As some of you may know, I am a rivet counter when it comes to WW1 aircraft. This is my early take on the KC Albartros models. This is a critique taken from photos only and might change with a hands on exam.
1- Like many modelers over the years, KC has issued what they call an Albatros D-V. The plane KC has issued has characteristics of the Albatros D-III, D-V, and DVa.
A- The KC model has flat fuselage sides (in appearance and cross section) and the rear edge of the tail skid is an almost straight
up and down (90 degrees) as it rises to the fuselage underside.
These are indicative of a D-III. The D-V and D-Va have rounded fuselage sides (in appearance and cross section) and the rear
edge of the tail skid should be a much shallower angle (about 45 degrees) as it rises towards the fuselage underside.
B- The D-V had interior aileron control cables (ie., wouldn't be seen on the model). The KC model has exterior aileron controls, a
characteristic of the D-III and the D-Va.
2- The individual aircraft colors. Each craft have some small problems.
The Voss aircraft:
A- The spinner should be red, not silver as on the model.
B- I have been unable to confirm that Voss flew a D-5 in these colors but this is not to say he didn't. The photos and history
of the Albatros in these colors are all for the D-III model. Even so, there should be two white stripes on the upper wing.
C- As a D-III, the camo on the upper wing of the Voss machine would have been a tri-color mix of Brunswick green, dark olive green,
and Venetian red. The green and mauve used by KC came later, but may have been applied to a later Voss D-V.
D- Finally, and I admit, open to speculation, the thin stripe around the fuselage, right before the tail assembly, should probably
be black, not mauve as on the model, but might have been green, as well.
The Goering aircraft:
A- The spinner should be white, not silver.
B- The struts should be white, not black.
C- I have no picture of the wing undersides but there should be a black stripe and a black numeral 1 on the underside of each side of
the bottom wing.
The Richthofen aircraft:
A- The spinner should be red, not silver.
Richthofen flew many different Albatros aircraft. The serial # that is evident on the KC model, #4693/17, is correct for the D-V
series. Could well be correct for Richthofen. Many of Richthofen's aircraft had the serial #'s overpainted and can't be confirmed.
That's about all for right now. The aircraft are all beautiful and but for what I noted from the pictures and commented on, pretty accurate. I don't really understand why all the spinners were painted silver on all of them, especially when the actual colors are well known. That is an easy error to correct, for those who care. At any rate, I will now prepare for counter-battery fire and pre-order the Voss aircraft.:wink2: -- Al
1- Like many modelers over the years, KC has issued what they call an Albatros D-V. The plane KC has issued has characteristics of the Albatros D-III, D-V, and DVa.
A- The KC model has flat fuselage sides (in appearance and cross section) and the rear edge of the tail skid is an almost straight
up and down (90 degrees) as it rises to the fuselage underside.
These are indicative of a D-III. The D-V and D-Va have rounded fuselage sides (in appearance and cross section) and the rear
edge of the tail skid should be a much shallower angle (about 45 degrees) as it rises towards the fuselage underside.
B- The D-V had interior aileron control cables (ie., wouldn't be seen on the model). The KC model has exterior aileron controls, a
characteristic of the D-III and the D-Va.
2- The individual aircraft colors. Each craft have some small problems.
The Voss aircraft:
A- The spinner should be red, not silver as on the model.
B- I have been unable to confirm that Voss flew a D-5 in these colors but this is not to say he didn't. The photos and history
of the Albatros in these colors are all for the D-III model. Even so, there should be two white stripes on the upper wing.
C- As a D-III, the camo on the upper wing of the Voss machine would have been a tri-color mix of Brunswick green, dark olive green,
and Venetian red. The green and mauve used by KC came later, but may have been applied to a later Voss D-V.
D- Finally, and I admit, open to speculation, the thin stripe around the fuselage, right before the tail assembly, should probably
be black, not mauve as on the model, but might have been green, as well.
The Goering aircraft:
A- The spinner should be white, not silver.
B- The struts should be white, not black.
C- I have no picture of the wing undersides but there should be a black stripe and a black numeral 1 on the underside of each side of
the bottom wing.
The Richthofen aircraft:
A- The spinner should be red, not silver.
Richthofen flew many different Albatros aircraft. The serial # that is evident on the KC model, #4693/17, is correct for the D-V
series. Could well be correct for Richthofen. Many of Richthofen's aircraft had the serial #'s overpainted and can't be confirmed.
That's about all for right now. The aircraft are all beautiful and but for what I noted from the pictures and commented on, pretty accurate. I don't really understand why all the spinners were painted silver on all of them, especially when the actual colors are well known. That is an easy error to correct, for those who care. At any rate, I will now prepare for counter-battery fire and pre-order the Voss aircraft.:wink2: -- Al
