Fokker F.1
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by David Wilson

Eduard's 1/48 Fokker F.1 Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com
 

The Fokker Triplane first flew exactly 100 years ago, in July 1917, and it’s ironic in a way that an aircraft of which relatively few were built- around 320 machines- has come to be regarded as the iconic image of a World War 1 German fighter.

The British Sopwith Triplane deeply impressed German pilots who encountered it in April 1917, so much so that Germany looked for its own three winged scout. Fokker won the contract and three, in effect pre-production DR.1’s were made. One was kept back for testing while two – Fok. F.1 102/17 and 103/17 were sent to the Western Front for operational evaluation.

The F.I differed from the Dr.I in subtle ways such as the shape of the stabilisers and a smaller aileron area. It did not have the lower wingtip skids of production DR.1’s. But to the lay observer, the F.1 and Fokker DR.1 are visually almost identical.

Eduard’s Fokker DR.1 has been around for a few years now and was comprehensively reviewed on HyperScale in 2008 :

http://www.hyperscale.com/2008/reviews/kits/eduard8161reviewrb_1.htm

It must be said the kit is still the best available Triplane in this scale but Eduard has maximised the life of its mould by clever reissues with different marking options.

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One of Eduard’s July releases is the DR.1 in the markings of Manfred Von Richthofen – arguably the most famous German ace of WW1.

However this boxing focuses on another Triplane exponent whose epic aerial combat with a squadron of British SE5a’s has become the stuff of air combat legends- Werner Voss, and it’s his Fokker which Eduard has recreated in this special Weekend Edition kit of the Fokker F.1.

The top-opening box houses three sprues in grey styrene. The individual parts are in pristine condition with no flash evident and a crispness of detail that will reward the careful builder. The cockpit area is nicely furnished.

A comparison of the sprues with Eduard’s Fokker DR.1 Weekend Edition kit of 2009 confirms that the plastic in this new kit is identical to the earlier release. There’s an unexpected bonus here then- the parts are present to do both the F.1 or DR.1 variants, but the decals in this boxing are only for the Fokker F.1.

Markings

Unusually for a Weekend kit, there are two marking options offered – effectively covering both of the Fokker F.1’s that flew operationally.

Decals cover:

• F. 1 103/17 Lt. Werner Voss, CO of Jasta 10,  Belgium, September 1917. He was flying this machine on September 23rd, 1917, when he was engaged in air combat with seven SE.5a fighters from 56 Squadron, RFC.

• F.1 102/17 Oblt. Kurt Wolff, CO of Jasta 11, Marckebeke, Belgium, September 1917. Wolff died in combat with Camels from No.10 Squadron RNAS on September 15th, 1917.

The decal sheet includes decal harness straps.

A cautionary note regarding Eduard’s callout of the Voss scheme. Eduard depicts the F.1’s cowl in yellow and notes it may have been this colour, and while there is a school of thought agreeing with this, there are many others who argue the cowl was green.

Link to Fokker F.1 instructions: https://www.eduard.com/store/out/media/8493.pdf

It’s great to see Eduard’s Triplane family back in production with the F.1 version getting some well-deserved focus.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2017 by David Wilson
Page Created 13 July, 2017
Last updated 14 July, 2017

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