Miscellaneous German

Sierra Scale Model Kit #48005, 1/48 Scale.

A vacuform kit with 19 metal parts (struts, props, guns, ...) Interior and propeller guards are scratchbuilt. A very large kit, but well done. Great Potential For Superdetailing.

Cameo 54MM metal, of Manfred von Richthofen.

Found in a collection, the figure was stripped of all paint and repainted with Grumbacher Hyplar Acrylic and mounted on a wood base. The wing is from a Revell 1/72 DR.1.

Ago C.II by Joystick Models 1/72 scale vacuform. Ago C.II, Imperial German Air Service 1915.

Introduced to the Front in June 1915, the Ago C.I was one of the few single engined pushers to see combat service and was the first German aircraft armed with a Parabellum LMG 14 machine gun. Only 64 Ago pushers have been identified yet the type enjoyed a long, active service life due to its design and robust construction. The Ago lasted at the Front for almost two years-the maximum number of 23 was recorded on 30 June 1916. The Ago C.II was fitted with three-bay wings and only a few were built for the navy.

Etrich Taube by Pegasus short run injection mold in 1/72 scale.

Built by Igo Etrich in 1913, this design went on to be manufactured under license by 57 other companies. The Taube also holds the distincition of being the first aircraft to be used as an offensive weapon: in the Turkish campaign of 1911.

The trailing edges were thinned and three spars were added to separate the wings from the fuselage. The color scheme was achieved by sparying the model Light Ghost Grey, lightly overspraying with white except the trailing edges. The trailing edges and national marking areas were taped and Floquil Grimy Black was randomly oversprayed. A fine mist was applied to the other areas after removal of the tape. The weathering is pastel chalk applied with a brush.

Halberstadt D.II by Merlin Models 1/72 scale short run injection.

The Deutsche Bristol Werke was founded on April 9, 1912 to built Bristol aircraft under license. When the war started, the name was changed to Halbersadter Flugzeug Werks on Sept 30, 1914. The firm built about 1900 aircraft, including the D-Type fighters. Although the Halberstadt was the first single seat D-type to reach the front and were popular with pilots, very few were produced and were overshodowed by the new Albatros Fighters. Halberstadt fighters remained at the Front until the end of the war.

The model is a modified D.III flown by Lt. Otto Bernert with a very unusual machine gun placement. The main difference between the D.II and D.III was the Argus 120hp As.II engine. (Reference: Cross and Cockade, Vol 11/No. 3/Autumn 1970 page 274)

This kit is first one produced under the Merlin name. The kit is well molded with two decal options. This kit was built soon after its release in 1985.

Halberstadt D.II by Pegasus Models. 1/72 scale short run injection

The model depicted was manufactured by Hannover, and was operational in the latter part of 1916. Most D.II's of that period were painted Red Brown and Dark Green over unbleached linen or light Blue. Several photos of this aircraft show the fin cross placed either on a white background or with the standard thin white outline. The typical Hannover serial was painted in white with the adjacent cross in a non standard position further back down the fuselage.

The kit included metal parts with one decal option. The kit can be built out of the box and will satisfy most modellers as to detail and quality. There were no problems encounted and the the kit tool about 10-12 hours to build.

PZK-2 by Roden 1/72 scale injection mold.

The Austro-Hungarian PKZ (Petroczy-Karman-Zurovec) was designed by Stephen Petroczy as a replacement for gas filled observation ballons. It was to be a tethered helicopter, raised and lowered by cables from the ground. An observer was to be positioned in the cupola basket above the engines and propellers. Powered by three 120 hp Le Rhone engines, the PKZ made about 30 successful flights. The project never became operational because the military rejected the idea due to the high danger to the observer. Nevertheless, the PKZ-2 was the first real helicopter and the only helicopter that flew in World War One.

The kit is 100% out of the box and with the exception of the cupola and props, the model is hand painted. The kit is very well engineered and goes together with no problems. It is a very delicate kit and extreme care must be taken when removing the parts from the sprue. The build was greatly enhanced by the excellent article in WINDSOCK Volume 6, No. 2 March/April 1990, pages 4-9 and 31. There is also an article on a 1/48th scratch build PKZ-2.

Hannover CL.II by Airfix 1/72 scale injection mold

This is the Airfix kit from the late 1960's and is still the only kit of the Hannover two seater. The kit was built out of the box and as old as the kit is, there is little to no flash and clean up of the parts takes only minutes to compete. All decals are by Americal and from the kit. The gun, gun ring, prop and wheels are from Aeroclub. This is an excellent kit with potential for a considerable amount of detailing. The color scheme is not authentic. Reference material was Datafile #23, Hannover CL.III.

The kit was built for a customer and took about 10 hours start to finish.

Otto Doppledecker B-Type by Phoenix Models 1/72nd scale vacuform

The Otto Doppeldecker pusher biplane first flew in 1913 and served with the Imperial German Air Service during the early years of WW1, with the first combat flight on August 10, 1914. It is estimated that Otto build approximately 150 pusher biplanes from 1912 through 1915.The company was taken over in 1916 by BFW due to the ill health of its owner Gustav Otto.

This kit was under construction in 1999 when it went on the shelf for some unknown reason. It was 60% completed when construction halted. This is a basic vacuform with all metal parts (engine, prop and wheels) being provided by Aeroclub and the decals probably from Americal. The unbleached linen is a blend of Floquil Depot Buff and White. The fuselage is Testor's Wood over the CDL with a dark brown streaked over it.

I do not know many hours were involved in 1999 but I do know it took about 15 hours to complete the final 40% of the build, mainly due to the extensive rigging.

The information for the build is found in Windsock International Vol. 11, No.1 Jan/Feb 1995, pages 21-24.

LVG C.VI by Pegasus 1/72nd scale short run injection mold

The design of the C.VI began in April 1917 as a lightened C-type powered by a 200 Benz Bz.IV engine. The first C.VI production order was placed in March 1918 and manufacture continued until the end of the war. The C.VI was operational only the last six months of the war but a total of 400 C.VI biplanes were in Front line inventory. The plane was fast and maneuverable and well liked by its crews. Various police and civil roles into the 1920s used the plane. (Windsock Datafile 17)

This model depicts a C.VI in late 1918. The five-color lozenge is by Pegasus and the rib tapes were made with a Sharpie Ultra Fine blue pen. The fuselage color is light yellow with wood grain dry brushed on. Due to the time involved applying the lozenge, the building time was around 20 hours.

Halberstadt CL.II by Pegasus Models. 1/72nd scale short run injection mold.

The Halberstadt was designed as a new "light C-type" as a two-seat escort fighter to protect heavier observation from attack. The first Halberstadts arrived at the Front in late July 1917 and was greeted with universal acclaim and had met all Schusta criteria with climb rate, stability, maneuverability and safe flight being reported as very good. In autumn 1917, it was reported that the type made a very effective ground-attack machine with its ability to change altitude rapidly to confuse enemy groundfire. The CL.II remained in full operational service until the war's end.

The model depicts a plane flown by Schlasta 26b. Staffel commander Hauptmann Ehrhardt wrote "in my Staffel we painted every machine with an undulating red flame."

The model, released in 1992, is built out of the box using kit decals. "The body work and also the center section of the top plane are covered with a scumble (I like that word) of colors arranged in indefinite areas and shading into one another. The colors used are a cloudy yellow, dark and light greens, brown, purple and a light blue." (Rimell) I achieved this with a blunt brush, going over the surfaces until I was happy with the results.

The decals were applied at a 45 degree angle using Aero Master four color lozenge on the upper surfaces and Microscale four color for the lower surfaces. The rib tapes were applied with a Sharpie Ultra Fine blue pen. I used four color lozenge because I have a large supply of the decals and did not want them to go bad. I have never put the lozenge on at an angel and wanted to see the results. I am pleased with the finished product and this one of the easiest Pegasus kits I have built.

Reference material is Windsock Datafile # 27.

LFG V.19 "Putbus" by Phoenix Models 1/72nd scale vacuform

Built during WW1, the LFG V.19 represented a milestone in the development of all-metal aircraft construction. The aircraft was developed under high secrecy for the German Admiralty as a submarine borne spotter seaplane. The intention was for every large U-boat to be equipped with its own scout aircraft. The aircraft was construction entirely of duralumin.

The V.19 could be broken down and fitted into five 70 cm diameter tubes fitted to the submarine. It is said the V.19 could be broken down and stowed by a five man crew in 15 minutes. It took 30 minutes to set up and make ready the aircraft for flight.

The sole prototype V.19 was revealed to the world in 1921 in an attempt to gain work for the LFG factory. There is no record of the ultimate fate of the LFG V.19.

The kit provided both decals and metal parts. The decals were made by Blue Rider and Aeroclub provided the metal. This kit was released in 1990 and I built it in 1997. Phoenix Models was a creation of Joe Chubbock, a master mold maker and enthusiast of WW1 aviation.