1/28 Revell Dr.1 Triplane( Finished 05/03/16 )

[ScanmanDan]

This is a kit I started way back in 2009 and stopped working on when I got spooked about painting my own markings as I didn't much like the ones in the kit and I don't have much luck with decals in general. Of late I have been trying to finish half built kits and so I have forged ahead on this one.

The kit is the venerable Revell offering from way back in the mists of time. Not too bad a moulding but pressed in that horrible red plastic that Revell seem to like. Back in '09 I added little bits and pieces to jazz it up a bit but nothing too crazy as I was hoping for a quick build. Last thing I did was basic assembly and streaky finish before sitting her on the shelf of doom

Interior added

Some engine details

Guns

Streaky finish in oils over Tamiya acrylic.

Since then I have done a lot more paining and assembly.

Landing Gear

Underside paint

Topside paint and decals ( I know the serial numbers wrong but that's all that was in the kit )

And finally an overview of all the bits.

Still a long way to go but moving forward again after so much time mocking me from the shelf. With luck I'll get to finishing my half built Camel too.

Any hints for finishing these bigger scale WWI kits. I have a stalled Camel that needs some TLC

Thanks for looking in.

Dan

Edited March 5, 2016 by ScanmanDan

[DMC]

Excellent work, Dan, I'll be following this.

DMC

[Martian]

That's some beautiful work, I am glad you are working to finish this!

Martin

[ScanmanDan]

DMC & Martin - Thank you both for your encouraging comments, They very much help keep me going back to try and finish this old girl. I have a nasty habit of picking up my stalled projects and thinking, "This is rubbish" and putting it back on the shelf of doom.

A little progress;

Starting to glue major sub assemblies together. Starting with the tail and lower wing.

Still need to tweak the finish a bit but coming out okay.

Thanks for looking.

Dan

Edited February 7, 2016 by ScanmanDan

[Martian]

This is one that needs to be kept off of the shelf of doom, its scrubbing up really well.

Martin

[ScanmanDan]

Thanks Martin. I'm glad you like what I'm doing with this old kit. The Revell WWI series was quite good in the day and can be made into a good looking model. Not too expensive and easy to find I'd like to see more of them built. I know the 1/28 scale is a bit wonky but they turn out a good size when finished and I pretty sure that's what Revell was thinking of when they moulded them. I do wish the Fokker DVII was more readily available ( I know it has some shape problems but then which old kit doesn't?)

I couldn't resist doing a bit more before my weekend vanished.

Middle wings is on but the landing gear is just being fitted. I am finding that multiple testing and dry fitting of each sub assembly is paying big dividends on final assembly. I did squeal like a girl as I broke off a drill bit in one of the mounting holes for the landing gear . But patient fiddling got me past the "Hulk SMASH!!! " phase and it looks as if I can get it on straight and true on final assembly. I need to work on the upper wing struts and mock up the assembly but that will have to wait for next weekend.

I hope you like her so far.

Dan

[spitfire1677]

Outstanding love the streaky finish, can I ast what Tamiya colour and oil paint you used?

[ScanmanDan]

H Chris- Thank you for your kind comments, I'm glad you like the results.

I believe that I sprayed Tamiya XF-23 Light Blue Acrylic for the base and then brushed on Daler - Rowne Terre Verte ( Hue) Oil paint. If I did it now I would go with a more Unbleached Linen colour for a base and then add some Japanese Dryer to the oils and make it more streaky and variegated. I'd also use a thiner brush, more in line with how the finish was applied at the factory. But I am always learning as I go.

Dan

[ScanmanDan]

Progress;

I spent a bit of time today building a fixture to hold the aircraft up high enough so I could glue on the upper wing.

It made it a lot easier than bending down to do the glueing at bench level.

Struggled to get the upper wing on straight and true. I am now going to leave it alone as I'll only wreck it if I keep messing with it.

Next up is some simple rigging and the undercarriage

Thanks for dropping in for a look.

Dan

[Kerr65]

Beautiful work - I also like the trestle!

[ScanmanDan]

Kerr65 - Thanks, I built the trestle to get the little Fokker to look a bit different.

Progress:

Wheels on and a start on the rigging. I used the Pymes elastic for the first time. Kinda liked it. it is more constant in size than the EZ Line I have used before.

Little by little

Dan

[Gremlin56]

Excellent build, hard to believe you used the rather old Revell model as a base for this little gem.

[ScanmanDan]

Thanks Gremlin56. I was seriously thinking of getting the new Merit Triplane but might not as it is almost three times the cost of these old Revell kits.

Progress;

Still working on the little rigging . I'm finding the old eyes are getting worse and worse. Threading the line through those tiny bits of tube is a bear. I don't know how many I have launched into outer space and lost. Thankfully the Fokker has very little rigging to do.

Guns in and the top wing got a shot of flat clear to bed in all the weathering and such.

Belly and wheels got a dirty up with chalks and splatters.

Getting close to finishing. I have to get the prop finished and some more weathering( And the wing tip skids!) I was going to scratch up a foot step but may just give it a pass as I don't want to stuff up this close to the finish line.

I hope this is looking okay as for once I am pretty happy with my results. I'm so glad I dusted her off and had a go to finish her.

Thanks for looking in.

Dan

Edited February 20, 2016 by ScanmanDan

[stevej60]

Outstanding Dan,you've lifted this old kit right into the 21st century,damn I need to get one now!

[ScanmanDan]

Thanks Steve, glad you like the old girl. I would say as long as you aren't too fussed with laser like accuracy this kit is a lot of fun. I would say it might be worthwhile to look out for a earlier boxing The Udet one to avoid the Red Baron red plastic that Revell love to use. That said I was sorely tempted to get another kit at the shop yesterday as it was only $40 and there ae so many different markings you could build this kit in. Try one, I think you would like it.

[stevej60]

The Red Baron boxing is readily available here Dan I can live with the Red plastic so now on my hit list!

[Popeye the Sailor]

looks really sweet Dan......much nicer than that dreadful Hobbycraft kit I built a while ago. I've got a Fokker D VII that I working on at the moment........really like the size of this kit your camo is really neat.....is there a pilot that flew that particular scheme? very nice work

[ScanmanDan]

Popeye-

Probably…..

I didn't think any of this build through. All those years ago when I started this build I was just happy to get the bits stuck together straight. Then the build was stalled for ages mainly because of the issue of painting the markings, oh, and my lack of skills. So once I got the urge to just finish the darn thing I just jumped in and started painting. Grabbing bits from different personal markings to make something easy and eye-catching. I should have painted the upper wing stripes at an angle to be more prototypical but the risk of getting them wonky out weighed my desire for accuracy. Black cowls and wheel covers and combinations of black and white stripes were very common though so I don't think I'm too far out there. I can see why they used these colours though. They were available and do make for an dazzling finish.

I am jealous of your DVII. I want to try one of the Revell DVII in 1/28 scale but they are very expensive out here in Australia. And to be honest I still have a half built Camel to finish .

I'm glad that you like my little dodgy triplane - I'm quite happy with the way she turned out and I'm kicking myself for leaving it for so long on the shelf of doom.

Dan

[ScanmanDan]

A tiny bit of progress today;

The little triplane is coming out much better than I had hoped for. I'm getting kind of jazzed up to attempt to finish my 1/28 scale Camel.

I did a bit more work on the tail and started to fix up a base for the finished kit. ( Sorry about the garish background, sometimes experiments don't work out.)

Thanks for looking in.

Dan

Edited February 21, 2016 by ScanmanDan

[Popeye the Sailor]

thanks Dan.........but I don't think you have a lack.........she coming out just like you want her to the paint and art work is right in line with what I've seen adorning these planes......you've done a splendid job with it! this era of plane was more prolific with their art work......that's what makes these planes such a challenge. this is a very nice 'what if' . I got the D VIII from a website oldmodelkits.com.......great place to find older kits...some are very rare. I've heard how expensive kits can be on your side of the pond........on my side they can be pricey.....but there are deals that can be found......you have to look though

the red plastic........Revell's way of making it easier for the modeler {yea....right}. even with their early kits, they colorized their plastic, to ease the burden of painting and to boost sales. on another site, I spoke about this process, and some of the pitfalls. the big problem with it, is it changes the structure of the plastic, making it harder to trim with the x-actor. I've had some where the plastic peeled like string cheese, marring the mating surface, requiring a filler repair. it makes the plastic more elastic....scoring a part to remove it can get very messy.....or making modifications / bash. plastic in it's raw state is clear {window parts and such}......this is the hardest plastic to work with. white pellet is added...normal mold plastic and easier to manipulate.......but more resilient, than if they add different color pellets to the mix. if I'm correct, I think that was to become Richthofen's plane...I've seen that kit around. I've also seen Werner Voss's plane.....I have these two in 1:144.... really small, but cute. there's quite a history on the Dr I........very interesting.

[AdrianMF]

That looks smashing! The streaking and weathering are superb across all the surfaces and really pull the model together.

I remember building this model in bright blue plastic (Werner Voss) when I was a kid. I remember thinking that my gloss green stripes over blue plastic didn't quite look like the picture on the box top, but the face with the moustache on the cowling was cool.

Super job - it's still not exactly enormous even in 1/28, is it?

Regards,

Adrian

[Robin-42]

About that workbench. You labelled everything! I think there medications available that might help.........

[ScanmanDan]

Done, finished, kaput!

Well…

I have had a bad case of the yips lately, you know, dropping and breaking things for no apparent reason, spilling paint and getting superglue stains everywhere .

So I am stopping this build while I'm ahead. Listen, once you've broken off the rudder three times you have to think a higher power is telling you something.

I hear the Tiki gods of modelling and they say walk away Renee

Maybe one day I come back and put on the tip skids and the last of the control lines but for now she will go safely into the display case.

I'm pretty happy with the way she turned out after sitting so very long in pieces on the shelf of doom.

More pics in the RFI section.

A big thanks to everyone for their encouragement to finish this one.

Dan

[stevej60]

One to be proud of Dan she looks superb,love the paintwork.great job all round.

[Popeye the Sailor]

she looks awesome Dan...........I'd be stoked if my D VII came out this good you shelved her once.......then brought her out and came this far.......so now you know that when you bring her out again, it will be to finish her off! great job!

....the 05/03/16........I think you mean 03/05/16

Edited March 8, 2016 by Popeye the Sailor