Sopwith Snipes & Canadian Fokker DVII ‘trophies’
1/32 decals from Pheon Decals, #32044
First Look Review by James Fahey
Price: £7.50 plus postage and packing
This new release from Pheon Decals is the result of requests and information from modellers at our forum here. It comprises a curious combination of three (wartime) Snipes, and three (postwar, captured) Fokker DVII aircraft. The ‘link’ between the two groups is Canadian, which Rowan explains in the instructions.
Six options are included in the set:
1. E8102 Major W.G. Barker, attached to 201 Squadron RAF
Major William ‘Billy’ Barker’s Snipe was one of the most famous individual aircraft from WWI and many modellers must have been disappointed that it was not included as one of the markings options in the Wingnut Wings kit.
Maj Barker DSO MC had been assigned to 201 Squadron for a ten-day refresher assignment in France following a long and successful tour in Italy. During his time with 201 Squadron he saw no action and was about to return to England when on 27 October 1918 (only two weeks before the Armistice) he decided to make one more excursion over the front, flying alone, in Sopwith Snipe E8102. Barker encountered a large formation of Fokker D.VIIs flying in stepped formation. In an epic battle witnessed by a large number of ground troops, Barker shot down four enemy aircraft despite appalling wounds to both legs and his elbow. Fainting from pain and loss of blood, he managed to crash-land his Snipe within the safety of the British lines. For his actions that day, Barker received the VC. The fuselage of Barker’s Snipe is preserved in the Canadian War Musuem in Ottawa.
Wikipedia describes Barker as “the most decorated serviceman in the history of Canada, and indeed in the history of the British Empire and Commonwealth of Nations”
Here are some photos of The Vintage Aviator Ltd's reproduction Sopwith Snipe which was finished as E8102:
2 & 3. Two Snipes from 4 Sqn Australian Flying Corp. "A" E8050 flown by 4 Sqn's commander and leading Snipe ace, Capt. Elwyn Roy "Bo" King, DSO DFC. And ‘X’, E8082 which was flown by at least two 4 Sqn pilots 2nd/Lt E.J. Richards and Capt T.C.R Baker. The blue nose on ‘X’ was added probably after the war while stationed at Bickendorf with the occupation forces
4 & 5. Two OAW-built Fokker D.VII which were flown after the war by Canadians. The first can be seen in a photograph with Canadian 'Biff' ace Captain A.E. McKeever at Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire post-war and features the green RCAF 1 Sqn badge. The second, which carries the racing number 50, was flown by Major Barker in the Toronto to New York Air Race of 1919.
6. The "Knowlton Fokker", currently preserved and on show in Canada. This is an amalgam of a variety of different machines with the fuselage from Albatros-built 6810/18 while the wings are of OAW manufacture. There are lots of photos on the internet which show the hotch-potch of four and five colour faded and weathered "lozenge" fabric in conjunction with patches of unusually finished reproduction lozenge fabric. A challenge for an enterprising modeller, which Pheon suggest could best be undertaken by using lozenge decals from different manufacturers along with tinted varnish.
The 17 page instruction booklet is set out in the usual Pheon style with background information on the Sopwith Snipe, references including the Canadian Fokker story, decal application guide, and notes on individual aircraft and pilots. Very comprehensive.
Pheon decals are printed by Fantasy Printshop in the UK and have excellent register and opacity.
Two A4 sheets of full colour artwork are included for decal placement.
Pheon decals come well packed in sealed plastic bag inside a bubble envelope.
Available only direct from Pheon Decals. Ordering is by email to
[email protected]Payment is by Paypal
ConclusionIn this reviewer's opinion combo sets like this offer modellers excellent utility and value for money, as it is more likely that a Snipe
and a Fokker DVII would be finished as opposed to two very similar aircraft.
This release scores strongly for interesting subjects on a number of levels: you’ve got Barker’s famous Snipe, the top scoring Snipe ace Bo King (seven victories on Snipes), a colourful post war blue nose Snipe, a pretty captured DVII with a green maple leaf or a big white ‘50’ and lastly a challenging famous heavily aged museum DVII. A further plus is that this set is relatively inexpensive.
Rowan, thank you for responding to modellers requests with such an excellent set. Highly recommended
Thank you also for providing the decals for this review
