This all started with a venerable 1/72 Airfix Fokker Dr. 1 a good friend sent me recently (thanks a million, hamsterman!).
![](https://i.postimg.cc/RhkGDQYs/Air_T4_Fokker_DR1_Voss.jpg)
Isn't that box art great? The kit, not so much. It's a creature of its time (the 1950's is my guess) and is terribly simple by modern standards. The front office is a great example. It's entirely empty except for an unlucky and anemic pilot figure whose duty is to fill the breech.
This was going to need an upgrade of sorts.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/pT8BnnrK/HAW_Dr_III_xprog_01.jpg)
Figuring not much would be seen, I kept it simple and added a cut-down seat and a rudimentary instrument panel.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/L64zmWtt/HAW_Dr_III_xprog_02.jpg)
The kit's rudder seemed comically tiny to me and since Austrian license-built Albatrosses had small modifications, I thought H.A.W. might improve this area as well.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/x8LY7gCq/HAW_Dr_III_xprog_04.jpg)
I had to add new cabanes to replace the parts that hadn't survived the ensuing decades intact.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/V6dk7jnb/HAW_Dr_III_xprog_03.jpg)
I left off the interplane struts as a nod to the original Fokker Triplane prototype. I like the idea that they were only added to mollify pilots who didn't understand that they weren't needed due to cantilever construction but found their omission frightening.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/bv0BKM07/HAW_Dr_III_06.jpg)
The terrible two-in-one Airfix engine & cowling were replaced with better parts from an Eduard Nieuport. The prop was swiped from a DH Chipmunk.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/j5FQ9Q9V/HAW_Dr_III_upper.jpg)
Painting was done with the old hairy stick and acrylics. Polly Scale PA RR Maroon and a custom OD on the wings & horiz stabs and Polly Scale Warpac "Gray" on the fuselage.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/3r0chdZj/HAW_Dr_III_under.jpg)
The underside was painted Polly Scale Light Blue and the rudder stripes were done free-hand with Model Masters Flat Black and Insignia Yellow. Decals were from spares, the Habsburg Empire checkerboards were from a P-47 and the fuselage codes were from a Junkers J.1 I think. Before I forget, here's a "money shot" (U.S. penny for scale).
![](https://i.postimg.cc/Y0xg76Dq/HAW_Dr_III_money.jpg)
I'd like to thank Bill for his kindness in sending the kit, Seņor Ysi for bravely moderating this GB and those of you playing along or just stopping by for a look.
![](https://i.postimg.cc/fyHL5BgX/HAW_Dr_III_07.jpg)
Brian da Basher