Meng Fokker Dr.I

[Greif8]

I started what will probably be the final build before the road cycling season begins.  The majority of my aircraft builds focus either on unknown pilots or fairly minor aces; this will be a major exception as I plan to build what is very likely the best known aircraft of WWI - Manfred von Richthofen's iconic red triplane.  The major aftermarket item I'll be using is the Aviattic decals for the baron's red DR.I.  In addition to that I will using an HGW seatbelt, and a few Gaspatch anchor points.  I may also use the Gaspatch spandaus and a couple of other minor AM items, but I am undecided about those at this point.  Concurrently with building the aircraft I am going to put together and paint one of Model Cellar's von Richthofen figures, as well as trying my hand at the bust of the baron that came with the kit.  Should be an interesting journey.

 

The kit.

 

The aftermarket.

 

The Model Cellar figure already mostly assembled (not much to that) and primed.

 

and the bust, also primed and ready to paint.

 

I should have something to show by tomorrow!

 

Ernest

Edited February 18 by Greif8

[MikeMaben]

19 hours ago, Greif8 said:

                 ... I plan to build what is very likely the best known aircraft of WWI - Manfred von Richthofen's iconic red triplane. 

...and one of the coolest.  Have fun Ernest.  

[Greif8]

4 hours ago, MikeMaben said:

...and one of the coolest.  Have fun Ernest.  

 

Thanks Mike!  I am sure this will be a fun build for me.

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

The cockpit is about 85% complete.  I used a few Aeroscale bezel rings to add some color and interest to the three gauges which are Aviattic decals.  The wood grain is either Proper Plane decals (the floor and seat bottom) or painted.  The control lines and bracing wires are two gauges of elastic thread.  I should finish the cockpit fairly quickly once the oil paint I used for the leather part of the seat dries.

 

Ernest

 

3/4 view of part of the cockpit.  I also used the decal that came with the Aviattic set to replicate the machined look of the ammunition case. 

 

 

This shot shows the aileron cables.  I almost did not add them as they can't be seen when the model is finished and they are very fiddly to get positioned, 

but in the end gave into the inner voice whispering to just do it!

 

The compass looks a lot better with the Aviattic decal and Aeroscale bezel ring, though I think the actual ring was black not brass.  The Proper Plane wood

decal turned out well.  I brushed some thinned Tamiya clear orange onto it after it cured to bring out the different tones in the decal and to give it a slight

gloss look of varnished wood.

 

I painted the fuel tank a copper color first then over sprayed an olive drab mix I made to (hopefully) replicate what was called Erdgrau.  Some Fokker fuel

tanks were overpainted with that color.  I then buffed the surface in spots to get the copper to show through to show some wear.  Of course this will all be

covered up in the end.

 

The part that both supports the seat and is the rear of the cockpit was sprayed MRP Doped Linen varient one over black primer.  I then added the Aviattic

decal that gives the part a fabric look.  After the decal had cured I painted the frame a very dark grey to simulate black that had seen some use.  The eyelets

were painted brass and the ties a beige color.  I also touched up the wood area; the control lines will be threaded through the six holes when the time comes.

The part was then weathered with a light brown wash and some drybrushing.

 

The port side of the framing.

 

The seat showing the painting to simulate leather.  I painted two different colors of acrylic browns over the black primer in two light coats.  After that dried

I painted heavily thinned Burnt Sienna oil paint over that to give both a warm tone and a bit of lustre and highlighted that by blending a small amount of 

Golden Ochre into the high areas.  The paint is still fairly wet and should blend even better once it dries.

 

The Proper Plane decal on the seat bottom got the same treatment as the floor.  Once the oil paint has dried I'll blend the seam between the "wood" and 

"leather"

 

 

Edited February 19 by Greif8

[MikeMaben]

17 hours ago, Greif8 said:

                           ... but in the end gave into the inner voice whispering to just do it!

 

That guy gets around !  He's been at my house several times lately  

 

You're more of an artist than you let on Ern 

 

[Greif8]

On 2/20/2023 at 8:48 AM, MikeMaben said:

 

That guy gets around !  He's been at my house several times lately  

 

You're more of an artist than you let on Ern 

 

 

Thank you Mike!  Given how high the average skill sets are on this forum I am pretty modest when it comes to mine.

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

A double update today as I have finished both the cockpit and the engine.  Both went together well and I think they pretty accurately portray the  actual things.  Meng did a fine job here.

 

The leather effect looks decent now that the oil paint has dried.  It has the satin sheen of actual leather, and that is why I like using oil paint to simulate it.

 

Overall photo of the cockpit looking towards the port side.  The only things I added were an HGW seatbelt, the bracing wires and control lines, as well as the bevel rings on the three gauges that I mentioned previously.  The fit was excellent though care was taken joining the rear part of the cockpit assembly due to the rather fragile nature of the "tubing". 

 

Overall view looking starboard.

 

Overhead view.  The cockpit is very compact and uncomplicated.  I added a light brown wash to the seatbelts as they were pretty bright.  

 

A macro shot of something that will not be seen again after the fuselage is closed up.  A bit of a shame as both the wood grain and runs of the control lines look the part.

 

Macro of the seat and seatbelt.  Getting the seatbelt positioned was fiddly.  I had considered drapping it over the side of the fuselage, but the chest strap would have made draping it realistically problematic, so I chickened out and took the easy solution.

 

A final macro showing some of the control lines.  

 

Following are some photos of the engine which is built oob with the exception of adding ignition wires.

 

A poor photo of the base parts painted.  I decided to airbrush everything so masking took about 4 times as long as painting.  I opted not to paint the two parts at the top of the photo as they will be inserted into the aircraft and I did not want to chance fit issues.

 

The base colors are stainless steel and aluminium by Mr. Color and copper which is Tamiya.

 

I sprayed a base of gloss black and then oversprayed the Mr. Color stainless steel in a downwards manner to keep the gloss black showing in the recesses.  The fit was very good as well.

 

Not the best photo, but here is the completed engine.  The copper pipes took some work to get fit correctly but nothing dramatic.  You can make out the ignition wires that I made by cutting some very tiny copper wire to 11.5mm lengths and attaching them to the spark plugs and ignition ring.  I went ahead  and painted the spark plugs gloss white with a copper tip though you really can't see that unless you use magnifers.

 

Rearview of the completed engine.  I'll weather it later just before it is installed in the fuselage.

 

 

Edited February 22 by Greif8
Spelling

[tucohoward]

Very nicely done, Ernest! Excellent painting and weathering.

 

Jay

[Greif8]

Thank you Jay!

 

Ernest

[Borsos]

Great work on that classic, Ernst. I am keen on seeing more progress before you’ll ride away…

Regards,

Andreas

[Jim Barry]

Great to see. It is “The Fighter”. Also good to see (like me) that the bike comes first. I do love building though we just gotta stay fit. 

[Uncarina]

I’ll just insert this here then back away: https://www.velominati.com/

 

Exemplary build Ernest, and I’m taking notes for my Paul Bäumer build.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Greif8]

10 hours ago, Borsos said:

Great work on that classic, Ernst. I am keen on seeing more progress before you’ll ride away…

Regards,

Andreas

 

5 hours ago, Jim Barry said:

Great to see. It is “The Fighter”. Also good to see (like me) that the bike comes first. I do love building though we just gotta stay fit. 

 

4 hours ago, Uncarina said:

I’ll just insert this here then back away: https://www.velominati.com/

 

Exemplary build Ernest, and I’m taking notes for my Paul Bäumer build.

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

Thank gentlemen!  I thin I can complete the build prior to getting into riding heavily.  I do build during the riding season but don't take a lot of photos or do build threads as I want to maximize the limited time for modelling I have during the spring/summer months building models.  

 

Andreas, I will probably have several rides near your area, say within 20 kms.  I may be able to visit your modelling group in the Nürnberg/Erlangen area as well. 

 

Jim, like modelling I am no great shakes as a road cyclist.  I am not very fast and climb poorly, though I have been told that I am a decent sprinter.  I ride to stay fit and enjoy the scenery.  This year's goal is to match the 5K (that's kms not miles!) I managed to ride on the roads last year.

 

Tom, loved the Velominati article!  I had a couple of good laughs reading The List.  A Paul Bäumer build will be awesome to follow; are you planning to do the scheme that has the last third of the fuselage while with the white and black tail?

 

Ernest

 

[Jim Barry]

If you bike like you model, you’re doing great! 

[Uncarina]

6 hours ago, Greif8 said:

 

 

Tom, loved the Velominati article!  I had a couple of good laughs reading The List.  A Paul Bäumer build will be awesome to follow; are you planning to do the scheme that has the last third of the fuselage while with the white and black tail?

 

Ernest

 

I knew you would appreciate it! It is the Way. And yes, I’m planning on that version, and have the masks and fabric decals ready. In the meantime, your build is inspiring!

 

Cheers,  Tom