1/48 Blue Max Albatros D.III Oeffag 

by Lukasz Kedzierski

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  Poland Independence Day 2005  

 

Not a bad kit, however, light years behind the Eduard Albatros D.III kits when it comes to quality. It gives you an option to build 53, 153 or 253 series Albatros Oeffag and I decided to go for 253 series with the engine cover as used by 7 Eskadra during the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1919-1920.
The basic kit was enhanced with photoetched parts  from various PART sets - pilot seat, seat harness, propeller hub and spoke wheels. Propeller itself is from an Eduard kit and machine guns have been made from steel tubing. Rigging was done using EZ Line. The engine cover is not exactly the right shape, but these looked different on different aircraft so I left it as it is.

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Polish Albatri sported natural wood finish on the fuselage, doped linen on under surfaces and a characteristic "Polish sworl" pattern fabric on upper surfaces. The wood finish was done using oil paints spread on the fuselage with an old toothbrush to stimulate wood grain. It was then sealed with a few coats of Future. Doped linen come straight from Humbrol 74 tin, but retrospectively I think I should have used a mix of buff and linen. I used Mike Grant's decals for the "Polish sworl" pattern and they are truly fantastic. All other markings with the exception of squadron badges were painted using masks cut out from Tamiya tape. The badges itself came from Techmod decal sheet for PZL P.11c.

Overall I am happy with the final product and it sure stands out in my display cabinet due to the "hippie" pattern on the wings. Now it's time for Eduard to release a brand new Oeffag kit so I can make at least one more in Merian Cooper's markings.
I recommend Mushroom Model Publications book "Kosciuszko Squadron 1919-1921" as a reference. It's full of period photos and great colour profiles of aircraft flown by the Polish and American pilots during the Polish-Bolshevik War.

Lukasz

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Photos and text © by Lukasz Kedzierski