Hi all,
In the early 1980s expert Tiger Moth restorer the late Stuart Tantrum and serving RNZAF Skyhawk pilot John Lanham built a Redfern Fokker Triplane full-scale replica, the first 1/1 Great War machine to be built here. From its first flight in February 1985 until 2003 ZK-FOK wore the colours of Manfred von Richtofen's 107/17. Photos and more info on this Kiwi airshow classic can be found at Phillip Treweek's fabulous
Kiwi Aircraft Images.
Around 2000 FOK was bought by Peter Jackson and, with the Gerard Thornhill-built Sopwith Camel replica, formed the basis of what became an incredible collection of Great War aircraft. From such humble beginnings! In 2003 she was repainted into another of the Baron's machines (152/17) and received a more accurate cowling (photo by my dad Dave Yates):
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2004 pt2_0061 by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
In 2007 all seven of TVAL's Triplanes were repainted into Jasta 11 markings with FOK receiving the legendary 425/17 scheme - something I never cared for as a kid, but can appreciate why it was done.
dsc04606_35533660732_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
fokkers1_35551908651_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
zk-fok-2007_35747113375_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
19yo Zac fulfilling a lifelong dream. "It's because it's The Red One, isn't it?" my TVAL pilot friend said in jest - I protested and explained the airframe's history! Note to anyone keen to clamber into a Dr.I: wear loose-fitting pants! Swinging one's leg over is a lot harder in jeans!
So, ever since childhood I've wanted a model of this aircraft in the original lozenge but actually applying that scheme was the big obstacle. Once I discovered Aviattic and found they produced decals for the same lozenge pattern as FOK I knew I could actually do it justice, rather than risk madness attempting to handpaint it. I bought Revell's rebox of the Eduard Dreidecker, added an Engines & Things resin Continental 670 engine and voila:
35788346803_b660ed8eda_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
35814639413_10786a5417_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
And for size comparison with the Tamiya F4U "Birdcage" Corsair, built as the Alpine Fighter Collection's
"NZ5201"/ZK-FUI. Rather surprising to see just how big a Dr.I really is:
36623932255_39196cee4e_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
36227222360_b987069935_o by
Zac Yates, on Flickr
These pictures are from when I completed the model in 2017, when I had no white paint to do the background for the wing crosses. I'll try and finally get that done soon!