Initially poor construction and the proximity of the top wing to the propeller wash caused in-flight failures in the original airframes. Being withdrawn and then re-emerging in strength in Jan.1918 the Fokker Triplane equipped most of the Jagdstafflen of the 3 Jagdgeschwaders (Fighter Wings) of the German Fliegertruppe during the first half of 1918.
Emerging in 2005 this kit earmed MODELL FAN Magazine, Germany Model of the year. It is a good basic kit that has great potential. With many of the great aces of the Fliegertruppe having flown this machine it has a whole host of colour schemes that can be chosen from.
Provided in this issue are;
1. Fokker Dr.I, 213/17, Jasta 2 , Ltn.Friedrich Kempf, March 1918.
2. Fokker Dr.I, 477/17, JG1 KO , Rittm.Manfred von Richthofen, March 1918.
3. Fokker Dr.I, 450/17, Jasta 7 KO, Ltn.Josef Carl Peter Jacobs, Spring 1918.
4. Fokker Dr.I, 586/17, Jasta 4 KO, Ltn.Ernst Udet, June 1918.
Highs: 1. Beautiful engine with separate tops for the cylinders.2. Well done mid wing fairings to fuselage.3. Nicely done separate internal fuselage structure.4. One piece outer wing ties have correct cross section and should be easy to install.Lows: Several of the parts are mislabeled on the directions. So far the most notable are the separate wingtips. They would have you put the shorter tips for the upper wing on the mid-wing and vice-versa.Verdict: Out of the box this is a great kit with a lot of potential. We will see a build of this kit but Aeroscale member Kalt in 2008.
Our Thanks to Roden! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Stephen T. Lawson (JackFlash) FROM: COLORADO, UNITED STATES
I was building Off topic jet age kits at the age of 7. I remember building my first WWI kit way back in 1964-5 at the age of 8-9. Hundreds of 1/72 scale Revell and Airfix kits later my eyes started to change and I wanted to do more detail. With the advent of DML / Dragon and Eduard I sold off my ...
Stephen, One interesting developement reference this kit is that one of the markings options is for the Lechelle photo showing what was previously considered to be 477/17. Threads on the Aerodrome reference Fokker DR. I type's axle wings shows that aircraft in the /500 series had a different chord on the Axle wing. This combined with Forum member ACER's knowledge of von Greim's photo album have virtually proven that the lechelle photo shows 521/17 as it appeared in Jasta 11. No red upper wing and just plain old Jasta 11 markings.
So in effect my build has one flaw, the Axle Wing should be more similar to the Fokker EV. something for anyone to think about if building a 500/17 series DR. I.
RAGIII
Built by Aeroscale member Rick Geisler Callsign RAGIII and seen on Roden website. Colours are the commander's aircraft of Jasta 34b. Dr.I 521/17.
Model built by Keld Kofoed Hansen of Bornholm, Denmark. As seen on Rodfen website and represents machine flown by Ltn. Lothar von Richthofen, Dr.I 454/17.
Comments