Albatros D.V/Va

Roden 1/72

Reviewed by Robert Baumgartner

Roden's 1/72 scale Albatros D.V/Va is available online from Squadron.com

Roden complete the collection of Albatros fighters with the final version in the family, the D.V/Va.
The box contains three sprues in the familiar light grey plastic. Sprues E and Z we have seen before, with sprue G being the one that gives us the parts for this adaptation.

The wings have retained their sharp trailing edges and lovely thin cross section. The ailerons come molded with levers as well as the characteristic “washout”.

Although coming in three pieces, the construction of the top wing doesn’t pose a problem. Just line up the leading edge against a steel rule and apply glue. Filler will easily hide any minor imperfections.

Sprue Z holds the well-detailed engines and machine guns. There are spares of each and frequent buyers of Roden’s other kits should have a good supply by now.

The new rounded fuselage halves needed for the D.V/Va are found on sprue G. Each half is in one piece, unlike previous Albatros versions, so a more trouble free assembly is assured. Outline accuracy is spot on when compared to Ian Stair’s drawings in the Albatros Datafile Special. A minor detail error is that the rearmost inspection hatch on the starboard side of the engine area should not be there. This was a mistake made in the early editions of Stair’s plans in the Datafile but was corrected in later reprints. This hatch in the kit can be easily sanded off. Those that have the original printing of the Datafile Special should also note that that the forward hatches on both sides were drawn too low. Luckily Roden did not copy this error.

An insert to match the lower wings to the new fuselage is also here.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Other essential items contained on this new sprue include exhaust pipes, headrest, 2 types of propeller, wheels, and all struts. These latter items are superbly molded and must be close to scale thickness. The trade off is fragility so care is needed when cleaning up these parts.

Thankfully Roden have molded the V strut complete with the support brace. This makes for easier assembly and the modeller merely cuts it off if it isn’t required for the subject they are modeling. Note that although the kits options quote both the D.V and D.Va, no distinction is made in the instructions regarding the brace.

The kit provides markings for seven aircraft on a decal sheet with perfect colour registration.

The carrier film is nice and thin with the overall finish still being matt.

I) Albatros D.V flown by Oblt. Hermann Goering of Jasta 27.

Goering's victory claims will always be contentious but 22 seems to be the accepted total. Fourteen were scored with Jasta 27 but it is not known how many were in this aircraft.

II) Albatros D.V 1177/17.

One of Rittmeister von Richthofen’s many Albatros fighters, 1177/17 was thought to be completely overpainted in red. Sadly there is no information to confirm if this included the wings. It is believed that Manfred scored 4 victories in this machine between 24 June and 2 July 1917

III) Albatros D.Va flown by Franz Schleiff of Jasta 56.

Having scored his first victories with FA300, Schleiff moved to Jasta 41 and then took command of Jasta 56 on 9 January 1918. Three days after his 12th and final victory, a tracer bullet damaged his left hand so severely that it had to be amputated.

IV) Albatros D.V D.1119/17.

Oblt. Ernst Frieherr von Althaus, the CO of Jasta 10, flew this machine, which came from the first production batch.

It wears an improvised headrest, which photos show is slightly different from that in the kit. The fuselage markings could stand for the Morse code letters “HA”. This representing the nickname “Hussar Althaus” that the pilot acquired when serving with the 1st regiment of the 18th Hussars.

V) Albatros D.Va (sic)

1060/17 was possibly flown by Eduard Dostler who went on to command Jasta 6 in June 1917. As indicated by the serial number, this aircraft was a D.V from the first production batch and not a D.Va as shown in the instructions. As a result, the “V” strut brace should be removed. Photos verify this. Of course if you find a photo were the brace was added later in life….

VI) Albatros D.Va flow by Josef Mai of Jasta 5.

This was one of two machines received by Jasta 5 that was armed with Siemens machine guns. The other being flown by Vzfw. Fritz Rumey. It is no coincidence that both were marked with a bone, which clearly had some special meaning.

Modelers should note that there was a modification to the cartridge chute on the starboard side as a result of the different guns.

VII) Albatros D.V 4693/17 flown by Manfred von Richthofen of Jasta 11.

Two victories were scored in this machine, the 62nd over a DH5 on the 23rd November and the 63rd against a SE5a on the 30th November 1917.

 

 

As expected, this is another fine release from Roden.

Assembly should be easier than the other variants due to the one-piece fuselage halves. The decal options are a mixture of the usual suspects, with some pleasing original examples that are not often provided for.

Recommended


 

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2003 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 12 February, 2003
Last updated 15 August, 2003

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