Albatross D.III (OAW) Tropical 

                ‘The German Arabian II’                          

License built fighter aircraft have always been a fascinating subject for modelers..  OAW stands for the ‘East Albatros Works.’ Entering the war in the fall of 1917 the Alb. D.III (OAW) joined ranks of the back bone of Germany’s Fliegertruppen.   Powered by the  Mercedes 170 hp D IIIa or the 180hp D.IIIaü engine it served in most of the Jagdstaffels (#1-57) in large numbers.  Its main weakness was in the wing design that had to be strengthened at the factory level. 

The Eduard’s 1/48 scale Albatros D.III (OAW), kit #8038 was a logical step for them to make. It comes as a basic plastic only kit with out any etched brass or resin parts.  The cockpit interior is dressed up with Tom’s Modelworks brass fret #210 set and the Eduard Aftermarket set #48263.  The Cabane & Landing Gear Vee-struts were replaced with shape brass rod for scale thickness and better strength.  According to current information the  3 tone camouflage is typical for this aircraft type.  The rigging is monofilament.  Decals for national insignia are kit items.  Exhaust horn is hollowed out at mouth.   The instrument faces are extras from Eduard’s Albatros D.V kit #8013.

This kit represents the late production Albatros D.III (OAW) flown by Hauptmann Walz from Jenin when he was assisting FA300 and Jasta 55F as a flight commander. In mid to late Oct 1917 with the arrival of additional German Fl. Abt., sixteen Albatros D.III (OAW) also arrived. These aircraft were later formed into “Jasta Felmy” named after their first and greatest commander, “the sportsman” Gerhard Felmy. All tropical D.III fighters were built by O.A.W.