Clear skin in WWI aircraft

There are, or were, some lovely and *very expensive* museum quality kits that were done in this way - so you could see all the exquisite internal details. Something like 1/12 scale. IIRC, a Sopwith Camel and a DR-I triplane - but don't quote me on those.

-- C.R. Krieger (Been there; seen through that)

Check out the book "German Giants" to see. The Link-Hoffman R-I tried to use the cellulose to make the aircraft more difficult to spot. According to that book a major problem was the cellulose would yellow in the sunlight and actually make the bomber ~more~ visible to attacking fighters. I ~could~ see a company making this aircraft in clear plastic and have the builder paint the structure, but even in 1:72, it wouldn't be small - Those R-aircraft were BIG!

The one that I remember was the Fokker Eindecker. Eduard does a 1/72 "skinless" brass etched E.III as well as a standard injection molded example. The only problem would be that the tubular framework is presented as flat. The overall look of the finished model, however, is really good and a clear skin with markings would really be a cool model. Maybe copy the tubular parts with sprue?

Tom

I had photos of a clear-covered Fokker E.III a loooooong time ago on my website. But I was able to retrieve the page trough the Wayback machine, so here it is! The thumbnails no longer work, but the full-size photos are there:

My models:

"> There are, or were, some lovely and *very expensive* museum quality

This is a 1/8 scale DR1 that was released in the UK as a multi-media weekly part work magazine series called 'Build The Red Baron' Great fun to build but a bugger to display!

The Etrich Taube was reckoned to be difficult to see from the ground due to its relatively transparent doped linen covering.