Pfalz D.III  4115/17 

'The Old Hand’

The sharklike profile of the Pfalz D.III appeared on the Western Front in late summer early autumn 1917.   Manufactured by the Pfalz Werkes in Bavaria it was saddled with the obsolete Mercedes D.III 160hp inline six.  The Albatros Werke fighters had been using the Merc. D.IIIa 170hp motor since the beginning of 1917.  Several concerns arose as the Pfalz D.III began its service life.  First the guns could not be accessed inflight to clear jambs as they were buried beneath the forward turtle deck ahead of the cockpit and the access panels were impractical to remove inflight. Second the control column was rigged opposite of the usual manner of contemporary fighters.  The tail surface was minimal in area for operational use.  Finally the machine was under powered with its 160hp Mercedes.

This is the Eduard 1/48 kit #8005 with the Eduard aftermarket fret #48217.  The rigging is monofilament ,the propeller is painted to simulate laminated wood.  Mounting lugs on the motor were filed off to give the motor the correct “sit” This motor is a generic copy of the D.III motor and the engine mounts have   1/16" lugs to lift up the motor so the exhaust can clear the cowling panels.  Its better to cut the appropriate panel edges down. and  file the lugs off.   Sixteen spark plug wires can be made from .004 brass wire.   The gravity feed fuel tank needs brass wire to simulate the “Y” shaped  fuel lines and also the radiator needs water pipes. The interior is painted with a series of enamels and acrylics to simulate the wood & plywood structures.  The landing gear legs from the kit were replaced with brass rod, bent to shape.  The national, unit and personal markings are other kit items.