Eduard 1/72 Fokker Dr.I Weekend Edition
By Matt Bittner
Since we've provided both First Looks and a full build of Eduard's 1/72 Fokker Dr.I, I'll just explain about this particular release, kit #7405. First you do get all the parts necessary to make a 1/72 Fokker Dr.I, without all the photoetch and masks. Next you get markings for just one aircraf, that of Lothar von Richthofen's "yellow" bird of Jasta 11, 1918, Fokker Dr.I 454/17. The decals are up to typical Eduard standards and in register. Even though the scheme is Lothar's, the decals - minus the serial - can be used for any Triplanes in 1/72 scale.
There are two parts I'm not sure what they're for that don't exist in the two kits I've built and am working on. I'm thinking it has to do something with lining up the wing struts, but I'm not exactly sure. The instructions make no mention of them, but yet there they are on the sprue. Interesting.
The only thing I will do in addition to build this out of the box, is eventually replace the jackets of the machine guns with photoetch. Nothing else represents the German WW1 cooling jackets than photoetch. The engine, if memory serves, is also a bit anemic, but I'm uncertain at this point what I will do with this. Too bad Vector doesn't scale their Oberursal down to 1/72. I've seen that in the larger scales and it's superb.
So, could this be a weekend build? In the right hands, especially with someone that doesn't care about the details mentioned above. Couple it with the Gunsight Graphics streaking decals, and it definitely could be a very quick build.
My thanks to Eduard for the review kit.