THE ALBATROS FIGHTERS!

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...

BLUE BIRD!
 

This 1963 Airfix Albatros D.V reissue was moulded in a mauve-bluish plastic and had the benefit of some much-needed retooling thanks to early American Airfix distributors MPC. Our example 's plastic is near mint although the decal sheet and paper header have suffered a little over the decades. Basically accurate in outline, the kit's upgraded surface detail is far superior to the original 1957 release improving a reasonably sound model even further, one which still holds up pretty well despite its age. This particular kit was reserved for a 10-year-old Rimell by
The Model Shop in St. Anne's Road, Harrow which explains the  customer reference in Biro on the header's reverse!

 FORGOTTEN FIGHTER!

JUST one of myriad WWI 1:72 scale all-resin kits from prolific Choroszy Modelbud of Krakow, Poland.  This little gem is an exacting miniature of the 1918 Albatros D.XI prototype (L41) 2209/18 (w/n 5045) that first flew in May1918*. With its tightly-cowled 80-hp Siemen-Halske rotary, 'wireless' wing geometry and spindly undercarriage it was a radical departure from previous Albatros fighter designs. It never entered production, neither did its partner 2208/18 -both performing poorly in Fighter Competitions.However, it's an interesting design that deserves a place in any collection of model Albatros fighters. This resin kit is of superb quality, finely-detailed and accurate in outline with fully-appointed cockpit. Decals and windscreen material are also included and all content is near mint.

*Reviewed in WINDSOCK International  Vol. 20, No.4, July/August 2004.

AURORA KIT NO.104-GERMAN ALBATROS D-3

Very good example of a very early issue of Aurora's Albatros D-3 and one of the first in the series to feature their iconic oval logo on the box. Contains 32 parts in dark green and black with ground base, figure and nameplate. It has some well-known deviations from true 1:48 scale, and deep-bellied fuselage aside, outlines conform closely with currently-available general arrangement drawings. Despite being marketed as a D.III the over-cooked piscine fuselage marks it down as  later D.V/D.Va versions which demand  rounded rudders and extended tailskid fairings to complete the illusion. Wing and tail parts are slightly too large for true 1:48 scale but there is sufficient plastic for allowing them to be cut down to size relatively easily. This early issue bears one of Jim Cox's timeless art pieces with a pair of Albatrosse set against a deep yellow skyscape-so typical of the period and simply dripping in nostalgia!

LE DIABLE ROUGE!

MERIT's 1956 copy of an Aurora Series B original, the 'Albatros D.III Scout' comprised 29 parts and our example is vivid red although others could be found moulded in dark green. This 1:46/1:48 scale kit has a number of issues including an over-corpulent fuselage that more closely resembles  D.V/D.Va variants and too deep even for them. Parts are actually crisper than Aurora's and fuselage detail is more refined. Originally, our kit was missing the miniscule gunsight, pilot and intake manifold. These have all been reinstated from other kits, which explains the black and grey parts shown. Scale outlines of most other parts are OK but the fin/rudder are undersize and to represent later types will need replacing along with the tailskid. Decals are basic and probably unusable so a more recent Smer sheet is provided with Werner Voss' well-known markings. Our kit contains  missing parts slip and a fascinating mini catalogue of  Merit's kit ranges which included a diversity of cars and marine subjects as well as aircraft.  

SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND, SIR?

 2016 Eduard release of their classic Albatros D.III re-issued as a 'vanilla' Weekend Edition sans any PE items-just pure plastic and a reduced two-option decal sheet.Plenty of internal detail including a full Mercedes, the two runners also include optional rudder and main-plane configurations. Accurate overall with subtle and convincing  surface detail this is Eduard on their very best behaviour. Decals feature two perennial favourites flown by two leading  aces of WWI -one Albatros being red overall, the other bearing three red hearts... An extra bonus is a mint sheet of 1995 AeroMaster decals with a pair of colourful D.III fighters supported by two D.Va subjects.* One of the former offers a an OAW -built Albatros of Jasta 49 so now you can make use of that alternative rudder in the kit! Our example is as new and complete with all parts repacked in zip-locked polythene bags-none of that sticky-backed cellophane nonsense!

*CONTAINS EXTRA DECALS! 

MIXED DOGFIGHT

Here is a 'dogfight double' in 1:48 from SMER which contains  'strange bed fellows' combining an old Aurora/Merit Albatros of yore with the much more recent Eduard Sopwith Triplane*. It's a mismatch in several ways of course but it it does come with new decals and the 'Tripehound' is a welcome inclusion as the original kit is now somewhat scarce. The decals feature a well-known Jasta 5 D.III with the Bavarian diamonds emblazoned on the fin and rudder, whilst the Triplane selected is N6290 of Naval 8 in 1917. It provides the wing and fuselage bands and a stab at the fuselage Dixie II legend  which has been misinterpreted as Dixie Lee...The sheet is well-printed however with detailed colour views and Humbrol paint codes under the box. Contents are in mint condition. 

*Reviewed in WINDSOCK International  Vol.14, No.4,July/August 1998