I am getting back into the hobby, and have pulled some old kits out of mothball. One is the Dragon 1:48 Fokker D.VII. This will be my first WWI build, (thats a lie, sorry, I built a 1:72 albatros when I was 13, almost 20 years ago) A major problem I have is that the kits decals have dry rotted, and are all cracked up. I have made some attempts to find some online but haven't found very much at all, I would like a fairly colorful scheme that doesn't require lozenges (not up to that yet) any recomendations for a specifc set or place to look would be great. I would also like a pilot figure, i haven't thought about that much til now. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Hi Mike,

Whilst i'm not the greatest authority on DVII types around here, i did go through a phase where i built 6 of them a few years back, accompanied by some reading and looking for colourful schemes. And here's the problem i found: as far as WW1 schemes go for DVII types, they pretty much all had lozenge applied at least to the wings- at least all the well known colorful schemes that i found anyway. The only one i found without lozenge (well painted over anyway) was the well known all white Goering aircraft.

If you're happy to do post war subjects then that is a different matter as there are lots of subjects that were overpainted or maybe even had regular fabrics reapplied. DVII aircraft were used by mant post war airforces. But the problem then is that i don't know of any specific decal sets for any of those subjects! It about time that there was.

So probably not the answer you were hoping for. It seems like your options are to do a lozenge aircraft (for that there are many aftermarket decal sets around- Eagle Strike do a few for example) or cobble together some markings from various places to do a post war scheme...or maybe just do a hypothetical or what if WW1 scheme without lozenge!

Andrew

Hi,

Theres plenty Decal schemes out there Mike, just knowing where to look

Eaglestrike, Lifelike, Superscale and others, I'm on the wrong side of the pond to you but if you try searching www.hannants.co.uk with the scale, all decals, and Fokker it will throw a few up for you to chase up yourside. Lozenge wise, go for Microscale.

The Dragon kits a bit dated now showing its age, you have to work out the cost of all the decals etc over the cost of a new kit to see if you consider it viable or not I guess, I have the same problem with a pair of Dragon DVII and DVIII in my stash

Keith

Thanks for the input on decal makers. I wouldn't fear lozenge decals, I should have guessed they existed. but Masking and painting such a complex sheme would kill it for me, though with some ingenuity it could be easier than i think. Even if the kit is dated, I wouldn't know the difference, My knowledge if the details on WWI aircraft seriously lags behind my knowledge of WWII aircraft and infantry. and at this point the kit has sat so long (at least 10 years) that I essentialy have nothing in it so a set of decals, paint and sweat will be all it costs me.

Greetings all and Mike;

There are several schemes reflecting over painting of the whole airframe. Jacobs all black D.365/18 to mention one. Also you mention the DML kit I have a review on its needed fixes if your interested just go to my website linked to my signature banner below.

Further more I have extra DML decals I could send you a set - gratis, no cost. Just for your knowlege the DML has two cheek cowling variations. The are early & late production types. The upper forward long & narrow access panel was only seen on OAW built versions. The fuselage is .040 thou too thin from top to bottom. Good luck

Stephen, I will take you up on your offer of the decals, thanks alot. I really dig the scheme for this kit. In addition I found some decals, but not needing anything else for my current builds and not wanting to get more stuff for the pile, the shipping was more than the decals, so you offer is the way to go. I'll shoot you a message with my address.

Which issue the Raven or Udet's "LO!" ?

The Raven