*(109) GERMAN PFALZ D-3,1957
-2217-p.jpg?v=2DE9D19A-3B7D-4AF2-8122-40B5714C11F0)
-2217-p.jpg?v=2C603F22-A446-4B37-9804-AD6748DE9820)
-2217-p.jpg?v=617B9868-51B0-4097-B735-C84FF772036C)
-2217-p.jpg?v=D983CA21-1F1D-49E7-8961-B39E1A77A9DD)
AURORA KIT NO.109-69-GERMAN PFALZ D-3
THIS is a complete example of the 1957 Aurora Pfalz D.III from their early 'Famous Fighters' series that included warplanes of both World Wars. The box and contents are virtually mint and for collectors the kit is a prime example of what, for its day, was one of the US company's most popular releases. Artist Jo Kotula provided the dramatic box top artwork considering a red Pfalz would attract greater attention than a silver one! The outlines of the wings are pretty accurate and true to 1:48 scale with only a very slightly undersized fuselage and tail-plane- barely noticeable on completion. The decals with our kit are the originals and may not be useable now. This particular kit is 100% genuine Aurora from their West Hempstead, Long Island plant in New York City.
FIRST released in 1957,this was one of the most popular kits from the classic Aurora WWI 'Famous Fighters' series. Moulded in a dark grey with the usual black 'accessories',the kit contains just 27 parts.Wings and fuselage bear markings of 1370/17 heavily embossed to aid decal placement: as regards outline accuracy, Aurora's Pfalz scores well-comparison with Steve Simkins' drawings in WINDSOCK DATAFILE 107 revealing the top wing to be near-perfect with only the cut-out requiring attention,and the one-piece lower wing is almost as good-albeit without the streamlined central panel. Tail-plane is a little undersized but the integral fin and rudder are pretty good with a slightly under-length fuselage cured by cutting off the tail at the mould line and inserting a 3 mm plug. Surface detail is acceptable but there are no rib lines under the flying and control surfaces. Black parts provide the wheels, engine, airscrew and linked 'Spandaus' that sit atop the fuselage in true D.IIIA style, inappropriate for this version! Produced by Aurora Plastics Corp, Hempstead, Long Island,New York,USA other than decals, the kit box and content are mint. With a little extra work and some plastic card,a truly accurate model can be produced if you are intent on building it as described by Ray Rimell in the November and December 1976 editions of Scale Models magazine-see accompanying photo.
Pfalz pictorials: Best reference available is Peter M Grosz's WINDSOCK DATAFILE 107 with its 70 archive photos:1:48 scale plans;seven colour profiles;contemporary Pfalz factory drawings including fully-annotated cockpit interior and engine areas. Then there's Peter Gray's 1965 Profile No.43 with photos and colour plates that offers a concise and authentic reference
*See also 'Fabric' on pages 11,12 and 18 of our WINDSOCK Special Anniversary Edition (1985-2005) for 1370/17's precise colours-copies of all three titles are in store-please see the links below...
