DFW C.V C.6022_17 (8273) JMJA07

The DFW C.V to be Built

The model to be built as depicted in the color profile above by Walter Werner, is DFW C.V C.6022/17 flown by Ltn Rudolf Stark (P) and Ltn d R Wilhelm Ludowicki (O) of FA(A) 296b in late 1917. The German Aviation Inspectorate (Idflieg) originally specified a two-color dark green and red brown color scheme early in 1916. This was changed to avoid a similar scheme adopted by the French; so, a third color, light green, was added. This was not adequate differentiation so the scheme was reduced to two colors: dark olive green and lilac. The profile above was created by Walter Werner from the semi-annual German publication Das Propellerblatt, Number 9, Spring 2004. Consult the bibliography below for more information.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #1

The first steps involve the engine and cockpit. On the upper left is the floor board on which are painted parts: rudder bar, control column, fuel tank, pilot's seat, camera, observer's seat. The resin spinner was drilled out to take the two metal prop blades (some straightening is noted). The engine comes in three parts: the resin engine per se, the exhaust manifold, and (already attached) the two intake manifold each serves three cylinders.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #2

More detail is shown with parts glued to the fuselage interior. Up front is the light brown instrument panel greatly enhanced with several Eduard WW1 guages. The aluminum ammunition box is to the lower right with an attached round counter. To the upper right is the rear end of the pilot's fixed Spandau machine gun. Not visible to the left and right are additional items including the throttle and magneto. The observer's cockpit includes a forward shelf (not clear in this photo) on which are stored spare Parabellum machine gun drums. To the left is a short-wave radio sending transmitter to encode artillery adjustment data.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #3

The lower wings are attached only with brass pins for the moment. This panel discusses the landing gear. I used the kit's metal landing gear and drawings from Windsock Datafile 53 to get the proper length of each strut. I made my own struts from brass rod and flattened brass tube. After some trial fitting, I glued each strut to the fuselage. Using a front view from the drawings, I determind the correct length of the brass rod to serve as the axle. This was glued in place and wrapped in copper fuse wire for strength. Additional wire was wrapped to simulate the bungy cording.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #4

The tail unit was worked on next. The resin pieces had some degree of warping and had to be straightened. Brass road was used to create the reinforcing supports above and below the horizontal tail unit. These are necessary because the individual tail unit pieces are quite thin and do not have positioning lugs and won't take a brass rod. Thus, once they're glued into place, the support rods prevent breakage. The tailskid is nothing fancy being a simple piece of slightly flattened brass rod glued well into the solid resin fuselage.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #5

This photo captures all of the work to date. The landing gear axle has a piece of lead sheet wrapped around it. Both lower wing halves have pre-drilled holes for the rigging.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #6

The lower wing halves are now glued in place. I had to mix a new batch of German mauve/lilac and this photo shows a simple first coat. I'm inclined to lighten the lilac. Note that the three piece engine has been assembled and painted. It drops into the engine slot and, for now, can be removed as additional work is done.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #7

This photo shows the engine detail and the first application of the green/lilac scheme. I'm in favor of a more "washed-out" effect on German camouflage colors simply because in actual practice, the colors were thinned and sparingly applied to conserve paint stocks.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #8

The lilac shade I want has been modified with the addition of white and light gray shown above, left. The AEG C.IV on the right was built several years ago and shows the shade of lilac I developed from a lightened mix of Misterfit MKGC02 Mauve. As mentioned above, that bottle of paint did not hold up; hence, the new Vallejo mix.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #9

The top wing has been attached: first, the top wing was glued to the center inverted 'V' struts and allowed to dry thoroughly. Next, the inner wing struts were glued in place, always checking for top wing alignment with bottom wing. Lastly, the outer wing struts were glued in place. Some rigging has been glued starting with the inside and working to the outside on both halves of the bottom wing.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #10

The upper surfaces as shown are finished in my mix of Vallejo paints in dark green and lilac. The underside (not shown) is finished in Humbrol 148 Radome Tan. After a few more details are addressed, the model will be over-sprayed in polyurethane satin for decal application.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #11

Details added at this stage are the wing-mounted radiator, the water pipe running from same to the front of the engine, initial painting of the pink edges on all flying surfaces (note tail in the distance), the wireless radio antenna hanging below the fuselage (better photo next panel), completion of the Parabellum machine gun, and painting of the input manifolds to off-white. More details added in the next panel.

CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #12

Contiuation of added details . . . . . hand-painting of the pink edging around all flying surfaces (note sratches and dings that have to be touched up along with the pink edging overflow), better view of the Parabellum and the wireless antenna underneath, flare gun and cartridges are painted, and note the pilot's windscreen.

FINISHED PHOTO #13

FINISHED PHOTO #14

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FINISHED PHOTO #16

FINISHED PHOTO #17

FINISHED PHOTO #18

FINISHED PHOTO #19

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Gray, Peter and Owen Thetford. German Aircraft of the First World War, scale drawings by George Haddow. London: Putnam & Company Limited, 1962.

Grosz, P. M. DFW C.V, Windsock Datafile 53. Berkhamsted, UK: Albatros Productions Ltd, 1995.

Herris, Jack. DFW Aircraft of WW1. Aeronaut Books, 2017. Note especially the "Afterword" section which devotes several pages and photos to this specific aircraft and the crew of Stark/Ludowici.

Lamberton, W. M., Compiler, and E. F. Cheesman, Editor. Reconnaisance and Bomber Aircraft of the 1914-1918 War. Los Angeles, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962.