Special Hobby are a Czech manufacturer, they've always been a rather short-run modelmaker, but as years have gone by, the quality has improved, and now are mainstream.
The Pfalz D.XII was designed in 1918, it was a good fighter, but overshadowed by the Fokker D.VII, around 750-800 wwre produced by the Armistice.
Soft end opening box, the same illustration front & back. 2 grey plastic sprues, small sheet of PE, bag of cast resin parts, decals, instructions. This kit dates to 2004 - I supposr the cast resin parts would now be 3D printed, just a little more clean up needed
Sprues are pretty clean, detail is a bit soft in places, no part numbers, no locating pins - very short run
These planes had plywood covered fuselages, so the detail is sufficient the wings look OK, but thay will be covered!
The rib tapes ( lower left ) are the really tedious decals to apply.......................
Resin parts - radiator, seat & cockpit fittings the PE has seat belts & some other minute parts!
The instructions are B&W A4 folded paper - a little small, but you can download the instructions from Scalemates & look at them blown up
They are pretty clear - colour call outs are present
At least there is a rigging diagram. no matter how small!
There are 3 finish options, differing only slightly ( anyone know what 'griseous' is? )
An odd thing I noticed on the box was the safety disclaimer - normally it says something like 'not suitable for under 12' - this says 15! I must have missed the dangerous part!
WWI biplanes are never going to be everybodies cup of tea, they can be very difficult, especially when you rig them - compound this with the wings being covered with lozenge decals, and you have a model that is not for the faint hearted! I've done a few including the Fokker D.VII
More lozenge decals, but not a lot of rigging.
My method would be to complete the decals on the upper face of the lower wing & lower face of the upper wing - assemble the fuselage to the wings. Then, with a fine drill ( 0.3mm dia ) make the rigging holes. Using 0.25mm dia monofilament & CA rig!. Make good the upper/lower surfaces & hide the mess with the lozenge decals! - At least that's my initial thought!
The model is out of production, so Ebay & pre-owned websites are the only places to find this - I lucked out & picked this up for £12 includind delivery from Ebay, a very good price!
The only other 1/48 model of the D.XII is the Blue Max version, a really short run model from 1994.
Thanks for dropping by................ any comments and thoughts on how you would assemble this will be welcomed
Dave
ps - at last my right hand is becoming useful - I might get some benchtime in at the weekend!
The Pfalz D.XII was designed in 1918, it was a good fighter, but overshadowed by the Fokker D.VII, around 750-800 wwre produced by the Armistice.
Soft end opening box, the same illustration front & back. 2 grey plastic sprues, small sheet of PE, bag of cast resin parts, decals, instructions. This kit dates to 2004 - I supposr the cast resin parts would now be 3D printed, just a little more clean up needed
Sprues are pretty clean, detail is a bit soft in places, no part numbers, no locating pins - very short run
These planes had plywood covered fuselages, so the detail is sufficient the wings look OK, but thay will be covered!
The rib tapes ( lower left ) are the really tedious decals to apply.......................
Resin parts - radiator, seat & cockpit fittings the PE has seat belts & some other minute parts!
The instructions are B&W A4 folded paper - a little small, but you can download the instructions from Scalemates & look at them blown up
They are pretty clear - colour call outs are presentAt least there is a rigging diagram. no matter how small!
There are 3 finish options, differing only slightly ( anyone know what 'griseous' is? )An odd thing I noticed on the box was the safety disclaimer - normally it says something like 'not suitable for under 12' - this says 15! I must have missed the dangerous part!
WWI biplanes are never going to be everybodies cup of tea, they can be very difficult, especially when you rig them - compound this with the wings being covered with lozenge decals, and you have a model that is not for the faint hearted! I've done a few including the Fokker D.VII
More lozenge decals, but not a lot of rigging.
My method would be to complete the decals on the upper face of the lower wing & lower face of the upper wing - assemble the fuselage to the wings. Then, with a fine drill ( 0.3mm dia ) make the rigging holes. Using 0.25mm dia monofilament & CA rig!. Make good the upper/lower surfaces & hide the mess with the lozenge decals! - At least that's my initial thought!
The model is out of production, so Ebay & pre-owned websites are the only places to find this - I lucked out & picked this up for £12 includind delivery from Ebay, a very good price!
The only other 1/48 model of the D.XII is the Blue Max version, a really short run model from 1994.
Thanks for dropping by................ any comments and thoughts on how you would assemble this will be welcomed
Dave
ps - at last my right hand is becoming useful - I might get some benchtime in at the weekend!
