1/72 Fokker V-21

[enathan]

This is probably the rarest of all WWI kits in any scale. I didn't know this aircraft existed, let alone in 1/72 scale.
I could find very little information on the Fokker V-21. It was one of Anthony Fokker's late war V-type prototypes and like the V-20 it was a mid-winged monoplane powered by the Mercedec D.IIIa engine, but with tapered wings. It performed well in the Aldershof trials but was rejected due to 'poor forward visibility'.

I Found the resin kit on Ebay and the seller said it was made by Dujin, a French kit manufacturer of obscure types. This will be verified when I receive the kit.
 

[KiwiZac]

Oh cool: a Great War prototype AND a Dujin kit, two things I don't often see! I'm excited!

[Dirigible-Al]

I have a kit of this plane in 1/48 and I have to say it looks really cool, not sure why I haven't built it yet.
Alan.

[enathan]

That's interesting Alan, who was the manufacturer? Was it Spin Model?

[Dirigible-Al]

I got it slightly wrong, it's a V-23 although I cannot see the difference. It's made by Omega.
Alan.

[enathan]

Yes, the V-21 and V-23 look very similar. I couldn't find any information on what made them different.
It might be the shape of the wing but I'll have to wait till the kit arrives to confirm.   

[DaddyO]

Afternoon chaps
These earlier prototypes are very much a pet interest and according to the account in the recently published Aeronaut book 'Germany's fighter competitions of 1918' by Jack Herris the V21 (Works number 2310) was a Fokker DVII powered by a high compression engine. The V23 works number 2443 (which is the one I made recently) was a midwing design similar to the V20 entered at the earlier competition (works number 2219)

I'm guessing that when the kit was produced there was less easily available information and the model represents a V23 rather than the earlier V20, but not it seems a V21 
(For identification purposes the V20 had an exhaust which exited straight upwards from the cowl and the V23 had one pointing downwards. The V23 also had a headrest fitted whereas the V20 didn't)

Hope that helps
Paul

[enathan]

Hi Paul,
It looks like the designation V-21 had been used for two different aircraft. One was the D.VII variant that you describe, and the other was one of a series of experimental monoplanes.
This is what I've found: https://www.colettiscombataircraft.com/item/fokker-v-17-v-20-v-21-v-23-v-25/
The D.VII variant appears in one of the photos but the 'other' V-21 is in the text between the V-20 and the V-23.

[DaddyO]

Interesting find - the photos clearly identify the V21 as the DVII variant, but the website text notes a different type of aircraft completely without giving any sources.

Personally I'd be very surprised if Fokker had used the same designation for two completely different layouts at the competitions although he was a bit of a law unto himself so who knows.
Given that there are photos of the various different prototypes in the monoplane series, but none that I've seen identifying a mid wing named a V21 I suspect some smoke and mirrors going on. Who knows the truth of the thing - looks like a Fokker prototype and should be fun to build which is all that matters really 

Cheers
Paul

[enathan]

The V-21 kit has arrived.
First impressions: Though the seller insists it's a Dujin kit, it doesn't look like it is. No Dujin name or catalogue number, no instructions in French (just a 3 view drawing), even the resin is made differently - in 'blocks' rather than 'puddles'. It's a very basic kit, only 10 parts, no struts, u/c legs etc. The parts have very basic details (if any) and the body is a one piece resin block. The cockpit is just a round hole in the block and any interior detailing will require a lot of work.
It's definitely not a copy of the Omega Models Fokker V-23 kit.

Assuming the kit is accurate, I can only find two differences from the V-23: The wings seem slightly more tapered and the cockpit is positioned slightly more backwards. I can't be certain as I've seen some different V-23 drawings. The general dimensions are similar to the V-23.
I can't recommend this kit... Not that there will be any demand, and I doubt it if another one of them would ever show up again. 

[Dutch522]

Fascinating... the wings look suspiciously like they used the outboard sections of the E.V one-piece wing; the airfoil is similar judging by that profile drawing, although the tips are shaped differently.

Well, if nothing else it's another rara avis for the collection, Ehud!

Dutch

[enathan]

Yes, the late war V prototypes from the V-17 onward look like Fokker used parts of the Dr.I, D.VII and D.VIII in different mixes.
As for the 'Dujin' V-21 kit, there was a V-23 made by CS Resin/RVHP, I still have to find out if they are not the same kit...