*(1135) FOKKER E.V (1972)
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K & B KIT NO. 1135-170, FOKKER E.V
ONE of a dozen Aurora Collector's Series re-issues, the renamed Fokker E.V was moulded in light grey with the customary accessories in black. Our kit is in very good condition with all original 30 parts, most fallen from their 'trees' so have been secured in several zip-lock bags. Experienced WWI modellers will be familiar with the kit's several flaws,notably the undernourished wing although its square off tips closely match the Frankfurt Kruck Company experimental stress test wing illustrated on page 30 of DATAFILE 25. Ian Stair's drawings on centre pages also reveal the tailplane's missing forward cut-out and slightly shortened fuselage which can be corrected. Decals represent Polish example 001 flown by Pol.pil. Stefan Stec in April 1919 and looks to be in fair condition. The attractive box artwork shows his E.V with solid green uppersurfaces and pale blue beneath although these ex-German monoplanes retained their original factory finish of printed fabric areas and stained ply wings in four colours applied strie style. As a bonus our kit includes sufficient four- and five-colour 'lozenge' decal strips in 1:48 scale to aid modellers seeking a more authentic finish for these aircraft in post -WWI Polish service.
THIS is Aurora's 1959 Fokker D-VIII (135-69) overhauled and reissued by them as part of the short-lived 1972 Collector's Series. Large square boxes with spectacular artworks by John Francis Amendola set a new high benchmark for WWI aeroplane kits even if the contents sometimes failed to live up to the billing.The Fokker differed little from the original,its 30 parts now moulded in light grey and black with main components cleared of all original embossed markings to accommodate the new post-war Polish markings.The original ground base with chocks was deleted replaced by a vac-form, box-filling rock-strewn base which was better suited to an A7V! Most modellers discarded it,others simply employed them as work trays...
Our K&B kit is in very good condition and although many parts have parted company with their runners we have corralled all loose items in small polythene bags.
Aurora's kit was not without issue:a one piece wing which,whilst its rounded tips are easily re-profiled the under-width chord offers challenges of a different kind. Both tail surfaces are acceptable although the horizontal tailplane lacks the forward cut-out and can be addressed by cutting referring to scale drawings.Several other parts warrant refinement,such as struts and undercarriage legs whilst the 'Spandau' guns require substitution with after-market versions.
Decals appear OK although as a precautionary measure a coat or two of clear acrylic gloss varnish might be advisable. Markings represent 001 (ex-E.V 187/18) serving in the III Grupalotnicza based at Lvov in Spring 1919. It was flown by Pol. pil. Stefan Stec, CO of the 7th Eskadra Lotniczu with fuselage covered in four-colour 'lozenge' fabric and the tailplane in five-not the solid green and blue scheme on the box.* As a special bonus we have included decal strips of both four-colour and five-colour 'lozenge' to cover fuselage and tailplane upper and lower surfaces.
NB: The 'collector's Series'comprised a dozen re-worked originals and were also distributed for domestic sales by their California-based K&B subsidiary.Other than logos the kits were virtually identical with K&B products being predominantly distributed in the UK and Europe during 1973-1974.
FOKKER FACTS: WINDSOCK DATAFILE 25 by Peter M Grosz was first published in 1991 and subsequently reprinted-twice. This 36-pager contains over 90 excellent photos-including four pages of close-ups:1:48 scale drawings plus markings' notes supported by a trio of rear cover colour profiles. Also recommended is Tomasz Kopanski's FOKKER E.V/D.VIII, No.25 in the acclaimed Stratos 'Polish Wings' series this one published in 2018. 80 pages packed with photos and 26 pages of stunning colour artwork. Those seeking accurate schemes for the 1972 reissue will find this an essential purchase.* Also Profile Publications 67, The Fokker D.VIII by J M Bruce published in 1966 with its many archive photos plus colour profiles across the inner covers. We have limited numbers of all three titles in store-please see below for links...
