Merlin Models 1/72 LFG Roland II

MERLIN MODELS 1:72 LFG ROLAND D.II

Reviewer: Richard Stracey (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: December 2003 (#85)

Kit Details:

MERLIN MODELS #8 1/72 -- L.F.G.ROLAND DII

Aircraft History:

The D1, D11 and D111 Haifisch (Shark) single seat fighters were developed following the success of the Roland C11 Walfisch (Whale) two seat reconnaissance aircraft. Jagdstaffeln 27, 32 and 40 flew the Shark but it never proved popular with the pilots and was soon posted to the less important sectors of the Western Front, Macedonia and Russia. The D11 was powered by a Mercedes 160hp D111 engine and had a span of 10.30m and a length of 6.95m and was armed with two 7.92mm LMG 08/15 machine guns.

The Kit:

This limited run kit from Merlin Models of Wincanton, Somerset, England consists of eighteen plastic, four white metal parts and a length of strut material. Decals are supplied for two aircraft all packed in a stout box. Instructions are in written form along with useful three view drawings that include the painting guide.

Construction:

At first glance this kit looks very crude but things start to look much better after an extensive clean up has been completed. As with most limited run kits care must be taken in removing the parts from the sprue. Although an acceptable model could be made straight from the box there are a few simple improvements that can be made. I removed the disc shaped aileron control horns from above and below the upper wing, drilled four holes and inserted four short lengths of wire bent to shape. Wire stays were added from the horizontal tail surfaces to the fin. Merlin supplies a floor, seat and dashboard so seat belts and a joystick have to be added. The slot for the horizontal tail needs opening up and (the marked) holes in the lower wings drilled out for the rear undercarriage legs to pass through. The undercarriage spreader bar was rather heavy so I made a simple replacement from a couple of lengths of Contrail strut and rod. Surprisingly, since the top wing is very firmly attached to the fuselage, a full set of rigging is required. It is a simple matter to glue the top wing in place and then trim the struts to fit before popping them in place. I found that the lower right hand mounting holes were out of place resulting in the struts not being vertical when viewed from the front. I filled the holes, trimmed the lower strut lug and glued them vertically. Construction was quick and easy, most of the work being in the preparation of the parts.

Decals:

The decals proved to be quite useable after the excess carrier film had been trimmed off. The two machines depicted were from Jasta 32 in March ’17 and Jasta 27 in May ’17. The first being Green and Mauve over Pale Blue and the second having Green and Mauve wing top surfaces and everything else being “Off White” (whatever that means). I think of off white as a pale crème but Scale Models International show both machines, the first being Green and Brown over Blue and the second having Green and Brown upper wing surfaces and everything else Light Grey. I settled for the Jasta 32 aircraft and used Humbrol Dark Green (HG8) and Humbrol Authentic HJ4 Mauve. Yes, I know that it is a Japanese WW11 colour but it looks right. What else could one use? Humbrol 107 (HG9) WW1 Purple? My dictionary states that “Purple is a mixture of red and blue in various proportions” and “Mauve is a bright but delicate purple”. I rest my case! The under surfaces could possibly be Humbrol WW1 Blue 109 (HG10) but I prefer Xtracolour X243 Underside Blue. I suppose that, if I had some, I would have used their X241 Topside Green and X242 Topside Purple. Lastly, as both machines are depicted in early 1917 the tyres should be very light grey as carbon black was only added from mid 1917.

Overall Recommendation:

Many years ago I made, with much bad language, a couple of Merlin kits but this one proved to be quite easy. Scale Models International Vol.29 (1998) # 343 has colour drawings and three views and Datafile #47 deals with the subject and The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Aircraft Vol.10 p.2275 gives it a mention. Blue Max / Pegasus (kit # 1025) and Roseplane vacform have also made the D11. The end result is a nice little model, very German, very WW1.

RHS / 85

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