Frog 1/72 Dornier Do 17 Z, DN 51, 2/LeLv 46, Noljakka, 1942.

[KennyX]

Am I going crazy or does it look like they’re kind of “staggered” to anybody else too?

[speedgraflex]

I think you are on to something! A big something! Not staggered but what if what if there are two configurations? The first is the inverted V shape and the second is the a tripod, so there are two brace or three brace placements.

Photo seems to indicate left and right positions have three braces. Top and bottom mounts are two braces. I would imagine this would be to build extra strength and stability on the sides of the cowling itself.

Any thoughts?

[KennyX]

I’m picking up what you’re laying down, brother. A tripod type configuration makes sense when you look closely at it.

[speedgraflex]

What you wrote led me there... let’s see if we are both on track! Cheers, bud! I do need to redo the sketch and probably should move these braces forward, although I think-think-think I figured out how and where the braces mount directly to the engine itself after I found a photo of the engine in a Museum in Crakow that is of acceptable resolution for me to see where these mounting points are located.



The MG 15s arrived.

[jkim]

Thanks so much, John! When you have a moment let me know what you think of Chris Wauchop’s work on 1/72 blades. Is that a Tamiya RLM mix? I would have to lighten the Gunze 18 or find an alternate color. I have a few RAF and IJN dark greens I was going to try as well. Each prop blade will be a different color....

I'm not sure how Chris approaches his colors. I know he uses a lot of Tamiya and he doesn't seem to be a color chip kind of guy. More instinctual and flowy... does that make any sense? I dunno... I could be completely wrong. Sometimes you can find clues in the comments section of his blog entries but he doesn't mention anything about the prop colors.

Great detective work on the engine bracing. My god, that gun is SMALL.

[KennyX]

I’m with ya buddy! You got this! Now that you know where the mounting points are, and the configuration, you should be good to go! It may very well be that they need to come forward a bit, but that won’t matter if you’re going by where they mount to the engine, because theoretically they’ll line up right where they belong on the cowl if you get them in the right place on the motor. That is, if the kit’s engines and cowls are all to scale. But yeah, you’ve bacically cracked it now, and that’s awesome! And I appreciate that you’re going this extra step, those braces are gonna look awesome in there.

Nice fun too! A big improvement over the kit’s armament.

[speedgraflex]

Thank you, John and Ken! I hope I have time tonight to finalize at least one of the engine mounting brackets as well as include a smidgen of cylinder detail.

This is a very important article—I have posted this before but I do so again because for me, a pilot who built scale models of planes he flew and painted these in actual RLM paint stocks, tells a very different story than the one usually told. From the lack of contrast to the ivory not white tone present in the crosses, this is a fantastic starting point for an RLM 65-70-71 camouflage scheme. I do view this as a starting point because I feel there should be an overall lighter feel with a few points more contrast overall between RLM 70 and 71. I do think this article may be quoted less online because it flies in the face of conventions, but I would like to use this as a stepping stone to developing the right sheen, contrast and coloration of both camo and national markings. More and more I am coming around to masking insignia at least as a way to create proper verisimilitude, but on a model at this scale I think the smaller sized fuselage markings will be fine as decals, perhaps with an ivory adjustment to the white exterior outline. Perhaps not.

Article:

http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2 ... r_camo.htm

[Floki]

I'm very impressed with the amount of research your putting into this build and the same with everyone else here. This is what I have been looking for , for a long time. I can't wait to start my next aircraft build and share in all this.

[BlackSheep214]

Thanks so much, John! When you have a moment let me know what you think of Chris Wauchop’s work on 1/72 blades. Is that a Tamiya RLM mix? I would have to lighten the Gunze 18 or find an alternate color. I have a few RAF and IJN dark greens I was going to try as well. Each prop blade will be a different color....

My god, that gun is SMALL.

Just don't break off the barrel in the process.....

[speedgraflex]

Floki/Clint, I appreciate what you do too and I am glad you are here! I am looking forward to your next projects. BlackSheep, I copy. Those guns are teensy tiny.

So, here is another idea—wire: this time I did three samples (I became better at bending as I went along so I have the option to pull the first two which were toughest). I measured tightly. These press against the plastic snug as a bug in a rug! I am not sure by making these essentially paperclips I am achieving the same accuracy from all angles so here are theee shots from different angles. Please do let me know what you think. I did go to a smaller diameter wire, which I believe looks better. I did move the braces forward.