Mike Dowling

I just don't understand where you find the time to do so much on so many models all at once, mate!  I especially like that deck.
 
John

I stopped for lunch guys..........aside from taking Gibbs out,  I've spent all morning on the T.D.   even the camera needed a refueling!     Brian had asked about where I'm going next with the build,  so it starts there.  the opening in the center of the third deck has a rise from the structure below,  and it must be built up.  there are vents that line the upper part of the rise...but I'll get to this later.   I'm not doing what they instruct me to do.  so it starts with the base layer of wood....the two ends and the sides.

so while this was drying,  I figured that I'd plank the deck that serves as it's roof.

as I got to the outer edges,  I saw that a full width plank wouldn't fit..........so I used a 2 mm plank strip to finish it off.

there are two holes I need to open up when I'm able to.  I went over it with a wash of stain,  wiping it off quickly......all I want it to do is cover over any unstained spots that may have shown up.  it matches well with the below deck.

later........to drill out the holes,  I clamped it to a piece of junk plywood and drilled them out with the same size bit.   on this deck is a smaller cabin structure....above that,  is another smaller deck.   I planked this one next,  staining up a couple more strips when I ran low.

they are all trimmed and sanded around the outer edges.   back on the third deck,  twelve short pieces were cut from the same wood, the base frame was made from.  they were arranged on the rise giving them spaces in between......one on the fore and aft ends as well.

the one on the fore end juts out from the shape of the base frame,  and needed to be trimmed and sanded to match the shape.

as you can see,  it was stained over to mask the sanding marks.   since the wood used didn't match,  the entire rise was stained.  it looks much better than to leave it with two different hues of wood.

I recall running out of that particular shade of gray,  that I used for the undersides of the lower decks.   since the underside of this deck will be unnoticeable,  I stained it.

checking to be sure I drilled out all of the holes,  the two smaller decks were banded with thin strip mahogany.  I washed my hands to loosen up the caked on CA,  on my fingers.

I left the banding that overlapped the slots for the structure,  just in case it would be needed.   as for the third deck,  the other holes were drilled out, leaving a couple of the slots closed,  and it too was banded.  I still need to figure out what to do about the underside,  since this deck is more like the lower decks and should be painted gray.......I need to get more paint  


I found some spare thin strips that I had stained in mahogany,  so I also finished the small cabin structure too.

I didn't bother to cut out for windows.....the lavatory doesn't need them!  privy must be the shortened word for privacy     ok....my musing is over......lunch is done........guess I'll go find something to do   

see.....now wasn't that quick     with the system I use,  I can import the pictures,  size them down by 30%,  and set them up in a folder.   after I'm finished posting them,  they go in the main folder for the project,  to be stored on a memory stick.  the ones I use are 32GB,  so there is plenty of room.
 
anyway.........I got half of the deck done.  I trimmed it and cut out the stair wells...I still need to do all the slots and holes.

then I started on the other end,  in a reverse pattern.

I had to stain a couple small bunches of plank strips to get the job done.  all the edge trimming is done,  the single stairwell is done,  and I went over the deck with another application of stain to get rid of the nicks.   I do around the stair wells and holes later,  when they are all punched out.



I still need to do the edge banding too........all in good time though      I'm getting warmed back up to 'er.   more soon.....thanks for the good word all and thanks for the likes!  

And about time too !!!!

And about time too !!!!

that would be a squadron.......man,  they look so good in flight!   didn't know you were doing an albatross........such a cool addition   
 
great job !   

Do you get a fleet? Maybe a flock or a herd ? Or even a swarm !!!

Just to let you all know I have now completed the Albatros as well complete this time with a fully working control stick. Practice makes perfect don't you know ! I still have the Curtis Jenny in my stash to do and have been trying to find a Nieuport at a reasonable price but no luck so far. Sometimes I wish I lived in the US - so much cheaper there.
 
Anyway, a few pics for you.
 
 

Thank you Nils, with your wonderful models I really appreciate the compliment.

Carl, would an Albatross do ?
 
Ken, there is just no pleasing some people !!
 
Boyd, I love you !!

And finally, finally, I didn't like the stand much. It was too low and so now we have the dogfight from the ceiling !!
 
 

I don't know why, it just happened that way and I think you are right - another hole in the ceiling !!!

And finally ...........
 
on it's provided stand and appropriately, under the Sopwith Camel !!
 
(I still might fly it from the ceiling.)
 
 

Just to let you all know I have now completed the Albatros as well complete this time with a fully working control stick. Practice makes perfect don't you know ! I still have the Curtis Jenny in my stash to do and have been trying to find a Nieuport at a reasonable price but no luck so far. Sometimes I wish I lived in the US - so much cheaper there.
 
Anyway, a few pics for you.
 
 

Do you get a fleet? Maybe a flock or a herd ? Or even a swarm !!!

Do you get a fleet? Maybe a flock or a herd ? Or even a swarm !!!

A Fleet? Oh, My!
I started looking at this thread from the "bottom up", and when I got to this one -
I thought Mike had a gastrointestinal problem.
I'm "relieved" to see it's about model airplanes
 

(that came from way deep down )
I'm working on getting a shoal  

And finally ...........
 
on it's provided stand and appropriately, under the Sopwith Camel !!
 
(I still might fly it from the ceiling.)
 
 

Well folks, another project bites the dust ! The Fokker is complete except for the stand. I am waiting for some acrylic glue to make it up with unless I decide to fly it from the ceiling as planned alongside the Sopwith.
 
Thank you all for watching, showing interest and all your comments. They make the build more fun for me.
 
Anyway, some pictures for you which hopefully you will enjoy.
 

Yes Danny, too late for holes.
As you can see I did decide on the half cover option in the end, as much as anything to keep the theme Mark.
 
 

Some advice please viewers.
 
The undercarriage on this plane was formed like a forth wing. On the model it is made of ribs like a wing and thin covered with very thin sheet metal.
 
In view of the fact that I am half covering this model should I have cover this as well or do it all as per the pictures on the box ?
 
 

The top wing is installed - what a fight that was trying to line up with the spars and glue them - it is covered, rigged and painted.
 
Next step is the undercarriage

Upper wing ready to go on.
 
 

There has been a slight problem with the kit. The cowl that goes over the fuel tank etc sits a wee bit too high at the back. It fits fine at the front and I notice on the instructions photographs that the discrepancy is there as well so it's not my fault. As a result the machine guns also sit about 3mm too high so I have had to modify their mounts somewhat. It's taken me ages but I think they look ok now and won't look too noticeable. I should say that the guns themselves were an absolute beast to make up. Rolling brass is great fun and those cross hairs are so tiny they would break in a breath.