Fokker Aircraft of WWI: Volume 3 | Early Biplane Fighters
By Matt Bittner
Author: Jack Herris & Jörn Leckscheid
Publisher: Aeronaut Books
ISBN: 978-1-953201-07-2
Binding: Softcover
Pages: 298
Aeronaut Books has been producing a series of books on aircraft built and flown by Fokker, well known for their Dr.I Triplane and D.VII. Less known are the other types, aside from their early monoplanes, the E.I, E.II, etc. Thankfully they've released this book on the early Fokker biplanes.
Definitely not as well known as the Albatros biplanes, the Fokker early-biplanes still had their role. They weren't spectacular in the air-to-air combat role and eventually were relegated to serve as trainers. However, until the Albatros biplanes were built in large quantities they still held their own.
And a lot of the famous German aces flew these, such as Jacobs, Böhme, Kissenberth, Udet, Boelcke, etc. In fact, Udet had a metal silhouette of a person placed on the back of his Fokker D.III to make it look like a two-seater. Boelcke's Fokker D.III was sent to the Zeughaus Museum in Berlin on orders of the Kaiser after Boelcke's death. Unfortunately it didn't survive WWII.
It's a great thing Aeronaut has published this book as references on the early Fokker biplanes was almost non-existant until its publication. A book definitely worth picking up if you enjoy German WWI aircraft.
Unfortunately the modeling world hasn't been too kind for the early Fokker biplanes:
- Fokker D.I: 1/72 Classic Plane vac; 1/72 Meikraft injected; 1/72 Merlin injected; 1/144 Sram resin
- Fokker D.II: 1/72 Classic Plane vac; 1/72 HR Model resin; 1/72 Merlin injected; 1/48 Gavia injected; 1/48 Sierra Scale vac; 1/48 Special Hobby injected; 1/32 Special Hobby injected
- Fokker D.III: 1/72 Cramer Craft vac; 1/72 HR Model resin
- Fokker D.IV: None
- Fokker D.V: 1/72 Cramer Craft vac; 1/72 Veterans72 resin; 1/48 Special Hobby
If anyone wants to start 3D printing these biplanes in 1/72, I definitely would line up to buy them.
Huge, HUGE thanks to Aeronaut Books for sending this to review. Contact them direct for ordering information.