Welcome to Bill Arnold's online Roden Staaken build.
Here you will follow along with him as his builds this monster of a kit.

Click on the images for larger pictures.

Updated 19/06/2006

Bill has started to apply the lozenge decals to the kit.

Updated 15/06/2006

"Today the wing "pinning" process was successfully completed. I am very satisfied with
the way they turned out. The 1/16" brass rods slide smoothly into the wings and there
is no droop or sag to the wings at all.

The window panels were masked and installed as was the nose turret station.

The fuselage seams were filled with superglue and baking soda. They were sanded out
and checked for pin holes with a light coat of primer"

Updated 14/06/2006

"I got the top wing "pinned" today and started to sand out the fuselage. The fit isn't real good between the sides and the bottom.

I had totally messed up the bottom wing's pin holes, so they have been plugged, and I'll have to figure out how I'll get them parallel to the other side once the plugs set up."

Updated 20/05/2006

"While some glue was setting up, I built the ladders, and the radiators. Each radiator is 5 pieces. Can you say over-engineering??

The engine pods are quite cramped, and 98% of all the detail cannot
be seen once you close them. The pod's tail "cones" do NOT fit well at all.
Major "fudging" will be involved when the time comes to start gluing it all together.

Today the control columns were added to the interior.
Slowly it is coming together."

Updated 19/05/2006

"Lots of parts painted today. Hopefully round #2 (later today) will result in some assembly.

All the wheels got their centers painted, as well as all the struts,
all the l/g components, and the seats got their belts and were installed."

Updated 18/05/2006

"I did manage to get the four motors nearly plumbed. I was able to paint and
build the 3 seats, paint the 24 exhaust stacks and clean them up for installation
(hopefully) tomorrow. I installed the radio, cleaned up the inverted "V" struts that go in the engine pods, and drilled the holes in the pods to accept the struts. I also painted all 18 wheels. Maybe tomorrow I will be able to paint the centers.

Slowly the parts are disappearing off of the sprues. It won't be too
much longer and I'll have to bite the bullet and start working on the wings.

I was informed today that the lozenge decals that come in the kit stretches like
"rubber". So if you are building this kit using their decals...beware. Its been suggested
to me to use the kit lozenge to cover either a Jake float plane or a Bf 109...just for fun.
Also I discovered there are two sets of inverted "V" struts. The instructions give no mention to not using the alternative set. The second set must be for the Naval version everyone is anticipating.

I plan on using Non Speculative Sea Blue for all the struts, and the front half
of the fuselage. Its very dark, and I think it will look good with the A/G lozenge and give more credibility to this being a night bomber. I'm open to alternative color suggestions and positive comments."

Added 17/05/2006 1/72 Roden Zeppelin Staaken R.VI in-progress build.

Bill has started work on this monster.
As he works on this kit he will send in progress photos. So here is the first instalment.

"I've just been fooling around with minor sub assy's. So far I've got the motors started, and lots of parts prepped for paint. I did mask off one of the four props today, and get some of the components in the engine pods painted along with the radio. This thing has about a bazillion parts.... most of them very very tiny.

The sliver cannisters are the gas tanks. I'm only putting in four because you can't see the rest."