DML 1/48 Fokker DVIII questions ...

rfield · 31 March 2007, 10:11 PM

Hi, all -
I picked up the DML 1/48 Fokker DVIII kit #5907 today on deep sale at my favorite plastic pit. I'm planning on this being an OOB build, but I'm not quite sure about the color callouts.

The cockpit interior (and the wing) are called out as olive drab, the seat as steel and the harness straps as black. Is this correct? What about the three structural members on each cockpit sidewall - should these be wood color?

On the decals, they look really thick, the white isn't real white and the lozenge hues don't look quite right. I can use Mr. Softer or some such on the decals, but the white will require sun bleaching. Will a thin, dark wash take care of the lozenge colors and tame them down a bit?

Other than that, are there any tips/tricks/gotchas in this kit?

TIA for any help!

StephenLawson · 1 April 2007, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfield

Hi, all -
I picked up the DML 1/48 Fokker DVIII kit #5907 today on deep sale at my favorite plastic pit. I'm planning on this being an OOB build, but I'm not quite sure about the color callouts.

The cockpit interior (and the wing) are called out as olive drab, the seat as steel and the harness straps as black. Is this correct? What about the three structural members on each cockpit sidewall - should these be wood color?

On the decals, they look really thick, the white isn't real white and the lozenge hues don't look quite right. I can use Mr. Softer or some such on the decals, but the white will require sun bleaching. Will a thin, dark wash take care of the lozenge colors and tame them down a bit? Other than that, are there any tips/tricks/gotchas in this kit?

TIA for any help!

Greetings rfield;
The Plastic is ok and the metal PE cabane struts need some filling out but... The rigging diagram for the cockpit is all fowled up. It should be like the Dr.I but DML / Dragon instructions for the (E.V) D.VIII has the rudder cable attached to the aileron control horns. See my website for the whole run down but additionally the horizontal tail stripes are in reversed locations. The kit lozenge lays down ok but is soooooo wrong in hue, tint and saturation. The worm / Dragon's trail marking is wrong, wrong, wrong. Though the machine was test hopped by Loewnhardt it was not his assigned machine. He was commander of Jasta 10 not 6. Don't bother with bleaching the white colour they came that way.
CD version here.

Scimitar · 1 April 2007, 08:50 AM

Rfield,

The structural members must be plywood. The rest of the interior fuselage must be in "faded" lozenge (that is, the lozenge covering the exterior of the a/c but faded by the light and the reverse side of the tissue). No olive drab as mentioned in the instructions...

As Stephen said, lozenge are all but good...

rfield · 1 April 2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

Greetings rfield;
The Plastic is ok and the metal PE cabane struts need some filling out but... The rigging diagram for the cockpit is all fowled up. It should be like the Dr.I but DML / Dragon instructions for the (E.V) D.VIII has the rudder cable attached to the aileron control horns. See my website for the whole run down but additionally the horizontal tail stripes are in reversed locations. The kit lozenge lays down ok but is soooooo wrong in hue, tint and saturation. The worm / Dragon's trail marking is wrong, wrong, wrong. Though the machine was test hopped by Loewnhardt it was not his assigned machine. He was commander of Jasta 10 not 6. Don't bother with bleaching the white colour they came that way.
CD version here.

Thanks, Stephen! I went to your website but saw only DVDs; was that what you were referring to, or is there an "articles" section?

Regarding the decals, any options you would recommend?

rfield · 1 April 2007, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar

Rfield,

The structural members must be plywood. The rest of the interior fuselage must be in "faded" lozenge (that is, the lozenge covering the exterior of the a/c but faded by the light and the reverse side of the tissue). No olive drab as mentioned in the instructions...

As Stephen said, lozenge are all but good...

Thanks, Scimitar! That's more along the lines of what I was thinking. I take it the triangular area interior to the structural members should also be plywood? And, are there any aftermarket decal sets you would recommend?

Scimitar · 1 April 2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfield

Thanks, Scimitar! That's more along the lines of what I was thinking. I take it the triangular area interior to the structural members should also be plywood? And, are there any aftermarket decal sets you would recommend?

Yes, the triangular area must be plywood. Personnally I don't use oil paint for plywood but a white primer, then Vallejo acrylic Wood, then aequous pencils.

I don't recommend aftermarket decals for the interior... You can use the decal kits, and apply on the decals a drybrush of gray. That will give a good result. For the exterior, of course I recommend aftermarket. Americal Gryphon if you have or can find it; otherwise Eagle Strike. You can also contact Spada Decals...

rfield · 2 April 2007, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scimitar

... For the exterior, of course I recommend aftermarket. Americal Gryphon if you have or can find it; otherwise Eagle Strike. You can also contact Spada Decals...

What do you think of the Eduard 1/48 5-color lozenge decals? I found a set each of top and bottom at a local shop, but haven't picked them up yet.

Thanks again for your help!

Scimitar · 2 April 2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfield

What do you think of the Eduard 1/48 5-color lozenge decals? I found a set each of top and bottom at a local shop, but haven't picked them up yet.

Thanks again for your help!

Personnally I have not tried those ones yet... It seems that two colors are inverted???

StephenLawson · 2 April 2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfield

Thanks, Stephen! I went to your website but saw only CDs; was that what you were referring to, or is there an "articles" section?

Regarding the decals, any options you would recommend?

Yes CD's and downloads are the kit reviews. CD have more images than downloads and many of the early issue kit downloads were removed last Oct. I had to make more room on the website.

davecww1 · 3 April 2007, 05:05 PM

Hi Russ,
Do not use the 5 color lozenge on the Fokker D.VIII! This aircraft should be covered with 4 color lozenge, dark on upper & sides and light on bottom. The axle wing was painted plywood, not lozenge covered. If they sell Eduard 4 color lozenge it would work, althouth may need a dark wash to tone down the colors. Aeromaster made a sheet of decals for this kit several years ago, they are out of production but sometimes can be found on ebay or other hobby sellers. Another source of decals are Koster Aero Enterprises, he had a vacuform kit of the D.VIII in the 80's but the decals included lozenge that looked accurate and markings for several aircraft. He sold the decals seperately, not sure if they are still available anywhere. I'll have to check my parts box, may still have the decals from this kit (although I used all of my lozenge from Koster)
Dave