This is a project that's been going on for a while, and it's time to share. The kit is Revell's 1/48 Albatros D.Va, which is actually a rebranded Eduard kit. I am not building it as any particular example, but more as a generic DVa - this is mostly because I didn't want to buy extra decals for specific planes, but I did want to try a wood panelling effect (found in the Osprey 'painting and finishing techniques' book). I'm aware that the wood panelling, the way I've done it, is too dark and overscale, but I still like the look of it.
The photos show some of the process: Mask off some individual panels, use oil paint to create a streaky effect, varnish it, repeat. Ignore all the guys in the background, I tend to have too many projects on the go...
The next steps are to add the tail, finish the engine, cockpit, and weather down the decals a bit, and then build the wings as subassemblies. After that comes the fun of rigging it all, and some final weathering to bring it all together. Easy, right?
There was only 16 squadrons of RAF fighters that used 100 octane during the BoB. The Fw190A could not fly with the outer cannon removed. There was no Fw190A-8s flying with the JGs in 1945.
Doing some colour is definitely a good idea. If I do it, it needs to be soon. Latest progress is the base coat for the top of both wings. The purplish colour that German top wings were often painted was a bit tricky, I ended up mixing some Tamiya Hull Red and Purple, which came out fairly well. I also added some detail to the engine - mostly weathering, and added the exhaust - it might be a bit overweathered, but luckily that can be corrected.
First a shot of the cockpit, done earlier. The guns are basecoated in Tarblack, then drybrushed with a gunmetal. Engine has weathering from rust+smoke weathering powders
The wings, as they are currently painted. Need some weathering, the radiator needs doing, and decals. I'm not sure why there are two propellers on the sprue, probably an option when it was boxed by Eduard. The random F-4 in the background is a 1/600 scale wargaming piece, painted to 'wargaming standard' and with the world's smallest decals.
Rust+smoke weathering powders to give the exhaust a worn look. Not quite how I want it, so it will probably get another going over
Doing some colour is definitely a good idea. If I do it, it needs to be soon. Latest progress is the base coat for the top of both wings. The purplish colour that German top wings were often painted was a bit tricky, I ended up mixing some Tamiya Hull Red and Purple, which came out fairly well. I also added some detail to the engine - mostly weathering, and added the exhaust - it might be a bit overweathered, but luckily that can be corrected.
First a shot of the cockpit, done earlier. The guns are basecoated in Tarblack, then drybrushed with a gunmetal. Engine has weathering from rust+smoke weathering powders
The wings, as they are currently painted. Need some weathering, the radiator needs doing, and decals. I'm not sure why there are two propellers on the sprue, probably an option when it was boxed by Eduard. The random F-4 in the background is a 1/600 scale wargaming piece, painted to 'wargaming standard' and with the world's smallest decals.
Rust+smoke weathering powders to give the exhaust a worn look. Not quite how I want it, so it will probably get another going over
The code for your images are not working FlyingToaster.
UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing. OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing. HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall. TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.
I'm definitely going to rig it! Will probably drill holes partly through one wing, attach the thread (Caenis unithread, most likely), then drill all the way through the other wing, pull the thread through and fasten it, then fill the hole.
I'll try to work out the image tags when I update next
Cool! I've got the Eduard 1/48 SE.5A in my stash, the rigging terrifies me.
Gareth
UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing. OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing. HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall. TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.
Lower wing and tail attached! Mostly, anyway, some filling, sanding, and repainting is needed. Joy... Shinyness is because most of it is still coated in a gloss varnish, it will get a flat varnish coat when finished.
First image is the whole thing. The wings are a combo of Tamiya Hull red + purple, with Nato green. Then I gave it a wash with super thinned oil paints - a few layers, deliberately getting more layers on some parts of the wing. The idea is to break up base coat a bit, and give it subtle visual variety. I'm not too happy about the white patches on the trailing edge of the left wingtip, might try to hide them a bit.
This is a close up of the wing, and you can see the weathering effect fairly well.
UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing. OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing. HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall. TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.
I’m very impressed with the wood graining. I know you are not completely satisfied, but I think it looks great. It’s hard to make it so that the scale is correct; the grain would be too small to see.
Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
Someday your life will flash in front of your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.
Work on the Albatros has been rather delayed due to a higher priority project. A friend and I bought a bunch of 6mm modern miniatures to use in wargaming. Since a game can't be played until they are all painted (for us, at least), painting the little buggers has taken over space. 6mm is about 1/285, and means that an average human should be 6mm tall, roughly.
The other stuff in the background is because I have painting ADD, and always have a few projects on the go.
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