Eduard focker D VII 1/48

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:16 am

Now I was hoping to get one of my wingnuts kits started first but I really needed to stop some other builds push them to one side and get started on a WW1 build.
Looking up from my bench after the good clear down I saw the eduard dawn patrol box, and it just called to me. I have the art work on my cave wall and the two planes look great flying together. The bright red and white focker and the camo spad with its markings down the side.

So for the first build from the dual combo box I chouse the focker. A few reasons for this, it’s got good colour which is quite straight, single coulor no mixed camo, the lozenge under the wing surfaces and the small amount of rigging.
The kits in the box are what would normally be known as profi pack, so you get photo etch and masks where needed.

Build up starts with the interior. All the parts are on the small side as these planes in 1/48 are not big, they definitely are better in 1/32 it makes the build a little stronger. The seat and cockpit parts are first to be removed and built, most parts need painting separately from each other Because of the difference in materials used. Also at this point I built up the engine. I was going to worry about painting all the individual colours if it but you only see the valve rockers once built, so black and dry brushing is all it will get. I also skipped ahead and got the lower wing sections glued together.
So thats it for tonight. Back in with it tomorrow and hope for some solid progress as I have a couple of these smaller ones I would love to get built

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:35 am

Excellent kit choice Mr Tim and wonderful to see you posting into the forum

Will follow along for sure

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 6:43 am

Scott

Well as I was one of the people that suggested this build and then voted for it I felt a slight responsibility too take part. Well that’s my excuse to push every thing too one side and take part

Post by **gaz45** » Mon Sep 10, 2018 10:53 am

Nice choice there mate

Post by **Timplastic** » Tue Sep 11, 2018 7:39 am

So not a biggest step forward last night but all the interior and little bits are done so it can be painted and start getting it joined up.
Most work last night was removing the moulded on exterior panels and sticking the etch panels. The vents needed pushing out with a biro which is easy enough. Removing the original panels was more tricky and took a little longer. Scrapping away the panels and then a light sanding using Ultimate thiny sticks. The panels where then stuck down using gator glue, great stuff very strong type of white glue. Last bit done was getting the exhausts drilled out
So today plan get some little bits painted

Cheers for looking

Post by **Timplastic** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 12:14 am

Onwards we move

I must say it’s nice to be back building, enjoying it and not dreading coming up. It’s been quite a long time and so glad to have the want back

So tonight’s progress has been getting the interior parts painted to get the fuselage built up tomorrow. It’s fsitly sparse and not huge amounts of detail and seeing as the opening is quiet small I’m not overly worried about adding any extra detail than the kit already has. As I have said earlier the engine is hardly seen so black primer was applied and then dry brushing. Ow and when I was applying the primer I was wondering why it was not drying, well it was drying, I had grabbed the gloss instead, ow silly me. Any way it did not really make to much difference. The ammo box was fully dry brushed using gunze buffable stainless. I saw this being applied in this manor in a vid and it works really really well. The wooden floor was painted a mix of flesh and brown then a really scraggy old brush was used with a little brown paint on its bristles to simulate wood grain and then a thin layer of tamiya clear orange.
The fuselage was spayed it’s sail colour but darkened with some grey to show some dirt and use.
So with all that done some items will get a coat of matte varnish and then the etch added and it all built up

Cheers for looking

Post by **Tomcat64** » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:31 pm

Nice work Tim - great to see you back building again

Really looking forward to seeing how this all comes together.

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:52 pm

So all of the little bits are done

So I started glueing it all in. Getting everything lined up and correct placement was difficult, it needed a fair times lining it up and some trimming but it’s ready for closing up. Sticking the seat on and getting the belts done was a tricky procedure

The dials where another item that needed fixing in a different way than the instructions showed as lining it up with the two halves was being a pain

So the two halves test fitted the fuselage will be joined and glued tomorrow

Thanks for looking

Post by **digger303** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 12:45 am

Only just caught this build and I must say it's looking very nice

Post by **SEBa111** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 1:43 am

Very nice detail if I have to say. Also, take care of that Finger

Post by **Timplastic** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 6:37 am

Cheers digger
Still long way to go, so lots to see

Thanks for the concern Seb

Yeah fairly good detail. Compared to the 1/32 of this kit it’s quiet lacking but it’s enough for 1/48

Post by **gaz45** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 10:32 am

Awesome work there mate

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Tue Sep 18, 2018 5:52 pm

Great cockpit Tim, nice to see your work on here
Good progress

Post by **Timplastic** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:30 am

Little bit done tonight. Not much more than just getting the two half’s stuck together. Going to let it dry over night so it’s good for sanding. Made sure there was nothing else to stick together so after this it’s just the wings and lots of little bits too paint and I mean lots.

One item that was on the build list was the kit spandau guns. The plastic kit items are not great, they could pass as guns but aren’t really cutting it. Now in the instructions it says too cut the barrel section off and replace with photo etch. Now it’s not impossible but would be a right fiddle. Now I wasn’t plannning on using anything but the kit but.....I’m a sucker for a bit of resin. Went and looked on gas patch and found the perfect replacement guns and at €10 posted I thought this a good price for the detail. I will do a proper comparison pictures once they arrive so we can see if they are that much better, I’m quite positive they will be u huge step up

Cheers for looking

Post by **digger303** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:44 am

Timplastic wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2018 12:30 am Little bit done tonight. Not much more than just getting the two half’s stuck together. Going to let it dry over night so it’s good for sanding. Made sure there was nothing else to stick together so after this it’s just the wings and lots of little bits too paint and I mean lots.

One item that was on the build list was the kit spandau guns. The plastic kit items are not great, they could pass as guns but aren’t really cutting it. Now in the instructions it says too cut the barrel section off and replace with photo etch. Now it’s not impossible but would be a right fiddle. Now I wasn’t plannning on using anything but the kit but.....I’m a sucker for a bit of resin. Went and looked on gas patch and found the perfect replacement guns and at €10 posted I thought this a good price for the detail. I will do a proper comparison pictures once they arrive so we can see if they are that much better, I’m quite positive they will be u huge step up

Cheers for looking

And you get a spare gun....

Post by **Timplastic** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:01 am

No spares
This has two guns on top and in front of the cockpit

Post by **digger303** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:49 am

silly me

Post by **pourquoi61** » Wed Sep 19, 2018 9:38 pm

Great work so far.

Post by **Timplastic** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:18 am

Cheers guys

Tonight I got the seams all cleaned and filled where needed. The lower wings are now stuck in place and square to the fuselage. I had to too check it with a small engineers square as there was quite a lot of room for movement in placing the wings so care needs taking at this point if you build this up.

The rear tail went on simply enough it needs too all dry before the rudder goes on.

One area I did give a little attention to was the leather ring around the entrance to the cockpit. It’s moulded in place and it was just blending in with the fuselage. So to correct this I ran my tamiya knife around the join to the fuselage thus creating a better demarcation between the fuselage and leather. It was also lacking in texture so I used azuzu tape around it and applied mr surfacer with a brush, this left enough texture with out being to rough. I hope this will show after the primer and paint is down

Tomorrow (Thursday) is model club and we have a new building too use which we hope will have much better lighting than our last place. Next time this will be worked on is on the Friday live show

Thanks for looking see you on the show

Post by **chief5437** » Thu Sep 20, 2018 4:16 pm

This is looking really good so far, nice work bud!

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Fri Sep 21, 2018 11:09 am

How have I missed this

Some superb work going on here mate

Post by **Tomcat64** » Fri Sep 21, 2018 1:16 pm

Nice progress Tim - that cockpit looks superb.

Post by **Timplastic** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 1:03 am

Wellcome along KEV
All late comers are Wellcome

Chief, Neil thank you

With Friday night build show on tonight I got some of the little details on and glued. I’m always a little worried about these parts as they are easy too knock off during painting, so fingers crossed nothing gets knocked off.

The tail support, tail skid, lifting rings and the control surface levers are all on the tail

The front wheel mounting thingy (no idea what it’s called) is on and drying over night.

I hope that stays square till the morning

Next step is the decision of, do I stick the top wing supports on to the lower wings ? It will help give the struts a strong area to be sprayed from but it may get in the way a little when it comes to spraying decisions decisions. Will sleep on it

Cheers for looking

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:17 am

Looking great Tim, love those little detail additions

I personally would put on the wing spars, allow the upper wing to dry fit to them while the cement is setting
Then off with the top wing and you can spray everything knowing the upper wing should just fit straight back to place
Many ways to skin the cat though

Post by **Timplastic** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:37 am

Cheers Scott
I’m thinking that the struts on now is best idea. The main reason glueing painted parts is never great. If the glueing area is on the upper wing if there is any issue it won’t be so easy to be seen. The luck in this kit single colour no camo

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sat Sep 22, 2018 2:57 pm

Timplastic wrote: Sat Sep 22, 2018 8:37 am Cheers Scott
I’m thinking that the struts on now is best idea. The main reason glueing painted parts is never great. If the glueing area is on the upper wing if there is any issue it won’t be so easy to be seen. The luck in this kit single colour no camo

Pure logical mate

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:07 am

Well that was a weekend which ended at the point I had hoped for.
I got all the struts stuck in place which wasn’t as bad as I had first thought. The front V wasn’t a great fitting but it’s liveable.

The top wing drops on no problem so that’s me happy with that. I got all the bits ready for primer then looking at the fuselage the front nose locating tabs just looked awful, they didn’t line up and just looked like a bit of bad moulding. So they got sanded off and some spare photoetch was put in its place

So that was it get out the paint....ow no hadn’t covered all the openings

Now am I ready ?
Yes
Yes
Yes
Out came the trusty and ever dependable Ultimate grey primer and the Ultimate apex. Now what did I forget ? Well that would be too leave my spray booth on for a while before painting so it let the dust settle, so with that being forgotten I got a fair bit of dust in the primer. Well once it was I spotted a couple of seam lines that need some attention so it looks like a careful delicate job on Monday

Hope you all had a great weekend, let’s hope for a good week

Ow and I purchased another kit perfect for the WW1 build. The colours it is just had to be done, and at £19 delivered can’t say no

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:36 am

Excellent progress Tim

Was hoping the supports on before primer would work...thanks for testing that out for me

I never have thought about running the hood for a bit before starting to decrease the dust levels...just learned something new

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:10 am

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:36 am Excellent progress Tim
Was hoping the supports on before primer would work...thanks for testing that out for me

I never have thought about running the hood for a bit before starting to decrease the dust levels...just learned something new

I'm learning something new.

Cause I would have glued it all up and also how to convince someone else to try it first

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:37 am

So I’m your gueney pig

And I thought you guys liked me

It really helped with the shape of the spars as they have the shape and strength. Now when it comes to those single spar wings it’s going to be more tricky but it’s defo a good way to deal with this problem. Now I think I need to name this process mmmmm will ponder on that
Cheers guys

Post by **Tomcat64** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 1:19 pm

Superb work Tim - two tips for the price of one from the guinea pig testing division

Post by **Nev** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:03 pm

Looking tidy there! And paving the way for the rest of us to follow

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 4:36 pm

Well I was very happily shocked to get the gaspatch gun today. That was super fast dispatch from Greece and I will be happily buying direct from them again and they are well worth the money

I will get some good comparison pics tonight

Happy to help Nev

Post by **Timplastic** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:20 pm

Got up to the room so I could get some comparison photos

At the top is the resin gaspatch: bullet belt, gun barrel, cooling jacket and breach
Eduard plastic machine gun
Eduard photoetch to replace the plastic item.

Instructions to show how to replace kit barrel.

The two guns you get and the painting instructions upplied

So how do they measure up?
Size wise the resin item is longer than the plastic part. Now I have checked the guns length on wiki and the resin one measures up to the correct length. The plastic item is a fare bit smaller. The detail on the breach is just fantastic along with the hollow cooling jacket this is worlds past from the kit item and well worth getting. It was around £10 posted and got here in 4 days inc weekend so very happy with the company

Hope this has convinced to spend some money and get some for your build

Post by **digger303** » Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:57 pm

Fabulous looking guns

Post by **gaz45** » Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:43 pm

Looking great there mate

Post by **Timplastic** » Sat Sep 29, 2018 9:23 am

With remembering that I have not always found red and white paint the easiest, let’s staring painting the red and white plane.
After dealing with the slight dip in the top edge I started laying down Ultimate white primer. As always with this primer, shake it shake it shake it. The better mixed the better, the pigments like to settle. One big advantage was I have already laid down the grey primer so this made lay the white down much easier.

Only the tail and nose needed white.
I taped up the where the red and white are separated

As you may have noticed I have not sprayed the complete plane. The reason for this is, I want to apply the lozenge and then spray over the edge so it looks correct.
The Eduard order page for laying down the decals confused at first but after a few minutes staring, I had it. Now I had thought that the lozenge would all match up to one big pattern but that was not right. The wing material is made of several different pieces of material and did not line up

So I started by laying down I and K then laid down the centre piece which only just fitted

And if you want a great guide to laying decals not just car decals, Paul’s vid is superb.

So today more decals

Post by **Timplastic** » Sat Sep 29, 2018 4:07 pm

I’m keeping the forward motion going
So all the decals done. It also needed rib tape added which was tricky to get in line with the ribs. Lower wings done now on to the upper wing

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Sep 30, 2018 12:53 am

Nice decals, and that gun looks great! Kutgw Tim

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Sep 30, 2018 2:19 am

Timplastic wrote: Mon Sep 24, 2018 7:37 am So I’m your gueney pig
And I thought you guys liked me

It really helped with the shape of the spars as they have the shape and strength. Now when it comes to those single spar wings it’s going to be more tricky but it’s defo a good way to deal with this problem. Now I think I need to name this process mmmmm will ponder on that
Cheers guys

Not a Guinea Pig, think of yourself as a fearless trailblazer, a leader, the font runner.....

This is how I will do my spars and Wings, you just got there first

Lovely decals and paint.
You look to be really enjoying this one

Post by **Timplastic** » Sun Sep 30, 2018 10:00 am

Chief ,Scott cheers guys and yes I’m really loving this build so far
Got a lot of work done on the decals yesterday. Paul’s vid and some very good strong decals have really helped get these done
I started doing the upper wings and I did not follow the Eduard decal order. Instead I stated from the out side and worked my way in following where they say the edges would end up as it was all correct for the lower wing. This was not the case for the upper wing

I got to the last two sections (there not on yet in this pic) and there was 5mm gap

So what I needed to do was pull every decal back up and slide them along. Now luckily the I had only applied the first solution and had not been done too long so I could get them lifted. With all that done the centre just fitted on. There wasn’t much room for miss aligning and no spare decals supplied so if it goes wrong ya screwed
A little word on the lozenge decals. They ever so slightly out of register. If I was putting these on the upper wings I would have looked at getting new ones but for under the wings these will do fine.
I will be adding the rib tape later today for the upper wing

Post by **Timplastic** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 11:14 am

Not had the most amount of time over the last few days but I have got the wings fully decaled and a layer of Alclad aqua gloss on to protect them from any miss haps that may happen when painting.
I took a couple of pics with the wing just in place so I could see how it will look

Post by **Tomcat64** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:46 pm

Lovely, tidy work Tim - just glad they provided decals for the lozenge pattern and didn't ask you to paint it.

Post by **Timplastic** » Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:54 pm

Ow man the thought of painting my own lozenge.

Quiet a few years ago there was a modeller that did his own painted lozenge on a 1/35 E100 tank, looked amazing but what a mission it was

Post by **Timplastic** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 11:20 am

Very glad to say I got a big step forward on the painting last night. With all the lozenge on I could stick the flaps in place and apply the red. Now the instructions call for gunze red which looked just far too bright so I went for a darker richer tone. This colour would then be easier to lighten. So for the rib detail I lightened the base colour with grey, thinned heavily with Ultimate I used my iwata b to paint the ribs. I’m in two minds if I mask the ribs and then darken the centre or just leave it as it is now. Will ponder on that

No masking was applied to the wing edge so was very happy to see no over spray

I applied another layer of white for the rear end as some of the grey was showing threw and then put the German cross on the tail

So with all that done I can get the last decals, the ducks on and do some weathering

Stash · Post by **bfrd** » Fri Oct 05, 2018 4:28 pm

Looking great, Tim. I admire your bravery (and skill) on not masking that decal job!

Post by **Timplastic** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 12:55 am

Right so all the masks are off the last of the white paint, still got the black radiator to paint The last of the decals added
Will put on some gloss to protect it all once dry.
I can then test for the guns and look at some weathering as the white is just too white right now

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 3:24 am

Fantastic

Post by **Tomcat64** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 4:25 pm

Yep - that's beautiful work.

Can I ask what mix of paint you finally used for the red please Tim?

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Sun Oct 07, 2018 5:51 pm

Timplastic wrote: Sun Oct 07, 2018 12:55 am Right so all the masks are off the last of the white paint, still got the black radiator to paint The last of the decals added
Will put on some gloss to protect it all once dry.
I can then test for the guns and look at some weathering as the white is just too white right now

Looking good mate, you've done a great job on the lozenge

are you going to rig?