Revell have certainly got some mileage
from the 1/72 scale WW1 kits they released in the '60s.
The D.Vll was first issued in 1963 and though it's not
currently in the Revell catalogue, it does get periodic
re-releases. Eduard's fairly recent kit does supersede
it in most respects, though I actually prefer Revell's
wings. Eduard, as is often the case with their newer WWI
kits, have overstated the rib tapes on their D.VII kits
and they will need a fair amount of sanding to tone them
down. Why they can't seem to get this right anymore, I
have no idea.
For the most part, Revell's kits are still pretty darn
good, even after all these decades. Smaller parts like
struts, machine guns and propellers need replacing and
the cockpits are completely devoid of any detail save
a seat that looks like it came from a tiny fast food restaurant.
With a few exceptions the major parts are acceptably accurate
though and fairly well moulded.
I decided to go to town on this one and gave it a thorough
re-working. Starting from the front, the propeller was
carved from two pieces of 1/32" plywood (click here
to learn how). The radiator is made from fine stainless
steel mesh and scrap plastic.
All struts were replaced with flattened brass rod, the
engine is from Aeroclub and the machine guns are
from a Tom's Modelworks photo etched set with
stainless steel tubing muzzles. Revell's moulding represents
a late D.Vll with the louvers on the engine panels and
the late exhaust. The louvers and raised panel lines were
sanded off and new side panels scribed on for this early
D.Vll. The exhaust was made from flattened brass tubing
soldered to 6 pieces of copper wire for the pipes.
The cockpit has brass rod for the framework
and control stick, and seat, belts, rudder bar and throttle
are again from a Tom's photo etched set. Fine wire
rolled with a steel ruler on a piece of glass to straighten
it was used for the bracing wires and the cables to the
rudder bar.
Revell's tailplane is the weakest of the major components
so new ones were cut from .020" sheet with stretched
sprue ribbing. Sand these down until they almost disappear
and it looks quite acceptable under a coat of paint. The
4 colour lozenge camouflage is Americal/Gryphon's
and paint is Humbrol Lufthansa Blue (hey, it's German,
isn't it?) and white. I couldn't find any suitable crosses
for the top wing so these were cut from black & white
decal film.
A fine example of Murphy's Law in action. It took a couple
of attempts to cut the trident markings from black decal
before I was happy with them. A few months later Superscale
came out with a D.Vll sheet that had this aircraft on
it. Typical!
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