Fokker Dr.I by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Artesania Latina

[Mike Dowling]

Hello.

 

So, my next challenge, and I think it' going to be - The Artsania Latina version of the Fokker Dr 1 Tri plane 1/16 scale. I think this kit is a collaboration with Model Airways. According to the box there are over 750 pieces which I can well believe.

 

I had to rearrange the contents as they had been well shuffled by the delivery service.

 

The first and maybe most noticeable feature of this kit is that there are no written instructions at all !!! A cd is provided which has the parts list, 340 pages of step by step photos and six 'helpful' video clips. The metal castings in the plastic boxes have no numbers but there are charts for them on the cd which enabled me to put the pieces back in the right places and make sure they were all there. They are all present and a really good standard. There is a very small wood bundle and two sheets of laser cut ply for the wing parts, all numbered. There are 4 sheets of metal parts etched and partially cut with 'millions' of pieces which all appear to be numbered. There is some thread for the rigging (although I can find no instructions for that !!) a tiny sheet of a few waterslide decals and a huge colour poster of what it should look like in the end with front, back and side 1/1 views and some enlarged areas.

 

The majority of the kit is metal and the cd indicates that shares in ca glue might be useful. I am glad I have a lot !!

 

The build looks as though it starts with the cockpit area but I will spend more time looking through the contents before I start anything.

 

Anyway, some pictures of the box and contents to grab your interest I hope.

 

 

[gsdpic]

Wow, that does look like a challenge, and it looks like a lot of parts.  But it says "Easy to build" right on the box, so it must be.

 

The thread may just be for the cables for the control surfaces (rudder, ailerons, etc) as I believe one of the claims to fame of the Dr 1 was that it did not have the traditional (at the time) rigging between the wings to stabilize them.

 

I'll pull up the first chair and follow along....

[popeye the sailor]

awesome.....I'm in     1:16.........a very nice scale indeed.   I built the Revell 1:28 scale Fokker D VII.......this is also a very nice scale to work with   

I should post my Guillow's Fokker Dr 1 build........I have all the frames together....just gotta do a lot of sanding to get the leading edges in shape,  to tissue it.   I have some white tissue left over,  so I may do it in the same paint scheme as the D VII.   the squadron was Jasta 18,  Rabin's Ravens.

 

I look forward in seeing more on this fine project   

[cog]

Gotcha build! This one I will thoroughly enjoy

[Mike Dowling]

How great to have you all along - thank you. The 'simple to build' bit on the box is only for the IQ of Stephen Hawking and above. There is going to be nothing simple about this build.

 

You are quite right Gary about the rigging. It should be simpler than the Sopwith I built but heavy emphasis on the 'should'.

 

I am also thinking of half covering the plane as I did before, the Sopwith looks quite good flying that way.

[SardonicMeow]

I remember recently seeing a remarkable stop motion video of the building of this kit.  Happily, I was able to find it again:

 

Stop motion build of AL Fokker Dr. I by Tom Grigat

 

Maybe it will even help with some of your assembly questions.

 

[cog]

Not as challenging as yours, this one is at 1:72. PE and some plastic ... I think I'll keep my eyes open for the one you're building

 

 

 

a wee bit over 3"

Edited March 22, 2018 by cog

[gsdpic]

Wow, Peter, that video you pointed to is nuts.   Must've taken him twice as long to build the model, stopping to take all those pictures.

[Mike Dowling]

Gary is right Peter, that video is crazy ! The thing is it is too quick to pick up some of the techniques and won't help with the rigging. Very nice of you to post it though, thank you.

 

[Mike Dowling]

Fellow modelers, I should know the answer to this having done so many but, if a piece of metal is pre scribed for bending, do you bend into the groove or away from it ?

 Anyway, a start has been made !! One seat and safety harness painted. The harness is brass and has to be bent to look like straps later.

 

And, just to confirm that my Sopwith does indeed fly from the ceiling .....

 

[jablackwell]

I'm pulling up a chair for this ;-)  

Looks good, Mike!

 

[Mike Dowling]

Hey John, brilliant to see you ! You are most welcome. What's the answer to my bending dilemma, I am sure you know.

[jablackwell]

I always bend away from the grooves....

[cog]

I bend so the grooves will be on the side less/not visible

 

Cheers

[Mike Dowling]

Those could be conflicting views but I wonder now - does it really matter ?

[Mike Dowling]

I don't think it does but definitely, definitely don't get it wrong like I just did because if you have to bend them back - they break !!!!!!! 

[Mike Dowling]

So, an afternoons work, 26 pieces assembled and painted, the lower seat belts bent and put on and I decided to be kind to the pilot and give him a leather set.

Only another 730 something pieces to go !!

 

By the way, the belts are actually a beige colour but they have come out yellow on the camera. Sorry.

[shihawk]

hi Mike , glad to see u go started .. logic tells me that the grove should be on the inside of the bend ,especially if it is only a slight bend . but i could be wrong !!! good luck .

[Mike Dowling]

I have made up the rudder bar, the control stick and the 'thing' that will go behind the pilots seat.

I have also started the fuselage frame.

 

You need a really good magnifying glass and a degree in manual dexterity for this kit. I cannot believe how small some of the parts you have to stick on are. That control stick has six separate pieces.

 

The frame requires loads of 'c' shaped pieces at the angles which will eventually take the tensioning wires. That will have to wait until another day. My eyes have gone on strike for today!

 

[shihawk]

Better or worse than the model expo kit ?????????

 i,m fishing ???

 

Edited March 24, 2018 by shihawk

[Mike Dowling]

Thank you for the question and I understand why you ask it. However, not at all easy to answer. Historically the Fokker and the Sopwith were built in completely different ways I discover. The Sopwith had a wooden frame whereas the Fokker had a metal one etc etc. So this kit is proving to be true to the real thing but a totally different build technique.

I find the lack of written instructions and no plan sheets quite difficult as that would be our normal way of working but conversely the Fokker instructions have far more photos and the video clips are proving invaluable. It can be very difficult knowing which way up, round, pieces should go and there is not always an obvious answer.

 

So really I think I have to reserve judgement for now which I realize is not a great deal of help to you.

[cog]

I think it will be rather hard to compare the two, as you stated, Mike: " Historically the Fokker and the Sopwith were built in completely different ways " It seems to me the kit manufacturers did as well in their way

[Torbogdan]

I've built the model Airways Fokker. Haven't built this one so I cannot compare the two. But, the instructions for the Model Airways was very good. In the beginning I did not like the instructions but as the build progressed I really learned to read the instructions and follow them exactly and things would go fine. It was not an easy build but by being careful, dry fitting parts, following instructions and having great patience it finally became finished.

 

Like most models it is not the "difficulties" that will beat you, it is doing the same thing over and over and over again that will (I think) make people quit. So be like a mule and never, ever quit and you will do fine.

[Mike Dowling]

It will not look as though I have done very much but, all the required 'c' shaped pieces are on. I think I fitted about 28 although loads more were supplied. Each one had to be filed down after removing from the sheet - that was fun!Maybe that is why there were so many allowing for the fact that you were going to 'lose' some!

 

I thought you might like to see one! It'son the end of my finger.

 

I have also added some other parts on the fuselage frame. I have also painted it all ready for the next step which is fitting the cockpit accessories that I have already made up.

 

 

[cog]

which finger ...

Nice progress, although it is hardly visible due to  the size of the items

[Mike Dowling]

I also discover that the piece behind the pilots seat is called a bulkhead though it doesn't really compare to that on a boat. Anyway, I have 'rigged' it on !

[shihawk]

Are u buildin one a week now ?????????? 

looks good .i,m tempted !!!

 

[Mike Dowling]

Not quite my friend. What might sway your choice is that the rudder, ailerons etc on the Sopwith were supposed (!!!) to move when the model was finished. On this one, despite the appropriate cables, they are not supposed to function.

[Mike Dowling]

All the cockpit instruments are now installed. I took the precaution of laying in the cables before putting the seat in and am glad of it. I don't think I could have threaded them through some of the tiny holes afterwards.

 

Next step is to install all the cross brace tensioning cables and there are quite a few!!

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

WOW!   you've done a lot so far!   looks very good   Is the frame plastic?.........I see mold lines on the parts.  this might even answer some of the dilemma between A.L. and Model airways  {model expo's brand of kit}.   to weigh in on the bending question,  think that the bending line cuts into the thickness of the PE.  bending into the line will give you a smooth corner or edge,  and evens the thickness of the part being created,  on the inside of the bend.   you won't have any telltale marks on the outside of the bend either.  as most know,  this is a one time shot.......no way to correct anything once bent to shape.  I've not done too much with PE,  but to me,  logically,  I think this is the process for bending the parts.   I did have a bending tool for PE,  but I traded it along with a bunch of other stuff,  for a Billing's Bluenose model that was partially built.  I will soon have a chance to experience some PE......the river boat has some.  I feel cheated a bit,  'cuz there is no bending involved      your doing a super job on this build.......the sub assemblies look very well done as well