1:72 AIRFIX ALBATROS DV, 1956
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AN EARLY BIRD!
One of the very first Airfix Albatros kits (Pattern No. 1393) from the second production run when the header artwork was changed along with the company logo. Moulded in silver, it is complete and the plastic remains in very good condition although the decals are beyond their sell-by date and the wrapper decidedly worn and torn-it still bears the original pencilled price of 2/- and was probably purchased form F W Woolworths. For the period, the kit is basically sound although subsequent issues would be irrevocably altered by American MPC/Airfix-but that's quite another story...
THIS ancient mariner is for the true kit collector as our Airfix Albatros D.V is from one of the very first original moulds and includes the early style 'teardrop' clear display stand. There are 23 parts in dull silver and all reasonably accurate in outline for a WWI kit of this vintage. Admittedly, the fuselage shells are a tad too deep but this is hardly apparent on completion. Wings, tail-plane, fin/rudder and tail skid fairing require very little correction as they concur well with the most recent published scale drawings. Finesse of all struts is quite surprising, although wing under-surfaces are devoid of rib detail and fuselage ply panel lines are represented by fairly deep 'trench' lines. Nevertheless this is a prime example of a first generation WWI Airfix kit and although the wrapper is a little ratty it will doubtless evoke nostalgia from those of a 'certain age' as will the pilot which looks a little alien... Simple decal sheet offers a set of typical eiserne kreuze and a genuine serial number D.4422/17 from a known D.V production batch of 300 ordered in July 1917.
Since the kit's polybag was yellowed, crumpled and split-don't worry all the parts are still here!-it has been replaced with a modern equivalent of matching size with some small detached items held in separate sleeves. Other than the wrapper and aged decal sheet the kit is in very good condition.
