Thanks Bruce, Arizona Models was no go. I called them leaving messages all day and I gave up. Your right everyone, Arizona Models needs some serious customer service skills! [:@]

I called Great Planes Tech Department and my LHS. They all told me if it were them, they would go with the 1/6 scale guns and engine. It was their opinion that it won't be too small, and not that noticable. 1/4 scale is way too big and would be odviously out of scale. So I'm going with the majority on this one.



I ordered the the WB 1/6 scale Spandau's and LaRhone from my LHS a few hours ago. I'll have to scratch build the ammo boxes and butt padding for the guns. I might modify the LeRhone to look like the Clerget, I'll have to see what I can do when the engine arrives.

I also ordered the Dubro Vintage 140mm wheels to replace the stock foam wheels. I think foam wheels is sacrilege to any scale! JMHO

The particular Josef Jacobs plane that I'm building, had the Clerget engine in it. By the time he was using his second plane, Oberursels were merely impossible to come by and parts were not all that available. Josef Jacobs was so angry about it that he told troops, " If anyone can find, and send me a very good or new condition enemy aircraft engine, there will be a crate of champagne in it for all of them."

Thanks to Josef Jacobs, Jasta 7 had a large supply of captured engines, mostly the Clerget- which improved the speed and preformance of the Fokker DR1. On his second plane he also had a English prop put on, and that also enhanced the flight characteristics even more.

Before his death in 1978, Josef Jacobs claimed he had 3 Fokker DR1's, only the first one had the "Devil's Head" 450/17. The second was the 470/17 and the 3rd plane is unknown. I'm doing the 2nd or unknown 3rd plane. There's debate if the second plane had the white around the black crosses, or it was like his 3rd plane- with just the white crosses.

I ordered the Hanger 9 Camel Tail Skid because it is more accurate (scale and looks) for the Dr1. Plus I decided to use it instead of cutting one out of 1/4 ply. It's lighter and will have a little give. This will act like a shock obsorber and will be less likely to break if I have a very bad landing. ( I rarely have them, but you never know.)

I thank you both for the kind words and interest. And as always, it's an honor to have a very skilled modeler like Lou watching anyones Thread.

Wow! What we go through to restore, improve and modify discontinued sport scale planes. I'm sure it will be all worth it in the end.


Pete