Albatros D.Va: New undercarriage from Shapeways

Albatros D.Va always sucked
The one from Neux/WoW was already bad ... Ares/WoG achieved the impossible: they made it worst
I've been trying different ways to improve it, including re-building from scratch using wire and clips. Results were good but hard working and time consuming
So I decided to ask Roman Vasyliev, a Shapeways' 3D designer (Kampfflieger models) to design some for me ... he did, and here are the results:

Comparison with Ares/WoG

Replaced Undercarriage: LEFT - Original ARES-WoG: on the RIGHT


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Comparison with Neux/WoW


Original Neux-WoW: Black Udet's Albatros on the LEFT - Replaced Undercarriage: Hippel's on the RIGHT

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I think these Shapeway's undercarriages are much better than both Ares/WoG and Neux/WoW ones.

The only problem they have is that they do not perfectly fit to the holes in the mini's fuselage: they are a little bit wider than they should be to match exactly. That is a minor problem since all Shapeways materials are flexible enough to bend the undercarriages struts and get them in position. Once in position.

I'll replace the undercarriages of all my Ares/WoG Albatross by these ones.
I'm not so sure about replacing the Neux/WoW ones since I think they are good enough

I agree, the undercarriages are awful. Does Roman Vasyliev have these available to everyone on his Shapeways site? I'll definitely get some if he does.

Ok, just found them. I'll ad them to the Shapeways WWI and accessories lists in the Hobby section.

This is very exciting! I bought the Albatros/Spad duel pack because the paint jobs looked so cool in the box, but when I pulled out the Albatros I was sorely disappointed. It didn't look at all like I expected. The reworked gear makes a heck of a difference!

Are these available in the States? If so, how do I get some?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dobbs

This is very exciting! I bought the Albatros/Spad duel pack because the paint jobs looked so cool in the box, but when I pulled out the Albatros I was sorely disappointed. It didn't look at all like I expected. The reworked gear makes a heck of a difference!

Are these available in the States? If so, how do I get some?

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They are available from Shapeways 'HERE'

Might be helpful if you label which is which. Just saying...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Teaticket

Ok, just found them. I'll ad them to the Shapeways WWI and accessories lists in the Hobby section.

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I see you found them Peter :)

but for the rest of the folks: yes, they are available for everyone at Shapeways. They come on a sprue containing 10 undercarriages each. Price is about 10 bucks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dobbs

This is very exciting! I bought the Albatros/Spad duel pack because the paint jobs looked so cool in the box, but when I pulled out the Albatros I was sorely disappointed. It didn't look at all like I expected. The reworked gear makes a heck of a difference!

Are these available in the States? If so, how do I get some?

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Yes, you can order them from Shapeways following Peter's link

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dawn Patrol

Might be helpful if you label which is which. Just saying...

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LOL! yes, I'll edit it ...but I'll give you a tip for easy visual identification

The one that makes the Albatros looks as if wearing hills is Udet's Neux-WoW one

The one that makes it look as if wearing stilts, and it's simply horribly out of scale and a way to thick is (Hippel's) Ares-WoG

The one that looks about right is (Hippel's Ares-WoG) with the new Shapeways undercarriage

Just one further thought: I really like Ares-WoG minis, and beside of a few minor ''failures'' such as slightly out of scale parts, which are understandable for a miniature plane that it's intended to be a gamming toy (not a displaying scale model), they are fantastic little birds for a good price ... but for some reason, they always got the Albatros D.V terribly wrong. All the 'errors' in all the rest of Ares minis, I can live with ... but those Albatrossen undercarriages are simply too much for my obsessive WW1 airplanes fan soul ;)

Inspired idea, getting a Shapeways undercart designed! :clap:

Well done, that man! :thumbsup:

I'll be buying some of these myself, I think.............

All my JASTAs are beginning to be equipped with the new Shapeways' undercarriage!


JASTA 17
Attachment 272107

JASTA 5
Attachment 272108