Roden Albatros D.III

[Anders Kofoed Hansen]

Hi all
Here is my Roden 1/32 Albatros D.III. It is a great kit, but a bit difficult in places. I used Eduards PE-parts. I had big problems getting the engine-cover to fit right, so I lost some of the raised details. I then cut off the bolt-heads on the propeller boss, and glued them on the proper places on the engine cover. The rest of the raised details came from the Eduard PE-set.

The rigging was done with Bob's buckles and some fly-fishing thread. Bob's buckles are really, really great, and make the rigging an almost easy procedure. I can highly recommend them!

[Anders Kofoed Hansen]

I chose to paint it as what Ltn. Karl Emil Schäfer’s Albatros at some point may have looked, like when he was at Jasta 11.

Initially I wanted to make Bertrab’s Albatros supplied in the kit. But I really messed up the decals, so I had to remove them. Very frustrating. Then I searched in my references for another Albatros with a black fuselage (and a square footstep if possible). I then came across some pictures of Schäfer and his Albatros scouts. One of the pictures show Shäfer standing in front of an Albatros with a recovered part of the upper wing. The picture does not show the rest of the aircraft, so it is not known how it was painted (as far as I know). Another picture is taken after Shäfer was transferred to Jasta 28. This Albatros was painted in dark colour(s). It is believed that he brought this Albatros with him when he was transferred from Jasta 11, so it would make sense that it was partly painted red on the fuselage. Then I looked very closely on the famous Jasta 11 line-up photo (from Roucort or La Brayelle). I think that the 3rd Albatros on that picture is Schäfer's. If you really want to see it, it looks like there is a recovered patch on the left upper wing. To my eye it looks as the fuselage is all painted in dark colour(s) and I think that I can see a slight tone difference just behind the cockpit and in front of the square footstep.

All this guessing and wishfull thinking led me to paint my Albatros this way. I am very interested in hearing your opinions on all my guessing. I am sure you great guys, who know more, can prove me wrong, but I really like the red and black colours together.











Anyway, I hope you like my model, comments and critique are most welcome.

Thank you very much for looking.

Kind regards
Anders

[RAGIII]

Very nicely done

I think you have captured the aircraft as some/many believe it appeared. Thanks for sharing your very clean build!
RAGIII

[StephenLawson]

Very interesting approach to the repaired wing. I like the over all build most appealing. Minor quibble in that even though it seems the forward fuselage & cabane struts appear freshly painted, there would be exhaust staining around the exhaust horn itself. Otherwise a very decent build. It may actually be there but I can't tell for sure in the above posted images.

[terri werner]

Will have to agree with the others , a very nice clean build !

Thank-you for sharing it with us .

[modelhound]

A very nice build. Kudos to you.

mIKE

[Umlaufmotor]

Very, very nice built!!

I like the "a look in the cockpit" -picture, -- have you pic's "in progress"?

Servus
Bertl

[Doug Baumann]

hay nice Touch paint chipping on the leading edge of the top wing
Doug

[PrzemoL]

Very interesting. Especially the repaired top wing area seen from the underside. Have you assumed that the ribs were taped there?
All in all, a nice clean Albatros. Congratulations!

[Kaiser Bill]

Excellent work...I really appreciate your attention to detail

Kaiser Bill