Roden 1/32 Pfalz D.III

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by PrzemoL

I doubt not the model is greatly built and weathered. The newest attached photo proves it. My sincere congratulations, I wish mine were half as good. However, let me complain a bit, that it would be even better to be able to see the two first photos in better quality.

By better quality I assume you mean more pixels? At any rate to see the whole series click here.

Or as most of you know the "build" can be seen when you click here.

[RAGIII]

Stephen, Very inspiring as always! Sorry about the late acknowledgement !!
RAGIII

[StephenLawson]

No worries Rick. Man does not live by acknowledgements alone. . . I build whether anyone likes it or not. Model On!

[alan giles]

I haven't seen the photographic reference for 4056/17,but,if the aircraft is facing into the sun,could it be the top wing's shadow?

[StephenLawson]

Greetings Alan!

Here is what Greg VanWyngarden sent me on the subject of Pfalz D.III 4065/17, ". . , this profile is based on a photo which appeared in “Propellerblatt”, and also in the revised Pfalz D.III Datafile, from R. Zankl. This pilot is unknown and the photo was taken after it wound up in a Jastaschule. The the color scheme as shown is correct, except it may have a black spinner, as this was characteristic of Jasta 16b. But with the angle of the photo, you really can't tell if the spinner was black or not."

My opinion is that the black spine was added after it left Jasta 16b or as a result of repair.

[alan giles]

Thanks,Stephen. Unfortunately,I've only got the old Datafile,because I'd like to see the picture,if only to prove that I am,in fact,talking a load of nonsense. When I saw the shots of your build I thought you had interpreted the black area correctly,maybe from another source. I've noticed this shadow effect on other aircraft,giving false fuselage striping. Similarly,when I first saw Roden's markings guide it struck me that the spine demarcation line led directly to the underside of the upper plane. Also,although one cannot generalise,is it plausible to say that I don't think the spine extension ''looks German''?

[StephenLawson]

Jasta 16b was fairly straight forward with black tails and bands around the fuselage or personal markings on the sides of their Pfalz D.III & D.IIIa types. But again this is just my opinion. I am trying to get the Propellerblatt issue concerned. Is the revised Datafile out yet? Greg has a tremendous jump on these things and I trust his judgement but like you I have some reservations.

Also the spine could have been black but it was probably due to a repair while serving in the Jastaschule. I am guessing here but it was probably not a school trainer but an instructor's machine.

[PrzemoL]

Originally Posted by StephenLawson

By better quality I assume you mean more pixels? At any rate to see the whole series click here.

Or as most of you know the "build" can be seen when you click here.

Yes, that is what I meant. Thanks, Stephen, for the links to more photos, I somehow could have not found them. Sorry for my remark!

[StephenLawson]

Originally Posted by PrzemoL

Yes, that is what I meant. Thanks, Stephen, for the links to more photos, I somehow could have not found them. Sorry for my remark!

No worries. we are good.

[Pfalz Profit]

Very nice build Steve, and I like your little tweeks, like the cutaway engine shroud under the exhaust stacks ... very in-service.

I just bought the kit, too, and I'm farting around with some ideas for a late-war version in black with square crosses.

I just visited the Spruce Goose this weekend and was impressed to see that Howard Hughes used the same kind of Klinkerumpf 45-degree overlapping laminate strips to skin the big plane as Pfalz used on their D-III/D-IIIa.

It may have been more sluggish than some other types, but it was plenty sturdy ... and easily the most elegant lines of any WWI types.