World War One Whifs

[stevehed]

Can I ask, is this a general place to dump WW1 whifs or is it a gallery for your builds, Steve? 

At first, it was a gallery or build thread for my WW1 whifs. However, I don't have a problem with related subjects being aired. WW1 whifs are a rarity and most other builders have posted separately but I wouldn't object to other builders posting here.

[comrade harps]

Here's the full scale version. I did consider building it in 1/72 using plastic card and printed decals but decided against it.

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That looks like something the Russians would field as a drone counter measure in Ukraine today.

[PR19_Kit]

That looks like something the Russians would field as a drone counter measure in Ukraine today.

Don't give them ideas. 

[stevehed]

Back to the current build and, at least in my case, some slightly more achievable patterns. Progress so far has evolved around the application of lozenge. The fuselage internals are comprised of a floor, bulkheads, seats and crew. I'm going for a rounded nose cowling rather than the frontal radiator. Couple of layers of shaped 80thou card. The S-6 had a leading edge radiator which I think I'll go for instead. The lozenge has been tricky because of the thinness. It has a tendency to fold over but it adheres quickly and it pretty tough. I've not had many breakages at all. Got some old Esci Fokker DVII Balkan crosses which have been dowsed with decal fix. Fingers crossed but I've got some alternatives if they break up.

[Wardukw]

Dude that's looking great 👍
The totally insane part of me thinks that I could spray that sort of camo ..the not total insane part of me is telling the other part to piss off 🙃

[stevehed]

Dude that's looking great 👍
The totally insane part of me thinks that I could spray that sort of camo ..the not total insane part of me is telling the other part to piss off 🙃

Sooner you than me. I have once painted the plain lozenge sheets that came with the Revell Fokker DVII. Never again.

[Wardukw]

Dude that's looking great 👍
The totally insane part of me thinks that I could spray that sort of camo ..the not total insane part of me is telling the other part to piss off 🙃

Sooner you than me. I have once painted the plain lozenge sheets that came with the Revell Fokker DVII. Never again.

I have been thinking and as you guys are well aware that's never a good idea most of the time in our game and this idea and temptation are let's say...starting to take root 😀 😉
Now I'm thinking ..bad idea again...of how to go about doing it and there's very likely a very helpful cheat I can use if I could remember where I saw it .🤔

[stevehed]

Well, old Esci transfers have been given the same rating as old Novo, that is prone to disintegration. A dose of decal fix didn't help matters. Instead, I had to give a Revell DVII set a spell of sunbathing on the window ledge to get rid of the yellow tinge. Combined with some Eastern Express remnants, the beast has now been adorned with sufficient Balkan crosses.  Other additions include long exhaust pipes, spares from a Vimy kit. Better for night flying I thought and they look better too. I've trimmed the cabanes and only used the upper parts in conventional pattern. Had to deepen the location holes but otherwise fit well. Top wing lined up ok although I exchanged the aerilon struts for 20thou rod rather than the tree trunks provided. Had to trim the inverted V cabanes to fit, not the best but they are hidden, particularly the front set which I'm hoping to lose amongst the radiator pipework. Conventional undercarriage to replace the S-16 version. This apparently was based on designs intended for torpedo bombers. Presumably, the extra struts and the extra width between the legs was to carry extra weight. Also got the radiator made. Two pieces of 80 thou card with a grill scored with a sharp blade.

[NARSES2]

Coming along nicely 

[stevehed]

Many Thanks. Finished now. It's a lovely kit except for the inverted V cabanes. Had bother both times. Easier to chuck and replace. Here's the backstory and photos.

The reforms authorized by the AH Emperor gave greater autonomy to parts of the Empire. This encouraged increased investment in the war effort and one of the more successful enterprizes saw the new Czech parliament approve private involvement in the aircraft production/repair facilities in Prague. Initially building trainers and known simply as the Aircraft Factory, a design team was recruited which produced prototypes alongside the more mundane repair and construction of Hansa Brandenburg trainers. Renamed Letov, after the company's main investor, by mid 1918, the company had purchased the manufacturing equipment from RAPP, in Germany, to continue production of the 12 cylinder 350ho Austro-Daimler engine. RAPP had been struggling to meet demand for this motor and were now able to concentrate on the BMW engines desperately needed by German manufacturers. The A-D was needed by the KUK for HB flying boats and Letov was able to increase production by concentrating efforts on this single engine. They also had a design for a single engine day bomber. Fitted with the 350hp engine, this aircraft was capable of over 120mph and could carry at least 300kgs of bombs. Designated Letov S-3, it came at a time when AH bombing units were equipped with Gotha GIV's and HB C types. The modified Gothas had not performed as expected and were to be replaced by Friedrichshafen G111's in the night bombing role. The HB C's had taken on the role as Gotha numbers dwindled and were operating well at night.

The S-3 could be described as the AH equivalent of the Airco DH9a and came as as a surprise to the Italians. The types performance allowed dedicated escort flights to be created, operating alongside the bombers in similar fashion to the French escorts such as the Caudron R11 and Spad XI. Such aircraft initially sported a single synchronized mg and a Baby Coffin mg on the top wing. Later, twin synchronized mgs were installed. Defensive armament was a ring mounted free firing Schwarlose mg in the rear cockpit. Many aircraft sported lozenge but others flew with two shades of grey, particularly on the Isonzo Front in the north of Italy.

Changes to the basic kit include the replacement of the car type frontal radiator with a rounded cowling. The radiator is now a leading edge type, common with Germanic manufacturers at this time. I added six cylinder, long exhaust pipes, remnants from the Vimy. The undercarriage of the donor kit was apparently based on torpedo bombers of the period. It was substituted for a conventional version more suited to 1918-19. I used the kit gun ring in combination with a scratched Schwarlose mg. It was painted to represent a late war wooden gun ring. A couple of extra struts to support the radiator and thin rod for the pipework from the radiator. Crew from spares and the bombs are all KP. Wheels are Aeroclub white metal and more in taking with WW1 than the thicker 20's style that the kit provided. I added the kit night lights and the dynamo as I'm pretty sure these machines would have operated at night too. Lozenge as a whole wasn't a problem. I created a new aircraft code for Letov within the AH system. The highest RW I'm aware of was 101 for Thone and Fiala. My decal stash only allowed 106 to be made up so I now have additional leeway for future whiffs if I can find the right numbers.

[zenrat]

Thats nice.  Good job.
 

I know I say this every time you finish something but I REALLY must whiff some of my WW1 kits.

[stevehed]

Thanks Fred. I'll maintain tradition by wishing your endeavours well and look forward to seeing them 

[zenrat]

 

[PR19_Kit]

That looks superb, the 'two tone' lozenge camo works exceptionally well. 

[NARSES2]

Looks really good  :thumbsup, and I really like the overall scenario.