Arma Hobby 70012 - 1:72 Fokker E.V Expert Set

Plastic model kit of the German Fokker E.V fighter in 1:72 scale – Expert Set

In 1918 the Fokker E.V was clearly ahead of its time: a parasol monoplane with a thick cantilever wing, free of struts and bracing wires. For Polish modellers, however, it is above all one of the first fighters in the colours of the reborn Polish air arm, fighting in the Polish-Ukrainian and Polish-Soviet wars. Arma Hobby 70012 reproduces it in 1:72 scale from 2017 tooling.

This Expert Set includes a plastic sprue of around 40 parts and a clear windscreen – supplied in two copies, a practical safeguard with such a tiny part. Detail is supplemented by a photo-etched fret. The kit captures the fabric-covered tube fuselage and the aircraft's wooden wing.

Two decal sheets are provided: one with markings and insignia, the other with the lozenge pattern and propeller wood grain. The marking options cover four aircraft – two Polish and two German: Fokker E.V 187/18 "001" of the 7th Air Escadrille at Lwów-Lewandówka, April 1919, in a workshop finish with a white rudder; the same aircraft in the colours of Lt. Stefan Stec, April–June 1919 (red-and-white rudder and a white "S"); Fokker E.V 157/18 of Jasta 6, August 1918, with a black-and-white chequer; and a Fokker E.V of Jasta 36, summer 1918, with a red star.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprue (around 40 parts)
• Clear windscreen with a spare
• Photo-etched fret
• Two decal sheets: markings and insignia, plus lozenge pattern and propeller wood grain decals
• Instructions with a painting sheet

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70012
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 81 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 116 mm
• Skill level: intermediate

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

The model is small, and some of its elements – especially the photo-etched parts and the fine cockpit fittings – call for precision tweezers and a steady hand. We suggest painting and finishing the interior before closing the fuselage. The cantilever wing is fitted without struts or bracing wires, which makes the build considerably simpler than a typical biplane of the era, but it makes correct alignment of the wing to the fuselage all the more important. The spare windscreen is welcome insurance when working with such a small clear part.

It is worth planning the painting around the chosen option: fuselages of this type were covered with printed lozenge fabric, reproduced here by decals, while the wooden wing was typically finished in a streaked dark olive green. The propeller will look convincing thanks to the supplied wood grain decals – they work best over a previously painted light base. We recommend applying decals over gloss varnish to limit silvering, and finishing the model with satin or matt varnish depending on the character you want the fabric covering to have.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and resin parts
• Precision modelling tweezers for small parts
• Brushes in various sizes, optionally an airbrush
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• Panel line wash to emphasise detail

About the aircraft – Fokker E.V (D.VIII):

The Fokker E.V was one of the last fighters to reach German front-line units in the closing phase of the First World War. The design took the form of a parasol monoplane with a thick cantilever wing free of struts and bracing wires – a remarkably modern solution for 1918. The fuselage was a fabric-covered tube structure, while the wing was of wooden construction.

The type entered service in the summer of 1918, among others with Jasta 6 and the naval Marine Feld Jasta 1. After a series of accidents linked to the wing structure it was temporarily withdrawn from the front; once the wing had been strengthened and deliveries resumed, the designation was changed to D.VIII. Power came from an Oberursel Ur.II rotary engine of 110 hp, and the armament consisted of two synchronised 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns. Maximum speed reached around 200 km/h.

For Polish modellers the Fokker E.V holds a special place. After the war, aircraft of this type found their way into the emerging Polish air arm and saw combat in the Polish-Ukrainian and Polish-Soviet wars. One of them was flown by Lt. Stefan Stec, one of the best-known figures of Polish aviation of that period. Individual airframes later served in flying training as late as the mid-1920s.

Original aircraft specifications (Fokker E.V / D.VIII):

• Length: 5.86 m
• Wingspan: 8.34 m
• Layout: parasol monoplane
• Structure: fabric-covered tube fuselage, wooden wing
• Crew: 1 pilot
• Powerplant: Oberursel Ur.II rotary engine of 110 hp
• Armament: two 7.92 mm LMG 08/15 Spandau machine guns
• Maximum speed: approx. 200 km/h
• Service: German air service from the summer of 1918, after the war also Polish aviation

About the manufacturer – Arma Hobby:

Arma Hobby is a Polish manufacturer of plastic model kits based in Warsaw, active on the market since 2016. The brand grew out of the earlier Attack Squadron, which specialised in resin accessories for aircraft models. Design work and tool making are carried out in Poland, using computer-aided design and scanning of surviving airframes. The hallmark of the brand's kits is very fine surface reproduction – rivets and panel lines – together with thin trailing edges. These are complemented by carefully made glazing and high-quality decals. The catalogue covers 1:72 and 1:48 scales, with particular emphasis on Polish aviation – the PZL P.7a, PZL P.11c and TS-11 Iskra – as well as Allied aircraft of the Second World War. Arma Hobby kits have repeatedly been recognised in industry awards, including the Model of the Year title at the Nuremberg toy fair. The company also continues to develop the idea of supplementing its kits with 3D-printed parts and making print-at-home files available.