Airframe 1/72 Phoenix D.1

AIRFRAME 1:72 PHOENIX D.1

Reviewer: Steve Hedworth (contact via SMAKR webmaster)
Kit Review submitted: 4 October 2009

Aircraft History:

The Phoenix D types were the end result of various experimental craft that had been designed to improve upon the Hansa Brandenburg D1 starstrutter then in service with the Austro-Hungarian airforce. Manufacture began in August 1917 and the D1 entered service in December. Initially used as an fighter escort for two seater recce planes it later was supplied to the true fighter squadrons. Over 70 remained in service during August 1918. The D11 began production in March 1918 and was lighter in an attempt to improve performance, 48 were ordered. Both the D1 and D11 were powered by the 200hp Hiero engine. The D11a received the 230hp version which gave much improved performance. While most fighter pilots had preferred the Albatros D111, if given the choice, the D11a was apparently highly regarded. The further improved D111 was too late for the hostilities but an order for Sweden was completed after the war.

The Kit:

This is a vac form by Airframe. According to Windsock Datafile 31 the company is from Canada and this kit appeared in 1972. In the late seventies, or early eighties, it cost £1.65. There are vac forms of Phoenix fighters available today from Joystick and Sierra which retail in the region of £8 to £10. This compares to the well thought of injection models from MAC Distribution. Recent stock retailed between £12 and £15 at Hannants and the demise of the pound will no doubt have a further detrimental effect on prices.

Instructions:

Very basic if memory serves me right but sufficient to set off on the right track.

Construction:

I began my vac form journey with the Pfalz D111 and described my efforts as how not to do it. This theme will be continued. First, we must cut out the parts from the sheet. I did a better job this time than the Pfalz. Memory defeats me as to all the parts that were moulded but I used the fuselage halves, elevators, upper wings and the upper wing radiator which is simply an oblong box. The rest came from the spares box, in particular Airfix’s Hannover.

The cockpit has to be cut out and filed to size. Detail as you want but there won’t be much to see even without the pilot. The seat came from the spares box, plus pilot, and the fuselage halves joined together OK. A touch of filler was used on the under surface join and a little was needed on the nose.

The wings are double surface, that is they have upper and lower halves, the lower fitting into the upper. They went together well and were finished off with a bit of filler. The trailing edge is considered to be too thick by modern standards. Using the top section only would require scoring the rib detail on the under surface but to me the wing would be too flimsy judging by the surviving lower wing I still have. The plastic is fairly soft and I doubt I would be able to replace any detail I lost if I had filed my wings thinner so they remain as the instructions stated. Besides, they don’t look bad to me.

I didn’t like the lower wings. Too flimsy if used in single surface mode and too thick when combined. The surviving section suggests my poor cutting was probably as much to blame as any failing in the kit. So I replaced them with the lower wings from an Airfix Hannover. Back then I was even less particular and did not notice the slight cut outs at the wing roots. To be honest, I only noticed very recently when I decided to try and improve on my earlier efforts. However, they did make for a far sturdier construction.

The engine came from the Hannover, minus the exhaust and portside pipework. The Phoenix fighters used the Heiro engine which exhausts to the left. I used stretched sprue but thin rod would do the job and they are stuck to the side of the engine block. Without the benefit of Windsock my exhausts do not have a sufficient bend downwards. Because of this my last pipe sticks out over the cabane struts instead of under.

The interplane struts came from the Hannover. Those on the D1 lean in over. The cabane struts are stretched sprue but today I would probably use Contrail struts. The stabilizers are double surface and definitely need filing to give a finer leading and trailing edge. The alternative is to use only one piece. The choice is yours.

Tail struts are made from sprue or rod, as is the undercarriage struts. Wheels and spreader bar came from the spares box and the propeller from the Hannover. Before I forget, the rigging was done with Aeroclub invisible thread.

The radiator is an oblong cut from the moulding, faced by a thin piece of plastic card which was scored to look like a radiator grill. It should tilt forward when positioned on to the wing leading edge. The radiator fill cap is a tiny piece of rod. It must be situated on the starboard side of the radiator if a D1 is to be built. The pipes from the radiator to the engine are fine rod as is the engine manifold. The guns are represented by similar rod protruding from two fine drill holes in the nose below the engine block. And the windscreen is from the spares box. Finally, the D1 has a headrest which neither of the succeeding models carried. I snipped a small piece from the fuselage with a pair of nail clippers and substituted a headrest made from filed sprue.

Colour Schemes:

I can’t remember any schemes coming with the instructions. I based my original painting on a Hansa Brandenburg D1 in Munson’s Fighters 1914-19. Since then Profile Publications and Windsock Datafiles have offered more recent research which shows schemes that are beyond my current painting skills but aren’t that much different from the original interpretation.

Decals:

None with the kit. I’m not aware of any specialist offerings but they’re probably out there, particularly the more colourful Austrian navy versions. This kit received crosses from Almark and the letters came from leftovers from a Matchbox Heyford. Not aircraft specific but based on the methodology of the time.

Accuracy:

The shape looks OK to me and sizes up quite well to the plans in Windsock. The upper wing spans out at 5.4 ins, or 137mm, which is only a few scale inches out and the kits original lower wings are spot on. However, there are a couple of discrepancies. The kit is supposed to be a D1 but the fuselage has no headrest which makes it more like a D11. But it is easy to rectify. The upper wing is the right shape for a D1 but the elevators have one rib too many. The stabilizers are correct for a D1 but the tail is double surface and is too thick. If building again I would remove it and replace with plastic card.

Conclusions:

Vac forms are different. You get the major parts but the finer details are down to you. At the time this was the only game in town but, if given the choice between a vac and an injection I would go for the latter unless there were horrendous inaccuracies. However, as there are now quite substantial price differences I would be happy to take on a vac and the associated scavenging and scratch building.

References:

Windsock Datafile 31, Phoenix D1 – 11 : Peter M Grosz
Profile Publications The Phoenix Scouts No 175
Blandford Fighters 1914-19 : Kenneth Munson

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