by George Grasse

BLUE MAX 1:48 SCALE INJECTION KIT BX0204 OF THE LVG C.VI

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #1 23 February 2010

AT THE BEGINNING.  Unfortunately, I inadvertently deleted early stage photos showing the fuselage interior with the engine, floorboard, formers, equipment, and the like.  The kit was not furnished with any details other than seats, side panel, formers, and engine.  I made several attempts to build this kit and could never get the kit-supplied white metal formers to fit.  Eventually it dawned on me that the overly thick fuselage halves compromised the formers which must have be added as an after thought.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #2 7 March 2010

OIL PAINTING THE FUSELAGE

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #3 8 March 2010

DETAILING THE FUSELAGE

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #4 31 March 2010

UPPER SURFACE PRINTED CAMOUFLAGE DECAL APPLICATION: This view shows the Microsculpt 5-color Upper Surface decals applied chord-wise to the lower wing but span-wise on the tail surfaces.  Light blue rib tapes for upper surfaces are Techmod.  Camouflage border taping has not yet been applied.  Lower wings and tailplane are pinned in place, not yet glued.

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #5 31 March 2010

UNDER SURFACE PRINTED CAMOUFLAGE DECAL APPLICATION: This view shows the Microsculpt 5-color Under Surface decals applied chord-wise to the lower wing but span-wise on the tail surfaces.  Pink rib tapes for under surfaces are by Techmod.

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #6 6 April 2010

UPPER SURFACE PRINTED CAMOUFLAGE BORDER TAPE APPLICATION: This view shows leading edges hand-painted in matching colors to the Microsculpt 5-color upper surface decals.  It seemed so much easier to go ahead and paint these on rather go through the ugly task of border taping.  In simple terms, I painted a dark black/brown border on the leading edges.  Into that space, I painted first one of the colors allowing for an approximation of space for the other three.  Then, I applied the second color, and so on.  Rib taping for the upper surface was Techmod's "light blue".

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #7 15 April 2010

UNDER SURFACE PRINTED CAMOUFLAGE DECALS AND RIB TAPING: The under surface is covered in Microsculpt 5-color Under Surface decals.  As with the upper surface, the fabric was applied chord-wise.  I decided to use Techmod's "salmon pink" rib taping which seems appropriate for the overall pastel shades in the 5-color pattern.  Note that the upper surface hand-painted border taping overlaps the under surface just slightly.

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #8a and 8b 28 April 2010
CAMOUFLAGE AND DETAILS: These two views show the hand-painted 4-color border tape which I elected to do rather than suffering through difficult border decal application.  The underside is covered in Microsculpt 5-color decal applied chord-wise and taped with Techmod's pink rib tape decals.  Details to note at this stage are the propeller, landing gear, and the scratch-built "N" struts.

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #9 30 April 2010

FUSELAGE DECALS APPLIED

 

 

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #10 1 May 2010

UNDERSIDE DETAILS:  From top to bottom: weighted wireless antenna, camera exposure door with complex wire and pulley mechanism, access panel. landing gear aerofoil with spreader bar, engine sump access panel and cooling louvres, small oil tank access panel.

 

  

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #11 7 May 2010

COMPLETED MODEL: LVG C.VI C.1589/18 flown by Sgt. Jacob Hechenberger (P) and Ltn d R Karl Althammer (O) of FA(A) 286b, Western Front, Fall 1918.

 

  

 

UNDER CONSTRUCTION PHOTO #12 7 May 2010

COMPLETED MODEL: LVG C.VI C.1589/18 flown by Sgt. Jacob Hechenberger (P) and Ltn d R Karl Althammer (O) of FA(A) 286b, Western Front, Fall 1918.

 

  

 

This 1:48 scale model is based on one photograph appearing in Das Propellerblatt Nummer 1, Sommer 2001 in a article entitled Markiering (1): Die bayer. Fliegerabteilung (A) 286 im Jahre 1918 by Reinhard Kastner.  This article was the first installment of the "markings" series and featured the unusual Vogelkopf unit insignia of FA(A) 286b.  The article also included a profile of the aircraft by Walter Werner.  This model will be featured in my online May 2010 issue of Historical Miniatures Journal.

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Additional after-market kits used in the creation of this model:

 

    Eduard EU4406 Turnbuckles & Control Horns

    Griffon Models GMBH03 Brass Tube .8 mm OD, .3 mm ID (Parabellum gun barrel)

    Microsculpt German 4-Color Printed Camouflage decals (upper and under surfaces)

    Techmod German Rib Tapes (light blue upper, pink under surfaces)

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Bibliography:

Kastner, Reinhard.  Markiering (1): Die bayer. Fliegerabteilung (A) 286 im Jahre 1918.  Das Propellerblatt Nummer 1, Sommer 2001.

Franks, Norman, Frank Bailey, and Rick Duiven.  Casualties of the German Air Service 1914-1920.  London: Grub Street, 1999.

Grosz, P. M. LVG C.VI, Windsock Datafile 17, "Colours and Markings" section by Ray Rimmel, color profiles by Ray Rimmel, scale drawings by Ian R. Stair, cover art Brian Knight, Albatros Publications Ltd, Berkhamsted, UK, revised second edition 1999. 

Rimmel, Ray. LVG C.VI at War, Windsock Datafile 138, "Colours and Markings" section by Ray Rimmel, color profiles by Ronny Bar, scale drawings by Martin Digmayer, cover art Jerry Boucher, Albatros Publications Ltd, Berkhamsted, UK, 2009. 

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© Copyright by George Grasse