Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Flying Scale Models 12/2011

When Peter was looking for volunteers to do the prototype build for his 1/12th scale version of the German DFW C.V, I jumped at the chance as I was considering several other German WWI aircraft and the DFW C.V is one of those planes that is rarely modelled. A quick search on-line turned up no balsa kits and only a handful of R/C scratch builds. Although this is a 1/12th scale plane, the wingspan is 43.5" and length of 25", putting the overall size closer to most 1/8 and 1/9 scale WW1 biplanes I usually build. The DFW CV was a two-seater plane capable of fulfilling multiple roles - generally the workhorse of the German air force from late 1916 to the end of the war. The plane was equipped with a single, forward firing Spandau machine gun and a rear facing Parabellum machine gun manned by the observer from the rear cockpit. Despite its size the DFW C.V was not a plane that was an easy mark for allied pilots. It had excellent handling characteristics and was well powered. A skilled pilot could turn the tables on an attacker and the observer could fend off attacks with the Parabellum.

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