Mad Fokker Day: 17 October 2004

Modeling Subjects Group Builds
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Sunday 17 October 2004. Mad Fokker Day. 24 hours to build a 1/72 replica of the famed Fokker Triplane…

Here’s some info to get you started (start THINKING about it, not building it!)…

Fokker Dr1 1/72 kits round-up:

Here’s Revell’s latest Dr.1 kit, priced at £3.99 or c.US$5, replacing their other, nearly 40 years old kit (a collector’s item now!)

and here’s the box arts of some of the many re-editions of the older Revell triplane:

and here, at least with a sligthly more ‘interesting’ scheme:

or even as a set with a hangar and two other contemporary aircraft (a mid-'70s re-issue, probably a REAL collector’s item now!!):

and here’s the box art of the original 1966 (!) issue of the kit:

Also from Revell, their magnetic in flight replica, priced at £22.99, c.US$30

More conventional, Airfix’s very old Fokker Triplane (£3.25 or c.US$5 but discontinued now)

also marketed over the years under many types of boxes (even blisters!) and box art such as:

or:

or even under the even more collectible ‘Dog-Fight’ series, paired with a Bristol F2B:

Possibly ever rarer, MPC’s Fokker Dr.1, also in a ‘Dog-Fight’ box with an ex-Airfix Sopwith Camel, ex-Airfix WWI infantry (the Dr.1 is ex-Airfix too!):

Roden have two Fokker Triplane, retailing at £6.25 here (c.US$9), the F.1:

and the Dr.1

I’m not certain the F.1 kit includes the modified wings and horizontal tailplane that distinguished both types…

Eduards’ basic Dr.1kit, retailing at a mere £3.80 here (c.US$6)

Eduard’s Profipack, with PE set and decals for something different from the usual Richtofen aircraft… (£6.50 or c.US$9)

And Eduard’s Fokker F1, the fourth prototype but near identical to the production Dr.1 (Profipack kit, also at £6.50) - I’m not certain Eduard modified the top wing and horizontal stabilizer either…

And finally, for those really wanting a challenge, the full PE kit from Eduard… (£10.50, cUS$16)

Recently (late Nov 04) released is SMER’s Dr.1 (not their old and quite awful 1/44(!) kit), but apart from a new set of decals, it is the re-boxed, basic Eduard kit… at a slightly higher price of £3.99…!

And to be absolutely thorough, another rarity, a white-metal 1/72 Fokker Dr.1 from Gunze, released in 1977… I’ve never seen it!

Decals and other bits:
FCM 0248, WWI German National Insigna

FCM 72018, with decals for one Dr.1 (plus other planes, all for £7 or c.$10)

Blue Rider sets BR233, 237 and 245, for various colorful Dr.1 from Jasta 2, 4 and 27 Each set priced at £3.50 or c.US$5.
#233:

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/decals/br233.htm
#237:

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/decals/br237.htm
#245:

http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/decals/br245.htm

Almark AKA29, German national insignas, 1916-17:
at £2.95 or c.$4

Almark AKA30, German national insignas, 1918:
at £2.95 or c.$4

Tom’s Modelworks PE set #300: German WWI machine guns ($4.50):

Also available, Eduard’s paint masks for WWI Fokker Dr.1 national insignas (sorry no pics!): EDXS524 (priced at £1.25 or c.US$2)

Books and other references:

Fokker Dr.1 in action (Squadron Signal Publication #1098). Black and white pics, line drawings, color schemes, lots of errors in the captions!

Fokker Dr.1 Aces of WWI, Osprey

More Dr.1books here:
http://www.fokkerdr1.com/Books.htm

Also…
http://www.fokkerdr1.com/
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aircraft/germany/fokker_dri.htm
http://home.talon.net/~bigpine/index.htm
http://www.aviation-top-pics.com/details-Fokker%20Dr-1.htm

For some nice colour profiles including two of Dr.1 flown by the Red Baron:
http://www.wingstrut.com/fokker_dr_i.htm

plus a number of reviews of the new Revell kit:
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/axis_ww1/dr1_revell-new.htm
http://s96920072.onlinehome.us/Gal3/2501-2600/Gal2585_Fokker-Dr1_Wauters/gal2585.htm
http://www.rollmodels.net/ninbox/airplanes/72revellfokkerdr1/72revelldr1.php

Another review of the new Revell kit, in French, but with lots of pictures and further links to modeling Triplanes featuring in comic strips…
http://modelstories.free.fr/analyses/avions/MS2004_3P/REVL_FokDr1/

And here’s some advice and suggestion concerning the streaky blue/green camouflage:
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2579

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As of today (24 September), there are 21 people interested in this project:

Armorchris
Ausf
Balta1
Build22
DanCooper
Dubix88
Frostygirl
Ghettochild
Gsharp
Keyworth
Larry_Dunn
Model Grandpa
Monrad
Phroosh
Pingtang
Rafael Pelote
Rdxpress
Shrikes
T-34
Wildwilliam and myself…

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I am really looking forward to this build/challenge, or at least I was before I started to read the post from the MTD build…no just kidding, I’m still really looking forward to it. I’m already planning strategy in my head and I haven’t even seen the kit yet and the starts still a couple months away.

Since I’m on the west coast of the United States I will be one of last one to start, this will either be good or bad, don’t know, we’ll see. Haven’t figured out which gloss coat I will be able to use if any, future wouldn’t cure in time.

It’s going to be a blast…just like the one the MTD builders are having.[:D]

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which kit do you suggest dj. ive never done any of them

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My wife’s first ever model was Eduard’s Fokker Dr.1 and she managed all right. The kit is nice and easy to put together. Don’t go for the profipack as it brings more troubles than benefit though.

However, Revell’s is the latest out and that’s the one I’ll be building. The critics have been very good about this lil’ one. But if you go Revell, make sure you get the one shown at the top. The older kit can still be found (swap meet and the like) and it’s not that easy nor as good.

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Okay, Domi! I’m officially in!

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Great stuff, Shrikes…! How much was the kit in your Country? Are Revell kits expensive there?

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Got my kit today and all I can say is that’s one lil’ airplane. It is the Revell kit. I was having a hard time visualizing just how small it would be; now I know. It’s been awhile since I built a 1/72 aircraft. The lighted magnifier will be getting a work out on October 17th.

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yes, it IS a small thing, isnt’it…?!

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Domi: i got it for about 250 Philippine Pesos, Which translates to a little less than $5 USD. Not bad at all. I guess it’s because my LHS owner orders her stuff from Hannats, and gets a bulk discount . I was tempted by the Fokker D VII, but when i took a peek inside, the wings and fuselage were covered in injector pin marks… Yuck!

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Great stuff!

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Fokkermad people, here’s another superb website dedicated to the Fokker Dr.1…

http://www.fokkerdr1.com/

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Just a question for you fellows: How do you plan to simulate the wooden propellor[?] [:)]

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Hry Shrikes,
Paint and washes is how I’ve done it. If your good with wood carve one, I know a guy back home did on all his wood bladed props.
Good Hunting,
G.W.

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Domi:
this is soooo tempting, because i’ve been thinking about trying
a ww1 plane for awhile… the only problem is the Sunday date,
so i won’t b able 2 join in the Mad Day madness, but mite just
look 4 the revell kit & build it at my usual ‘snail in molasses’ pace.
but thanx 4 the info & inspiration, as usual…
any suggestions re: 1/72 SPAD or Sopwith Camel as a companion piece ?
what did Nungesser fly ? probably a Nieuport or SPAD…
bonne chance, les as de l’air ! [:D]

frosty[:)]

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Hi everyone,

I haven’t been much around this forum (lack of time), but I’de like to join on this one. I enjoy building WW1 stuff and I have several options on the shelf (Revell and Eduard), but probably I´ll go with the Revell one.

Since i´m based in Portugal, I´ll start before than most of you!

Looking forward!

Best regards,
Rafael

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It took the Mad Fokker Day for me to sign up to this forum. Very cool idea. I got one for me, one for my 15 year old son, and one for the Misses. I Revell and two eduards. The FI type is okay, right?

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Rafael and Gsharp: welcome aboard!

Rafael, we’ll be starting around the same time since we are on the same time zone!

Gsharp, Eduard’s F.1 is fine by me, as it is definitely an early Dr.1. Be aware though that the F.1 had a top wing and the horizontal stabiliser that had different shapes from the ‘production’ Dr.1 that followed. I can e-mail you some drawings showing you what needs to be done as I’m pretty sure the Eduard kit doers not come with those modifications. It’s not a hard conversion though and with superglue, I feel it can still be done in a day!

Frosty, Well we can give you another full day if that makes it easier for you. I realise some people have other more important things to do on their Sundays! I’d love to see you joining this! As to Nungesser, he is best known for his Nieuport 17, all silver with the skull and coffin insigna… Brrr! A cold customer, this Nungesser!

http://www.angelfire.com/realm/bodhisattva/nungesser.html

HR Models have (had) one Nieuport 17 but Hannants’ website says it’s discontinued…

You could try a Nieuport 11 ‘Bébé’ ; Toko have one beautiful 1/72 model of this bird, with Tsarist Russian markings. Hobbycraft of Canada have a 1/28 model of the Bébé too!

Nungesser aso flew the SPAD XIII (camouflaged with the same insigna). The SPADs are much more difficult aircraft to model because of the many strings that come with them! My advice would be to start with the Fokker Dr.1, then pass on to a Nieuport 11 to hone in your skills then go for the SPAD XIII. After that, you’ll be ready for the Ilya Murometz four-engined biplaneTsarist bomber…[:)]

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For those considering the blue/streaky green camo, and a touch of weatheering, please follow this excellent thread!

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25799

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Ok, I’ll do it too, have been here a few times and somehow every time I misread the date, actually thought it was already over.
In fact if my memory serves me right, the Fokker Dr1 from Revell (or it may have been Airfix) was my first kit ever, this will surely be a trip into the past for me.

One question though, the title says Mad Fokker Day, not Mad Fokker Dr1 Day, does this mean, other Fokkers are welcome too, if so, I would considder building a few different ones simultaniously, if allowed…[:D]