Profile from the Windsock datafile number 81.
 | History (from Wikipedia) |
The C.V was Albatros Flugzeugwerke's first revision of their B- and C-type reconnaissance aircraft since Ernst Heinkel left the firm for Hansa-Brandenburg. While retaining the same basic layout as the Heinkel-designed aircraft, the C.V featured considerably refined streamlining. The forward fuselage was skinned in sheet metal and a neat, rounded spinner covered the propeller boss. Power was provided by the new Mercedes D.IV, a geared eight-cylinder engine.
The initial production version, designated C.V/16, suffered from heavy control forces and inadequate engine cooling. Albatros therefore produced the C.V/17 with a new lower wing, as well as balanced ailerons and elevators. The fuselage-mounted radiators were replaced by a single flush radiator in the upper wing.
These changes improved both handling qualities and engine cooling, but the downfall of the C.V was the unreliable Mercedes D.IV engine, which suffered from chronic crankshaft failures. The C.V was therefore replaced in production by the Albatros C.VII.
| Characteristics
Construction : Wooden fuselage structure covered with plywood, 2 blades wooden propeller, biplane. 2 people crew. Tail plane and rudder are made of steel tubes covered with fabric. Main wings have wooden structure covered with fabric. Armament : one machine gun firing forward and 1 moveable in observer cockpit, 180Kg of bombs. |
| References
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| The kit |
I will use the resin kit from Airmo in 1/72. The resin is well cast and the few bubbles that are visible are included in the resin, causing no problem. The kit has a big fret of photoetched parts mainly for the interior. I don't know yet if I will use the interplane struts provided or scratchbuild them from plastic strut stock. Il will also replace the control horns by photoetched ones and reinforce the lower wings with brass rod.
First of all, let's have a look at the kit :
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The box |
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The parts |
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The main parts
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The additional parts
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The photoetched fret
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The acetate parts
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The decals |
| Kit assembly |
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26/02/2008 Building the inside |
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I start with the PE internal structure. It is quite straightforward, you have to take care to avoid to bend the elements which are not intended to be. |
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In order to add the structure in the fuselage, I have to remove some resin with the help of a cylindrical mill, mainly at the bottom. It is also necessary to cut the area just above the dashboard. |
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Building of the pilot / tank assembly. It is easier to build the tank before as there is just the place to add the seat. The seat cushion is made of Tamiya two components putty, the photoetched part is not well adapted for this type of part. |
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04/03/2008 Inside, next |
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I bend the tank behind the pilot's seat. If somebody knows at what it was used ... (Oil tank ?) Then, the rudder bar, after which I scratchbuild the side pump from round plastic stock 0.75mm. |
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The control column is provided as photoetched part. Even if it is well done, the tubes are well rendered, too flat. I decided to scratch this part. I use some round plastic profile for the 2 main tubes, some masking tape for circling, some steel wire for the top of the control column and some relief paint (green colour) for the handles. |
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24/03/2008 Inside, next |
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I spray the interior with a coat of Humbrol 148 then, once dry, I use some oil paint slightly diluted with turpentine and applied in order to show traces simulating wood. Once dry, I brush a coat of Klir. |
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For the internal structure, same method than the fuselage (left) with, in addition, a wash made from burn sienna earth oil paint to enhance the details. I still have to do the metal parts in RLM02 or gun metal. |
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Instrument panel realisation : At first, a coat of Humbrol 63 then, when completely dry, I brush burnt sienna earth, slightly diluted with turpentine, brush and brush again until to have a nice wood finish. The back of the transparent film is painted white, cut at the right size and glued behind the instrument panel with some Klir. |
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The seat is painted the same way than the fuselage structure. The seat cushion is painted Citadel "Scorched brown" then dry-brushed with the same colour enlightened. |
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13/04/2008 Inside, next and end |
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Tanks painting. A wash made of burned Sienna earth mixed with black paint is applied on a light grey paint coat. |
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Cartridge clips realisation for the rear machine gun. They are made of photoetched parts, the most tricky task is to bend the inner circle. After painting (a coat of matt black following by a coat of Testor black metalizer), the cartridge belts are placed around the cartridge clips. Nothing is provided with the kit to store the cartridge clips. Without any pictures, I scratchbuild a small basket which is able to store 2 cartridge clips, the third one will be used for the machine gun. |
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All of the various parts are added into the structure which is added into the fuselage. |
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The fuselage is now closed, filler added, sanded, with no real problems. Fortunately, it is still possible so see the inside. |
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25/01/2009 Rudder fixation |
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The rudder place is drawn, some brass rod are used to strengthen the fixation. Everything is glued in place with CA glue. Then, I use some putty to have a rounded shape between the rudder and the fuselage. |
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31/01/2009 Fuselage preparation and painting |
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I engrave the lines between wood panels very
lightly, just to see them after painting, because on the real plane, the
fuselage was smooth. Once engraved, I spray a coat of white surfacer before to paint the wood. |
To do the wood representation, I use ochre oil paint that I paint roughly with a flat brush. Then, with a smoother flat brush, I do the wood graining with various orientation. To have a good result, I dilute the paint with turpentine and I paint the wood panels from the rear to the front. |
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To be continued .....
