Roden

1/72 Albatros W.4 model kit

Product # Ro 028 from LuckyModel.com hobby shop

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Sept 2 2003

 

 

 

Living on the Pacific coast.....I have always had a fascination with float planes.  This particular model is one I find very interesting.  The wood finish reminds me of classic boats and there wooden construction.

This is the 1916 float plane version of the Albatros Flugzeugewerke D.1.  Many modifications had to be performed to the D.1 to turn it into a sea worth fighter.  Wing area was increased...the tailplane unit was modified and landing gear was modified for the installation of floats.  The early design on the floats caused handling problems because the floats were too short.  The floats were redesigned and this problem was cured.

There were other problems due to the salt water environment's effect on wooden floats and propellers and the fabric on the plane could be easily spoiled.  These problems were all fixed by the factory before the plane went into production.

The kit

This kit is comprised of 5 sprues of off white styrene.  The molding is very well done with almost no flash and plenty of delicate detail that shows up very well.   

The parts break down is logical and assembly looks like it won't be too difficult.  Wing rigging isn't shown on the instructions but it is partly shown on the box art as well as the line drawings in the instructions for those people that like to string rigging on 1/72 Bi-Planes.  The cockpit consists of a decent little seat, a control stick but no instrument panel.  There is also a  ridge around the cockpit opening representing the leather padding ridge....a bit of paint will set this detail off well.  cockpit side wall detail consists of a few frame pieces molded to the inside of the fuselage sides.

Click on images below to see larger images

general view of parts

Engine and guns

There are 2 cockpit fuselage openings included, but one is not needed and the instructions clearly show which one to use.  

Click on images below to see larger images

It is difficult to capture the wing detail......you can almost feel the cloth over the wing spars....simply lovely and good to see such detail....especially in 1/72.  The machine guns are twin side by side guns on the fuselage directly in front of the pilot that shoot through the propeller and these guns have fantastic detail.  Subtle drybrushing and a wash will be the key here.  One prop is included and you'll have to learn how to simulate a wood finish on it.  Judging by the box art....the bulk of the fuselage is done in a wood finish.....so you'll have to figure out a way to simulate that......it is possible.....it just requires a tiny bit of effort.

The 8 page instruction booklet includes....Albatros W.4 history, parts breakdown of the sprues, 6 pages of assembly and decal instructions.  The line drawings for the assembly instructions are well done and very easy to follow.  There is also colour drawing/paint instructions on the back of the box.  Painting instructions include Humbrol paints.
Decal options are for 3 almost identical paint schemes....
  1. Albatros W4 (early) C/H 747 Naval Test Centre Warnemunde Oblt.d RFriedrich Christiansen August 1916.
  2. Albatros W4 (early) C/H 785 Naval Test Centre Windau October 1916.
  3. Albatros W4 (early) C/H 786 Naval Test Centre Warnemunde November 1916.

This is a great little kit of this famous fighter adapted to floats and I highly recommend it and Roden kits in general to anyone wanting to build some WW1 aircraft. 

Special thanks to LuckyModel.com Hobby Shop for sending me this review sample.   I've ordered kits from them and their service was excellent.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford