Fokker Dr.I

by Marcel Matuška

Kit: Eduard (1:72)

This is Fokker Dr.I 425/17, flown by Rittm Manfred von Richthofen, JG I, March/April 1918. The Rittmeister's final two victories, bringing his score to an amazing 80, were achieved in this legendary all red triplane 425/17 on 20 April. He found death in its cockpit during famous dogfight with Capt. Arthur Roy Brown the very next day (Osprey - Aircraft of the Aces Series #040 Fokker Dr.I Aces of WWI). Model was built out of box with original PE-parts from Eduard's profipack. When photographed at Lechelle in late March 1918, 425/17 was marked with white-bordered iron cross insignia. On March 17th, the head of the German Air Force ordered a change in the national insignia iron crosses to the later straight type. The change wasn't always rapid at unit level, and was also often misinterpreted with respect to the dimensions and proportions of the cross elements. These were gradually corrected.