Richard Wenzl's Fokker Dr.I - Revell 1/72

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
My good friend Andrew Love is one of the pilots for The Vintage Aviator Limited and last year made his debut WW1 airshow performance (he also flies Pitts Special aerobatics) in ZK-JOK, a full-scale radial-powered Fokker Triplane replica, in a dogfight against TVAL's Sopwith Triplane replica. It was an extra special moment because, in addition to watching a longtime friend perform for the first time in such a fashion, I was there with my 12yo nephew for his first airshow...and Dad took me to the same airshow as my first 20yr earlier at close to the same age.

As for Andy and the dueling triplanes, I got a few passable photos while enjoying the wonderful display:
DSC_1844 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1845c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1846c by Zac Yates, on Flickr
DSC_1847 by Zac Yates, on Flickr

And one of Andy taxying back in, sadly having been defeated by Stu Anderson in the Sopwith:
DSC_1855c by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I can't remember for sure if it was at the show or in the following days (time has lost all meaning) but I thought it would be wonderful to build a diorama based on this dogfight as a gift for Andy called "First Time Out". A photo by another friend shows the posing I want to go for:
First Time Out by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I was fortunate to lay my hands on a Revell Fokker (but am keeping an eye out for a Tripehound, particularly the recent KP kit as it includes Raymond Collishaw's markings as worn by TVAL's ZK-SOP):
Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.I Triplane by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I decided not to change the engine out for a radial accurate to the replica but was pleased to find our own Jamo has done a superb gallery of this very machine which proved invaluable as a reference. As the replica wears the famous Fokker Streaky Finish I laid down some light blue (I soon realised my mistake and repainted all but the lower surfaces in Tamiya Deck Tan):
Revell 1/72 Folker Dr.I Triplane by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I also found a square-tipped brush and swiped away with Tamiya Olive Drab as per the real deal:
Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.I triplane replica ZK-JOK - Richard Wenzl by Zac Yates, on Flickr

I also painted the figure to somewhat resemble my friend:
Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.I replica ZK-JOK by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Then masked and painted the distinctive leading edge wing stripes, which I had totally forgotten until I did the streaking (I only just realised the port wing cross area is a rib too far inboard, that will be rectified):
Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.I Triplane ZK-JOK by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Revell 1/72 Fokker Dr.I Triplane ZK-JOK by Zac Yates, on Flickr

Mounting the wings was trickier than I anticipated but has been accomplished. Likewise the horizontal tail. Next I need to fill a just-seen turtledeck seam and repaint that part a third time, add the main undercarriage, and then wait for replacement decals to arrive from a generous forumite before painting the white and OD areas on the fuselage.

Unfortunately the prop and engine only move a little, but hopefully it won't matter in the end. I will however replace the prop as I have a couple spare from old D.VIIs.

[RAGIII]

Looking great Zac!
RAGIII

[Rick_H]

Thanks for the photo of the replica.

Deck tan?  Deck tan?  You mean the standard streaky-green finish was over a tan base?  It seems that I am so far behind the power curve that I can't even see the starting point.

Thanks!
Rick
Seattle, USA

[KiwiZac]

Thank you gents! As much as I'd enjoy the ease of assembling a modern kit, this has been challenging enough to keep my interest!

Deck tan?  Deck tan?

Tamiya XF-55 Deck Tan is my go-to for clear-doped linen - three coats, then one gentle swipe of XF-62 Olive Drab (although because of my trouble with that colour I'll likely move to a Humbrol equivalent).

[lone modeller]

This looks good Zac. I had not thought of making a model to represent modern replicas - the options there are just amazing.

The streaky finish loos good too - especially as it is not the easiest to reproduce.

Stephen.

[KiwiZac]

This looks good Zac. I had not thought of making a model to represent modern replicas - the options there are just amazing.

I've always been a fan of warbirds - as a kid when I was playing with my models it was airshow routines, not dogfights - and the best part is the wealth of references! A couple I've done previously are the Viv Bellamy/HAC Pfalz ZK-JPI in 1/72 and NZ's first Redfern Fokker Dr.I ZK-FOK in 1/48 (complete with Continental 670 up front):
35788346803_b660ed8eda_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr

The streaky finish loos good too - especially as it is not the easiest to reproduce.

Thank you very much!!