SilverWings Fokker
D.XXI fighter
Cat. No.: 32-017
Main material: resin
Scale: 1:32
Period: 1936-1948
Marking options: 3 (Dutch Air Force, Luftwaffe)
Number of parts: 160 x resin, 40 parts photo etched
Length & wingspan: 256 x 343 (mm)
Additional features: main elements iron reinforced
Silver Wings are focused on providing high-quality kits of
interesting subjects for modellers and this year has another kit coming in the
form of a 1/32nd scale Fokker!
While Silverwings have just launched their new Fokker the
other news is that the 32nd scale PZL P.11 (there are hints at more Russian
and Italian aircraft as well) is also almost ready and it will be available
during the next two months.
Silverwings have made some changes to the design of both their
instructions and the boxes. They have also announced a new category of Silver
Wings Kit - the Silver Limited Edition kit.
The concept with these kits will be subjects which we feel
deserve a little something extra. The Silver Limited Edition kits will include
a distinctive box design with original "in motion" drawings, a
high-quality printed poster, additional metal parts (such as gun barrels), and
increased amount of available markings included in the box. Silver Limited
Edition kits will be produced in a very limited series which from definition
will not be repeated once sold-out.
Getting back to the long-awaiting Fokker D.XXI kit – here is
the first model from Silverwings for 2015. It has three colourful markings
schemes - two Dutch and one German. They are now ready to accept orders for
this kit. Please write them at silverwings@silverwings.pl
for order details or order via your local distributor’s website.
History of the Fokker
D.XXI
Designed by Anthony Fokker in 1935, the Fokker D.XXI first
flew on March 27th, 1936. The system was originally intended to fill the ranks
of the Netherlands East Indies Army Air Service but the arrival of World War 2
eventually pressed it into service with Finland, Denmark and Netherlands air
force units against Germany. Operationally, the D.XXI proved a reliable
airframe with solid performance specifications, good manoeuvrability and was
relatively inexpensive to produce. At the time it proved quite a revolutionary
step forwards for the Dutch, with many of its current aircraft still resembling
the biplanes of a forgotten era of military aviation. 200 planes were produced
in Netherlands with additional license-production occurring in both Denmark and
Finland.
Armament initially consisted of 4 x 7.92mm FN Browning M36
machine guns, two mounted in the upper engine cowling synchronized to fire
through the spinning propeller blades with an additional two in the wings (one
to a wing). Finnish-produced aircraft had their cowling machine guns relocated
to the wings, paired with the existing two.
Deployment of the D.XXI began as early as 1936 with limited
quantities used for the first time in anger by the Spanish Republic in the
Spanish Civil War. By May of 1940, D.XXIs were quantitatively available to the
Dutch Air Force in time to combat the German invasion. With only 28 Fokker
D.XXIs in service to them, Dutch pilots of the Dutch Army Aviation Group
valiantly faced a better foe fielding the impressive Messerschmitt BF 109
inline-engined, single-seat monoplane fighters. D.XXI's held their own against
the well-trained and confident invaders during a barely-week-long stretch,
though the Netherlands eventually capitulated to the Nazis after this five-day
span - receiving little help from the Allies. For their short time in service
with the defending Dutch pilots, May 10th represented the aircraft's finest day
in combat scoring an impressive 37 total air kills - though it should be noted
that this occurred against Junkers Ju 52 transport aircraft. In all, the
Netherlands fielded a total of 36 D.XXIs.
License production D.XXIs in Finland ran from 1939 until
1944. These systems were differentiated by the aforementioned machine gun
allocation as well as internal provisions to take on either the Bristol Pegasus
or Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior radial engines of 825 horsepower.
Finnish D.XXI's fared surprisingly well against the early-form Soviet fighters
in their Winter War - the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland - making up seven
Finnish Air Force squadrons. Over the subsequent months, the D.XXI quickly
became outclassed by the better-armed and better-performing Soviet fighters.
Despite this, several Finnish pilots were able to achieve "ace"
status flying these machines. In all, Finland produced 90 such D.XXIs and
received a noted delivery of at least 7 more systems.
As the other license-producer of the aircraft, Denmark
D.XXIs operated against the German Luftwaffe in March of 1940. Denmark produced
15 new-build systems and received at least 7 more D.XXIs.
The Fokker D.XXI also operated under German Luftwaffe
markings as captured systems reintegrated into service. The number of aircraft
in use by the Luftwaffe was unknown.
Fokker D.XXI Technical data:
Length: 8,2 m
Width: 11,00 m
Height: 2,95 m
Empty weight: 1,450
kg
Powerplant: 1x
Bristol Mercury VIII 9-cylinder radial piston engine delivering 830 hp
Maximum speed: 460
km/h
Maximum range: 950 km
Service ceiling:
11,000 m
Armament: 2× 7,92 mm
FN-Browning M.36 fixed forward firing in the upper nose, 500 rounds each + 2×
7,92 mm FN-Browning M.36 fixed forward firing in the wing leading edge, 300
rounds each
Kit includes:
- 160 resin parts
- Film elements
- 40 Photo etched
parts
- reinforced: wings
and struts
- Instructions
- Decal sheet including 3 marking options - sheet
1) Fokker D.XXI “15" - Luftwaffe - ex 1e JaVa "Witte
Muizen", Summer 1940
2) Fokker D.XXI “214" - Dutch Air Force - 1-II-1 LvR (1e JaVa), De
Kooy, autumn 1938
3) Fokker D.XXI “212" – Dutch Air Force - 1–V-2 LvR (1e JaVa),
Ypenburg, Summer 1940
More photos at www.silverwings.pl
Discount info at http://www.silverwings.pl/how-to-buy.html