stevehed Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 I'm taking the opportunity offered by this years GB's to make some of the vac forms I've had for decades in some cases. I bought three of these as at the time I wasn't aware of any Albatros CI kits. That was in the early eighties. The twenty plus year sojourn then occurred before I built one as a Russian trophy CI. By now I had discovered the Joystick Albatros CI so the BII's got pushed further down the to do list. Until now. There is no price on the box but I have a Scale Models magazine from March 1983 which quotes £3.25 and this does sound familiar. I'm posting to make a commitment to myself so I don't change my mind as thirty eight years is long enough on the shelf. There are no transfers so I'll have to use a spare set from the Revell Fokker Eindekker. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 It will be interesting to see how this goes - somewhere in my stash I think I have one of these, though I never to dared to build it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 10, 2021 Share Posted May 10, 2021 Brilliant choice of kit for this GB Steve. Really looking forward to seeing it in progress. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 Clearing the decks before I concentrate on the B.II. The kit is a single sheet of plastic mouldings , three lengths of strut and a pretty comprehensive history and plans. I'm going to use the WSDF for additional data. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted May 16, 2021 Share Posted May 16, 2021 Always great to see a Vacform being built, best of luck with this one. Cheers Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 18, 2021 Author Share Posted May 18, 2021 Thanks Pat. I've made a start with all the cutting out and filing with the wings being first. The undersurface of this plastic is very glossy. I didn't like the look of it and had doubts about paint adherence. To counteract this and gain a little more allowance when it comes to drilling strut location holes I've skinned the lower surfaces with 10 thou card. The ailerons and ribs are scored with a sharp craft knife and my big fingers have smeared pencil over one of the upper wings. I'm going to use the kit engine and have made a start on the cockpit. The bulkheads have equipment moulded on them which I have highlighted to act as a radio. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Great to see you are underway Steve and I'm really pleased we've got vac-form kit being made. I've never attempted one - don't think I'd have the patience - but I'm always fascinated seeing them being built! Looking good so far. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted May 20, 2021 Share Posted May 20, 2021 Looks good, Formaplane from memory we're a bit of a mixed bag and I think they used different people to make the masters. Vacforms seem to work well for early biplanes. I did a DH6 and it captured the frail looking nature of early aircraft. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 20, 2021 Author Share Posted May 20, 2021 All the Formaplanes I have seem to be products of Joe Chubbock and are decent moulds. I've constructed the cockpit innards using the vac form parts and a couple of spare crew. Guides added to the fuselage halves are strip and the wings are CDL for which I use Hu121. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr T Posted May 21, 2021 Share Posted May 21, 2021 A lot of the smaller stuff seems to have been, but I don't think Joe was responsible for the Nimrod and Hastings. Nice to see vacforms being built and I must have a go at some more in my stash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted May 22, 2021 Share Posted May 22, 2021 Hi Steve. Great to see more progress - and looking good! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Masters Posted May 23, 2021 Share Posted May 23, 2021 Brave soul! This is looking very cool. I have always been a fan of the WW1 German two-seaters. People get so hung up on DVII, DR.1, and other pursuit aircraft, they forget about the myriad two-seaters that really ruled the air. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Definitely right John. German two seaters are a neglected genre. It wasn't intended but it seems to have become my main theme for this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 It’s looking good. I do like the Albatros series, but I seem to be having a run on building ugly inter-war Eastern European biplanes instead! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Nice work Steve and particularly satisfying to see an old sheet of styrene brought to life 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted May 29, 2021 Author Share Posted May 29, 2021 Thanks Gentlemen. A little progress to add. Located the Iron Crosses after a second coat of HU121. The upper wing is two part so I've attached short lengths of rod as the connecting spars. Lower wings butt joined, the port one already been knocked off once, and the rear elevators. Fuselage paint next and then the cabanes etc and defensive armament. At least that is the plan. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted May 30, 2021 Share Posted May 30, 2021 Looking lovely Steve. There’s something about those Albatros designs… Regards, Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 1, 2021 Share Posted June 1, 2021 That's looking really smart Steve! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted June 6, 2021 Share Posted June 6, 2021 Great stuff Steve Hopefully this build will encourage lots more people to build their vacforms Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 Started a new job so training has been occupying most of my time recently. Slowly getting back into a more normal shift pattern and have managed to resume production. Radiator pipework has followed the same pattern as the C1 as they both had side radiators. Plastic rod sufficed as the pipes and the radiators are kit parts. I've used 30 thou rod for the cabanes and a trimmed down Spad VII windscreen. I have to make a couple of makeshift gun mounts for a front seat gun before I attempt to mount the top wing. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdrianMF Posted June 24, 2021 Share Posted June 24, 2021 Looks good. I see more struttery in your future! Regards, Adrian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted June 29, 2021 Share Posted June 29, 2021 Hi Steve. I hope the new job is going well and it's good to see you have been able to find some time for this build. Looking good. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehed Posted July 14, 2021 Author Share Posted July 14, 2021 Thanks All. Nearly got the front end completed. A forward firing gun mount from 20thou rod was located on the right side of the front cockpit. I've got a spare Parabellum from a Roden Gotha to which I'll add an ammo box and belt. This will be mounted on a bent spigot to fire to the rear. WSDF have some decent photos. It's enlightening to see how similar the German set ups are to some of the BE2 mountings. I have a white metal rhino horn exhaust which I was hoping to use but it's too close to the upper wing. Gone for the early single pipe set up instead. Once fully set they will be trimmed to the same length. I've drilled some rigging holes and the strut holes have been measured and drilled so nearly ready for the top wing. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray S Posted July 15, 2021 Share Posted July 15, 2021 That is very impressive work. I always like those Albatros aircraft, especially the early ones, they were very elegant, despite the radiators. Cheers, Ray 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 21, 2021 Share Posted July 21, 2021 Got to agree with Ray here - very impressive work! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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