1/72 Airfix Fokker EIII Eindecker

[Panzergrau]

Welcome to my first group build on ISM!

[Twokidsnosleep]

You sir are a Dirty tease

[pourquoi61]

Indeed he is.
My entry will be in the post to me tomorrow, with some luck.

[Quax]

Error 404 entry not found
Paul

[barrythornton]

Hell of a camouflage

[Panzergrau]

@Twokidsnosleep , @pourquoi61 , @Quax and @barrythornton : Sorry, guys, I had no intention to be a trickster! I had difficulties in finding the thread into the forum, and when I found it I opened the blog right away, with the clear intention to start the introduction... but as we all know, we never have enough time in front of the computer and especially at the modeling table
I managed to re-open the campaign thread only now, just to see I had already 50 views! I cannot hold it any longer without crossing the limits of the common sense and here is my first update:

UPDATE
To begin with, I will like to take together a quick tour of the box, because Is my first ever WWI aircraft and I am afraid I bite more than I can chew Definitely I will need the help and advice of the more experienced guys with this build, if somebody out there has the generosity to lend some help to a noob like me.

Attractive computer graphics on the box - rather small, side opening box (when they are going to listen to us?)


The back of the box is also the color guide, with the numbers for Humbrols but thankfully Airfix included this time and the color description. A marking option is offered straight out of the box - but for me is as good as any other - my knowledge is virtually zero in this particular matter. This aircraft reportedly was flown by Ernst Udet in France, March, 1916.


The first page of the instructions manual is a short operational history of the aircraft, in several languages (sorry for the bad focus):


Here is a taste of the instructions, nicely rendered in 3D effect and color:


The last page is a well detailed rigging diagram - I'm at the border of a panic attack just looking at it :


The decals are printed by Cartograf. Cartograf and I are good friends and at least I have something to give me some moral support


This is the whole content in plastic of the box: two sprues packed together - neatly this time (so there is some progress eventually by Airfix in this regard)


The two sprues out of their plastic bag:


Frame B and some detail from it:




Frame A and some details:










As first impression, I find it a little short of Tamiya quality but nonetheless impressive, especially considering the price. In other words, in its price range it might be one of the best kits out there...

I am very eager to start this build but I have still have to clear my bench first from at least one of the two parallel builds I am into right now:
my Mack DM600


and my Stuka


By the way the things are going right now, I really hope the Stuka will fly away from the modelling table before the week-end ends.

I promise you another update soon because I really feel ashamed by my lack of knowledge regarding the aircraft. When I gather some information, I will be more than happy to share it with you!

Thank you very much for following!

Cheers!
Gabriel

[Twokidsnosleep]

Just hassling ya buddy.....a sign of acceptance
Good choice of build

[barrythornton]

Tricky subject . Easy to pick this plane as `I dont want to deal with a bi-plane`. But, theres quite a bit of wire to add, above and below the wing.
Are the wings pre-drilled for positioning the rigging ?
Your skills will carry this build.

[pourquoi61]

Just a little fun, and my model has turned up and is on the site. Alas I will not start it until my return from my holiday.
Glad to see you in on this one.

[gaz45]

Nice choice mate

[digger303]

It's a nice subject you have picked, it really portrays the theme of the air war in WW1. As in being seen as a new way to wage war in these flimsy machines, face to the wind and one on one almost spitting each other in the eye or leaning out to take a last shot with a pistol as your opponent drifts by.

[Panzergrau]

@gaz45 Thanks, mate! Well, it's a relatively new kit and I am a relatively new aircraft modeler so there is some fun to be expected Thanks for visiting the thread!

@digger303 That's a vivid image you evoked there! Indeed, the Eindecker was the first dedicated fighter and took the counterparts by surprise, commencing the period known as "Fokker scourge" over the trenches of the Western Front.

"Fun facts" about EIndecker:
As said earlier, I started digging for some information about the aircraft and here are some "fun facts" about Fokker Eindecker:

It started as a private venture of Anthony Fokker, who equipped a scout aircraft produced in-house, but of French descent, with the gear interrupter, firstly connected to the oil pump camshaft (!). He drove the prototype hooked behind his personal automobile (I couldn't find what kind of auto Fokker had, but that will be a cracking subject for a vignette/diorama) to presented to the German High Command.

The first aircraft to be "weaponized" for the Kaiser's Army, was also private, and belonged to Oberleutnant von Buttlar who bough it in 1913. Upon the beginning of the war, von Buttlar was drafted with his aircraft with, the machine was modified by Fokker and allotted to Leutnant Otto Parschau, whom von Buttlar befriended in the Army.

Although the "most advanced" fighter aircraft of its time (the very first dedicated fighter actually), the machine had woeful flying characteristics, especially the roll and the centrifugal forces were "the enemies" of the greenhorns. The engine was gravity feed from a secondary tank which needed to be filled by means of a manual action pump by the pilot, sometimes as often as eight times an hour(!) (go figure how busy the pilot must have been to keep the carpet flying, let alone fighting).

The first machine guns were completely unreliable and the interrupter mechanism was all to happy to jam them. The advent of Spandau machine guns and the re-location on the interrupter gear have partially solved the problem. To overcome the shortcoming, Fokker added the second Spandau and even tried the third one. The last setting just wasn't feasible, but the latest EIIIs were delivered with a pair of machine-guns.

Despite the misleading name, Eindecker EIV it is not related to EIII - they are different aircrafts!

That is for now, guys - meanwhile I am doing some progress with my other builds and reading my documentation on Fokkers. I'll keep you posted and, hopefully, entertained.

Cheers!
Gabriel

[digger303]

You surely are !

[Panzergrau]

Thank you, guys for support!

This time no more "tricks"! I'm stepping into the fray!

The first 2 1/2 steps completed and I reach to a halt. I need to do something about the rudder pedals, about the yoke and about the seat belts! Not really the "blitz" build I was hoping for...


Under magnification I was able to see some minute seam lines which I later removed.

This thing is really small. For comparison, next to a Tamiya extra thin bottle. No, there's not a gallon bottle!


I'm going to add next the rudder pedals axle and some primer. I need to paint the seat and add the belts... I'm still guessing!

Side note: the Wingnut Wings instructions on their Eindecker EII are much better documented and detailed than the Airfix ones and I'm going to "steal" from there.

Cheers!
Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

I couldn't live with the paddle for yoke from the kit and I scratch build one:


I glued it in place before I lose it


From the cycle "nothing goes to waste, everything transforms", the former yoke, decapitated and truncated, has become the new fuel tank pressurizing pump:


The "pump" glued in its place - the "fuel line still" not attached because I'm not sure yet how it's going to interfere with the rest of the cockpit:


I went ahead already and primed a few parts - more updates soon:
Thanks for following!
Cheers!
Gabriel

[Twokidsnosleep]

Great mods buddy
Coming along nicely

[Panzergrau]

@Twokidsnosleep Thank you, sir! I am quite fortunate that all the cables are passing inside the wall frames and the interior of the real aircraft was pretty much barren...

I primed the interior and a few extra parts (propeller, seat, rudder) with Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 airbrushed thru my H&S Infinity .15mm@20psi:



Now let me see how I'm gonna paint those little things!

Cheers!
Gabriel

[Tomcat64]

Great to see you underway

Love the way you've rejigged the rejected control column into the fuel pump!

[Panzergrau]

Thank you, @Tomcat64 ! Welcome aboard! Coincidentally, the foot of the yoke was about the right diameter and size. Time saving solution!

Cheers!
Gabriel

[pourquoi61]

Looking like you are going to smash this kit into submission.

[Panzergrau]

@pourquoi61 I certainly hope so! I hate them seventy-twos It's been rather submissive so far - I can't complain. The biggest fear still remains: the rigging. I couldn't source in time something like Uschi and I have to go for stretched sprue or for synthetic hair... all the meshes I found yet are curly I keep looking for a solution!

UPDATE

I promise myself that I'm done with the scratch-building for this kit, but I couldn't help myself and added the connector rod between the rudder actuators and the tension mechanism:


I have sprayed the "wood" base with a mix of Homefront craft acrylics thinned with X20A, using my Ginza HP-B airbrush .2mm@20psi.


Same went for the propeller. I'm waiting for it to dry before applying "machined wood effects" with oils:


The rudder was sprayed with white gloss Rust-oleum enamel. Once dry and cured, it will be ready for applying the decals:


The pilot seat was painted with "leather brown" which I mixed myself from brown and red acrylics. I need to scratch some belts, since the kit does not provide them not even as decals:


Next steps will be detailing all the interior and adding the belts to the seat.

Thanks for following!
Cheers!
Gabriel

[pourquoi61]

A great mix of colours on that seat, you could save some and use it on the propeller?

[Panzergrau]

@pourquoi61 , thank you! Yes, I could have used the red-brown for detailing the propeller but it never crossed my mind since I had already made my plan to use oils for that purpose...

Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

I have mixed the "slate gray" recommended by Airfix. I've seen most of the modellers are actually using RLM02 out of convenience (the paint color is, indeed, very similar). In my case, I mixed it myself, using an older "bronze green" from my own distillery, ultramarine blue for black and white:


I ended up using acrylics (wet on wet technique + wash) for the propeller, and not oil paints as announced earlier:


Even #0 brushes are too big for the job!


WnW site calls for red primer for the fuel tank pressurizing pump and I have followed their advice:


The inferior parts of the cockpit detailed - the upper parts not even assembled yet :


However much I wanted to stay away of it, I couldn't avoid the use of enamels because the silver acrylic I have worth nothing. Can somebody recommend me a good silver acrylic (no Tamiya, please). Now I have to apply an acrylic clear coat before washes!

Thank you for following - more updates in the making!
Cheers!
Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

quick UPDATE

The (primer) red color on the pressurizing pump was wrong after all. Corrected it with "brass".



Gabriel :-H

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

I start dealing with the other details in the cockpit / engine area.
The front fuel tank, the instrument panel and the firewall assembled and primed:


The engine primed with Krylon black gloss enamel:


The seat harness made from Tamiya masking tape and steel wire (florist's wire):


The belts primed with Tamiya Surface Primer to add some texture and as preparation for painting with acrylics:


For its size, the engine has some nice detail:


Engine sprayed with Alclad II polished aluminum, followed by Alclad Aqua Gloss


Belts added to the seat:



The seat installed in its place:


An oil wash follows and closing the fuselage.

More updates in the making!
Cheers!
Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

I couldn't live with those huge (2mm) belt buckles and I made new ones from thinner copper wire. I chose the less invasive method of undoing the belts at the ends, extracting the old oversized buckles and inserting new ones, more appropriate to the scale:


I rushed then to close the fuselage before I do something stupid again. The task wasn't as easy as it seems. The lower third was a little warped and the locator pins where the halves intersect the horizontal plane were a little off, and I still have a small step left between the sides on the dorsal flat surface (easy to address hopefully):


More updates follow!
Cheers!
Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

The firewall and the front part of cockpit installed. The fit is excellent - Tamiya tape is there just "to make sure":


An oil wash applied over the engine, the detailed with Model Master Metallic Gold enamel:


Size comparison with 1 Euro coin:


Engine - propeller - firewall mock-up. I didn't like the look of the propeller and applied another home-brewed acrylic wash (no pictures yet):


Stay tuned!
More updates soon!

Cheers!
Gabriel

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

UPDATE

I was saying in a previous post that the fit between fuselage halves gave me a step. I highlighted the joint with a black marker:


... and then sanded with nail buffers and sanding sponges until the line disappeared (almost) completely:


I also attached the Spandau machine gun and replaced the "muzzle" with stretched tube:


Thanks for following!
More updates in the making!

Cheers!
Gabriel

[pourquoi61]

You are right about the buckles and the build is looking mighty fine.

[Panzergrau]

Hi, guys!

Small UPDATE
I've been busy cleaning my bench of unfinished builds - most notable the annoying Mack DM600 and now I'll try to carry on with this build. I primed the fuselage with Krylon gloss black as a first step before Alclad II Aircraft Airframe, but in my haste I forgot to mask and spray the wing grilles , so I have only the metallic cowling ready for now:


Cheers!
Gabriel

[Tomcat64]

Just been doing some catching up - stunning work cramming all the extra details into such a small space.

[Panzergrau]

Tank you, @Tomcat64 !
Well, not much it will be visible, but I never miss the chance to practice

Thank you for stopping by!

Gabriel