1:32nd scale Roland D.VIa

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
I'm now starting on the 'Wingnut Wings' 1:32 scale model of the Roland D.VIa fighter.
This aircraft was unusual in that its fuselage had a fuselage clad in overlapping plywood planks, known as ’lapstrake’, which was similar to that used on clinker built boats.
This proved to be as strong, but lighter than existing constructions methods provided, which was an important factor for a fighter aircraft.
Also the lower wings were located under, not into, the lower fuselage.

 

It's the Roland D.VIa, Serial No: 3615/18 during 1918 (Jasta unknown).
 

Mike

 

Edited February 18, 2021 by sandbagger
Different aircraft

[Alex]

Cool!  Love to see unique/off the beaten path aircraft get built here.

[Daywalker]

One of my favorite WWI aircraft, and really looking forward to seeing your take on this!

[overcast]

Perfect Nick,

 

thats the one I want to use for my final Roland DVa kit. I hope you will have a very good .pdf instruction in the end. Will you make masks?

 

Have fun and stay save

 

Best Wishes

 

Kai 

[sandbagger]

Thanks.

 

Kai - I've replied to your email 

 

Mike

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
A few updates.
I'm working on the fuselage internals and the engine.
The fuselage halves were two-tone, as were the cockpit side frames.
The engine bearer frame was a single colour.
As I normally do, the slight weathering effect was done using the 'Flory Models' dark dirt clay wash.
The rudder, elevator and ailerons control lines were added using 0.08 mm diameter mono-filament and blackened 0.4 mm diameter tubes.
Other detail, such as pipes, seat harness etc will be added after the cockpit assembly is built and before closing up the fuselage.

 

The next stage, after completing the engine is to assemble the fuselage,

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

Here's the engine.
As most of the engine won't be seen, it's just the basic engine with the addition of ignition leads and the pipe at the front cylinder.
The replacement exhaust pipe is from 'ReXx',

Mike

 

 

 

 

Edited February 11, 2021 by sandbagger

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
Just a quick update.
The cockpit structure is now complete and ready to be fitted into the closed up fuselage.
I had to sand the outer surface of the two cockpit side frames and cockpit frames quite a bit, as for some reason the fuselage wouldn't close up fully with the cockpit test fitted.
I know tolerances are tight, especially on WNW kits so I made sure there was no paint etc on any mating faces.
Even so the gap at the underside seam of the fuselage was large, indicating something wasn't fitted correctly.
Everything look correct so I'm not sure where the obstruction was - probably around the fuel tank area.

 

Anyway, it's sorted and ready to move onto closing up the fuselage,

 

Mike

 

[Uncarina]

Looking good as always! Building those WNW kits is like assembling a Swiss watch.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The fuselage is now closed up with the cockpit front decking panel fitted.
I'm replacing the kit supplied machine guns with resin equivalent weapons from 'GasPatch'.
These needed to be modified slightly so that would fit down and into the weapon slots in the front decking panel.
This required the removal of the front mounting and synchronizing cable from the underside of the breech blocks.
In addition the lower part of the cocking mechanism on the right side of the left weapon was removed.

 

Now it's onto preparing the fuselage for the application of the 'ProperPlane' wood effect decal set for this aircraft,

 

Mike

 

 

[Bobs Buckles]

Lovely work, Mike. 

Keep going!

 

vB 

[geedubelyer]

Those ReXx exhausts are something else and fit right in with the work you're doing Mike. 

Lovely stuff as usual

[rsanz]

Great progress and its all looking good. Just a couple of things in case you're concerned with accuracy. Despite the profile art, Schape's Jasta 33 Roland D.VI was a D.VIb (not a D.VIa), the fuselage was not unpainted clear varnished wood and the marking was some sort of lightning bolt and not an elaborate arrow.

 

Unfortunately this is the only known photo of Schape's Roland D.VIb and it just doesn't show enough of the fuselage to confirm the marking, other than to rule out the arrow that Dan-San Abbot designed for it. Hopefully a new image will show up one day and enlighten us all.

 

http://www.wingnutwings.com/ww/productdetail?productid=3107&cat=1

[Rockie Yarwood]

Beautiful work, Mike. 

[Troy Molitor]

I certainly agree.  Another beautiful build going on here.  The Rexx exhaust stacks do look amazing.  

[sandbagger]

Hi all,
The wood effect decals with 'scarf' joint plywood joints (from 'ProperPlane') are now done.
These are probably the most difficult decals I've applied.
The 'scarf' joint strips and the fin, rudder and lower wing fairing were tricky, but the fuselage decals were something else.
They are four separate fuselage long single decals.
Not 'cookie' cut and with no marking or transparent areas for the fuselage raised details, such as access panels, pulleys and fittings.
Cutting these into sections was not really feasible as any slight overlap of the decal joins would show up as dark (double thickness of the decal.
Therefore when you lay down the decal, it rest on top of all the raised detail, like one pole holding up a tent.
This causes wrinkles and fold over of the decals.
I eventually worked around the problem but not without a few tears (patched) and wrinkles (fortunately on the underside), but these are certainly not for the less experienced modeler.

 

The decals are similar to those from 'Aviattic' in transparecy, but are not as strong.

They were laid onto a base coat of 'Tamiya' Dark Yellow (XF59) to darken the effect.

Next up is creating the masks for painting the large yellow arrow marking along the sides of the fuselage, which of course will cover a lot of the decals,

 

Mike