Great idea to mass produce the engines! Idflieg would approve.

A good approach to produce them all at once, Louis @lgardner

It all started with working on the engine for the WNW Pfalz D-IIIa model. I wanted to get it going and then switch over to the remainder of the Roden engines.

That was the plan anyway. Things changed mid stream.

Here you can see the engine and ammunition boxes shaping up. I read the WNW instructions and they stated the version I was building had a 200 HP D-III au version engine. So it takes special parts. Luckily they have been included in the parts trees.

I was on a roll and building stuff. I like to build before painting. This gives me a much stronger glue joint.
Before I knew it, I was looking at an almost completed forward fuselage / cockpit insert.

Turns out I had built the landing gear too !

The parts needed to build the wings and tail sections were also prepped for assembly...

...as were the fuselage halves. This kit has been an absolute JOY to work with.

I was ready to spray on the closest approximation I have for the Pfalz interior color. John Healy mentioned it was a close match for RAF "Sky" according to his books. I just happened to have some left over from a previous group of Spitfires that I was building as part of our 100 Years of the RAF group that was hosted by Paul Barber.

The color I chose was a more "Blue / Gray" for of Sky instead of a Green tinted one. I found several online pictures that showed some original Pfalz D-III artifacts so I went with what you see here. It's very hard to get an exact color reference because the lighting changes how it will look.

Part 2 is coming right up !

Excellent progress so far, my friend @lgardner!

Here is Part 3 of tonight's saga of the Pfalz.

I wanted to wrap up the engine... and get it installed. Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures before I realized it was too late.
You can see how I added individual spark plug wires using copper wire.

I also cut off the molded on Valve springs, and made some replacement ones with silver colored wire. I even got so stupid with the details that I pushed down a few of the rocker arms to make it look as if the springs were compressed, and the valves were now open inside the engine... OK, I'll admit, I'm an engine gearhead / nerd.

This shows the way the engine would have looked to the pilot. I still have to add many parts, and detail wires.


These last two photos show how the assembly is looking at the moment. The decals for the instruments and various engine data plates still have to be added.

Did I mention yet how much I was ENJOYING this one ?

That's all for tonight. Please check back soon, for I should have another installment up soon.
As always, comments are encouraged.

Thanks for stopping by.

Spiros Pendedekas (@fiveten)
Thank you my friend. I thought you might like the last installment... 😉

Yes sir it has been a lot of fun. Now I wish I had picked up more of these models when they were still affordable.

That's a great look Pfalz Louis, love your detail work on the engine. I guess there is no comparison between the WNW and Roden kits, but will be interesting to study both build logs when you have finished them.

Excellent progress, Louis. Love the spark plug wires.