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

[Mike Dowling]

The reason is that I painted the Sopwith in the livery of Arthur Brown who was credited with shooting down the Baron so Iwanted the Fokker to follow the story so to speak.

 

[Mike Dowling]

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.

 

 

 

 

[shihawk]

Love it  , definately on my to do list !!!!!!

[cog]

Don't fret Mike. They look as if they were meant to be this way ...

[Piet]

So I stayed away a few days and you are close for the test flight.  Looking very nice Mike.  Them guns look really business wise. Nice work on it.

 

Cheers,

[aviaamator]

Beautiful!

[Mike Dowling]

Upper wing ready to go on.

 

 

[Mike Dowling]

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

[Mike Dowling]

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 ?

 

 

[Dan Vadas]

I'd leave the skin off altogether. Probably a bit late to drill some lightening holes?

 

Danny

[mtaylor]

I view it as owner's choice.  I'd probably cover half of just to keep the theme.

[Mike Dowling]

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.

 

 

[mtaylor]

Looking good, Mike.  It'll be a bit of a handful to fly only half covered though. 

[Canute]

I suspect it already was a bear to fly, with the short wings and ailerons. Very nice work, Mike.

[Mike Dowling]

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.

 

[shihawk]

I,m just dissapointed u didn,t get it built any quicker !!!!!  I,m still fafhing about tryng to cut the hull for a Triton and it,s only the section ???  great work Mike ,i think u made the right decision to half cover it, it  certainly makes it interesting . i,m glad u did the log and think my next build will probably be a plane . Which begs the question what,s your next build . ship in a bottle maybe ???

  Boyd.

[Mike Dowling]

I am so sorry Boyd that I was so slow !! No ship in a bottle for me. My next project is actually a plastic Bandai kit of a traction engine. I built it many years ago and gave it away but I really want to do it again as I remember it making up into a super model. After that I now have two more planes in my stash, the Albatross and the Curtiss Jenny, a Dennis fire engine and a London tram which again I have built before but very badly so I want to do it properly next time. so no boats for a while. 

[popeye the sailor]

splendid job Mike!   I would have voted for the half covered too.......sorry I lost track of the log     I did something different in regards to the covering too.  I built the Guillow's Spitfire MK1 a while back.  I knew that the smell of dope would send the admiral into a tizzie,  so I used a less oderfull approach.   a must is a good atomizer bottle.   after tussuing the model {I do it apart}  I spray it with a watery mix of white glue.....a couple of times,  allowing it to dry each time.  it will shrink up just as well,  as good as dope does.   with a real soft wide brush,  paint on another coat of thicker diluted white glue.   when that's dry......airbrush the paint.....I use flat enamels.   for the prep work on the frames and wings,  I use lacquer.....doesn't matter what sheen,  it's gonna soak into the wood anyway.  the finish comes out just as good.

I haven't flown it yet.......my track record for rounded fuselages is not that good.  the best flight I ever got was from a Fokker D VIII    seriously nice work on your Fokker though.....really like the markings    don't think I'd have the patience for one like yours.   congratz on a beautiful model   

[cog]

A very commendable build, Mike. I like how it turned out ... half naked you should let those two battle it out at the ceiling, you'll have some noise whilst building the next challenge

[mtaylor]

4 hours ago, cog said:

A very commendable build, Mike. I like how it turned out ... half naked you should let those two battle it out at the ceiling, you'll have some noise whilst building the next challenge

 

Yeah but won't he have to duck the rounds that miss the target?  And admirals get upset about holes in the wall.

[mtaylor]

Super nice work on the Fokker,  Mike.  

[gjdale]

Congratulations on another fine build Mike! Thanks for sharing your journey with us - it has been most interesting to follow.

[Mike Dowling]

And finally ...........

 

on it's provided stand and appropriately, under the Sopwith Camel !!

 

(I still might fly it from the ceiling.)

 

 

[cog]

Looks rather grand ... although i would let the Dr 1 should fly too. Prop looks good!

 

It suddenly struck me ... Any reason why you left the left side of both plaines uncovered, and didn't alternate?

[Mike Dowling]

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

[Torbogdan]

Very nice. Great build. Im very impressed. 

[Mike Dowling]

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

 

 

[cog]

Yessssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's more like it ... Add a Nieuport to it, and you are complete

[Canute]

Add some more banking, so they look like they're turning into each other. That would be a dogfight.

[shihawk]

love it , grats mate