Fokker E.I 1/144 scratch

Post by **ondra** » Sat Jul 29, 2017 7:58 pm

Hi everybody,

I would like to share with you the pictures of my current build, the Fokker E.I 13/13 flown by Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke.

The scale is 1/144 and it is a scratchbuild.

Here some photos of the progress so far.

Any criticism is very welcome!

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:44 am

The wings are now polished and ready for rib tapes masking:

I added the second layer of oil paints to the cockpit sidewalls to simulate the oil soaking in canvas, now I like it much better than before.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **sheppsea** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 7:46 am

Very nice so far

I don't think I would be able to handle building, let alone scratch building, in that scale!

Post by **ondra** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 4:53 pm

Many thanks, sheppsea! Actually it is not as difficult as it looks, the only thing needed is patience for the trial-error method.

Here the two final photos of the cockpit before I close the fuselage and most of the details disappear forever.

I also masked the wings for the rib tapes, which will be made with surfacer. I cut the masks on my plotter, with a bit of training it goes pretty quickly.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **shortCummins** » Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:48 pm

...and I thought 1:72 was too small!

great work

rgds
John(shortCummins)

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Jul 31, 2017 4:25 am

shortCummins wrote: Sun Jul 30, 2017 5:48 pm ...and I thought 1:72 was too small!

great work

rgds
John(shortCummins)

I was thinking the same thing
HOLY SHITE!!!!! That is sweet detail for so small

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Tue Aug 01, 2017 7:04 am

Oh my

Post by **ondra** » Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:03 pm

Many thanks for your nice comments, guys, they are highly appreciated!

The wings are nearly ready for painting, the ribs turned out quite fine.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:29 pm

Today I lost my soldering virginity.

More practice will be needed, but all in all a very promising method.

IMG_1983.JPG

Cheers

Odra

Post by **ondra** » Sat Aug 12, 2017 9:48 am

A bit more progress today, the fuselage is closed and sanded, next up is one more coat of surfacer for final check.

I started thinking about the best method to make the engine cowling, so I turned this piece on my Proxxon and will start experimenting with heated plastic. Unfortunately I do not have a vacuforming machine, so should you have a better idea, all suggestions are warmly welcome.

Post by **Lysus** » Tue Aug 15, 2017 2:03 am

I'm speechless. Impressive stuff.

Post by **ondra** » Sat Aug 19, 2017 1:09 pm

Many thanks for your nice comment!

Today I have been experimenting with an alternative method to make the engine cowling, this time using brass sheet. The original intention was to solder the two pieces together, but this turned out to be beyond my skills yet (and obviously I will need a finer soldering iron tip). So I took plan B and glued the two pieces together with photopolymer glue. Hopefully it will be rigid enough.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Aug 19, 2017 9:38 pm

If you could clamp it like that it might be solderable..is that a word???

How I made a brass Bugatti cowling; gotta hunt for pics, probably in work computer at office
Run a flux paste on the inside of the joint...could paint it along the seam
Cut solder into tiny little chunks and apply along the solder line within the flux
Blast heat from the inside with a small butane torch
Watch for the flash of solder and the flow along the seam
Clean up the mess
Gets into the intricacies of soldering but the clamping of the part in the correct orientation is the most important step for which glue and physical clamp are vital.
Apologies if this is redundant for you

Post by **ondra** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 6:50 am

That is very inspirative, many thanks!

Post by **ondra** » Sun Aug 20, 2017 1:07 pm

Today I drilled the holes for the brass pins and could not resist from dry fitting the wings while praying for the symetry to be correct.

It looks acceptable.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sat Aug 26, 2017 12:28 pm

My little Fokker started taking shape with the cowling added.

Post by **ondra** » Sun Aug 27, 2017 4:00 pm

I wanted to check whether the cowling will be ok, so I sprayed it with black Mr. Surfacer, polished it and gave it a semi translucent coat of Mr. Paint metalizer. So far I have not found a suitable method to render the "swirling" on the cowling to make it look believable in this scale. So for the time being I will just try to create the effect telling "this is not clean polished aluminium", therefore the translucency.

The wings and the tailplanes were given a coat of Drooling Bulldog zinc white and are ready for preshading. As usually I will be using Drooling Bulldog paints for the whole paintjob (fell in love with them). The fuselage and horizontal tailplanes will be painted with a mix of unbleached linen and umbraun lightened with zinc white, for the wings I will probably use the graugrün.

Post by **ondra** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 4:14 pm

After a lot of filling and sanding the fuselage is almost ready for painting, so I added a few details.

I spent quite a lot of time with brass today, I finally found the way to assemble the undercarriage.

I was not happy about the rigidity of the tailplanes, so I decided to make them new, this time the material will be brass. Soldering should be the safer option in this case.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Sep 03, 2017 4:17 pm

Looking awesome

I see some soldering going on there

Post by **ondra** » Wed Sep 06, 2017 5:38 pm

Thank you very much! The more practice I gain with soldering, the more taste I am developing for this technology.

Post by **ondra** » Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:53 pm

This weekend was not a very productive one, as I am struggling with the engine. A friend of mine cast the cylinders from resin for me, currently I am looking for the correct method to achieve an acceptable result.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Thu Sep 14, 2017 5:32 am

Last night I found a bit of time for the workbench, so I continued with the engine assembly and added a few details. It is not perfect but quite good for the first try.

I also started working on details on the fuselage bottom. I would like to use a method very similar to the one I use for making ribs - I apply the masking tape and afterwards I spray several coats of surfacer. Once the tape is removed, the edges should create good guides for the stitching and for the hatch beneath the cockpit.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 3:13 pm

Not much time for the workbench this weekend, so just a slight progress.

I removed the masks from the fuselage belly and after a bit of sanding the result looks acceptable.

I also added the ribs to the tailplanes:

And started adding details to the undercarriage, still a lot of work ahead on this one:

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Sep 17, 2017 4:12 pm

Super stuff

You are doing a great job and so imaginative in creating the detailed parts

Post by **ondra** » Tue Sep 19, 2017 5:20 am

Many thanks for your nice comment!

Yesterday I made a bit of progress on the engine by adding the push rods, now it is ready for painting.

I also added the stitching to the fuselage, but I am not very satisfied with the result, therefore I will rework it.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 6:20 am

I found some time for the workbench last night (could not sleep) so I started working on the preshading.

First I sprayed a thin layer of strongly diluted Drooling Bulldog Umbraun along the ribs.

Afterwards I took very fine sandpaper and removed the Umbraun from the ribs ridges.

Similar procedure followed on the fuselage, first a bit of masking:

Then Umbraun again:

And masks removed:

The last step so far was a heavier coat of Umbraun to creat the base for the oil soaking:

Will see what it will look like once oversprayed with the canvas paint.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:29 pm

God it is so tiny
Are you using magnification of some sort to work??

Post by **Lysus** » Wed Sep 20, 2017 5:10 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Wed Sep 20, 2017 4:29 pm God it is so tiny
Are you using magnification of some sort to work??

Was just wondering the same thing. But for the hand and knives I'd assume this was a 1/32

Post by **ondra** » Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:11 am

Unfortunately I am not able to work with a magnifier, so I have to get along with bare eyes.

I was also eager to see what the preshading would look like, so I continued with painting last night. Result - well, lesson learned.

The contrast of the soaking was too little, whereas the contrast of the tube construction was too much - as I have learned from the photo of the original (placed in WNW instructions), the fuselage was obviously not CDL, as there is almost no translucency.

So I decided to do something between preshading and postshading - maybe "intershading"?

- and emphasized the soaking a bit. Afterwards, I sprayed another thin layer of paint. The translucency almost disappeared, but is still there. I am still not sure whether the shade is correct, looks a bit too dark to me, so I might to rework the fuselage paintwork completely. Will see once the paint has cured completely, i. e. this evening.

The shade I took for the wings did not look correct either, unfortunately, it was too yellowish for my taste.

So I gave it a shot of Drooling Bulldog Grauesgrün without lightening and it looks a tad better.

This is where I stand now with wings dry fitted. The metal panels on the wings will need a slight touch up, should not be a big deal, however.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Fri Oct 20, 2017 2:14 pm

The engine is assembled now and I started with painting.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Wed Nov 01, 2017 6:03 am

After a rather long break I found some time for the workbench yesterday and a bit of painting was done on the engine. It might look ok under the cowling, nevertheless I will make another one and will see which one will turn out better.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:28 am

This weekend I made my traditional ritual of taking a critical look at the model and decided to rework the fuselage - I am not satisfied with the oil staining (looks different on the photos of the original machine) and with the shade I took. As the first step, I reworked the stitching I was not very happy about either, this one looks more satisfactory.

I also discovered a few flaws on the upper sides of the wings, so here we go again - cutting masks, masking the wings and several layers of surfacer. Demasking will take place next weekend.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Lysus** » Thu Nov 16, 2017 6:40 pm

I'm still in awe over how you work with such small details.

Post by **ondra** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 4:32 pm

Many thanks for your nice comment, Lysus!

I used the prolonged weekend (public holiday on Friday) and found some time for the workbench.

I started reworking the wheels by adding the valve covers.

I also enjoyed some masking upon preparation for the fuselage preshading and started working on the preshading on the wings.

After a lot of filling and sanding on the undercarriage I is almost ready for painting, only a few minor corrections will be necessary.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Wed Nov 29, 2017 5:32 am

At the end of the day I am glad I decided to rework the preshading and oil soaking on the fuselage and wheels, yesterday I finished the new version and I like it better than the previous one.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Wed Nov 29, 2017 6:27 am

Great stuff,keep posting your progress

Post by **Lysus** » Thu Nov 30, 2017 6:37 pm

Really great stuff...

Post by **ondra** » Thu Dec 07, 2017 6:41 am

Many thanks for your generous comments, I am really honoured, guys!

This is where I stand now, the parts got a coat of Drooling Bulldog Greyish green for the wings and Unbleached Linen for the fuselage and tail. The preshading is actually more visible than on the photos. Will see what it will look like after oil paints. The oil soaking will definitely need emphasizing by means of what I call "intershading".

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sat Dec 09, 2017 4:11 pm

Continuing slowly with the painting, I airbrushed the first layer of the oil soaking, which I would like to fine tune with oil paints later.

I also started working on the insignia, placing the masks aligned correctly was rather tough...

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:46 pm

Today I continued on the fuselage, tail and wheels and added fading using oil paints.

I also moved on with the iron crosses, some touch ups will be needed, but all in all they look acceptable.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **TommyKillander** » Sun Dec 10, 2017 9:45 pm

Amazing stuff !

Tommy

Post by **ondra** » Mon Dec 11, 2017 5:58 am

Many thanks for your generous comment, Tommy!

Last evening I placed the serial numbers into position, this was my first experience with HGW Wet Transfer stencils and it really is a great stuff, lightyears ahead of classical decals.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Sun Dec 17, 2017 10:43 am

Today's workbench session was mainly about soldering, I reworked the undercarriage as I realized I was not able to paint it properly with the wooden panels assembled.

And I also created the rest of soldered parts I will need.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Wed Dec 27, 2017 11:05 am

The small parts are assembled and ready for primer and paint, I will use the greyish green by Drooling Bulldog. The tubes on the tailplane can not be airbrushed (well, at least I have not found a reasonable way to mask the rest), so I will have to use a paintbrush. Fortunately these paints can be paintbrushed too.

The wheels are almost finished, next up will be only varnish, wash and some pigments.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **ondra** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:39 am

Today is mainly about small parts, gluing the wooden parts to the undercarriage was not the most enjoyable part of the build, but with 5 min. epoxy it was eventually not as difficult.

I will have to add 10 metal stripes holding the parts together as on the original, so I started training on the tail skid.

I also added a few details and gunsight on the machine gun, now it is ready for painting and wash.

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Dec 28, 2017 8:51 pm

Wow
My eyes are straining just looking at photos, I cannot fathom working in this scale

Post by **ondra** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:04 pm

Many thanks for your nice comment, Scott!

Ok, I have all parts ready for final steps (wash, fading, a few details on the undercarriage etc.).

I started fine tuning the oil soaking on the fuselage:

Cheers

Ondra

Post by **TommyKillander** » Fri Dec 29, 2017 5:13 pm

Amazing!

Tommy

Post by **ondra** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 11:18 am

Many thanks for following and for your kind comment, Tommy!

I decided to add a bit of oil soaking to the wing roots, as it was visible on some Eindeckers.

A bit of oil staining was also added beneath the engine.

I also started working on the base and some accessories. As I am no good with terrain etc., all comments and critique are warmly welcome. This is the very initial stage, so I can change a lot.

Cheers and all the best in the new year to all forumites!

Ondra

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:21 pm

I see nothing to improve on the base.
The grass and dirt areas look spectacularly realistic to my eye

A couple posts back you were soldering joints up for the undercarriage....is that white tac you used to stabilize the little rods???

All the best to you and yours in 2018...Happy New Year