Jasta 5 was one of
the elite German fighter units during the First World War, second to only Jasta
11 and Jasta 2 in total victories. This model is from the Eduard "Limited
Edition" kit. I used some of the photo-etched parts in the cockpit area,
but most of the cockpit is hidden. I used Model Master
enamels for most of the paint, except the light green on the wing (which is
Italian Camo Green acrylic) and the wood grain finish. The decals for the
red outlined tailplane go on easily, but don't cover the sides of the tailplane. I
used the decal for the top and then used the masks provided in the kit as a
template for my own masks using 3M blue masking tape. Then I airbrushed the
red on the sides and bottom.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
This particular Albatros served
for a long time with Jasta 5. In late July of 1917, while the Jasta was housed
at an airfield in Boistrancourt, some great photos were taken of all of the
Jasta's machines lined up outside of their hangers. The model is based on the
markings of Ltn. Strobel's Albatros D-III 2225/16 as it appears at the time
of the lineup. Strobel scored no victories during the war and little is
known about him. He was probably a Bavarian nationalist, based on the color
scheme he added when he took over this Albatros from Uffz. Weiss.
Anybody with an interest in World
War I aviation in general or Albatros aircraft or Jasta 5 in particular needs to
pick up the Jagdstaffel 5 Datafile specials written by G.K. Merrill from
Albatros Productions Ltd. Both volumes are an invaluable resource for the
biplane modeler. Finally, my thanks to my many good friends on the WWI
mailing list http://www.wwi-models.org/ who
provide an incredible amount of information and ideas about WWI modeling.
Michael
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|