F-Toys Albatros D.III and S.P.A.D. VII

[predhead]

I am sure this has been discussed before, but in an effort to reduce the amount of time searching the forum I thought I would pose this question....

How do the F-Toys World War One aircraft stack up both in size (scale) and detail to the Ares/Nexus aircraft? While they say they are 1/144th scale, we all probably know that one company can vary greatly from another in their sizing. I might grab some of these as I think that the S.P.A.D VII, while similar in basic style to the later XIII, is a needed airplane for Wings of War/Glory, and having some different D.IIIs for the Germans is never a bad thing (I like that Frommherz plane A LOT).

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks in advance!

[Boney10]

Hi Darryl,
The F-Toys biplanes match perfectly as far as I am aware.
I have a few myself , all that is needed to convert is a peg, I use plastic rod.
The variation in size between F-Toys and Nexus DIII is not noticable in play, they are a bit smaller but not so you would notice.
If you can get some do so

[Diamondback]

The other thing is a SPAD VII is confirmed for Series 7... :)

[PFactorDave]

I was wondering where you are getting them from now days. I haven't been able to find any F Toys here in the States... Maybe I just don't know where to look.

[predhead]

Well, sounds like I cannot go wrong in grabbing a couple of these. However, maybe I will only go for the Frommherz D.III since Diamondback mentioned the Series 7 pending release. I would rather stick with all Nexus/Ares, but having different options is enticing.

David - Found some on eBay as well as other places. eBay is shipping from Hong Kong and can take over a month to arrive, but free shipping.

Seller LINK (http://myworld.ebay.com/akazinnia).

[Tommy Z]

They are great match. Picked my F-Toys up at Origins last year. Here is how I mount mine. The Aerodrome Accessories ball fits perfectly in the factory stand, glue the magnet to the top of a peg. No modification needed.:thumbsup:

103237

sorry, having problems gettng the pic to attach

[greenalfonzo]

Love 'em. Great models, great paint finishes. Get them all and snag the specials.

My big gripe is they only did the one series. Apparently they weren't successful compared to the WWII series. They were originally released before WOW came along, so I think things would be very different if they should ever do a second series. They still do WWII planes, so maybe they will eventually revisit biplanes.

[PFactorDave]

Well, sounds like I cannot go wrong in grabbing a couple of these. However, maybe I will only go for the Frommherz D.III since Diamondback mentioned the Series 7 pending release. I would rather stick with all Nexus/Ares, but having different options is enticing.

David - Found some on eBay as well as other places. eBay is shipping from Hong Kong and can take over a month to arrive, but free shipping.

Seller LINK (http://myworld.ebay.com/akazinnia).

Thanks for the link!

[David Manley]

Its worth being patient on eBay for these. I've picked up the whole series including the rare ones for very reasonable prices. And in many cases with these and other things from China the quoted has been a month or so, but they have arrived in a matter of days. Not sure how they do it when the postage is cheaper that internal UK rates, or sometimes free.

[Hunter]

I am sure this has been discussed before, but in an effort to reduce the amount of time searching the forum I thought I would pose this question....

How do the F-Toys World War One aircraft stack up both in size (scale) and detail to the Ares/Nexus aircraft? While they say they are 1/144th scale, we all probably know that one company can vary greatly from another in their sizing. I might grab some of these as I think that the S.P.A.D VII, while similar in basic style to the later XIII, is a needed airplane for Wings of War/Glory, and having some different D.IIIs for the Germans is never a bad thing (I like that Frommherz plane A LOT).

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks in advance!

They are excellent! I have all three DIII's and two of the SPAD VII's, I use them all the time in 1916 scenarios.

[Baldrick62]

I have all three DIII's and two of the SPAD VII's, I use them all the time in 1916 scenarios.

Hmmm, the Albatros D.III didn't enter frontline service until December 1916, and while the Spad VII had been around since the August, teething problems meant they didn't really get employed in serious numbers until early 1917.

[Baldrick62]

My big gripe is they only did the one series. Apparently they weren't successful compared to the WWII series.

Except they weren't released as a WWI series, but as 'Biplanes', which also included the RN FAA Fairey Swordfish torpedo bomber of Taranto 1940 fame and the Yokosuka K5Y Type 93 WILLOW trainer, used by the IJN throughout WWII. Given that F-Toys' major market is domestic Japan, with only one of the 4 choices Japanese and that a fairly obscure marque, no wonder the series bombed! More's the pity though, as both SPAD and Albatros are great little models, and the Stringbag is awesome.

[Smitch]

Darryl, I have a couple of the F-Toys Albatros D.IIIs. I'll bring them along tomorrow so you can check them out.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

AH!
The Stringbag. If only you could still get those.:cry:
Rob.

[Baldrick62]

AH!
The Stringbag. If only you could still get those.:cry:
Rob.

I'm assuming you don't mean the shopping kind, so try any of these, from as little as £10.17 delivered to the UK.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-1A-Swordfish-Royal-Navy-/370600033001?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item56497bbae9
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-Biplane-Collection-1B-Fairey-Swordfish-HMS-Ark-Royal-91-/360705437278?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53fbb82e5e
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-01A-British-Swordfish-823-Navy-Squadron-/140903271469?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item20ce7d4c2d#ht_729wt_806
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-01B-British-Swordfish-823-Navy-Carrier-/360555611782?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53f2ca0686#ht_729wt_806
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-Biplane-Collection-1A-Fairey-Swordfish-823rd-FG-/360674091083?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53f9d9e04b#ht_2379wt_743
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-1A-Fairey-Swordfish-Royal-Navy-FAA-823rd-Squadron-/121141886562?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item1c349e7e62#ht_867wt_981

[Flying Officer Kyte]

I'm assuming you don't mean the shopping kind, so try any of these, from as little as £10.17 delivered to the UK.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-1A-Swordfish-Royal-Navy-/370600033001?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item56497bbae9
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-Biplane-Collection-1B-Fairey-Swordfish-HMS-Ark-Royal-91-/360705437278?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53fbb82e5e
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-01A-British-Swordfish-823-Navy-Squadron-/140903271469?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item20ce7d4c2d#ht_729wt_806
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-Collection-01B-British-Swordfish-823-Navy-Carrier-/360555611782?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53f2ca0686#ht_729wt_806
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-Biplane-Collection-1A-Fairey-Swordfish-823rd-FG-/360674091083?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item53f9d9e04b#ht_2379wt_743
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Toys-1-144-Biplane-1A-Fairey-Swordfish-Royal-Navy-FAA-823rd-Squadron-/121141886562?pt=Model_Kit_US&hash=item1c349e7e62#ht_867wt_981

Thanks Balders.
You come up trumps as usual. For some reason I never think of E-Bay. Must be an age thing.
.
Rob.

[Baldrick62]

For some reason I never think of E-Bay.

Well, it is evilBay, but when you're after models that were released back in 2008, something of a necessary evil.:p

[Hunter]

Hmmm, the Albatros D.III didn't enter frontline service until December 1916, and while the Spad VII had been around since the August, teething problems meant they didn't really get employed in serious numbers until early 1917.

Hmmm, like I said 1916. :D Not everyone has as many planes as Clipper and I so we're a tad bit loose on dates. One of our earliest house rules is that if an a/c entered service, oh, let's say December 31, 1916, than that a/c is eligible for all of 1916. This rule started before ARES got going and prior to Shapeways models, where here in AZ having any 1916 plane was rare. In order to run a campaign we allowed the DIII to be used for 1916. Thanks for your historical accuracy. :thumbsup:

[clipper1801]

He still shot Snoopy in cold blood! (and way too much enthusiasm!)

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

I just managed to pick up 2 sopwith pups for £7.50. CAn't wait as it will fill in a gap for earlier allied stuff that I don't have. Could do with 2-3 Alb DIII's now. Any idea when Ares will re-release these?

[predhead]

Darryl, I have a couple of the F-Toys Albatros D.IIIs. I'll bring them along tomorrow so you can check them out.

Great, thanks! Would like to see them!

[predhead]

They are great match. Picked my F-Toys up at Origins last year. Here is how I mount mine. The Aerodrome Accessories ball fits perfectly in the factory stand, glue the magnet to the top of a peg. No modification needed.:thumbsup:

103237

sorry, having problems gettng the pic to attach

Thanks!

[john snelling]

I have about 20 of them mostly for repaints. Doing 2 D.III's now. They are very good except for the tail assembly are alittle hard to match up.

[Diamondback]

Yeah, they can be a little tricky... after the first time separating the tailgroups on mine, I decided to just glue 'em on and cut a hole for the tails in the blister-pack.

Still looking for a couple myself...

[Naharaht]

I bought my F-toys Albatros D.III's and Spad 7's via eBay from Hong Kong some time ago when they were cheaper. For some reason the undercarriage on the Spad 7's is not quite straight.

[alpine]

Does anybody have info on where I can find some of these besides eBay? I need that Richthofen and Goering livery D.III :eek:

[predhead]

Does anybody have info on where I can find some of these besides eBay? I need that Richthofen and Goering livery D.III :eek:

I have never seen a Goering D.III, but here are links to Richthofen (http://www.amazon.com/Albatross-D-III-German-Air-Force/dp/B002KLM1SG/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1376440357&sr=1-2&keywords=f-toys+biplane) and Frommherz (http://www.amazon.com/Albatross-D-III-German-Air-Force/dp/B002KLM60Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1376440357&sr=1-1&keywords=f-toys+biplane) on Amazon.

Hope that helps!

[predhead]

I bought my F-toys Albatros D.III's and Spad 7's via eBay from Hong Kong some time ago when they were cheaper. For some reason the undercarriage on the Spad 7's is not quite straight.

I went forward and bought two S.P.A.D.s from Hong Kong. Hopefully things will be okay. The seller has a great rating on eBay, and free shipping!

[Naharaht]

Dark Horse has some pictures of Goering's Albatros D.III in his album. http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=1677

[Smitch]

Dark Horse has some pictures of Goering's Albatros D.III in his album. http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/album.php?albumid=1677

Nice album, thanks. Is the Goering D.III a re-paint? It's very nicely done.

[predhead]

From what I can tell, Scott, it was offered by F-Toys as is. I've never come across any site that mentions it though.

[Smitch]

It may have been a "rare" F-Toys paint scheme. F-Toys typically produces a rare paint scheme of each aircraft in a release, and packages one rare model in each retail case of product. So if you buy a case you get one of each model in the set, plus one rare.

If so, then there was probably a rare SPAD VII in the set as well.

[wargamer]

Item
Seq
Description
M
A
H
Crew
Unit
Service
Country


FTC 059
3a
SPAD VII
B
B
16
Sergent G. Guynemer
SPA 3
Aviation Militaire
France


FTC 060
3b
SPAD VII
B
B
16
-
23rd Squadron
Royal Air Force
Great Britain


FTC 061
3sp
SPAD VII
B
B
16
Capitano Francesco Baracca
91^ Squadriglia
Regio Esercito
Italy


FTC 062
4a
Albatross D III
J
A
14
Leutnant Manfred von Richthofen
Jasta 11
Luftstreitskräfte
Germany


FTC 063
4b
Albatross D III
J
A
14
Leutnant Hermann Frommherz
Jasta 2
Luftstreitskräfte
Germany


FTC 064
4sp
Albatross D III
J
A
14
Leutnant Hermann Goering
Jasta 27
Luftstreitskräfte
Germany

[predhead]

Thanks, Al!