{"product_id":"wingnut-wings-1-32-albatros-d-v-the-bavarians-1","title":"WINGNUT WINGS 1\/32 Albatros D.V The Bavarians","description":"\u003cp\u003eWINGNUT WINGS 1\/32 Albatros D.V The Bavarians\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is new stock, never sold, Hearns Vault presents the wingnuts collection, an exclusive collection of the rarest kits. Now back on the market but limited numbers only.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohannisthal based Albatros Flugzeugwerke GmbH were responsible for some of the most graceful and effective fighters of the Great War. Their twin gun, semi-monocoque plywood fuselage Albatros D.1, powered by a 160hp Daimler Mercedes D.III engine, arrived at the front in September 1916 and achieved instant air superiority over its main opposition of Nieuport 11 and DH.2 fighters. Followed immediately by the slightly improved D.II and in December 1916 by the much improved D.III, with its V strutted sesqiplane wing greatly influenced by the successful Nieuport fighters. The D.III was more maneuverable than the D.II and its single spar lower ‘half’ wing afforded greater visibility for the pilot but was also the cause of numerous, frequently fatal, structural failures. Despite much effort this problem was never fully resolved. Nevertheless the D.III remained in production well into late 1917.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEven as the excellent D.III went into production plans were underway for its successor, the Albatros D.V. Retaining the wings of the D.III but with aileron controls routed through the upper wing and with a redesigned fuselage completely oval in section, the D.V was arguably the best looking of all Albatros designs. Unfortunately the D.V inherited the lower wing structural failure problem of the D.III and turned out to not be any real improvement over it performance wise either. Despite this, the Albatros D.V and the D.Va (with aileron controls cables reverted to D.III configuration), were manufactured in greater numbers than any previous German fighter of the war (only surpassed later by the Fokker D.VII, of which Albatros manufactured the great majority).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Albatros D.V weighed 620kg empty when production commenced in April 1917 but, following strengthening, the empty weight had increased to 680kg before production of the D.Va started in August 1917. While Johannisthal built D.Va remained 680kg throughout production, those ordered from Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW) in September-October 1917 weighed in at 717kg empty, almost 100kg heavier than the initial D.V. When the Albatros D.V started appearing at the front in May 1917 it was effectively outclassed by the improved SE.5a, Sopwith Camel and SPAD fighters being fielded by the allies at the time. Even after the introduction of the superb Fokker D.VII the Albatros D.V and D.Va could still be found equipping front line Jastas, although most had been relegated to training or home defense duties by the time of the Armistice. Note that these instructions illustrate parts to build Johannisthal built Albatros D.V \u0026amp; D.Va and Ostdeutsche Albatros Werke (OAW) built D.Va. Please make sure you take note of the different parts required for your chosen decal scheme. Any history of this important aircraft here is of necessity very brief, therefore we encourage you to seek out any, or all, of the reference books mentioned below for a more thorough understanding. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WINGNUT WINGS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32030951440474,"sku":"WNW-32906","price":979.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1008\/9754\/files\/2626-1.jpg?v=1776895451","url":"https:\/\/www.hearnshobbies.com\/products\/wingnut-wings-1-32-albatros-d-v-the-bavarians-1","provider":"Hearns Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}