1/72 Fokker D.VII

Brad Cancian · 10 September 2005, 07:50 AM

G'day all,

Being almost exclusively a 1/48 builder thus far, I've finally bit the bullet and decided to delve into 1/72 scale (yipes!). I have opted for something simple first - the Roden 1/72 Foklker D.VII (OAW mid), which I bought from my local hobby shop this afternoon. Well I got stuck straight in, and I have constructed the cockpit with a few modifications here and there, it still needs paint though.

The seat and seat mount are scratchbuilt from metal foil and plastic, the straps were taken from the spares box. The instrument panel and cockpit floor were dressed up with some etched bits from the spares box too. The side wall details were all scratchbuilt with wire and some other odd bits and pieces. The pic doesn't give much of an idea of size, but the cockpit is pretty tiny coming from 1/48 - thankfully the D.VII cockpit is pretty simple! It all looks a bit chunky in 1/72 though

Once painted I will add control wires to the pedals and column.

Now here's my question - the Roden instructions don't give much in the way of colours for the cockpit - can anyone help out? I know the interior walls were lozenge fabric, and the seat leather, but that is about it.

Also, can anyone who has built this kit before give me any construction tips?? How are the decals, especially the lozenge decals?? Thanks in advance!

BC

Lufbery · 10 September 2005, 09:35 AM

BC,

The attached file should help a little bit. The steel frame in this photo is grey, but I've also seen a green frame.

As for the lozenge on the inside, I think Americal/Gryphon makes interior lozenge decals.

Regards,

Ross_Moorhouse · 10 September 2005, 02:52 PM

Mark Millers fantastic artwork will help as well http://mwmiller.theaerodrome.com/Fokker_DVII/DVII.html

When you get to fitting the lower wing we should hear some cussing from you. That's because its a real pain to fit. Use this link http://www.wwi-models.org/search.html to search through the WWI mailing list. Type in Roden D.VII wing or something along those lines. You will get many helpful hints on how to overcome the horror fit of the lower wing.

There is this as well Loon Models 1/72 "No Cut" Conversions: Fokker D.VII Correction for Roden. Review http://www.internetmodeler.com/2005/..._loon_dvii.php

StephenLawson · 10 September 2005, 07:21 PM

We have done the 1/48 scale build here and there is not much difference between either of these Roden's kits (1/72 or 1/48.) Dan San Abbot may be able to give us more but typically Fokker used a dark to mid green on metal skeletal structures. OAW used Grey-Green and Alb. possibly used mid to liight grey. Instruments varied as there were upto six manufactures providing componentes for the types. Black and bare metal for instruments. Bosch Magneto casings were black. Switches were brass items usually painted black.

RAGIII · 10 September 2005, 09:53 PM

By the way, If you did That in One Afternoon, I don't think I can offer any advice

RAGIII

Brad Cancian · 14 September 2005, 04:48 AM

Hi guys - thanks for the advice and pics - the cockpit is now done

. Man I dunno how the 1/72 guys do it, this was a real eye strain!! I think i'll stick to 1/48 after this!

The details look a bit chunky in the close up photos

oh well... I used Roden's lozenge as I think the colours seem fairly well right, although I did tone them down quite significantly with white overspray. The decal quality was quite poor and they didn't adhere well at all

.

Thanks again!

BC

Ross_Moorhouse · 14 September 2005, 05:03 AM

Wow when you can get detail like this in 72nd who needs 48th. Love the reverse loze effect.

Lufbery · 14 September 2005, 06:14 AM

BC,

Get an optivisor, but don't give up on 1/72 scale -- that cockpit looks great!

I've got one of the Roden Fokker D.7s -- the Albatros early version (I think). I haven't built it yet, but one of the things I did was scan the Lozenge decals, reverse them and lighten them in Photoshop, and print them on Testors decal paper (and then overspray them with Testors decal fixer). I've had some luck doing that with decals I made for the wooden floor of the MB-2 I'm working on.

Regards,