MetalEarth Fokker DR.I
1May 28, 2021The Sheet & the Sheets - Love all that colour!
2May 28, 2021Here's the finished pilot's seat & floor, from 2 pieces - pretty easy assembly so far - no control column!! !;^)}
3May 28, 2021I used my "Small Shop" rolling tool & base to start the curves on the cylinder heads - It's a Radial 8 cylinder, so 8 cylinder heads.
4May 28, 20218 partly rolled - I then completed each one to a 180 degree roll, so their tabs would fit the receiving slots, and also (just because) put in a tighter roll on the cylinder necks.........
5May 28, 2021Here's the 8 cylinder heads fitted to the backing plate - Hey, it looks as good as any photo-etched radial engine in 1:72 scale. You'll have to zoom in closer to see that tighter roll I put in.
6May 28, 2021And of course, with any decent "model" you then go and partly cover up all that good work - only something a fellow modeller would understand!
7May 28, 2021Fuselage bending & joining time - I got a bit over-enthusiastic on the bending & had to back-it-off a bit! Vary careful crimping around the rudder, to keep all that paint intact. The pilot's seat is installed at this stage.
8May 28, 2021Adding the engine assembly to the front of the fuselage, after carefully bending all the engine cowl.
9May 28, 2021And that's all you get to see of the engine........(sigh)
10May 28, 2021Time to attach the bottom of the "middle" wing to the fuselage - I decided to strengthen this with a couple of dabs of CA Superglue. Also, remember to fold up the wing edges at this point.
Also attached is the elevators & fuselage top - I decided to use hidden tabs/eyes for these 4 connections. Looks better, but quite fiddly.
11May 28, 2021Close up of the top fuselage with hidden tabs/eyes. patience required doing it this way!
12May 28, 2021next to make the machine guns to fit the top of the fuselage/middle wing.
You'll need your finest width pliers here - around 1mm should do it. some very tricky fold & connections.
13May 28, 2021More of the machine guns, showing the size of the next 3 parts
14May 28, 2021Machine guns finished - seem a bit flimsy.....
15May 28, 2021Machine guns mounted - this firms them up a lot.
On to the upper wing brackets......
There's a little-known Star Wars quote to be applied here...
"Don't use the force here, Luke - There's no strength to be found here!".......!;^)}
ALERT: don't forget to mould the upper aerofoil shape into the top of the wing. If you don't do this (like I just did!!) it wont fit into the eyes on the under-wing section in following steps.
16May 28, 2021These brackets firm up a little when attached to the wing - but not much.......
17May 28, 2021However, when it gets attached to the fuselage, it's much better!!
18May 28, 2021You may have to stress the brackets forward to get the tab in the slot behind the motor. Of course, the aerofoil shape helps!
19May 28, 2021The correct aerofoil shape on the middle wing - not great, but the best I could manage "after the event" correction.
Bummer!!!
20May 28, 2021Using a small dowel at the front of the winglet to start the aerofoil.
21May 28, 2021building the aerofoil shape into the upper surface undercarriage "winglet" - use the lower surface as a guid to how much aerofoil you need to put in place.
22May 28, 2021The under-surface of the lower wing & fuselage. Be sure to check that the "Z" bends you put in place don't skew the wing-line.
23May 28, 2021Lovely little details included in the bottom of the fuselage - pilot's step & mechanic's grab-handles.
24May 28, 2021undercarriage brackets & winglet in place.
25May 29, 2021Upside down to show the extra work in readiness for wheels - winglet ends etc
26May 29, 2021Page 4 of 4: Preparing the aerofoil curve for the upper surface of the lower wing - used a 5.0mm dowel to start the curve, then matched it with the bottom surface of the lower wing
27May 29, 2021Fits well, so can continue the build
28May 29, 2021Wing pylon added to the lower wing - starboard side
29May 29, 2021and port side
30May 30, 2021Upper wing "aerofoiled" and fitted
31May 30, 2021Closer shot
32May 30, 2021No to make the prop - looks a little like a dragonfly
33May 30, 2021Prop fitted - just had to tidy up some of the braces - Calling it done!
I'm sure I could do a better job, but too hard to retro-correct
34May 30, 2021A few views
35May 30, 2021Looks like a Fokker
36May 30, 2021pretty distinctive
37May 30, 2021looks OK
38May 30, 2021Done
39May 30, 2021Done - As I said, I screwed up the middle wing!!
40May 30, 2021Ready for take-off
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21 September 2024, 20:39 -
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Yet another new pre-painted "model" from Fascination - I say "model" because this one actually shows a scale of 1:70. So lets see how that compares with a 72nd scale model of a Fokker DR.I (Not that I've built one, but I have 1 in my stash, so I can compare a little.)
Looks pretty good from the outside....................let's go inside
Completed - Loved it!! - Magnifying lenses all the way on this one, and small pliers, and BIG patience!!
And read and UNDERSTAND the instructions, including not forgetting the basics of flight - aerofoil!!!
