Construction starts with the engine.  It is well detailed and assembles easily.  Note-the instructions call for parts 11F, the gun barrels, to be assembled with the engine.  I found it easier to hold off and install these parts after the engine is mounted into the fuselage.  Also, I waited until final assembly to install the exhaust system, part 9F.

 The fuselage is detailed on the inside and contains a basic seat and control stick.  I added lead foil seat belts and accentuated some of the interior stringers.  I also added a couple of instruments to the underside of the top deck similar to photos.  Finally, a vent on each side of the fuselage needs to be removed on this version.  The plans show this clearly.  The plans seem to show that the control stick and rudder pedals are installed into one fuselage side before assembly of the fuselage.  This does not work well.  I ended up gluing the fuselage together and then trimming the control column and rudder pedals to fit.  The joint at the front of the fuselage where the fuselage sides, the top deck and the nose cone come together is tricky.  It is best to make sure that the top deck is lined up with the front of the fuselage so that the nose cone will come close to fitting.  The joint at the rear of the top deck can be easily filled and sanded if needed.

 Wing assembly is reasonably easy.  The first item is to check all of the strut mounting locations.  There should be mounting holes at each location although some of the locations seem to have the mold pin broken and thus have a small pimple sticking above the wing surface.  Trim this off and drill a mounting hole at all locations.  The bottom wings are keyed into the fuselage and pose no problems.  Simply make sure that the joint is cleaned up and double-check the wing dihedral while making sure that the leading edge is straight.  The top wing is composed of three parts.  Again, clean up the joints and make sure that the wing is flat and the leading edge is straight when gluing the wing together.  I mounted the top wing as follows.  First I glued the cabane struts to the top wing and canted them inward so that the space between the strut ends was equal to the width of the fuselage at the mounting point.  When this was dry, I placed spots of glue at the four fuselage mounting points and slid the wing in place from the top.  The mounting points line up well so it is simply a matter of making sure that the wing is straight and level.  After it had set up, I added some more CA cement to fix the joints.  When the wing-to-cabane strut joints were dry, I installed the interplane struts.  These easily snap into the mounting holes.

The landing gear goes together easily.  I used the same trick as the top wing and glued it in place.  I installed the radiator hoses next.  The front one, part 14F, fit ok but the rear part seemed too short.  I used a piece of stretched sprue as a substitute.  The exhaust pipe was glued in place at this time.  The plans show to use part 9F although some photos and plans seem to show individual pipes.  The photo of the actual airplane in inconclusive so I followed the kit directions.  Regarding the prop and spinner, I choose to paint the propeller first and then fit it into the spinner.  I simulated the multi layered prop by painted the prop wood color, applied thin strips of masking tape and then painted it leather.  I found the prop too big and had to trim some plastic off the hub and the inside of the spinner in order for the spinner to meet the back plate.   Even then, it resulted in a bad joint.  It would have been better for Roden to design the back plate to fit inside the spinner.  As it was, I should have glued the spinner together, filled and sanded the joint and then painted the prop and spinner.  Next time.  The last major item was the rigging.  I use stainless steel wire for rigging.  Measure the length of wire needed and cut it a little long.  Then test-fit and trim off small amounts until it is the correct length.  I then dipped both ends in super glue and carefully put the wire in place.  I should have pre-drilled some locating holes before wing assembly but I was too eager.

 I chose to make the version on the box cover.  It was flown by Austro-Hungarian ace Julius Arigi.  It has doped linen wings and tail surfaces and plywood fuselage.  After checking all of the paints that I had, I chose Model Masters Light Ivory, no. 2709.  For the fuselage, I used Model Masters Wood, no. 1735, applied a coat of future and then took some Burnt Sienna oil color and used a wide, stiff brush to dry brush an indication of wood grain.  It looks good but the final result is a little darker than I would have liked. Three of the schemes included with the kit are these same colors while the other three utilize the Brumowski scheme of dark green with yellow sworls on the upper surfaces.  I will probably build another one of these kits so that I can use those neat Americal/Gryphon decals. 

 The sequence of painting is as follows.  I painted the engine before mounting it into the fuselage.  Then I completed the fuselage and wood grained it.  I next painted the wings and horizontal stabilizers.  The lower wing and stab was then mounted.  The rudder and fin were next painted and installed.  I applied the decals at this time.  I painted all of the struts before assembly and then mounted the top wing and wheels.  Following final assembly, I added a light coat of clear flat to clean up shiny areas where I had handled the model during final assembly and wiring.  This also reduced the shininess of the wires.  The flat coat also covers up the areas where super glue was slopped on the wing while doing the wiring.  This always happens.

A big thanks to Scott for letting me build this model.  I have been pleased with the recent offerings from Roden and Toko, which have added a number of interesting World War One subjects.  This kit was one of the easiest to assemble and I am pleased with the final result.

Windsock Datafile 19 – Albatros D.III (Oef) – Most of the details that you need regarding the Austro-Hungarian models.

Austro-Hungarian Army Aircraft of World War One – Pricey but lots of good information including a photo of 53-30.

Profile Publications No. 127 – Albatros D.I-D.III – Covers mostly the German versions.

Clarence Wentzel

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