Kit: No. 8005
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Eduard, 800 Proctor Ave., Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Price: $24.99
Comments: Injection molded, 81 parts (36 photoetched, 1 film), decals.
During the middle years of World War I, it became clear to German military leaders that they had fallen behind the Allies in fighter development. After the aircraft manufacturers were given a directive to provide aircraft equal in performance to the new Nieuports, Spads, and Sopwiths, Pfalz produced the D.III, which entered service in September 1917.
Eduard's Pfalz kit is molded in flash-free light gray styrene. Tiny detail parts are photoetched metal, while the windshield and instrument faces are cut from photographic film. Decals provide markings for Pfalz D.IIIs flown by Alfred Lenz and Rudolf Berthold.
The instructions are excellent. The parts map and modeling paint chart are especially handy. A separate color plate provides side- and top-view drawings of the two aircraft featured on the decal sheet.
The kit went together with few problems, though the tiny photoetched parts and complex rigging will test even experienced builders. I encountered only one problem with the fit. When the engine is properly installed in the fuselage, the propeller-shaft hole in the engine won't line up with the hole in the fuselage. Here's an easy fix: Cut off all but 1/8" of the shaft and glue the propeller to the fuselage. It won't turn, but it will be accurate.
Before attaching the struts, landing gear, and top wing, I airbrushed the silver-dope finish with a mix of three parts Testor Model Master chrome trim and one part dark gull gray (FS 36231). I had no problems with the decals. I used stretched sprue for the rigging, but you could use four-pound-test fishing line or fine wire.
I spent 30 hours, and the finished Pfalz looks good compared with photos in Windsock Datafile Pfalz D.III. I recommend Eduard's kit for experienced modelers.
Bill Gebhard