Airco DH2

Eduard Weekend Edition, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

Eduard's 1/48 Airco DH2 Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com
 

We first saw Eduard’s 1/48 scale release of the Airco DH2 fighter in 2005, when it set new standards for kits of this type.

Thankfully nothing has changed except that this boxing is a “Weekend Edition”. The idea is to give the purchaser a sound product without the frills of photo-etched parts and multiple decal options. This translates into a value-for-money purchase that can be built in a minimum of time.

Upon lifting the lid, we find three sprues of buff coloured plastic. These contain a total of 97 cleanly moulded parts, each with sharp, crisp detail. The only sink mark noted was a very small depression on the compass fairing but this is not a problem as it’s easily filled and sanded.

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Peter Cooksley and Ian Stair have both produced general arrangement drawings for this aircraft and Eduard’s rendition matches these perfectly.

The engineering of the kit is outstanding and aids the modeller every step of the way through what could have been a difficult assembly process.

The nacelle is detailed on both sides with an excellent representation of the internal structure to start off the cockpit detailing. The floor is cleverly part of the one piece lower wing to make alignment of these two items a piece of cake.

Although only one aircraft option is provided, we are still able to replicate other machines as both early and late nacelle arrangements are provided. Thus the spares box benefits from the additional instrument panels, compass fairing, and pocketed ammunition drums. Even the initial 2 bladed Integral DG 40 and later 4 bladed Darracq T.7928 airscrews are supplied.

As well as the usual cockpit fare, the nacelles trap the separate engine mount, and “drip tray” which is then covered by the nicely detailed upper deck. Also present is a simplified rendition of the 100hp Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine.

The aforementioned main planes have the correct dihedral built into them thus leaving no doubt as to their arrangement. The trailing edges are good although strangely this area is slightly thicker on the starboard lower wing when compared to the others. The rib detail on both surfaces is superb with a subtle representation throughout.

To ease the burden of construction Eduard delivers the scale thickness booms with integrated struts. These fit positively into recesses found on the upper surfaces of both wings. This is the only area that will require patience to make sure that everything aligns before applying that fateful application of glue.

To this is added the tail assembly and some care is needed to make sure that this squares up to the main structure.

The nature of a “Weekend Edition” kit is to ensure a quick and trouble-free build and as such there is no rigging diagram provided.  This is a complicated affair on the DH2 so be vigilant when checking your reference sources. The rest of the instructions are well laid out and leave no doubt as to the positioning of the various parts.

Marking Options

As befits this release, a single aircraft is catered for and this is DH2, serial 7851 of C Flight, 32 Squadron in France 1916. It is an attractive subject and clearly had replacement parts added to it during its service life.

The decal sheet is well printed with all items in perfect register and surrounded by a minimum of carrier film. The blue of the roundels is more muted than we are accustomed to and makes a change from the overly intense colours seen elsewhere.

Instrument faces are also be found here as well as the often forgotten AMC logos located on the struts. Well spotted Eduard.

Traditionally “lattice tails” are not easy subjects to build.

The manufacturers of this kit have made it as uncomplicated as possible while still adhering to the demands of reproducing a scale replica.

If you don’t want to build the option provided, there are plenty of alternate parts to change the early or late “status” of the aircraft. So providing you have the markings, this is an excellent way of acquiring a budget priced kit of this famous fighter.

Eduard has put a completed 1/48 scale DH2 within the reach of any modeller that has had some experience constructing biplanes.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Rob Baumgartner
Page Created 3 November, 2008
Last updated 3 November, 2008

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