*(135-79) FOKKER D.VIII, 1959
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AURORA KIT NO. 135-79 -FOKKER D.VIII
ONE of Aurora's simpler productions with just 31 parts, the first runs of these kits were moulded in a bright metallic lime green along with a black accessory runner bearing airscrew; rotary engine; machine guns; wheels; nameplate, etc. Serious enthusiasts will note various anomalies including the wing's narrow chord and untypically squared-off tips-although the latter accord almost exactly with those of the Frankfurt-based Krupp Company's experimental stressed wing design-see page 30 of DATAFILE 25. Scale drawings across this book's centre pages reveal the tail-plane's missing cut-out, truncated axle wing and slightly short fuselage -all easily curable by experienced modellers. Decals are well past their sell-by date but after-market four-colour 'lozenge' decal panels are included to cover fuselage, tail-plane and fin areas. All plastic content is mint although the box is somewhat worn in places. Jo Kotula's colourful artwork was based on a drawing produced by pioneer US modeller and author Walter Musciano.
*CONTAINS 4-COLOUR 'LOZENGE' DECALS STRIPS!
FIRST released in 1959, Aurora's Fokker D.VIII monoplane contained just 31 parts, the majority of them moulded in a startling metallic emerald green plastic along with the customary black 'accessories'.Our example originally lacked two pieces:one long wing strut and fin/rudder combined part. Both of these have been restored with like-for-like items from an old partly-built kit so the box contents are now 100% complete.All parts are in perfect condition and those that have parted company with their runners safely retained in zip-lock bags.
Aurora's D.VIII was not without issue, chiefly the one-piece wing for whilst its wayward tips are easily corrected, an under-width chord and dubious section are not so readily rectified.Tail surfaces are much more accurate other than the horizontal unit lacking the fuselage cut-out which is cured by some deft surgery. Several smaller items need refining such as wing struts and undercarriage legs with the aerofoil axle slightly under span. Nevertheless the model can be transformed with a little extra work into a convincing result.
Sadly the decals are beyond redemption-the white(!) bestellnummer 692/18 shown is genuine-part of a the 670-729/18 production batch of 60 of which less than half were delivered- all with Ur.III engines.
Recent reconstructions of E.V/D.VIII wing camouflage show distinct bands of oblique streaking: 'Mocha Brown' and 'New True Green' on upper-surfaces:'Azure Blue' and 'Violet' beneath. Photos show evidence of strie application and it's more likely these colours were brushed out alternately and merged as Fokker did with dark blue green and Erdgrau applied to Fokker Triplanes. Use of four-colour 'lozenge' fabric on fuselage and tail surfaces is less controversial and we provide sufficient decal bolts for the appropriate surfaces.
FOKKER FACTS: WINDSOCK DATAFILE 25,FOKKER D.VIII by Peter M Grosz was first published in 1991 and reprinted twice. 36 packed pages with over 90 photos;1:48 scale drawings and three colour profiles on the rear cover. *Also Profile Publications No.67 The Fokker D.VIII by J M Bruce published in 1966 with archive images and fine colour art on inner covers.Limited numbers of both titles are in store-please see links below...
