Joe M Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Hi All, I think that this one fits the bill. Please let me know if its a non runner! The Phonix D.IIa was a development of the D.I which first flew in 1917. The D.IIa first flew in March 1918. Ten of them were transferred to the Navy (J.21 to J.30) for the defence of naval bases. I like the mottled colour scheme with the red naval markings. Here are two photo's before I begin. Cheers All Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. IMG_20200222_234403 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr IMG_20200222_234324 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoftScience Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Oh yes yes yes!!! I live the weird austrohungarian flying contraptions! I've been eyeing these MAC kits but haven't bitten the bullet as short run biplanes have a notorious habit of not getting finished, at my home I'm curious to see you work on this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Ooh, something different! AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbjorn Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Oh an Austrian machine. I will follow with interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Very cool, something a bit different is always welcome! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Lovely! I have a few of the MAC kits, but only built the Fokker D.VII so far. They're not at all bad but still plenty of opportunity for improvements. Always like to see an A-H aircraft built. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted February 26, 2020 Share Posted February 26, 2020 New one on me, but all the better for it ! That mottling looking a bit daunting ant ideas on how you aim to tackle it ? Good luck with this one cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbjorn Posted February 27, 2020 Share Posted February 27, 2020 On 2/26/2020 at 9:18 AM, JOCKNEY said: New one on me, but all the better for it ! That mottling looking a bit daunting ant ideas on how you aim to tackle it ? Good luck with this one cheers Pat Sponge maybe? I’ve never tried, though, and me too am eager to see the outcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) Hi All, I finally got started on this one in the last few days. The kit itself is a mix of good and not so good, I wont say bad because they are not. I am going for an out of the box on this one! There are two sprues in the box, one containing the fuselage, wings and tail, the other, well the rest of the parts. There is a small photo etched sheet which contains seat belts, joy stick, rudder pedals, instrument panel, gun sights (I think) and finally a representation of pipe work from the radiator to the engine, this I'll try and beef up. The decals also look OK and the wind shield and clear instrument panel for the photo etched instrumentation panel are included on a piece of acetate. A couple of shots of the interior before its closed up. Its a bit basic, especially the engine. Seat belts, joy stick, rudder pedals, instrument panel all worked out OK. 1:72 scale by Joseph Moran, on Flickr IMG_20200306_230202 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr IMG_20200306_230152 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr You can just about make out the instrument panel. IMG_20200308_125740 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr Both the lower wings have two small dimples to fit into matching holes on the fuselage sides. I'm not a great lover of butt joints but these have a little extra to glue together. The tail fits into a slot at the rear of the fuselage. The joint lines on the upper and lower fuselage sides have been sanded down. The wing joints may need a little more careful sanding. IMG_20200308_125658 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr IMG_20200308_125650 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr Next I'll add the rudder and once dry I 'll give it a coat of either matt white or Mr. Colour Levelling thinner or maybe both. That's all for now folks. Thanks for looking and all comments good and bad are welcome. Cheers Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. Edited March 8, 2020 by Joe M incorrect spelling 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andwil Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Coming along nicely. AW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 Working on geting the colour right. IMG_20200315_113136 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr This is a coat of Vallejo Beige brown/ IMG_20200315_171125 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr And after a couple of coats of Tamiya Clear Orange varnish. IMG_20200317_145258 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I tried out a couple of different colours and two different techniques. The left hand side was using a cut down paint brush and the right hand side using a small piece of sponge. IMG_20200317_155301 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr The sponge is working out better and it was laid on the original aircraft using a sponge. I fancy the middle one, Vallejo Russian Green. Prior to spraying the upper surfaces I've masked of some of the areas and I decided to do the Clear doped linen on the under-surfaces of the wings. I have picked out the rib detail before over spraying with CLD. IMG_20200323_165514 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr Next its to spray the Vallejo Beige, but that's another days work. Cheers Guys Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Finally got around to taking the plunge with the mottle effect on this one. Doing some more research on the mottle (thank you WIndsock) I discovered that the mottle was; 1. Done with either a sponge or a large brush. 2. More importantly the mottle was either dark green over a light green or a dark brown over a light brown. The greens and browns did not mix. I decided to make up my own small sponge and I'm reasonably happy with the way it turned out. This is the upper wing after I removed the masking tape. IMG_20200401_162932 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I have already re-sprayed and corrected the leeching onto the white of the wing. Now to do the lower wing, fuselage and wheels. Hope that you are all keeping safe and dodging the C19 bullet. Cheers Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I loving watching your paint tests and how your transferring that onto the model! Great work so far. stay safe. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) Wow, what a nice project! A bit biased maybe..... Not something one could still do... Austrian Navy..... Edited April 2, 2020 by exdraken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 16 hours ago, rob85 said: I loving watching your paint tests and how your transferring that onto the model! Great work so far. stay safe. Rob Thanks Rob, I'm trying not to make a bags of this one! Cheers Joe M 16 hours ago, exdraken said: Wow, what a nice project! A bit biased maybe..... Not something one could still do... Austrian Navy..... Hi exdraken, If I can have a go at it anyone can. Cheers Joe M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 Hi All, As I said I have already corrected the leeching on the top wing and since the last post I've done the fuselage; lower wing; tail and wheels. IMG_20200402_173507 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr But I obviously did not put all the masking down properly and ..............well see for yourself and this one will be harder to correct. IMG_20200402_173519 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr But God loves a trier and as I'm basically in lock down due to the C19 virus I'll have loads of time to sort it out! I do have all the struts and the undercarriage painted black as per instructions and the Windsock Data File. So once I get the leeching sorted out I'll be way in a hack! O yah I nearly forgot that the Propeller is ready but this normally the last piece fitted after the rigging is done. My wife and I normally get out for an hour - hour and a half walk most mornings. We are lucky to live in an estate that backs onto woods and fields. Finally look after yourselves out there this C19 virus is a nasty piece of work. Cheers Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 That just looks like a lovely spot of weathering on the lower half to me 😃 loving your work so far. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torbjorn Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 1 minute ago, rob85 said: That just looks like a lovely spot of weathering on the lower half to me 😃 loving your work so far. Rob Not a joke, consider leaving it. Internal oil leaks could cause that sort of look. Unsure if it could end up there on your type though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 3 hours ago, Torbjorn said: Not a joke, consider leaving it. Internal oil leaks could cause that sort of look. Unsure if it could end up there on your type though. Hi Guys, I thought of leaving it or slightly modifying but looking at the photo's in Albatros Data File 31 on the Phonix I couldn't really see anything that even vaguely matched it so I eliminated the leeching. There was also some leeching on the tail feathers but they were taken out as well. Besides the above the only other thing that I've done is to paint the leather around the cockpit. Tomorrow I think that a couple of coats of 'Klear' will be in order before proceeding with the struts. Cheers All and keep safe. Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 5, 2020 Author Share Posted April 5, 2020 Hi Guys, We all know too well with our modelling hobby that it can often be one step forward and two steps backwards. Something like that happened to me since my last post yesterday. I always put the main decals on a biplane before adding the upper wing. I leave off the fuselage ones as rigging can involve a fair bit of handling. The German crosses on the upper wing went OK'ish but required a lot of tender care to get them to move on the gloss surface. I feared the worst for the large red decals that were situated on both surfaces of the upper and lower wings and the tail surfaces. Unfortunately I was not disappointed. Even using copious quantities of water and Micro Sol they did not want to move unless I fully immersed the wing in water which caused it to float off the wing and allowed be to re-position it. Then I found out that the decal was to short and did not cover the chord of the wing. The tail decal just broke up when I tried to move it! Well I said something like 'O Dear' and 'Golly Gosh', not really what I said would make a sailor blush and then some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Why do sailors always get blamed?). The swear jar was full to over flowing by the time I was finished. So it was time for another colour chart. I didn't know that I had so many reds in the collection. The ones on the chart do not include colours that were obviously wrong. When the reds were wet some of them really looked like close matches. Having left them to dry overnight the ones that I originally thought would be close were way off. In the end I went for Humbrol Bright Red. It was almost a perfect match for the red decals from the kit! IMG_20200405_111645 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr When I initially began spraying I thought O God what have I done as the only way I can describe the colour was 'Barbie Pink'. The picture shows what I mean against the finished upper wing. IMG_20200405_154345 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr Really happy now with the colours. IMG_20200405_155722 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I couldn't resist having a look to see what it might be like when finished. IMG_20200405_162343 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I still have to mask the tail which will be a bit tricky as I may have to give it another coat of white. But hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel is not a train coming through from the other side. Keep safe out there, this is really a nasty virus. Cheers Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 7, 2020 Author Share Posted April 7, 2020 A little bit more work done. The tail is now painted with the rudder left. Perhaps later on tonight. IMG_20200407_091020 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr This was the result of the paint matching with the decal colour. IMG_20200406_125703 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I have the wings ready for the struts. I going to use the kit decal on the tail as the Austro-Hungarian crest is on the decal. Cheers All Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveyGair Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Beautiful work, really like the mottling, and 1/72nd too! An interesting subject as well. Davey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 On 4/8/2020 at 9:40 PM, DaveyGair said: Beautiful work, really like the mottling, and 1/72nd too! An interesting subject as well. Davey Hi Davey, Thanks for the kind words. I'm thinking of going into business with those sponge tools!😇 Cheers Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Got a little more done. I cut the rudder decal in two to help me to get it on without breaking up like my previous attempt. Thank God for having another one or was it two in the stash. As expected the decal as undersize and I had to add the red I had chosen from my colour chart to fill in the gaps all over the rudder. IMG_20200409_213123 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr I now have the main wing struts in place. There is a slight difference in the angle between the front and rear struts. The front ones are angled at 70 degrees and the rear at 75 degrees. I'm going to leave them to dry over night before I attempt to fit the upper wing. IMG_20200409_213055 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr Cheers All. And please stay safe, this C19 virus is not friendly. Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted April 12, 2020 Author Share Posted April 12, 2020 Hi All, The top wing is now attached. The forward struts are at an angle of 70 degrees while the rear struts are slightly straighter at an angle of 75 degrees. IMG_20200410_153419 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr IMG_20200410_153407 by Joseph Moran, on Flickr. This morning I checked out the fuselage to wing struts and found a major problem. The struts do not match up with the holes on the top wing. The upper wing would need to be about another 2 to 3 mm forward. Yet checking out the scale plans I have the wing seems to be in the correct position. The kit does offer a slightly different set of struts for here but checking this out its still the same problem, Further investigation required before I can proceed. Cheers All and stay safe. Joe M Stick & String Rule O.K. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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