1/48 Fokker Dr.I in brass origami - Aerobase

[StephenLawson]

Greetings forumites.

With my first ever payment for a published article, I just purchased the Aerobase kit #A001. The subject is of course the Fokker Dr.I Triplane in 1/48 scale. This Japanese based company does etched metal kits like the Spirit of St Louis, Gee Bee Racer and the Graf Zepellin. The Zep is in a much smaller scale. The also have the series in 1/72 and smaller.

Heres what you get: There are two frets of brass. This includes all components for the strip down, Triplane structure. The cowling/engine is one piece dull red plastic or high quality resin. There is also one retainer screw for the cowling/engine, propeller and fire wall to be unified.

Even just a cursory check says that The guns, wheels and propeller need to be replaced (they're 2 dimensional items in profile.) The cowling/engine will also be replaced (in my case all by DML/Dragon items.) Also the instructions are 17 step, exploded views. Text is all in Japanese.

See them at http://www.nnc.or.jp/~aerobase/

More later STL

[Rick]

First payment for a published article? Way to go Stephen!! Now the obvious question, how's your Japanese?? Rick

[Roundel]

I've read of etched brass model kits of trains and buildings, so planes would be a logical step. It's curious that while many aircraft have been built many of metal, very few kits have been so made.

[StephenLawson]

Rick: my Japanese really s**ks. I'm trying to get English versions from the company. They do offer english transaltions on the website. I just hope they'll have the forsight to provide copies of their instructions.

Roundel: All of Aerobase' kits are strip down versions. The brass is strictly structural framework. You ought to see their Graf Zeppelinin 1/1000 scale, length 233mm.

[StephenLawson]

Greetings all:
The 'Aero Base' Fokker Dr.I has under gone further scrutiny. *The *landing gear is attached to the fuselage. *A second separate set of Vees are provided for the cabane struts*The cockpit is very simplified. *The rudder bar foot loops are mounted directly to the cockpit floor. *They have mounted all instruments on the rear MG brace. *All fuselage rigging wires are doubled as if looped through the juncture point reininforcement curved braces. *The top wing is 3/16 too wide in chord compared to contemporary drawings and of course the 1/48, *DML/ Dragon Triplane ( done from the same contemporary drawings.) *More later.

And you purchased this kit why???????

[Hans]

Topgun,
I contemplated if it is worth to make a reply or not. At last, I could not resist.

You are a pain, really. The idea of this forum is to exchange informations and opinions. It's not made to criticize other modellers why or why not they purchased a kit.

What do you imply when you asked Stephen why he purchased the Aerobase kit? Did you know all before Stephen published his comments? Who are you?? Godfather of all modellers?

Nobody will criticize you if you buy a cheap and simple kit. If you be happy with that, go on. But other modellers do have other needs. Please stop trying to convert them.

Hans *> ??? >

Hans,

I critisized no one here!!!!!!! I was just interested in the purchase. But since you did not make the purchase, why are you replying? I sent you a msg.

Hans,

I critisized no one here!!!!!!! *I was just interested in the purchase. *But since you did not make the purchase, why are you replying? * *I sent you a msg.

What's it to you if he bought the kit? Why do you think he bought the kit?

Once again, I agree with Hans. I will take it further. I think you are a troublemaker. You come on here, and most of your recent comments are complaints. You are insulting to the Eduard rep, and you make absolutely asinine statements about import duties and even the retail cost of kits - you are dead wrong on most of them, too. When you are challenged, you for the most part simply move to the next complaint, without even acknowledging your error, let alone making it right.

Take a look at what the Eduard rep said. He was complaining about you, OK? Nobody else has been making complaints about Eduard's prices.

And I see you are doing it again:

Re: 4 new Roden kits will be produced soon!
« Reply #19 on: Today at 5:35am »
"Oh No, Roden models good? and 1/2 the price than Eduard? "

If you keep this up I will complain about you and try to have you banned from this forum. I think you are trolling for whatever pleasure it gives you to make people angry.

[StephenLawson]

Greetings forumites:

HansT & Lugarno thanks for your concern. *No sweat. *

Now for those of you interested it seems that the kit has an accessory package that can be purchased from Aerobase. *This detail set includes 4 (plastic or resin) wheel halves to trap the brass wire wheel profiles. *It also includes two white metal 3-D Spandau machine guns and a propeller (Resin or precut wood.) *Its difficult to translate as my Japanese is very limited. *

The main short coming of the basic 1/48 Dr.I brass kit is that the cockpit detail is highly simplified. *But it is fixable. *If your just looking for an Origami Dr.I this is the kit. *If you want to do a super detailed kit this is the kit to start with. *But it is only a start. *Once you plan out the work for the detailing of the cockpit I would also pick up the Tom's Modelworks German interior set. *Replace the brass profile Spandaus of the basic kit. If you do wire wheels you may want to do ones with a clear disk sanwiched between the wire wheel halves. *The thicker profile of the tires (tyres) can be accomplished with several methods. More later STL*