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Portfolio - Jackflash (part 5)

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Pictures 01 to 04
Even with recent studies of Jasta Boelcke  machines, the identity of this machine's pilot is shrouded in mystery.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1659
 
Pictures 05 and 06
Technical indications lead us to believe that "Du doch nicht!!'  was from production batch 230/18- 526/18. Flown by  Oberleutnant Ernst Udet CO of Jagdstaffel Nr.4. Second highest scoring German ace.
 
Pictures 07 to 09
I built the mid production OAW in the kit markings of Ltn Franz Büchner's machine that he used to bring down his thirtieth victory.  The lozenge camouflage is the Eagle Strike four colour decal set. It is best lozenge decal on the market for my tastes. Note that the cowling has been modified and the engine compartment detailed to represent the skeletal framing that would normally be seen in such a display.  The engine is the Pavala Resin item representing a Mercedes D.IIIav 200hp inline. I added the continuation of the fuselage banding even to the underside of the fuselage.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=780
 
Pictures 10 to 12
My version of Berthold's early Schwerin built Fokker D.VII. The propeller is a laminated wood item I scratchbuilt. I used Eagle Strike four colour lozenge for the undersurface applications. There is some thought from the writings of ex-Jasta pilots that Berthold had the flying sword eventually duplicated on the white panel on the top wing.  The is also some thought that he later gave this machine to another pilot who overpainted the insignia and  added his own.  If so the rest of the fuselage was later painted red.  There is some thought from the writings of ex-Jasta pilots that Berthold had the flying sword eventually duplicated on the white panel on the top wing in a contrasting colour.  The truth is that Berthold could have indeed flown a later model Fokker D.VII, but there are no photos of one in the public sector.  There is always the possibility that in some of the extensive private collections around the world there may be one.
 
Pictures 13 to 15
My version of Capt. Rickenbacker's 22nd victory on Oct. 23, 1918. The victim was a Vzfw. Klaudat. Of Jasta 15.  It is based on a painting of one of Capt. Eddie's victories, titled Gotcha! I call mine "Gotcha II." The figure is a modified Jaguar item.  The personal decals are from Americal / Gryphon series on JG II.   The "water" is common 20 minute two part epoxy. Add some smears of Testors Model Masters "Field Drab" between layers. This gives one the feeling of depth and belies the base depth to the viewer. In other words the bottom of the water looks deeper than the actual base. I drilled some holes in the bottom of the fuselage to allow the resin to seep in and sink the fuselage. Then I drilled a sheet metal screw up through the bottom of the "river bed" through the juncture of the lower wing and fuselage then began the series of poured layers. I cut off a lower wing tip and detail the break with broken spar ends and part of the wing tip is seen at the bottom of the "river bed". Pouring in layers allows you to tip the resin in various directions as it sets and give you that river current surface. The figure is a modified Jaguar item. The Woodland Scenics tall grass was inserted in the last three layers of the pour.

Allow me this note of pride to say it took a respectable third in the 1/48 aircraft diorama class at the 2000 IPMS Nats in Dallas TX.

Pictures 16 to 18
Fokker D.VII 402/18 assigned to Vizefeldwebel (acting Sargent ) Max Holtzem of Jasta 16b.  Vzfw. Holtzem had been assigned to this unit on 22 Sept. 1917 and stayed there until the end of the war.  A modest man he refused to take credit for any of the combat victories that he took part in.  Around the turn of the century the comet was seen as a departed soul en route to heaven.  Holtzem's mother had died when he was nine years old and he had the comet painted on all his Jasta 16b aircraft to denote her spirit as his 'Guardian Angel.'  Holtzem's own description says that this machine was his at the war's end.  He says that he 'acquired' some benzine and flew the machine home where he hid it.  His narrative goes on to say that he removed the guns and later added a second seat behind the cockpit. As an aside I would like to note that Max Holtzem immigrated to the USA after WWI and settled in Whittier Beach California.  During WWII he worked as a quality control inspector on the P-51 Mustang assembly line. Max Holtzem later befriended Dr. J. J. Parks President of the Lafayette Foundation and shared his wartime experiences.  Two years before his death in 1980 Max posed with the foundation's replica Fokker D. VII in one of our German officer uniforms as evidenced by the photos presented here.

Pictures 19 to 23
This build represents Fokker D.VII 368 /18 an early Schwerin production type flown by Ltn. Hans Schultz  of Jasta 18 when he was brought down and made a POW on 6 June 1918  by Lt. C. H. R. Lagesse of 29 sqdn RAF.  Given the British capture number G/Br2/14.   It was displayed with other captured aircraft in the agriculture hall in Islington.  All of which had half or more of their coverings removed to display internal structures to public view for the price of 1 penny.  Proceeds went to the RAF Hospital Fund.  Eventually after its addition to the display all of the fuselage fabric was taken off this aircraft.

Picture 24 and 25
This is represents the early Alb. Built Fokker D.VII of Ltn. Gunther von Büren.  The pilot figure is from the old Atlee series.  Decals are from the first issue of the DML kit.

Pictures 26 and 27
I built the spare fuselage (late model OAW) with the propeller and BMW engine from the kit and applied Eagle Strike 5 colour lozenge decals set.  The struts are from the Roden kit.  The wings, tail surfaces, wheels and wing axle are resin copies of the Jager kit items.  I decided on the "hypothetical markings" of Jasta 19 commander Ltn. Olivier Frhr. von Beaulieu - Marconnay. Using the typical Jasta 19 colours for this time period.  The decals are PD of New Zealand items.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=780

Pictures 28 and 29
Fokker D.VII (OAW) 4523/18 of Jasta 35b after September 15, 1918 and flown by the commander Ltn. R. Stark.  This is the Jager resin kit with only slight modifications to the cockpit contents.  The Jager pilot has been modified by replacing is kit 'head' with a Jaguar item.

Pictures 30 to 32
Done as a late production OAW built Fokker D.VII from Jasta 36. The lozenge decals are from the American connection discussed here on Aeroscale.

Picture 33 and 34
In June 1918, Jasta 43 had a mixture of Fokker D.VII and Albatros D.V & D.va types.   In an attempt to consolidate the equipment into one type, when Jasta 18 moved from the 6th  to the 19th Armee area, their older Fokker D.VII (Alb.) types were supplied to Jasta 46. These aircraft bear the original Jasta 18 markings, including the raven on the fuselage.  This aircraft depicted as being from the D. 528 - 926/18 production batch was flown by Leutnant der Reserve (Ltn des Res.) Josef Keller. He joined Jasta 43 on 5 June, 1918.  His only victory came on 8 August 1918 when he brought down an SE5a near Bray-sur-Somme. His combat career ended on October 11, 1918, he was seriously wounded when he crashed during test flight a Jasta 43 Fokker D.VII.

The stripes for the Jasta 43 machine of Ltn Keller are a bit thin in the clear area between the red stripes and care should be exercised when applying these two sections ( for the left and right side.)  Always use warm water and keep the decal on the paper backing until ready to slide it off into place on the model.  Carefully spread the decal out to the right location. Do one side at a time and using set first then sol and you will have very good results.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1149

Pictures 35 and 36
Strictly a hypothetical scheme using the old DML kit with the American connection 5 colour lozenge.  It represents a late Alb. built Fokker D.VII.  That could have been the mount of Ltn. Des Res Raesch.

Pictures 37 and 38
While flying Fokker D.VII types, Jasta 46 was commanded by Ltn Otto Creutzmann (8 victories) as a part of Jagdgruppe 2. The pilot of this aircraft is unknown but it was photographed in British hands post war.  The lower wing crosses should be further out by one half of a rib space.  There is evidence that The unit may have had red or black forward fuselages. The top wing is in 5 colour lozenge while the bottom wing is in four colour. When you work with models like this and you follow the directions without some other references you can get in trouble. Eduard recommends the early fuselage for the following scheme. But here is what you need to know about the problems you will face. Remember folks you saw it here first. Eduard implied in their artwork, but they did not include it in their instructions. To do this scheme / profile as photo-evidence provides:

A. Instead of using the early production fuselage you could use the late production and cut off select louvres and add the photoetch metal louvres to match the profile. ( Also don't forget That even though Eduard shows the capped exhaust port - in the known images you can not see this. A new side panel may have been fabricated in the field) or...

B. If you use the early production fuselage you have to cap off the the side exhaust exit and carve out the rim on the upper cowling to allow for the high exit exhaust . Then add the Eduard photoetch louvres.

Anthology 2 has some very interesting images of this bird in British captivity (with 84 RAF 1918 -1919.) The altered side panels are a strong indication that this early Albatros built Fokker D.VII had not only both of the side and one upper panel altered BUT had its exhaust changed out from the "early side exit " type to the "later high exit" type. There is not enough evidence to prove that the engine was changed out and exhausts were a fairly common item.  The engine we do see present is a Mercedes 180hp D.IIIaü type.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1149

Pictures 39 and 40
This is the DML kit modified with the early Eduard photoetch cowling panels for a mid production OAW built Fokker.  The decals are from PD of New Zealand. They represent the markings for D.4649/18  flown by Gefreiter (flying pilot - private) Wilhelm Scheutzel. His aircraft had an image of the "Seven Swabians" painted to the sides of the fuselage and a black crest with 3 yellow (golden) deer antlers on the spine.  The mechanic figure is a modified Jaguar item.  The lozenge was from the old Super Scale line. http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm119.html

Pictures 41 and 42
This is the 1/48 DML kit the personal marlings decals are cut from white decal film. It represents Fokker D.VII (OAW) 4635/18 as flown by Ltn. Heinz Freiherr Heinz von Beaulieu-Marconnay.  He came from Armee Flug Park  C on 27 Aug.1918 to serve in Jasta 65.  He came down on the forward airfield of the 95th Aero sqdn near Verdun on 9 Nov. 1918 and was made a POW.  He told his captors that he had become lost.

In truth he had just returned from a short leave to visit his younger brother (Ltn. Olivier Freiherr. von Beaulieu-Marconnay) who was dying in a hospital.  He had been wounded by friendly fire on 18 Oct. 1918 but blood poisoning had set in and he died on 26 Oct. 1918. Who can say why Heinz got lost that day.  His aircraft was taken and is now a permanent display in the Smithsonian Museum(NASM.)
 
"U.10" was his former cavalry unit the 10th Ulans (light lancers.)

Pictures 43 and 44
This build represents The Early series Schwerin built Fokker D.VII flown by Hauptmann sur zee Gottard Sachsenberg Cmdr of Marine Feld Jasta I.  From the ex-Aeromaster series of decals titled " Those incredible Fokkers Pt.II 48-612."  The kit is Roden's 415 with the old Atlee pilot figure.

Pictures 45 and 46
Another Marine Feld  Jasta (Jasta III) Fokker D.VII 4499/18 flown by  Vzflgmstr. Mayer who left on  6 Sept. 1918 to SeeFosta II.  The personal& unit  markings decals are from the ex-Eagle Strike series.  The kit is an Eduard first issue of their OAW kit.

Pictures 47 and 48
The year is 1933 and the era of the great pulp heroes is just beginning. Flying out of the fertile minds of Popular Publications comes G-8 and His Battle Aces. A World War I flying spy who takes on the most fantastic of German foes that ever flew a  Fokker.  I decided to do a psyudo version of the cover art on the 1971 issue.  This has the serial Fokker D.VII 517/18. This narrows down the perameters to:
1. 4 colour lozenge from Eagle Strike.
2. Rib tapes in 4 colour loz from Eagle Strike  lozenge.
3. Narrow full chord crosses on the wings. Partial white border.
4. 5:4 ratio crosses with full border on fuselage (overpainted.)
5. Normal layout for the tail insignia.
6. Fokker green interplane, cabane, and landing gear.
7. 'Lift here' (in German) in white letters on black eliptical patches on wing tips.
8. Fuselage overpainted 'Mauve' with white band, mauve Ace of Spades with a white skull at its center.
9. Serial repainted on the original fuselage cover in white.
10. Wheel covers "mauve'.
11. Engine will probably have to be the Mercedes D.IIIaü 180hp or D.IIIav 200hp. (Checking the Fokker allocation lists.) With low side mounted exhaust.
12. Upper engine cowlings removed for summer months.
See also:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1658

Pictures 49 and 50
This is the late Schwerin Roden 1/48 scale Fokker D.VII kit.  The amount of photos available are minimal so I stick to the basis.  Blue Rider did the decals.  Serial no. unknown, 2nd Soviet Aviatryad, 1922. No. 1 OIAE stationed at Petrograd (Leningrad) in 1923. Pilot was A. T. Kozhevnikov. The aircraft of the squadron appear to have been divided into three flights of five plus a leaders aircraft. Here we have the squadron leaders aircraft, the famous Pharaoh emblem was Kozhevnikov's personal badge. It seems that the machine is purchased in 1922.  Fokker sold 50 D.VII, C.I & C.III types to the Soviets.  The shipment was sent by sea from Amsterdam arriving at Petrograd in May 1922.  These were detailed to fighter units in Petrograd,  Moscow and Kiev.  The last components of this shipment were written off in 1930.  Fokker was still using BMW and Mercedes motors in these airframes. Though I am of the opinion that the Mercedes may have been rebuilt versions rather than newer manufactured motors.
See also Page 7 & 8 Below:
https://aeroscale.kitmaker.net/forums/101539&page=7

Pictures 51 and 52
This represents a late built OAW Fokker D.VII that wound up in service to the Ukrainian govt. in 1920.  Lozenge decals are from the kit and the Ukrainian trident is a hand painted item.  The figures are modified Eduard items.