Reviresco Pfalz D.III Part One

[BB401]

I freely admit that the value you get out of the box from Ares is impossible to beat (making repaints the way to go) UNLESS you just have to have a plane that's not n production or otherwise readily available (for a price I want to pay)
Being a DIY kind of guy I was looking for something to build / customize to suit my tastes and I thought I'd give John at Tin-Soldier.com a try. I like to lines of the Pfalz which, like the Albatros, has that molded, streamlined, almost organic look.

I have already "Blue Maxed" a triplane, so I thought let's make this Stachel's "out of date Pfalz".



Opening the package revealed a typical if somewhat dated-looking set of white metal castings - obviously well-used molds with pronounced flash at the edges. Going to take some cleanup to get that smooth formed plywood look.....


So began a period of clean up, employing an exacto blade followed by various miniature files, including a round file to smooth and deepen slightly the wing contours.


My propeller was a short shot, so I emailed John and he responded with a replacement sprue and a set of decals (Thanks!) which will wait for another Pfalz in the future. Not planning on a spinnable prop, I proceeded to join the fuselage halves and begin filing off mold marks and smoothing the shape.


Even with the filing, there are depressions and seams showing, so on goes the Squadron putty...



My usual approach is to do a reasonable first layer, file/sand it down, and then spray it with primer and look for the remaining imperfections. It cleaned up well.

I did use Model Master clear window adhesive to make a nice fillet between the fuselage and lower wing. A second bit of puttying followed by 800 grit sanding and some touch up spray finished the "body work".

I did not like to look of the landing gear struts in the kit - they were rectangular in cross section instead of round, and looked weak, so I found some straight pin material of the appropriate diameter and bent up some replacements.


I re-used the small hubs that hold the axles for the wheel by trimming them to fit in the bend of the new struts.


It came out looking reasonable, and I am less worried about mangling them in a moment of inattention. Of course, that now needed to be primed....


I also added the Engine details to the fuselage after contouring it slightly, and fabricated the radiator tubes out of a piece of appropriately sized guitar string.

I want to add decals before wing assembly so I could go no further than trimming and test fitting the wing struts.

The sheet I want is currently out of stock, so it may be some time before I can pick up this thread again. Here's hoping.......

[fast.git]

...and fabricated the radiator tubes out of a piece of appropriately sized guitar string...

That's some serious DIY!

Thanks for the step-by-step, Bob. I hope the decals you're wanting are back in stock in the near future... I want to see how this ends!

[Blackronin]

Thanks for this.
I'll be following it with the most attention.

[matt56]

Looking forward to your next installment, Bob - this is really turning into a nice project, given where it began

All the best,
Matt

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Bob some good advice there. My modelling skills are nowhere up to yours. Arthritis and all that makes it impossible for me to fiddle the little bits. I too hope the decals are in soon as I would like to see the finished article and perhaps an AAR to boot too.

Neil

[Teaticket]

Bob, thanks for all the photos going through the process. I have several of these Reviresco models that I have yet to construct. Looks like I'll have to put aside a bit more time than I had hoped, but I do still look forward to starting on these this winter.

[Rebel]

Hi Bob
I await a shot of the finished item. Looking good so far.
I have a flight of three D.III's painted as Jasta 10 Aircraft.
I will try to post a photo if I can find it.

[Naharaht]

Thank you for this, Bob. You have highlighted some important points. I think that I would have left the fitting of the undercarriage until last.

[Willi]

I have already "Blue Maxed" a triplane, so I thought let's make this Stachel's "out of date Pfalz

My Brother, you have taken on a project I am not sure I would tackle. She looked awfully rough coming out of the envelope! My compliments on your tenacity. Of course you know my heart is with you as we build up the Heidemann Jasta. As you say, repainting a craft is the way to go if the plane is in production, such as your DR-1 conversion to Stachel and my DR-I conversion to Klugermann and D-VII to Hauptman Heidemann, but there are other ways to "skin the cat". Looking forward to Nov. 1.

.....No easy targets will we face today if Jasta Heidemann has anything to say.
Lead by the Blue Max anointed we face Stachel and Heidemann and that Klugermann Ace.
Ever undaunted we fly into the sun On Wings of Glory to bring down the Hun.

[BB401]

Looks like a couple of weeks before I will finish pending delivery of the lozenge decals I am looking for. Will post an update on completion.

[Stumptonian]

Looking forward to seeing the final result.
Your patience and skills are top rate.

[Boney10]

Looking good so far.
I have used Reviresco decals on a couple of my Red Eagle Phalz D3 to good effect, tell me on this model is the nose spinner modelled to the prop or seperate ?

[BB401]

Looking good so far.
I have used Reviresco decals on a couple of my Red Eagle Phalz D3 to good effect, tell me on this model is the nose spinner modelled to the prop or seperate ?

Prop and spinner are one piece. Spinner profile is a little short and rounded to my eye, where I thought it would be more triangular in cross section rather than a dome like an albatros.

[Rebel]

Hi Bob
I await a shot of the finished item. Looking good so far.
I have a flight of three D.III's painted as Jasta 10 Aircraft.
I will try to post a photo if I can find it.

As promised.



Yellow Stripe is Lt. Hans Kline
Yellow Hoops is Lt. Aois Heldman
Blue/Green Camo is Vzfw. Hecht

[Naharaht]

Those are good looking machines, Reg.

[Rebel]

Thanks David. All Skytrex metal. Not always the easiest to put together. Some of those Skytrex moulds are really old and in need of repair.

[matt56]

These look very nice, Reg! Thanks for the inspiration...

All the best,
Matt

[Rebel]

Thanks Matt.

[Willi Von Klugermann]

Anxiously awaiting the finished product.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Being a Skytrex builder myself, I applaud your workmanship Reg.
They look just the ticket to me.
Rob.

[Rebel]

Being a Skytrex builder myself, I applaud your workmanship Reg.
They look just the ticket to me.
Rob.

Thank you Rob, I really appreciate your comments.
Reg

[Stumptonian]

Very nicely done. I wish I had your talents.

[Rebel]

Very nicely done. I wish I had your talents.

Thanks Pete I appreciate the comment. I freely admit that I've always been a better modeller than a war gamer!

[BB401]

The Saga Continues (haltingly) - Pfalz D.III Part Two.

As it will be some time yet before I get the particular lozenge I am looking for, I decided to do as much other work as I can get done without them, which, as it turns out, is quite a bit.

The black nose and struts can be painted, (always followed by a bit of test fitting)

It looks like the black nose extends on a line from the leading edge of the lower wing to the leading edge of the upper wing.

After having done a little filing to better shape the cylinder heads I used a base coat of black with an overall graphite metallic drybrush, and picked out edges with chrome silver - same treatment on the MGs, added after as they overlap a bit.

Prime the prop, paint the spinner black and brown for the blades.

As the Insignia on upper and lower wing, and the tail, are over white, I painted the field acrylic white over the primer, added the insignia, and then tackled the lower wing / fuselage in light blue, tyres in grey.

Insignia on top wing and tail

Brown wash on the prop to give it a little more depth and sheen

Now we wait.

[Stumptonian]

Patience is a virtue

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Part II is looking very nice too. Do you have a pic of the actual aircraft so we can see what the finished item is going to look like? Just that you mention lozenge pattern and the pic in post 1 is mainly white with red bands at tail.

[Willi]

[BB401]

Hi Bob
I await a shot of the finished item. Looking good so far.
I have a flight of three D.III's painted as Jasta 10 Aircraft.
I will try to post a photo if I can find it.

Are yours kits or repainted, and if kits, whose? They look great.

[BB401]

I have seen pics of this aircraft and it has the nose and struts in blue. All of the film screen captures make it look black, and the cowling on their DR.ls are all black, so I went with black as well. As to the lozenge, choices in 1/144 are limited, and as the screen version was an ahistorical pattern, I settled on one that is very blue-dominant, which regardless of how they may have looked under good lighting, is how the screen aircraft appeared to my eye. Naturally, the pattern I chose is the one that is out of stock.....and so we wait.

[BB401]

Part II is looking very nice too. Do you have a pic of the actual aircraft so we can see what the finished item is going to look like? Just that you mention lozenge pattern and the pic in post 1 is mainly white with red bands at tail.

Picture on the package shows red bands but the basic kit provides no decorations (sold separately) and so is a blank slate.

[BB401]

Well while waiting, I can always whip up an aircraft card

[Teaticket]

Sweet card Bob. Don't forget to add in the maneuver deck, shooting deck and damage number.

[BB401]

Sweet card Bob. Don't forget to add in the maneuver deck, shooting deck and damage number.

Have to go look that up now.......!

[Stumptonian]

Well while waiting, I can always whip up an aircraft card

It amazes me how you (and others) can "whip up" such a gorgeous card in what seems like no time!

[Rebel]

It amazes me how you (and others) can "whip up" such a gorgeous card in what seems like no time!

I wish I could do that!

[Teaticket]

Great plane and card, grumph... added to my every lengthening list of planes to do!

[BB401]

Quick Update - Decals back in stock! Ordering Now!!!!!

[Willi]

Quick Update - Decals back in stock! Ordering Now!!!!!

Bro- My "Classic Military Aircraft" book has a photo of one of the two Pfalz replicas created for "The Blue Max", unfortunately it is black and white. Darn, we will have to watch the movie again!