may not come out so well brush painted. Will be holding this one back for a bit as I have made a small start on one of my Roden kits - the hisso version of the SE5a - your WNW SE5a inspired me for this build! I also want to see how the EZ line fairs as a bit of a trail run for the WNW Pfalz DXII. Regards Dave

Excellent work, Graham Dave

Quentin, Only just seen this thread - Superb workmanship on display here - I would not even know where to begin on a stratch build project - amazing, it actually looks as though being built from an off the shelf kit. Well done! Dave

All, Amazing - kit delivered this evening. The order from start to finish has taken only nine days - I'm very impressed as I did not expect to see this for at least another week or so. The other thing is, I have not been charged any import duty/VAT so the kit has cost approx £41 quid. I noticed the consignment note had box ticked that states item 'gift' (paid on my credit card but processed via my wife's paypal account so this may explain why put down as a gift) which presumably means you do not pay duty? The kit was my birthday gift anyway. This really is good value when compared to what an equivalent kit would cost, e.g. 32nd scale Roden are retailing at around £49 and you don't get the level of detail as included in WNW kit. I not knocking Roden here, they can built into a really nice model; just making a comparison. I will hold this kit in reserve for a bit as I have a few Roden kits in my stash that I would like to have a crack at. I've almost completed my WNW Albatros. Once this is built, I think I will have a go at the Roden SE5a kit first. Will definately order direct from WNW again now I have overcome my fear of ordering from abroard - will wait for some of the kits that are still in development, e.g. Fokker DVII, Sopwith Snipe, etc. Regards Dave

Superb workmanship - I built the Revell's boxing of the late version of this kit - I think this was one of the best Eduard kits in terms of detail and standard of fit. Dave

Making good progress now - All being well, I am likely to have this completed over the weekend. This will therefore likely be the last progress update. I found getting the ailerons on fiddly as these are a very tight fit and therefore required some slight trimming to fit. Landing gear went a a dream this evening and lined up perfectly straight away - this is usually an area that requires a bit of careful setup on other kits I have built. This was therefore a pleasant surprise. Rigged with fishing line here so the landing gear is a nice strong join now. Mostly rigged using fishing line but used EZ line on ailerons to see how this material works (seems to work alright although this line very fine and loose making fitting fiddly) and then painted to match the colour of the other rigging lines. I've tried to weather up as best I can but this is not so easy when brush painting. Only prop, spinner and flare pistol to go on - couple of pictures below. Best regards Dave

Hello, Steve - Starting to really come together well there mate. I admire your courage (not to mention skills!) in taking on these conversion projects. Out of interest - are these conversion models what make the hobby interesting for you, or is it the subject you want to make is not freely available 'off the shelf'? Regards Dave

Looking just great, John. I would not have the courage to take on this one, so best of luck on your build, mate. Dave