Siemens Schuckert

Siemens Schuckert DDR1 Triplane, Scratchbuilt, 1/72 scale, based on Windsock Dataplan #18. Construction was not that complicated due to the small fuselage which is sheet styrene; guns, wheels, engines, seat and airscrew by Aeroclub; wings by Roseparts, struts and tailboom by Contrail; two cowlings from Revell triplanes and decals by Americal. Rigging by DURAS. Paint is Floquil white, and Humbrol Unbleached linen. Wing ribs are round stock attached with Weld-on 3 and sanded almost flat.

The DDR1 was an extremely unorthodox experimental fighter triplane designed and built in Oct 1917. It was dubbed the "The Flying Egg" and was powered by two 110hp siemens Halske Sh 1 rotaries. It crashed on it's maiden flight in 11/1917 and was never rebuilt.

Siemens Schuckert SSW R.1 1/15 by BLUE RIDER, 1/144 scale, vacuform.

Combination vacuform, brass and white metal. No kit number, but each kit was numbered, this kit was 271. A complex kit, the entire tail section being brass. The wings and fuselage are vacuform. All struts and gear are brass. The props are white metal. THE KIT SURVIVED BEING SHIPPED TO THE EAST COAST FROM CALIFORNIA.

Siemens Schuckert D.I Conversion, 1/72 scale.

The Nieuport 11 had a profound impact of the German Army Air Serivce and the type was widely copied. The most faithful of these "copy-cat" designs was the Siemens Schuckert D.I. Due to problems with the innovative Siemens-Halske Sh1 rotary, the original order of 150 D.I's was reduced to 95 actually completed. By mid 1917 performance of the SSW D.I was no longer up to requirements. Many D.I's were used by the flying schools although small numbers did appear on the Western Front.

The model depicits a late production machine in camouflage finish. The kit is converted from a Revell Nieuport 17. This conversion is described in detail by Ray Rimell in WINDSOCK Volume 5, No.3 Autumn 1989, pages 25-27.

Siemens Schuckert D.III by PEGASUS MODELS, short run injection mold, 1/72 scale.

To take advantage of its new engine, the 160hp SH III, Siemens Schuckert designed an original and advanced fighter in the SSW D.III. Delivery of of the D.III began in 1/1918 but teething problems sent it back to the factory for modifications. The D.III was returned to service later in the year and used mainly for home defence by Kestas 2, 4b, 5, 6, and 8 over Western Germany.

The model decipited was flown by Oblt. Ernst Udet, Staffelfuhrer, Jagdstaffel 4, Metz, 1918.

Siemens Schuckert D.IV by TOKO MODELS, injection mold, 1/72 scale.

The SSW D.IV became operational in August 1918 when the first deliveries were made to Jastas 14 and 22 and to Marine Luft Feld Jasta. 280 machines were ordered but it is fairly certain that no more than about 50 D.IV's ever saw active service. The D.IV differed from the D.III in that both upper and lower wings were now identical in shape and no more than one metre chord. The D.IV had a top speed of 118 mph and its rate of climb was spectacular.