Fokker D.VII
(OAW-early built)

Roden 1/48

Reviewed by Robert Baumgartner

 Roden's 1/48 scale Fokker D.VII (OEW-early built) may be ordered online from Squadron.com
 

Roden’s latest release in the Fokker D.VII family is the licence built OAW version. The Ostdeutschen Albatros Werken made quite a few changes to the pattern aircraft that they were lent, resulting in some significant changes.

The kit represents an early build and as such the engine panels didn’t have the multitude of louvers that later aircraft were to receive. Instead we have covers with plain access doors as well as the one-piece starboard top panel/radiator fairing.

All this appears on the new sprue F that also holds the appropriate radiator with centrally mounted filler.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

Other sprues are more familiar except this time the modeler chooses some of the alternate parts offered. There are 6 frames in total providing 104 light grey parts.

Sprue V has the two types of engines, one Mercedes and the other BMW so a spare is available for other projects. These still exhibit sharp detail and the machine guns look as good as ever. The engine can be displayed with the covers off but one must be careful to position it correctly. There can be a tendency to locate it too low.

Remember not to install the interior framework if the covers are to be kept on.

The usual cockpit items are to be placed between the fuselage halves and Roden have supplied most of them. There is a lovely rendition of the control column, complete with separate throttle levers, instrument panel, compass, fuel pressure pump and rudder bar. A floor and seat are also seen as is a rear fabric screen and fuel tank. A couple of extra details can be added however, these being the second “throttle” and the ignition control handle. Both were mounted on the port side.

A nice representation of the interior structure is found inside the fuselage halves. None of this is detrimental to the outer surfaces as there is not a sink mark in sight. When compared to the latest information found in the Anthology series published by Albatros Productions, the outlines matched perfectly.

Due to the thickness of the wings, Roden have moulded these in two halves. As expected, the rib detail is wonderfully subtle as is the representation of the leading edge ply sheathing. Care must be taken to match up these halves, as the trailing edge scalloping on the bottom wing is quite vague in places. A little filler should be used to match up the upper bottom wing with its fully moulded counter part.

The ailerons have been provided as separate parts, along with the elevators, and these really look good. A little care is needed with the cleaning up of the hinge slots to ensure a proper fit. Cleverly the control horns fit into slots in the ailerons to provide a very secure attachment.

Stacking pads are present on the top wing but are surprisingly absent on the lower ones. Some small sections of plastic rod will come in handy to add these items.

Four sheets of decal are provided, two of which contain the upper and lower four-colour lozenge, and another supplies the light blue rib tapes. All sheets were in perfect register with a nice thin carrier film.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Three options are catered for; each chosen to reflect the early OAW built D.VII:

Fokker D.VII (OAW), Jasta 4, 1918 flown by Ernst Udet.

This controversial aircraft was an obvious choice for the kit as it belonged to one of Germany’s best. He was their second highest scoring ace and this is one of at least four machines that he flew.

Roden sensibly quote the source of the material used for the colour scheme. In this case it is the well-reasoned discussion put forward by Dave Roberts in the Fokker D.VII Anthology 2.
It was in this aircraft that Udet was “fooled” by an observer in a French Breguet XIV.

Having apparently disabled the rear gunner with an attack from behind, Udet flew to within point blank range to finish off the aircraft. After seemingly feigning injury, the rear gunner sprang to life and sprayed the unsuspecting Udet with machine gun fire. The crippled German machine limped back to its own lines only to suddenly plunge into a steep dive. After taking to his parachute, Udet became snagged on the rudder. When he finally came free, his chute opened with only a few meters to spare.

Fokker D.VII (OAW), 1918, pilot and Jasta unknown

Unfortunately this machine remains unidentified. As such its colours can only be speculated upon and Roden have chosen a light grey front with dark green rear.

Fokker D.VII (OAW), Jasta 12, 1918 flown by Ltn. d R Hans Besser.

Although Besser claimed 2 victories, he was just credited with 1. His association with Jasta 12 wasn’t for very long as he only joined in August 1918. The broom marking is a play on words regarding his name and stood out well against the JG II blue fuselage.

 

 

No longer does the modeler have to chop and sand endlessly to convert a generic D.VII into the version wanted.

With Roden bringing out their family of D.VIIs, life just got a whole lot easier. The bonus of an engine to expose will please many and open up a multitude of diorama possibilities.

Highly Recommended
 

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2004 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 22 October, 2004
Last updated 22 October, 2004

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