Roden 1/32 scale Fokker Dr.I

Kit: No. 601
Scale: 1/32
Manufacturer: Roden, from Squadron Mail Order, 972-242-8663, www.squadron.com
Price: $37.98
Comments: Injection-molded, 37 parts, decals
Pros: Well-molded, good detail, handy optional parts, well-printed and accurate decals
Cons: Fit problems, some interior details invisible when the model is finished

The Fokker triplane is known by aviation buffs as the favorite mount of the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. Roden's new 1/32 scale release of this aircraft will please World War I fans with its fine detail and markings for four Dr.Is flown by Kempf, von Richthofen, Jacobs, and Udet.

The Dr.I had minimal rigging, so I thought building the model would be easy. I was wrong! Most parts required cleanup of mold parting seams, and some required modification or omission to make a good fit possible. All the control surfaces are molded separately and separate control horns are included. The cowl does not have the semicircular panel on its face plate, but this can be drawn onto the painted cowl with a sharp pencil guided by a circle template. There's a choice of horizontal stabilizers and elevators, one set slightly larger than the other, suggesting an early F.1 kit version to come. This kit has two propellers; one with curved leading edges, the other straight. The molded-on hub detail is great.

The 15-part Oberursel engine is especially well-done. Two sets of machine guns are supplied, one pair without jackets if you wanted to add aftermarket photoetched items. The interior is well-detailed, but no instrument face decals or seat belts are supplied.

The tailplane struts are thin and fragile. I broke both during cleanup. Be aware of a mistake in the instructions. The top wing tips should be A7 and A8; D10 and D11 are the tips for the middle and bottom wings.

I couldn't get both ammunition containers (4D) to fit in the designated area, and since you can only see the rearmost through the open cockpit, I added that one only. I also left off the delicate engine mount (8C) since it can't be seen. I had to enlarge the cutouts in the upper deck (4A) to accommodate the ammo belt and shell chutes for the guns. The engine fits nicely in the cowl and has a sturdy shaft mount.

The lower wing/fuselage joint required work, and the interplane struts and holes for them in the wings needed repeated test fitting and adjustment.

I chose the lesser-known Red Baron mount that has transition markings with both Patee and Latin crosses. The paints were Polly Scale throughout except for the dark green streaking with thinned Model Master British dark green. The decals were considerably better than previous Roden kit decals I have applied. I used wire for the cross braces and control lines.

Once finished, the model looks great, and it's accurate, too. I spent 50 hours on this model, much of it working on the fit and painting. If you're building 1/32 scale World War I aircraft, this one should be in your "to build soon" pile.

- Dr. Bill Funcke