"Dornier Classics" Project. Part I: The Wal
Commentaires
3 30 June 2018, 16:18
Alec KVery cool project, will follow with interest. I also love the Dornier flying boats ad had an eye on this kit for some time. Then I read somewhere that it's a real bear to build. I will be interested in your observations. Good luck 👍
1 July 2018, 13:13
Dmitriy AndreeshchevThanks, Alec! From my knowledge, every Amodel kit is a challenge in it's own special way) I've built their Dornier Do-26 previously, so I have some idea about what's I'm up to. Anyway, fron all the three dornier kits for the project, this one should be the most difficult (others - Do-18 from Matchbox and Do-24 from Italeri), so after it's everything else should be just walk in a park, I suppose)
1 July 2018, 13:32
Dmitriy AndreeshchevUpdate: have been researching the engines, and accidentaly found out, that Amodel supplied mine kit with the wrong set of engines casing - the ones for USSR version. Well, if it isn't the fate - I've really wanted to built the USSR version!
2 July 2018, 20:12
Dmitriy AndreeshchevBelieve me, at first I've was completely bewildered by the situation - but, for now I've already had found the instructions for USSR version, and the problem solved. Important thing is, I've wanted to build all the three Dorniers for the project in three different countries versions - so, my problem with kit really helped. The first gonna be a polar USSR, second (Do 18 ) - a classic Lufthansa, and the Do 24 - the spanish version (SAR).
2 July 2018, 21:01
Gordon SørensenSeems like there were many different engine options for the Wal. Doing some research on the Danish Navy version and finding out there were many types of Wals...
3 July 2018, 10:06
Dmitriy AndreeshchevYes, Gordon, I already have my table in mess with all the printed articles on Wal, and there just too much versions. But what I was able to find out, that mostly there were: Rolls Royce Eagle IX, BMW VI, Hispano-Suiza HS 8Fb and radial Gnome-Rhone Jupiter GR29a. There also were some others, like Lorraine-Dietrich, Elizalde-Lorraine, Napier Lion and Farman 12we, but these were less common. What is really difficult, is to identify a model of engine on many photos - only one easy is Gnome-Rhone, while others did have different casings quite often. For example, the casing for German Wal would be different than for USSR one, while they both might be having BMW VI. As for mine, it is definitely the one with the BMW VI, because there just no other options.
3 July 2018, 17:10
CuajeteThis is what we have in Cuatro Vientos air museum:
google.es/search?q=j..&bih=918#imgrc=_
3 July 2018, 18:58
Gordon SørensenI have never built an Amodel kit before, but describing them as "challenging" seems to be accurate! Nice work so far, looks like a little putty and sanding is going to be required...
6 July 2018, 14:22
Dmitriy AndreeshchevYes! That's a Tamiya Handy Drill with modification - I've installed Proxxon chuck instead of the default collet
6 July 2018, 20:21
Dmitriy AndreeshchevUpdates, everyone! Completed and sealed the interior. Now it's time for some serious bodywork!
8 July 2018, 13:58
Dmitriy AndreeshchevSome updates! The Wal starts to resemble itself! I'm mostly done with sanding the body, though on the bottom some work is still needed. Also, must mention, that side sponsons fit pretty badly - they have no locating pins and their shape doesn't apply to the body, so this moment of the assembly should be taken very seriously and carefully, unless you want some problems with wing struts alignment! Or, by the way, wing itself is quite easy to assembly, though its' inner sides of edges require some trimming to properly match each other, but that quite common among shortrun kits. And careful work with engines is also needed, or they won't fit into the casing 🙂
10 July 2018, 17:21
Dmitriy AndreeshchevUpdate! Installed the tail wings and started to work with struts, but, it seems, that this will be a quite tricky work - check the photos 🙁
13 July 2018, 18:52
Dmitriy AndreeshchevHi, Gordon. In the update you can see, that I've chosen to partially cut the attachment points for side struts. Also, after I've done that and installed central struts, another problem was revealed - despite the fact, that now everything seats in quite a rigid fashion, the rear central struts are still smaller than they should be. And due to that, the engine just doesn't sit in the same parallel as the hull. Well, all the middle struts have some kind of the length problem, to my acknowledgment. I must say, that this part of the build turned out to be really hard, but I've lready solved nearly all the problems with it, so not too much left to about the whole strut problem. I just hope that after that no serious problems gonna occur.
15 July 2018, 17:45
Dmitriy AndreeshchevAn update! To solve the problem with the middle struts alignment, I've cut off the upper sections of the front middles struts, then shortened the struts and after that put the upper sections back on their place. Now everything sits right in the place! With this done, I've solved the main problems of the kit, and now can concentrate on smaller details and overall surface refinement
17 July 2018, 04:47
Spanjaardcongrats Dmitriy... you are now pass the frustrating part and can enjoy the rest of the build 🙂
17 July 2018, 06:07
Dmitriy AndreeshchevA great update! Finished the assmebly!! Must mention, that some small parts were also modified with pins from needles. Now it's time for some good old test primer shot 🙂 P.S.: The wing sits only on pins, without glue. I made it removable for easier painting.
20 July 2018, 20:20
Dmitriy AndreeshchevAn update! Completely refined & primed. Not even looking like the Amodel anymore, I must say =)
7 August 2018, 17:29
Dmitriy AndreeshchevAn update: started the paintjob with some complex preshading!
9 August 2018, 11:21
Dmitriy AndreeshchevUpdate! The Wal was varnished, decaled, washed, weathered, varnished once again! Just a few things are left to do.
12 August 2018, 12:18
Dmitriy AndreeshchevHello, my friends! The Wal is finally complete! Enjoy the photos!
12 August 2018, 19:03
Spanjaardwell, it is not the Spanish Republic colors... but it is certainly a very nice job😉 well don Dmitry.
12 August 2018, 20:43
Dmitriy AndreeshchevCuajete, Łukasz,
Spanjaard - thanks for your kind words, my friends!
13 August 2018, 07:54
Album info
"I've always respected this thoughtful aircraft designer." - Ernst Heinkel about Cladius Dornier.
Finally, I've gathered enough inner strength and skill to start this important project. I'm not going to dive into the world of rivet-counting, all I want is to properly pay an honor to the most classic flying boats of Claudius Dornier.
