Fokker Dr.I by portchieboy - Artesania Latina - 1:16

[portchieboy]

Having completed all projects, I am now to unbox and start on the Fokker. Not done an aeroplane since I was a boy in the ATC, so very different. Also, this is largely a metal kit, so new skills required. I am not generally good at keeping up with blogs, so I promise I will try and keep things up to date. So wish me luck, and speak soon!

[Egilman]

Is there a particular pilot you are doing? or just an exemplar of the type?

 

Whichever, I'm down for this...

[gsdpic]

Nice, I'll follow along.  I checked out the kit, parts list, and instructions on the Artesania Latina web site.  Looks like it will be an interesting challenge, and I say that being about 75% through their Sopwith Camel.  (Though it is currently on the shelf again).  The Fokker definitely has more metal parts and fewer wood parts than the Camel.  And it looks like it has a few more places to attempt the fake wood grain paint look, and those parts are more conspicuous.

 

 

 

 

[portchieboy]

Thanks guys, hope I don't let you down! I think the model will be generic., though the Red Baron will always be in the back of my mind. Re the wood grain, I will have to search YouTube, and practice first!

[Canute]

Good plan. These Great War birds are so interesting. I'll be following.

[portchieboy]

Well, that's the first 2 hours or so!

 

I love the comment on the box, easy to build. Hate to get a difficult one. Never mind, we all like a challenge, that's what makes it fun.

 

Very interesting the transition between wooden models, and metal. I am finding each bend a 'heart in the mouth ' moment. At least with wood, you can craft another piece. Let's just hope there aren't too many accidents.

[chadwijm6]

I'm in, I also saw this on their website and it looked really interesting. Good luck with build

[portchieboy]

Progress so far. The painting is certainly fine, but very enjoyable. These parts are now set aside, whilst I file, and assemble the fuselage. I have noticed that instead of supplying parts M23  and M24, they have given me 2 x M23. No matter, the cockpit assembly sits on these spars, and instead of pinning the  cockpit in, I will glue it to the spar instead. Hope that makes sense!

[portchieboy]

The fuselage is now largely together. It has, I must admit been taxing. Having spent several hours filing the moulding lines off, I then find that the lugs to which one affixes the brass joiners are mostly too large, and again need further, quite difficult shaping. 

 

When it came to joining it all together, I am afraid I found that some of the shaping was 'off', and the frame needed very slight pressure on the joins. That is when I realised how brittle was the metal, and I am afraid some pieces snapped off. All I can say is thank heavens for CA glue, I really do not know how else it would have worked.

 

The other little tip is that the width of the frame is approximately the same as a wooden toothpick, which proved invaluable to mend a strut on the tail!

 

So, down to page 17 now, wish me luck.

[portchieboy]

So, at last we moved on to the next stage. I must admit to some difficulties getting here. Firstly, the little 3mm brackets that go in the corners. What a nightmare.

 

There are 28 of them, and talk about fiddly. It took me a few days to work out a method. Problem is they are so small, have to be glued into a restricted area, and held whilst the glue dries. Even the best CA takes a while. Eventually I came up with using a tiny dot of Blue tack on the frame, sticking one end of the bracket in, then leaning the other end to touch the frame. Glue that on, leave 24 hours, then remove Blue tack and glue the 2nd end.

 

Once that was done, a few more spars to add, but again, I managed to break a couple in fitting. I must learn that cast pieces have absolutely no play in them whatever.

 

Never mind, all now fixed, and next job will be the seat bulkhead.

 

 

[portchieboy]

Cockpit complete, with control lines fitted. Have also repainted the fuselage, ready for the tensars.

[Mike Dowling]

Before you get too heavily into the 'rigging' may I suggest you find a non stretchy thread. I had a problem where even a little bit of stretch stopped the controls working. Your cockpit looks great.

[portchieboy]

Thanks Mike, is that the tensors?

[Mike Dowling]

Sorry, I am a peasant!! I don't know what tensors are, but, when I made my Sopwith all the control wires ie. ailerons, rudder etc worked to start with but by the time I finished it the wires/threads had stretched and rather spoilt the plan. That was using the thread provided. I know how tricky it is to get all those wires in a taught in the first place and then to find them saggy is very disappointing so, if you can find something non stretchy it will avoid the problem. I did even think about using fine wire which might work?

[portchieboy]

Cheers Mike, but if you recall, the Fokker does not have working controls. Appreciate your feedback though.

[gsdpic]

Interesting.  So @Mike Dowling, on the model expo sopwith camel, the control lines are made to actually move the control surfaces?  I am working on the Artesania Latina Sopwith Camel and the control lines are there but the control surfaces are not actually hinged, so nothing moves.  I have no idea if the Fokker Dr.1 is supposed to have moveable control surfaces.  Edit: Oh, I see it confirmed that the control surfaces are not moveable.

 

But, I agree that figuring out a good material for all the rigging would be helpful.  And if you manage to do it, let us know because so far I have failed.   The AL Camel has some black fishing line and some thicker black thread and I am not crazy about either one.  The fishing line does not tie well, making it at times difficult to get it to stay taut, and the black thread is too thick to fit through some of the holes in photo etched parts, making it more difficult to deal with and the slight fuzziness of the thread looks completely unrealistic.  I also tried some multi strand beading wire.  It looks more realistic (except perhaps the crimps to hold the ends together) but is difficult to get it taut as well.

 

Edited March 23 by gsdpic

[gsdpic]

And maybe I should add, the progress looks great and maybe you'll have better luck with the kit supplied rigging than I have.

[Mike Dowling]

I forgot that the Fokker didn't have working controls!! I told you I was a peasant!!