1:72 RODEN ALBATROS D.I, (001),2002.
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ABOVE AVERAGE ALBATROS!
BY early 2002, Roden of the Ukraine had already produced some excellent 1:72 WWI scale aircraft kits such as Gothas and Fokker D.VII fighters in all the major versions. Now they began to turn their attention to the Albatros single seaters, eventually producing over a dozen high-quality kits, from the D.I to the W.4 floatplanes. Kit No.001 offered a highly ambitious and comprehensive set of parts that shared multiple choices over five crowded runners. All of these are in mint condition as is the five-option decal sheet, and the internal card stiffening, designed to protect the contents, was a surprising and welcome addition. Evocative artwork adorns the box top of this accurate and well-detailed Albatros D.I with colour views and Humbrol paint call-outs beneath. Apart from some flash, typical of these Roden kits, contents are in mint condition.
*CONTAINS EXTRA DECALS!
THE first of Roden's extensive series of 1:72 scale Albatros WWI fighters was this highly comprehensive kit of the Albatros D.I which included multiple parts for the many other versions to follow, cleverly designed by the Ukrainian pattern makers and designers.* Five packed frames of well-moulded parts-some very fine indeed-make up the plastic content and over 20 unused pieces can be dropped straight into your spares' box. Accurate in outline, with detailed Mercedes engine and cockpit areas, the distinctive fuselage Windhoff 'ear' radiators are included, along with three-piece mainplane and separate lower wing panels which all require to be butt-joined: there being no locators. The tall trestle 'cabane' consists of three delicates that require carefully assembly when giving the D.I its trademark wing gap-much reduced on subsequent versions. Decals and colour notes offer five choices with four well-known camouflaged Jasta 2 machines and the green-painted, skull-emblazoned D.I flown by Rittm. Prince Friedrich Carl von Preussen who was shot down and captured with his virtually intact aircraft that would form the basis of a detailed report by the Ministry of Munitions subsequently published in Flight magazine.
*EXTRA! Packed with the kit is an unused example of Super Scale [Microscale] sheet 72-3 German WWI insignia, serial and stencil set-a most comprehensive selection. As the decal sheet is fairly old now, a coat or two of sprayed clear acrylic will be mandatory...
*Reviewed in WINDSOCK International, Volume 18, No.3, May/June 2002.
