Whilst working on the small details of my main project I kept looking at the pile of other Pegasus Albatros kits on the shelf and thinking what am I going to do with those

Re-reading an old Windsock magazine I came across an article about building an Albatros DIV and couldn't get it out of my mind so, just for fun, I decided to make up a kit of bits.
Mine's based on the Pegasus DIII kit and because the original Airfix DH4 wings that were used in the original article have now become collectors items on Evilbay I used parts from a KP DH9a instead (I bought a much nicer version after buying the KP one so it was just languishing there)

DIII - DIV by
Paul S, on Flickr
As you can see in the above view the DIV was a test machine that was never intended for production. It used a 160HP geared Mercedes that was completely enclosed in the nose so with no engine or gun details to worry about hopefully a quick little side project; it even used a three bladed propeller at one point (as well as two and four bladed ones) to try and cure vibration problems. The three bladed one appeals because I was asked at a show earlier in the year about three bladed props and it will also help with the 'similar but different' look

The flying surfaces were larger than standard (Hence the Dh9a wings) The tail will probably come from a scrap of Gotha wing and since the fuselage has a different layout with the cockpit moved further aft and the nose lengthened I can utilise the original kit parts with some modifications (Lopping 3mm from the tail, adding about 6mm to the nose for a start) I also think I can use a slightly modified fin though so it's not all bad news. A pair of ex Eduard seat and headrest as well as a Roden exhaust and wheels from the spares box completes the parts list (I may also add some interior using a PART etch set since the outside will be pretty plain . . .
DIV Parts by
Paul S, on Flickr