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In-Box Review
148
Roland D.VI a&b
The Wooden Knights
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by: Stephen T. Lawson [ JACKFLASH ]

The the original

The performance of the prototypes of Roland D.VI were quite good . Their handling characteristics & maneuverablity met the current requirements for 1918. The pilot's visibility was excellent. After the trials and modifications were made an order placed for an initial 350 machines (150 of them as D.VIa version). During the speed trials in Second Fighter Competition in May and June 1918, the Rol.D.VIa with the 180 Mercedes D.IIIav engine kept up with the BMW engined Fok.D.VIIF and the PfalzD.XV. The Rol.D.VIb was as good as the Fok.D.VIIF. Reference: "The Beknighted Rolands", Air Enthusiast Quarterly ,# 2. 1976, by Abbott and Grosz. The German aircraft factory Luftfahrzeug Gesselschaft mbH (L.F.G.), since 1914 known as Roland, designed and produced for German Army Air Service extraordinary airplanes: the two-seater C.II Walfisch and single-seater D.I, D.II, D.IIa and D.III. There were quite advanced constructions with interesting "Wickelrumpf" (semi-monocoque) wooden fuselage.

Roland's ultimate single seat fighter was the Roland D.VI from early 1918 with fuselage constructed in the "Klinkerrumpf" method. Roland D.VIa was powered by the in-line 180 HP Mercedes D.IIIaü engine. Both versions were different in various construction details. The powerplant of the Roland D.VIb version, the in-line Benz Bz.IIIa 185hp was a unique choice. In August 1918 70 Rolands D.VI served on the Western Front. They were not popular, because every German pilot seemed to desire the Fokker D.VII types used on the Western Front in the Summer 1918 year.

The importance of the Roland D.VI type was marginal but it did fill the gap. The express need for German fighter planes caused the production of this average and obsolete type. Nevertheless the Roland D.VI type was interesting the World War I fighter plane with good maneuverability and pleasant handling characteristics.

The kit

Out of the box it is hybrid of both the a & b types. I will discuss here the easiest ways to do the kit of your choice. Right off the bat, there is minimal interior details. No Klinker lapping at all.
47 plastic pcs.
22 brass etch pcs.
3 decal options in kit 48005.
4 decal options in kit 48004.

The D.VIa type

To do the "a" types there are some considerations. The wing struts were a steel tube with wooden fairings. Add more cooling vent around the nose and additional access hatches for the "a" version, which used the Mercedes engine. You can use the kit provided The production Rol.D.VIa and D.VIb had circular access doors. The first twenty Rol.D.VIa machines had round steel tubular interplanes struts with wood fairings with parallel edges, D.1200/18 to D.1219/18. The first 20 or so Rol.D.VIa machines had the late production Mercedes D.IIIa 170hp engine (1917) The remaining Rol.D.VIa machines had the late production Mercedes D.IIIaü 180hp. All Rol.D.VIa aircraft were covered with four color printed fabric, dark pattern on the upper surfaces and the light pattern on the under surfaces. Some used four color printed fabric rib tapes, tapes however most D.VIa machines employed natural color woven linen rib tapes.

On all Rol.D.VIa and D.VIb the ailerons, elevators and rudder were not taped.

The D.VIb type

To build a "b" you will need to scratchbuild the motor or alter the kit version to represent the Benz Bz IIIav . The Karaya resin Benz Bz IV could be modified but it will take a great deal of work as it is larger than a Benz Bz IIIav with four valves per cylinder and two cam shafts with push rods on both sides of the block, The Bz IIIaü & Bz IIIav were smaller engines overall and it will be noticeable in this scale to use the Karaya BzIV stock from the box. Also "b" machines had wood elipitical interplane struts with sheet steel ferrules on each end. Most Rol.D.VIb were equipped with the Benz Bz IIIav 195hp engine using a Germania propeller. The first Rol.D.VIb production order D.2212/18 to D.2261/18 were covered five color dark intermediate pattern, dark on upper surfaces and light on undersurfaces with natural woven linen rib tapes. Cabane, undercarriage struts and metal panels were light greenish grey.

later B types

All production orders to Rol.D.VIb 6124/18, the fuselage and interplanes struts were shellacked and varnished. Cowlings, doors, access panels, foot step, cabane and under carriage struts and axle fairing were dark olive green.

On Production orders Rol.D.VIb, D.6125/18 to D.6149/18 and D.7500/18 to D.7549/18, the fuselages were camouflaged from the nose in, lilac, natural varnish, medium light green and prussian blue on the af fuselage and fins.
(Technical input augmented by historian Dan San Abbott.)

the kit decals

#48005
1. Roland D.VIa Jasta 23b 1918
2. Roland D.VIa Jasta 23b was photgraphed during and after the war. 1918-19
3. Roland D.VIa the red area is an assumption and could be another colour like black or dk.green. Photgraphed after the war 1918-19.

#48004
1. Roland D.VIb 2250/18 ordered in 1918. photographed in 1922(?) early Czechhoslovakian markings.
2. Roland D.VIb 2253/18 ordered in 1918. photographed in 1924 later Czechhoslovakian markings.
3. Roland D.VIb serial unknown ordered in 1918. photographed in 1924 later Czechhoslovakian markings. Also this machine has been altered in that the fuselage skin is smooth no Kinkering / wood lapping.
4. Roland D.VIb 7502/18 as seen at McCook (not Cook) field in Ohio summer 1920. This machine was tried in a variety of subjects but the most apparant is that it was used in camouflage tests. At low altitude operations the upper enging cowlings were removed. The colour intrepretations are speculative. This machine's camouflage was slightly altered before it was written off after a crash.

kit lozenge camouflage decals

There is a bit of joy with the lozenge (Flugzeugstoff) decals in these kits. The upper surface 4 colour is marginally too bright but the colours are very close to the known colour dyes used on the original fabric. But Fly gets Kudos for being so close there. The undersurface colours on the other hand are several shades out of tune with what they need to be. Over all they are still not as accurate as Microsculpt. The kit recommended lozenge application (spanwise) is in error on the box art. But is accurate in the insructions (chordwise) on the last page.

references

Roland D.VI by P.M. Grosz, Windsock Datafiles #37 Albatros Pub. 1993.
The Benighted Rolands, Air Enthusiast Quarterly #3.by Dan San Abbott with editing by Peter M. Grosz.

When contacting manufacturers and publishers please mention you saw this review at AEROSCALE

Click here for additional images for this review.

SUMMARY
Highs: Excellent subject. Decent exterior details for a low pressure injection mold. The upper surface lozenge is almost spot on for the colours of the original.
Lows: The under surface lozenge is several shades out of tune for the colours of the original. instructions need better division notes between the a & b types. Very little interior details. No Klinker lapping at all.
Verdict: I purchased these kits and can say that I am pleased with Fly's efforts. But they still have a long way to go to get where Roden and Eduard are.
  DESIGN & DETAILS::85%
  CAMO COLOUR:89%
  DECAL CHOICE::91%
Percentage Rating
88%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: 48004 & 48005
  Suggested Retail: $32.00 USD
  Related Link: Roland's Twins
  PUBLISHED: Oct 21, 2009
  NATIONALITY: Germany
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 90.97%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 87.75%

About Stephen T. Lawson (JackFlash)
FROM: COLORADO, UNITED STATES

I was building Off topic jet age kits at the age of 7. I remember building my first WWI kit way back in 1964-5 at the age of 8-9. Hundreds of 1/72 scale Revell and Airfix kits later my eyes started to change and I wanted to do more detail. With the advent of DML / Dragon and Eduard I sold off my ...

Copyright ©2021 text by Stephen T. Lawson [ JACKFLASH ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

An excellent review done Stephen ! The kit itself doesn't look all that bad . The lozenge reminds me of some of Eduards kit's The top is very close to Microsculpts though which is a plus like you said . What is also nice that there is enough lozenge to get two builds form if laid down right . Thanks for the review and sharing the differences between the a and b models
OCT 22, 2009 - 02:29 AM
Chances are quit big I run into one this weekend, and reading Stephen's words I very likely will buy one. Cheers, Nico
OCT 22, 2009 - 04:09 AM
Stephen, New poster here. I was looking at the pictures of the US-marked D.VI b in your original review, and noticed that the upper wing camouflage in the photo of the wreck didn't seem to match the painting diagram in the instructions. Was there more than 1 in service with the USAAS? And where did the photos come from? I'd love to get hold of these. I'm a lover of the post-war Cook Field aircraft, and can't seem to find enough about them. My dilema now is, build the Blue Max or buy the Fly? Thank you. Regards, Alan amillen at seic dot com
NOV 17, 2009 - 12:12 AM
Greetings Alan. No only one was tested in this camouflage. Apparantly the camouflage was altered just before the crash. It seems they were trying to eliminate or at least cut down the areas that included the lightest colour. Sharp eye.
NOV 17, 2009 - 08:27 AM
Stephen, Thanks for your reply. The sharp eye is one benefit of ADD. Something so innocuous like that catches my eye. Where would those pictures have come from? I've only ever seen the starboard sideview. Regards, Alan [email protected]
NOV 18, 2009 - 03:18 AM
I have had them in my collection for a long time. Originally they were in the possession of an aviation techincian who was stationed at McCook field 1920-22.
NOV 18, 2009 - 08:09 AM
Took a walk around your site. Would there happen to be a CD or Download of the McCook Field planes lurking somewhere that I couldn't find? That would be a wunnerful Chistmas present from me to myself. Thanks again! Alan [email protected]
NOV 19, 2009 - 12:29 AM
I may have something in my reference files. Hold that thought.
NOV 19, 2009 - 04:38 PM
Whew, I'm back at the office. Wiped out over the weekend with a nasty flu. Should this thread be moved elsewhere? At least the non-Roland part? Taken off-line? Or are we good? Thanks for your time, Stephen. Alan
NOV 24, 2009 - 12:14 AM
   
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