Availability and quality of the 1:72 Walfisch and Hannover CL.IIIa

[Volker_Nemsch]

Hello!

As we all know it is not easy to find 2-seaters in 1:72 scale, especially if you are looking for German ones. I know that there are producers like Ardpol and Pegasus, but their prices are beyond my finacial possibilities.

My question is: are these above mentioned kits the only reasonably priced ones left on the market (I heard that both are out of production - although the Heller kit was later produced for some time by Airfix)?

What about their quality? Is it time to try to get a few of them into the own stock?

Any comments are welcome!

.

[Tom L.]

As far as I can remember, the Roland C.II kit is very nice externally, absolutely barren internally. As can be expected with older kits, a studious modeler would probably want to replace the engine and guns.

Same goes for the Hannover, but again, if memory serves it has exaggerated rib detail on the wings.
That's about the only negative thing I remember about it. It has a reasonable Argus engine, as long as you accept reasonable as being represented by the top quarter only.
I 'd like to get one of those again, the old bubble on card packaging had some outstanding artwork...

You would probably have to go to E-bay for the Hannover, but Krieger's/Rosemont Hobbies lists the Heller casting of the Walfisch at $4.99; quite inexpensive.

[Ocsi]

hej Volker,

Heller/Airfix Roland C.II
Horrible outlines if you check against the Datafile. You have to correct the wings and the tail. Further you have to add cockpit and engine. It will become a bigger project.

Airfix Hannover Cl. IIIa
Outlines are ok. But a lot of work to bring it up to modern standards.

It always depend on what you want and what you can do!

hej då
Öcsi

[jamo]

I have the Roland in my stash and have built the Hannover. It was fun scratchbuilding the interior (there is nothing there at all, as Tom says) and I added photoetched MG barrels. The engine can be enhanced with valve rocker arms and radiator pipes but only the top of it is visible. The nose needed a little work and so did the area around the pilots MG, but it all depends how fussy you are. Both kits have rings on the undercarriage legs for the axle which should be cut away.

Both are MUCH better than the Airfix RE8 or Bristol Fighter (but even these kits have been built by some gifted modellers into fine representations if you are prepared to put the work in.

Cheers
James

[Kofoed]

Good luck Volker. My fingers are too big for WW1 biplanes in 1/72. A couple of years ago, I was lucky to get my hands into an old Eduard kit of the Hannover in 1/48. From the days of tons of etched parts (the entire interior is ethed) and plastic of not too good quality. Also, the Roland is available in a completely new kit in 1/48 from Eduard. It even comes with a set of ground crew!

Jamo, very nice shots of your Hannover. Is it really in 1/72? If so it's impressive. Where did you find that scheme? It seems very interesting with what looks like a camouflage in nice colours on the fuselage. I thought most Hannovers had large patches painted on.
Regards
Kofoed

[Flute]

> (I heard that both are out of production - although the Heller kit was later produced for some time by Airfix)?<

Othe way round, FWIW. The Roland kit was originally an Airfix offering.


Paul.

[BuzPezold]

Volker,

Have you considered building vacuform kits of German two seaters in 1/72? They can be had at a very reasoable price as well. Check Ebay from time to time. You should be able to come up with one.

Jamo, your Hanover looks fantastic by the way!

Buz