History

In the beginning, unarmed A & B two-seater types were the main line aircraft in WWI. They were seen as the air cavalry - the eyes of the ground forces. One man could not fly, operate a radio or construct messages for homing pigeons all at once. Then the rear gun became the main defence. This is the birth of the C type.

It was common slang for Germans to refer to the pilot as Emil and the observer as Franz. In Germany there is still the word "verfranzen" (ver-franz-en) in use. This you can say, when you have lost your way. (Ich habe mich verfranzt = I have lost my way). The use of Franz for the navigator may have an origin in the use of the word Franz in German radiotelegraphy, where Franz was a code used for the navigator. In the war to follow even the furher was code named "Emil". Usually the officer was the commander of the aircraft. But The rear cockpit was the commander's post. There were many instances later in the war where two officers were assigned to a an aircraft crew.

Kit Contents

The kit box contains 10 resin parts. 2 bodies, (one with legs cast attached one with legs cast separately). 3 separate arms, 2 heads one with helmet & goggles attached one without helmet & goggles attached. One figure is moulded with the thigh high German cold weather "Fug" boots. The attachment straps and buckles are very well detailed. There were two types of clothing: military issue or private purchase.For the most part the type of cold weather or cold altitude clothing on these figures was available during much of the war. But the "Fug" boots were available from mid 1917.

These figures are avilable separately ($22.50 @)or together as in this kit (41.00 @).

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