Here is what I accomplished tonight. I'm very happy with how it is turning out.
I started off by cutting out the Bass wood 1/16 square strips to length. I used the original pattern to get a decent estimate of how long the parts should be. I cut out enough wooden strips to build up four different fuselage sides.
They are aligned in the order they will be used, top to bottom, and front to back. I have placed the original balsa wood template below the parts so you can see where they fit. I also did not cut anything out for the place where the round metal tubing will eventually be installed. Instead, I will use a push pin to keep the bottom longeron in the correct location as far as the bend goes on the lower fuselage.
Nest step I stained the Bass wood using Windsor and Newton oil paints. This color you see here I believe is Burnt Sienna or something like that. I will check tomorrow and update this posting if necessary.
Again the parts are laid out in order. I wiped off the excess oil with a paper towel. Note to self... next time wear gloves ! Did I ever mention that oil paints stick to your fingers easily ? Plus they are hard to remove.
I wanted to see exactly how this color would look against the simulated "plywood" background. I made a few samples wood pieces with different color oils. I liked this one the best, because I wanted a contrast, yet not something that was too dark. This is the color I chose.
The wood changes in appearance / tone as the light hits it from different angles. I'm very pleased with the color choice I made. I will be using this for my Hobbycraft SPAD XIII Reed Chambers "Flag Bus" as well, and possibly a Hobbycraft 1/32 scale Sopwith Camel if I ever get around to building it. I recently scored a Wingnut Wings Camel in the USAS... I have been eyeballing the US Marine Corps version. If It hits the work bench, I will build the HC Camel at the same time.
Time will tell if this becomes reality. But the more I look at the WNW Camel, the harder it is to resist. I am really enjoying the WNW Pfalz D-III.
I ended up getting out some of my RC scale airplane building stuff. I have a wooden board, covered with a layer of wax paper, that I pin the parts to as they dry. Since this 1/16 inch square wood is so small in thickness, I simply pin next to the wood, rather than into it. If I were to pin the wood, it would likely split it. Sometimes I cross the pins over the wood strip, but this way it will be easier to remove and install the next set of strips for the next fuselage half.
This way they should all be the same as well. I have been measuring the location of the vertical strips, and also checking them to make sure they are square when measured from the top longeron.
Finally, you can see the original template in the bottom of the picture.
Hopefully tomorrow evening I can have the other three sides assembled. I have been using CA accelerator, so this fuselage half is ready to be removed from the board.
Now that the first fuselage half is assembled and pinned in place, the next three fuselage sides should move along much faster, because everything needed is ready to go.
I'm calling it a night,
Take care, and as always, comments are encouraged.
