Arma Hobby 70013 - 1:72 Fokker E.V Junior Set

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

A parasol monoplane with a thick cantilever wing free of struts and bracing wires – the Fokker E.V stood out among the fighters of the late First World War both in structure and in silhouette. Arma Hobby 70013 is its Junior Set edition in 1:72 scale, produced from the same tooling as kit 70012.

This is a simplified version of the release: the box holds plastic sprues with a clear windscreen, decals and instructions. The model still offers the fine surface reproduction typical of the brand and captures the structure of the original – the fabric-covered tube fuselage and the wooden wing. The small parts count and the absence of photo-etched work make it a good introduction to First World War aviation.

The Techmod decals cover two aircraft. The first is Fokker E.V 160/18 of Marine Feld Jasta 1 at Jabbeke in Flanders, August 1918 – the aircraft of Lt.z.S. Gotthard Sachsenberg, with a black-and-yellow chequer. The second is Fokker E.V/D.VIII 175/18 of the Aviation Mechanics School at Poznań-Ławica, winter 1926, a reminder of the type's long Polish career.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with a clear windscreen
• Techmod decals for two marking options
• Assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 70013
• Manufacturer: Arma Hobby
• Assembled length: approx. 81 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 116 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

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

Building the model:

Assembly is approachable – the cantilever wing is fitted without struts or bracing wires, which sets this model apart from typical biplanes of the era and shortens the build considerably. It is still worth making sure the wing sits square to the fuselage, since with such a clean layout any misalignment shows immediately. We suggest painting and finishing the interior before closing the fuselage, and fitting the small windscreen last, after painting.

Fuselages of this type were covered with printed lozenge fabric, and the wooden wing was usually finished in a streaked dark olive green; the Poznań-Ławica aircraft of 1926 represents the later, post-war period of service. We recommend applying the 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. To take the detail further you might consider photo-etched sets or metal accessories, available separately in our shop.

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)
• 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.