Okayy, for those of us who are ignorant about two wingy thingies, the Roland is the one with the wood veneer fuselage, right? Great Work Folks!! ( we really need a clappy hands emoticon)

All three models are exceptional works, but that D.VI - wow...I just walk away mumbling to myself every time I see it. Great work. Cheers,

Yes, the Roland is the lap-build wooden fuselage with the incredible paint job. Wait until the weekend for more details

Congrats to the winners - that is indeed a fine Roland! Other subjects also made it a difficult choice - and the year is just beginning! Also note the unusual extra armament on the Roland - I believe it's some sort of device for shooting upward at the unguarded underbellies of Allied two seaters / unsuspecting fighters (similar to technique with pulling back on top wing mounted Lewis on SE5a, as pioneered by Albert Ball). Maybe the Author can fill in on the details / to be covered in the feature?

Yes, the extra guns are discussed in the feature

My need for instant gratification has not been gratified... ... but I will wait for the feature

Hello StukaJr - the device in question is a Villar Perosa twin submachine gun. It was of Italian origin and one of the first submachine guns ever to be used in combat. The gun itself was of 9 mm Parabellum calibre and as such had a very high rate of fire but it is thoroughly doubtful if this gun ever achieved any aerial victory. It was tested on the Roland D.VIa no. 1219/18 and I represented this machine. The Villar Perosa SMGs were captured in large numbers by Austro-Hungarian and German forces during Isonzo offensives against the Italian Army and quite a number was used for arming observer's turrets in two-seater aircraft.