Albatros D.III/V
Parts 1 and 2

LifeLike Decals, 1/48 scale

S u m m a r y :
Catalogue Number:	LifeLike Decals: 48-039 Albatros D.III/V Part 1 48-040 Albatros D.III/V Part 2
Scale:	1/48
Contents & Media	Each issue contains decals for four subjects, colour painting & markings plans and notes on each aircraft
Price:	Each 1,700 Yen available online from LifeLike Decals' website
Review Type:	First Look.
Advantages:	Interesting and varied subjects; informative instructions; decals with thin carrier film and perfect colour registration; bonus laminations.
Disadvantages:	None apparent.
Conclusions:	The included research for each aircraft is testimony to the high level of accuracy the manufacturers are striving for in their product. Each sheet is beautifully printed and offers a variety of markings that will please anyone interested in the livery of this famous fighter.

Reviewed by Rob Baumgartner

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

Usually one expects to hear the Wingnut Wings brand when talking about Albatros fighters.

Not this time. Lifelike Decals have been a great supporter of German WWI aircraft and these two releases show that they are back with a vengeance. This double release depicts an attractive selection of subjects; all designed around Eduard’s 1:48 scale Albatros D.III and D.V kits.

Each sheet is beautifully printed with all colours being in perfect register. The carrier film is commendably thin and has been kept to a minimum around the items in question. Everything you would expect from Microscale.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Thumbnail panels:

A major hallmark of this company is their research and these releases are no different. So that the reader can make up their own mind regarding the interpretations, a bibliography is included in the instructions.

Sheet 48-039 Albatros D.III/V Part 1

• Albatros D.V, serial unknown, flown by Lt. d’ R. Wolf, Jasta 5, Boistrancourt, late 1917.

  This spectacularly marked aircraft carried a fuselage of diamonds in the Bavarian colours of blue and white. The decals are designed specifically for the Eduard kit, and thus cannot be used elsewhere without significant modification. Wolf only scored 2 victories, 1 over a Sopwith while with Jasta 5, and an earlier one where the time and date eludes researchers.

• Albatros D.V, serial unknown, flown by Lt. d’ Ernst Udet, Wynghene, Jasta 37, autumn 1917.

  One of the easiest paint jobs on the sheet is this overall silver-gray aircraft. The black tailplane stripes are supplied on the sheet, as are those for the wheel covers. The large “U” for the underneath of the lower wing is speculative but was seen on his D.Va, also a Jasta 37 machine. Kudos to Lifelike for providing this item. Udet was the second highest scoring ace for Germany and finished the war with 62 victories.

• Albatros D.V, serial 4408/17, flown by Vfw. George Strasser, Jasta 17, late 1917.

  This style of fuselage marking is quite unique on the Albatros. It shouldn’t be hard to replicate as only the white on the fin and skid need painting. The rest of this colour is supplied via the decals, including the integration of the delicate black outline. Strasser was a 7 victory ace, all scored with Jasta 17. He survived the war only to die in an accident in 1925.

• Albatros D.Va, serial unknown, flown by Lt. Wilhelm Gürke, Jasta 5, March 1917.

  Only a single photo has been published of this aircraft. It shows up as a very clean machine and in true Jasta 5 practice, an identifying letter appears under the lower wings. Gürke didn’t hang around for very long. He was killed within 2 weeks of joining Jasta 5 on 10 March 1918 without having scored an aerial victory.

Sheet 48-040 Albatros D.III/V Part 2

• Albatros D.Va, serial unknown, flown by Vfw. Karl Hopf, Jasta 76b, Habsheim, March 1918.

  Once again it should be pointed out that the decals for the blue and white checker pattern on this aircraft have been designed to fit the Eduard kit. The modeller just needs to paint the fuselage white before applying the “cookie cut” blue diamonds to the airframe. Should you have any problems, extra light blue decal is provided for touchups. Vfw. Hopf only scored a single victory which is believed to be over the SPAD of Cpl. P. Brun of Spa. 151. This aircraft was the previous mount of 17 victory ace Ltn. d. R Walter Böning.

• Albatros D.V, serial unknown, flown by Lt. d. R. Josef Veltjens, Jasta 18, February 1918.

  Wearing the red and blue décor of Jasta 18, this machine is a favourite amongst modellers. There is a similar aircraft of his that carries the straight-sided Balken Kreuz and Lifelike supply this variation should you decide to use it. Veltjens was a 35 victory ace that managed to survive WWI. He later served in the Luftwaffe and was the victim of Yugoslav partisans that managed to shoot down the Ju52 he was flying. This resulted in his death on 6 October 1943.

• Albatros D.Va, serial unknown, flown by Lt. Max Näther, Jasta 62, April to June 1918.

  This flamboyant aircraft depicts the Prussian flag on both sides of the airframe. Previously published profiles illustrate the design with red as the upper colour, followed by white, and then black. The interpretation here suggests that a reflection of light is responsible for the lighter shade of top colour. This would thus give us the correct colour arrangement of black/white/red reading from the top down. Näther totaled 26 victories by war’s end, all in a 6 month period before his 21st birthday.

• Albatros D.III, serial unknown, flown by Lt. d. R. Werner Voss, Jasta 5, Krefeld, June 1917.

  This is one of the most famous D.IIIs of WWI and it gets another outing here. The fuselage wears the 3rd heart which many believe was applied after the transfer to Jasta 5. This theory extends to the addition of the small “louvers” behind the propeller. Voss lost his life in an epic battle with 56 Squadron on 23 September 1917. He had 48 victories to his credit.

Lifelike Decals do more than just supply a set of markings.

The modeller gets an informative instruction sheet that explains how the manufacturers came to their conclusions. If you want to check the validity of a scheme, the quoted references will help you do so.

Naturally some of the options will need “lozenge” for the wings and this can easily be found elsewhere.

An added bonus comes in the form of propeller laminations. These decals take the hard work out of masking and come in two styles depending on your airscrew choice.

So if you want a quality product that covers a wide variety of colour schemes, then these are the sheets for you.

Thanks to Lifelike Decals for these samples.

Text and Images Copyright © 2012 by Rob Baumgartner
Page Created 19 August, 2012
Last updated 19 August, 2012

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page