Part 3: The Build Concluded

In Part 3 of this "review build" we will assemble the fuselage and move the model toward the point at which the rigging will be added. It bears repeating that there are three variants which one can choose to build and it is important to note the Roman numerals in the illustrations which differentiate these variants. I chose the 2nd of the three variants and that requires the use of a particular set of parts in the assembly process. Roden did a great job in providing such a flexible kit. One of the deficiencies of this kit is the lack of locating pins or alignment guides. This negative feature comes into play as the fuselage is assembled and as the proper decking pieces for the different variants are glued into position. Using home-made shims and reinforcing strips one can make the job of butting the fuselage halves together much easier. Reinforcing the seams with plastic strips will also make the assembly much stronger and more durable. This will be very important during the rigging process when the model must be handled and the seams must be able to stand up to pressure and motion that will be applied in that process. Assembly moves rapidly at this point. Once the interior pieces are attached and the fuselage halves are joined it is easy to close the very small seam along the underside of the aircraft. The version I chose to build has two "decking" pieces that fit on top of the fuselage. Both fit well and do not require putty. The lower wing may require some sanding in order to secure a good fit with the fuselage. Only a very small amount of sanding was needed in order to secure a tight fit, and the lower wing snapped nicely into position. The fit at the proper angle and did not need any adjustment to achieve the proper dihedral. It is a credit to Roden that the parts fit with such precision and this accuracy is certainly in keeping with my limited experience on other Roden kits. The 8 main wing struts require some clean up before they are glued into place, and that is a difficult task. The attachment points are small and offer no support for the struts. Super glue, kicker, and a decent jig make this task somewhat easier, but it is time consuming and difficult none-the-less. We will skip over the rigging process as it is more of a "how to build" step than it is a "kit review" step, and that leads to a brief discussion regarding the decals. Some of the markings are best applied prior to completion of the rigging. The decals are of high quality and are a highlight of the kit. The roundels consist of two decals, a large white circle with a blue ring printed on it, and a separate red "dot" which is applied to the center of the larger white and blue roundel. Each variant has its own unique squadron and personal markings and all are printed at the same high level of precision and quality. The decals float off the backing only 5 to 10 seconds after being dipped in water and snuggle down very nicely when moved into place on the model. They respond well to SolvaSet but exhibit a tendency to crack as they are worked into grooves or across some of the raised detail on the model. It's not a deal breaker and with a moderate amount of care one will experience no difficulty in this regard. Once the decals have been applied there is very little remaining. I waited to attach the small arms on the flight control surfaces until the decals had set up. Once those small "arms" are in place the flight control wires can be rigged, the prop and wing skids can be attached and you're done! This kit can be intimidating when the box is first opened but with patience and a thorough review of the instructions an excellent model of the DH-4 will be the result. I would not recommend this model for those who are looking for their 1st bi-wing build, but I would definitely recommend it to those who have a bit of experience. Roden has supplied the builder with a highly detailed and well manufactured product. What you do with it depends upon your own skill and patience.

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