Special Hobby 1/48 scale Phonix D.I

Kit: No. 48027
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Special Hobby, available from Squadron Mail Order, 1115 Crowley Drive, Carrollton, TX 75011-5010, 972-242-8663, www.squadron.com
Price: $36
Comments: Multimedia, 64 parts (27 injection-molded, 11 resin, 15 photoetched, 3 acetate), decals
Pros: Good detail, accurate shapes, excellent decals
Cons: Vague location of some parts, tricky engine alignment, missing radiator pipes

Although the Phönix D.I appeared in small numbers late in World War I, it was rugged and reliable, and several Austro-Hungarian aces used it effectively. Its distinguishing features were the radiator situated horizontally on the top wing leading edge and the Schwarzlose machine guns buried in the nose.

The kit's gray plastic parts have good detail and minimal flash. The resin radiator, exhaust pipes, and gun blast tubes are well cast. The seat belts, instrument panel, tail braces, and other small parts are photoetched metal, and an acetate strip holds the printed instrument gauges and outlines for two windscreens.

Two aircraft, both with the brown mottle scheme applied over all upper surfaces, are the decal subjects. The eight-page instructions indicate some colors, but fail to point out that the cabane, interplane, landing gear, and tail struts are black.

The cockpit assembly fits satisfactorily in the fuselage, but the exact location of the instrument panel unit is unclear. The position of the Hiero engine requires some test fitting because if it isn't right, you won't be able to get the left cabane strut to clear the exhaust tubes. I anchored the pipes to the engine with small segments of fine wire in drilled holes.

I painted the model before adding the top wing and struts. I painted the fabric-covered areas with Polly Scale clear-doped linen, and the wood areas tan. Several shades of brown colored pencil were used to simulate grain on the plywood surfaces.

The brown mottle finish on the upper surfaces of the actual aircraft was done in swirls with a sponge or rag. To simulate this, I used Vallejo brown glaze applied with handmade applicators and Microbrushes. After a thorough drying, the finish was sealed with Polly Scale clear gloss. The decals are some of the best I've used and needed only a little MircoSet applied beneath them.

I used the side-view plans in Windsock Datafile Phönix D.I/II to make jigs of 1/4" foam board to hold the upper wing in position with rubber bands while I glued the cabane and inward-slanting interplane struts in place. The struts were accurate in length. I rigged with painted two-pound nylon fishing line, stretched sprue, and stainless-steel wire. The pipes from the engine to the upper wing radiator were not included so they were fashioned from brass wire.

The model measures and looks right according to my reference. It took me 40 hours to finish, but the paint scheme took most of it. If you have experience building multimedia biplanes, be sure to grab a Phönix.

- Dr. Bill Funcke