Click on the images for larger pictures.

Added 16/06/2007. Here is an nearly completed 1/48 scale Eduard Albatros D.III.

Added 28/7/2006. Question posed on W.W.I model forum about B and W shots of olive only streaked Tripe.  Some are of 139/17 and some 454/17.

Added 15/6/2006. Roden 32nd Fokker Triplane Dr. 1 127/17 (Works Number 1838)

This machine was dispatched from Fokker’s factory at Schwerin on Oct 29 1917 and as a
result of the requirements for a strengthened wing, had it wings replaced in the field
probably at Air Field Park IV.

It is not known how long it was out of service, but when photographed in late February 1918 on Phalempin aerodrome when the commander of Jagdgeschwader 1, Rittmeister Manfred von Ricthofen visited Jasta 30 it was still basically in it’s factory finish. The engine cowling had only been painted red at this time and a update to the national insignias had started. A misinterpretation of the painting orders resulted in the overpainting of the white background of the rudder in camouflage leaving a 5 cm wide white border. This treatment should have been applied to the upper wing and fuselage crosses, but not to the rudder which was to be left as delivered, although this rudder overpainting became typical for Jasta 11 triplanes at this time period.

This aircraft later received additional red overpaint as in all struts, wheel centres, top
surface of the top wing, entire tail unit along with turtle deck to a point aft of the cockpit. In this later form von Ricthofen used 127/17 to score his 71st, 74th, and 76th victories in late
March/ early April 1918.

The model kit I used is the 1/32 scale Roden kit. The top wing inspection panel was
modified to more realistically portray this feature. A written description with photos
appeared in the “Rudder Post “ column of “ Windsock International Vol. 22 No.2

The triplane’s finish is light green, dark green and dark brown wet blended. Back in the
1980’s Wally Batter presented in the publication “WW1 Aero” a most convincing argument regarding the wet blending of two or more shades or hues on the fabric using the same
brush dipped alternately in either colour without cleaning it.
More recently the wet blending of colours on the Triplane was again discussed by Dave Roberts in Windsock International Vol. 18 No. 5 .

I have based my finish on the Robert’s article. Further inspiration was provided by the
recent triplane profiles by Ray Rimmel which appear in publications from Albatros Productions I must also give credit to my good long time friend Evelyn Petterson, master photograhic artist who taught me some very cool painting techniques.

This subject of wet blending of colour in the streaky Fokker finish is also discussed in
Albatros Productions “Fokker D.VII Anthology 1 “

I used Cutting Edge Modelworks “ The Baron’s Tripes” for the decals on this model. These decals are most complete. I did find a couple of minor errors in details, but a quick check
with Alex Imrie’s “The Fokker Triplane” corrected them.

I used etched gun jackets and seat belts by Toms Modelworks.

Added 17/3/2005. Well, I hope a theme is becoming apparent. I believe this makes my sixth triplane in 1/48th scale.

This is my first triplane from a non-Jadgeschwader affiated Jasta.
A special thanks to my long time friend Evelyn Petterson, master photographic artist who taught me some very cool painting techniques.

 

Fokker Triplane Dr.I 139/17 (works number 1850)

This model represents the veteran Dr.I 139/17 whilst in service with Jasta 5 during May of 1918.

Dr.I 139/17 was one of 12 aircraft dispatched from the Fokker factory at Schwerin on 12 December 1917 and was delivered to Ltn. Lothar von Ricthofen’s Jasta 11. Ltn. von Contra
is one Jasta 11 pilot known to have flown it in Feb 1918.

The aircraft is finished in the streaky Fokker factory finish. This finish can be difficult to replicate, but by patiently building up the colour, good results can be achieved.
You may use a base coat such as an enamel-based paint while you apply the streaking with acrylic paints. If you are unhappy with the results, immediately strip the acrylics with a remover that will not affect your enamel base.

The aircraft arrived from the factory with black iron cross insignias painted on large white cross-fields. These cross-fields were often overpainted in the field leaving 25mm borders around the iron cross insignia. The order to convert to straight-sided cross-dated March 17th 1918 resulted in the cross style that I used on the model. The rudder is white with the appropriate cross style painted in black.

The original personal markings consisted of horizontal white fuselage stripe and a pale (possibly blue) disc applied to the fuselage sides as well as possibly to the
turtledeck Along the way it eventually acquired a full set of Jasta 11 markings consisting of red cowl and interplane struts. The cabane struts, landing gear struts, wheel centres and wingtip skids could also acquire a coat of Jasta 11 red. Based on the May 1918 photo of this aircraft, the wing tip skids appear to have been in factory finish.

In May 1918 Jasta 5 shared the same airfield as JG.1 and was the recipient of at least 11 hand-me-down triplanes from Jasta 6 and Jasta 11. These units were re-equipping with the superb Fokker D.VII fighter. Jasta 5 exchanged it’s worn out Albatros D.V /D.Va fighters for equally worn out examples of Anthony Fokker’s quirky triplane.

The May 1918 photo shows changes made to the personal markings with the disc
overpainted.
A white vertical stripe had at some point been added to the fuselage. The engine cowl, cabane struts, landing gear struts and wheel centres most likely remained in the red overpainting they received at Jasta 11. The red interplane struts were overpainted in
possibly Jasta 5 green or Fokker green.

The triplanes tail most likely in green, as Jasta 5 was well known on both sides of the lines as the “Green Tails”.

The formidable Jasta 5 ace Josef Mai’s flight log shows he flew Dr.I 139/17 on May 15th
1918 to score his 12th victory over a Bristol F2B of the RAF’s 11 Sqdn.

 

1/48 in progress shots of the Roden kit Fokker D.VII.

 

Added 15/3/2005. This is the finished 1/48 scale Roden early Fokker built D.VII .

 

 

The markings are of Ltn. d. R. Willi Nebgen of Jasta 7. I added the flare tube and
flare holder as per the original.

Notice the correction done to the interplane strut. I lengthened the bottom front strut
where it attaches to the lower wing. The top wing, wheels and propeller are just
 placed on for the photographs,to get an rough idea how it will look when completed.

 Fokker D.VII flown by Ltn. d. R. Willi Nebgen of Jasta 7.

 

1/48 Tamiya/Bringuier Spitfire Mk.Vc painted to represent BR 135.

This aircraft flew with 249 Sqdn. based at Takali , Malta in August
1942. Plt. Off. George Beurling , the top scoring Commonweath pilot on
Malta is known to have flown this aircraft.

   

 

1/48 Dragon Fokker D.VII

Fokker D.VII flown by Ltn. Oliver Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay. Jasta 15 August 1918
 

 

1/48 Dragon Fokker Dr.Is

Fokker Dr.1 586/17 , Ltn. Ernst Udet, Jasta 4 , 1918.
 

 

 

 3/10/2004. Fokker Dr. 1 454/17, Ltn. Lothar von Richthofen , Jasta 11 , 1918

 

 

Fokker Dr.1 204/17 , Ltn Paul Baümer Jasta Boelcke, 1918

 

 

1/48th Dragon Fokker D.VII

Fokker D.VII ( Albatros) Ltn. Carl Degelow , Jasta 40s , 1918.
 

 

Fokker D.VII ( OAW) Oblt. Eduard Schleich, Jagdgruppe 8b , 1918
 

 

 

F4U-1A flown by VF-17 ace Ira Kepford.
 

 

BF-109G-10 flown by Erich Hartmann.
 

 

P-39 is flown by Russian ace Alexandr Pokryshkin.
Kit by Monogram.
 

 

Macchi C202 flown by Faliero Geli and was shot down by Canadian ace Flt. Sgt. George Beuring for his 13th victory , 27 July 1942.
Kit by Hasagawa.
 

 

Kawanishi Shiden- kai is flown by ace Sho-ichi Sugita.
 

 

The Mitsubishi Raiden is flown by ace Sada-aki Akamatsu
 

 

The Mitsubishi Zero is flown by ace Saburo Saki.
 

 

LM-10 " Falcon"
The LM is a very highly converted 1/48 Monogram kit. It represents the first of the "J" class LM. It was flown on Apollo 15 and landed in the Apennine Mountain's Marsh of Decay,
July 30 1971. The model and the finish is very, very accurate.
I spent a lot of time researching this model.
 

 

Alan B. Shepard Jr , Fra Mauro Highlands, Feb 5 ,1971.
1/32 scale Figure by EVA models.