*( 105-69) FOKKER DR.I TRIPLANE, 1956
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AURORA KIT NO.105-69-FOKKER DR.I TRIPLANE
With just 33 parts the Aurora Fokker DR.I was the easiest, and one of the quickest, to build from their WWI range. Moulded in semi-translucent burgundy and solid black, the plastic content of this 1956 first issue is mint, although the box is a little worn and grubby in some places. The kit is actually larger than the stated 1/4'' scale being closer to 1:43 which does however take up more room in the standard-sized Aurora box-perhaps that was the way it was intended? The kit has a few extras including a white metal/PE Oberursel rotary from Copper State Models and a spare decal sheet. Once those embossed markings are eliminated, a few other issues taken care of and some after market extras applied, Aurora's original dreidecker will really come to life-even if it is left unpainted as per the accompanying photos-but the less said about their misguided 1972 revised 're-tool' the better!
**CONTAINS EXTRA PARTS & DECALS!
WITHOUT question,the most popular of Aurora's WWI model range was the German Fokker DR.I. Box top artist Jim Cox's bright yellow sky forming the backdrop to a scarlet triplane soon caught the eye,and the imagination,of countless young American modellers in the mid-1950s. Moulded in a rich,semi-opaque burgundy which closely matched the oxidised 425/17 fabric displayed in the IWM at the time,it actually suited the subject. (But perhaps not the contemporary ME 109 and Gotha that were cast in the same colour...) The modest black runner takes care of the Oberursel rotary; airscrew; wheels and simplified machine guns. Nearer to 1:43 than 1:48 the triplane was the best of the Aurora fighters with rib detail under all three wings and tail-plane instead of the usual blank canvas.
One-piece wing ties are rather heavy and somewhat short resulting in the separate lower wings adopting a mild dihedral. Our kit is complete and the plastic is mint whilst detached parts have been carefully secured within separate polythene bags. Decals bear the white serial '2009/17'-actually the werkenummer of the Baron's last triplane. The sheet has not aged well and a more recent example is supplied as a spare.The boxing,with its early rectangular 'Famous Fighters' logo and 69 cents price code, indicates that this was the very first issue sold in the USA and thus eminently collectible.
*EXTRAS! In with the kit is a recent sheet of decals for thick-bordered balkenkreuze which may suit some aircraft.Also some spare Aurora parts for the kit: tail-plane; rudder; wing ties; cowling; gauge cover; mechanic; guns; engine; airscrew and nameplate. Plus: Copper State Models #130 1:48 scale Oberursel rotary in white metal (two pieces) and PE.
Fokker features: For a fuller assessment of this classic, please see pages 20 and 21 of our WINDSOCK Special 20th Anniversary Edition (1985-2005) available from our site as are copies of Jack Bruce's Profile No.55-please see links below. If it's stacks of archive photos; authentic Triplane colours and markings-including all the assigned Jasta markings-you seek,then Greg Van Wyngarden's FOKKER DR.I JAGDSTAFFELN is the dream ticket.Published in 2007,this lavish 88 pager has everything you need for finishing your models accurately-not all Fokker Triplanes have to be painted red...
