Part 1: First Look

MSRP: $32.95 Web Site: www.rodenplant.com This offering by Roden causes me to approach it with some trepidation. The parts are carried on 7 sprues and are really packed tightly together. I did not realize just how many parts a well detailed 1/48 scale WWI aircraft could have, and even though numerous parts are marked by the instructions as "do not use" this is going to be a fairly complex build. The parts are, for the most part, well formed. There is a small amount of flash on some of the parts but not to an extent that would cause concern. The plastic is relatively soft and one must exercise caution when removing them from the sprues. Because of the soft nature of the plastic the parts will sand down quickly. Again, caution is important when sanding the parts so that the basic shape is not altered. The decals are both colorful and of high quality. It is important to have roundels upon which the various colors are concentric and properly centered. It is also important to have decals with no or very little carrier film along the edges. This kit supplies such a decal sheet. Of course, the proof is in the application of the decals, and I will not be applying them to the model for some weeks. You'll read about that procedure in a later installment of this review. The instruction sheet consists of 12 pages of line drawings showing parts identified by a number and letter combination, the letter referring to the sprue upon which the part can be found. The line drawings are easily interpreted, easy to read, and appear to be accurate, at least to the point at which construction has progressed to this point. There are 3 optional aircraft that can be modeled, and the instruction sheet refers to each option with Roman numerals, those being I, II, and III. The instruction sheet will indicate, using those numerals when decisions must be made as to which parts are attached. For example, there are 3 different propellers that one may use. The instructions indicate which parts may be selected, and when, in the construction process, it is time to make the decision as to which part to use. As mentioned, there are 3 different aircraft for which parts and markings are available. One can select to build DH-4 N6000 No 5 Naval Sqn RNAS Feb 1918, DH-4 N5997 No 2 Naval Sqn RNAS Feb 1918, or DH-4 A7422 No 57 Sqn RFC Dec 1917. The instructions include an easily interpreted painting guide for all 3 options. The colors that one should use are clearly indicated with a lettering system. The instructions also contain an excellent line drawing showing a plan for rigging the aircraft. Included on this page is a 2nd line drawing that shows the external control cables which controlled the rudder and tail planes. And the final word for this portion of this "build review" is in regard to the amount and quality of the detail molded into the kit. On the plus side, the fuselage feature molded braces that will add to the appearance of the model. The machine guns, while rather small, are nicely detailed, as are the bombs and various braces that hold the armament to the airframe. On the negative side, as seen in one of the accompanying images, the wings have some detail molded into them, this detail representing a sag in the fabric or the location of a wing rib. Unfortunately this detail is not uniform along the length of the wings. In some areas along the wings the detail almost disappears and in other areas the detail is quite prominent. I am prone to forgiving such a lack of uniformity, especially in a fabric covered aircraft. This is easily understood by those who have seen these aircraft as they age and are worn through constant use and little maintenance. Review items graciously supplied by Roden.

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