Randy Ayers' Nascar Modeling Forum

[1961Redlegs]

Here aere some aircraft of the First World War I have built over the years. These aircraft are from a manufacturer named Pfalz.

Pfalz aircraft were never really popular among the German Air Service, some looking on them as poor substitute for Fokkers and Albatroses (which was true for the E-series, partly true for the D.III) when issued to the Jastas (fighter squadrons).

The first is the Pfalz E. I. This plane flew early in the war and was noted for structural problems. It was hoped it would compliment the Fokker Eindekkers, but it was universally disliked by fliers and was used sparingly, mostly in non-combat roles. I built this from a Gavia kit.








The next is the Pfalz D. III, introduced in 1917. Regarded by some as the best-looking plane of the war. Its performance never matched its looked and these planes were mostly issued to Bavarian units. The one I built was flown by a great ace, Werner Voss (48 victories). It is unknown whether he shot down any planes with this plane, as he also flew the much better Fokker Dr. I Triplane during the same period. I built this from the Eduard kit.













My last Pfalz is the D. XII. This was a superb plane, almost the equal of the Fokker D. VII, regarded as perhaps the best plane of the war. Pilots and mostly ground crews didn't like it. Pilots wanted to fly a D.VII, not a Pfalz. The Fokker had minimal wire rigging, the Pfalz had a lot of wire rigging, which made more work for the ground crew. I built this from the MPM kit.

The Air and Space Museum has an authentic WW1 D.XII, however it is painted up as it appeared in Hollywood movies in the 20s and 30s, not as the combat plane it was .






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"I need an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player."-GEN George Marshall

[Digger]

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Worry about things that are important. Life has no remote... Get up and change it yourself!! Have a great day!

[Bill in MA]

Very nice. Interesting color scheme on the last one.
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I couldn't fix your brakes so I installed a louder horn.

[Andy W]

Very cool! I have several biplanes in the stash but the wing riggings are a little intimidating. I'll tear into them some day...nice job on all of those!
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"It would be poetic justice if Andy W lost his job and was left on the street to starve"- Bluesman Mark



ON THE BENCH: None of your damn business
OFF THE BENCH: http://public.fotki.com/AndyWyatt/model-cars-built-by-me/

[1961Redlegs]

Thanks for the compliments. The D.XII's paint scheme is my favorite of all my Great War planes in my collection. The mixture of the Lozenge pattern on the wings and the lilac, brown and green camouflage is a pleasing finish. The lozenges on the wing look unusual, but it was an attempt to break up the plane's profile, which is the goal of all camouflage.

First World War aero and tank camouflage are my favorites, especially the French camouflage. I have some more planes to build and a few will have some camo schemes.

I hope this encourages those with biplanes in their collection to build them. They aren't that tough once you get into working on them. For help, I recommend www.theaerodrome.com's modelling forum. What Randy Ayers is to NASCAR, the Aerodrome is to WW1 aero modelling.
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"I need an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player."-GEN George Marshall

[Firefly]

I'm a big fan of WWI aircraft and these are great.
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On the bench: Dean Dalton Laguna,
Pearson '76 D500 Victory Lane version,
'72 Bud Moore Torino.

[Indy]

Great work - I find WWI aircraft fascinating!!

Jordan
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On The Bench
Buddy build

[yenkoman]

Awesome I have a stash of 1/72 scale ww1 planes to build. Gonna have to get stuck into them one day! I usually build planes when I am on burnout from car kits Last one I did was a 1/48 FW190 about 4 years ago!
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"THE HARDEST THING ABOUT FLYING IS THE GROUND"

Sir Charles Kingsford Smith

[Randy Ayers]

..."veeeeeerrrrryyyy innnnnnteresting!" Great work!!!

Randy
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Gentlemen... start... your... engines... and may the best ford win!!! Hey... I can even handle a Dodge win!!!

P.S. I also love those 70's Funny Cars... and I've again become hooked on the floppers! Still not as good looking as the oldies but they have definately grown on me!!! Should have known I couldn't stay away from my first love in racing forever!!!
WIP:

1/16 Gene Snow Charger FC(Red) DONE!!
Coming some day... maybe!!! 1/16 Gene Snow Charger FC(Blue -Jake Johnston)

[vintageracr59]

Wow, Redlegs, that lozenge pattern is incredible and your rigging work is great! Very nice builds!
_________________
Major John Reisman: Which one of you guys wants to be a general?

[to Pinkley]

Major John Reisman: Pinkley?

Pinkley: What kind of general, sir?

Major John Reisman: Just a plain, ordinary, every day, home-lovin' American general.

Pinkley: I'd rather be a civilian, sir.

Lee Marvin & Donald Sutherland in The Dirty Dozen, 1967

[nitrobarry1]

Well Done! Maybe you could do a rigging demo in pics for the rest of us mere mortals.