The
Dragon/DML Fokker Dr1 Triplane was released some years ago as one
in a range of four WW1 aircraft kits. Fokkers DV11 and DV111 together
with a SPAD 13 completed the series whilst a projected Sopwith Camel
has yet to appear. The Triplane conforms to the very high standards
set by the Hong Kong based Dragon/DML, but has been difficult to find
since the colony reverted to Chinese control and the production facility
moved to Shanghai. However, I have seen one Dr1 kit in a Shanghai
box so there is yet hope. Released in three different versions, one
a collectors edition complete with a bust of Manfred von Richthofen,
the Dragon/DML Fokker Dr1 Triplane can be highly recommended.
My
effort was near as dammit straight out of the box, with just a couple
of corrections, one very minor the other only slightly more serious.
The kit has only two faults to speak of and both are easily dealt
with. The first and more compelling problem concerns the wing undersurfaces
which are molded with a perculiar, and decidedly none-prototypical,
sagging fabric effect. There is a slight balooning on the under
wing surfaces of fabric covered aeroplanes, but this is much exagerated
in the kit. I sanded the undersurfaces smooth then re-scribed the
rib stations with a craft-knife. Much less seriously the tips of the
elevators are too pointed and should be rounded off.
In
my view no collection of WW1 models is truly representitive if it
does not include at least one von Richthofen aeroplane, and there
is no doubt that the legend of 'The Red Barron' and The Fokker Triplane
are inseperable. But just to be a little different I chose
to model one of the Rittmiesters earlier triplanes, Fok Dr1 152/17,
rather than one of his legendary all red mounts. This was not to avoid
a clichet, a single colour scheme is actually quite a challenge and
not nearly so easy to accomplish well as might be imagined. The model
was first finished in the standard Fokker scheme of streaky green
uppers and light blue under sides befor a thin coat of red was applied
as and where required. As a result the camouflage paint shows through
the red, as it should.Despite one comment at an IPMS meeting that
'it looks a bit scruffy' I am pleased with the effect.
Athough
no longer easy to find the Dragon/DML Dr1 is worth seeking out, and
it is not impossible that we shall see it come around again as these
things so often do.If the old Aurora WW1 kits are still with us in
various guises after nearly half a century there must be a demand.
Those of you with a liking for larger scales still have the Revell
1/28 Dr1 and the very similar Hobby Craft kit to the same scale. In
1/72 another Revell kit which has ruled the roost for over thirty
years now faces stiff competition. Toko, now Roden, have released
a new kit of the type, available in several versions, which knocks
spots of it's aged predecessor. It's a little gem.
The above brief notes on the Dragon/DML Fokker DrI were the first
thing I ever put on the web back in April 1999. Although updated to
reflect the the recent release of several triplane kits in 1/72 they
are long overdue for replacement and I am grateful to ace modeler
and author Stephen Lawson for the new lease of life which the pictures
reproduced below provide.
Viewing Stephen's models it is apparent that he is an extremely gifted
modeler and one with an affinity for the Fokker DrI. If you like his
work check out Model Aircraft Monthly to which he is a regular contributor.
This material is only part of what Stephen was kind enough to send
me and in future I hope to incorporate more of his contributions into
the site. Until then enjoy. All captions are mine and any errors are
my responsibility alone.Any corrections or additional information
will of course be welcomed.
Candy-stripes
and polka-dots
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on image for more
Josef
Jacobs. Germany's black knight
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on image for more
Red
white and blue.
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on image for more
Prangs!
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on image for more
Standard
schemes
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on image for more
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Dr1 Triplane 
