A sheep in sheep's clothing - The Pfalz A.I

[Guntruck]

Being of a contrary nature, I decided to paint up the Shapeways Morane Saulnier L as a licence built Pfalz A.I, which was the same aircraft except for the engine. Absolutely straightforward paint job, although the swearbox benefited from me from trying to shoehorn a Reviresco pilot under the wing :mad:.

Decals from Dom, with the exception of the serial which was home-made. This is the first aircraft I have made that is unarmed, so it will give my Gunbusses some target practice.



http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32161&d=1327140850

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32165&d=1327140867

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32164&d=1327140863

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32163&d=1327140859

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32162&d=1327140855

And the original:

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32166&d=1327141698

[The Cowman]

Gorgeous Steve! :clap:

[Madboyo]

Such a great paint job. Well done.

[Baldrick62]

GT,
Nice work, and an unusual subject. I guess the pilot will be poised with flare gun ready to call in the Eindekker 'cavalry'!
BofB

[Boney10]

Excellent all round Steve, very praiseworthy

[Marechallannes]

Great work, Guntruck!:clap:

Perfect for early recon or courier missions.

[Zoe Brain]

Great work, Guntruck!:clap:

Perfect for early recon or courier missions.

Or bombing Italy or France.

It was with the Pflaz AI that the Bavarian unit Abteilung 9b undertook clandestine bombing operations against Italian forces on behalf of the Austo-Hungarians in July 1915 (Germany and Italy did not declare war until August 1915). This involved flying these bomb laden aircraft over the Austrian Alps.... no mean feat.
Although technically they were bombing part of Austria that was in Italian hands, rather than Italy itself. That would have been an act of war.
Armament was 10 x 4.5kg bombs. No observer was carried on this mission.

[jbmacek]

Beautiful! What more can I say!?!?

[Oberst Hajj]

Looks very striking! But you need to rig it!

[Akosion]

Lovely model. Quite impressive work with the ID number.
I've been meaning to get one of these and finish it as the A.II the Tuks flew out of Damascus and Medina. (sounds like most of these Morane kits will end up turncoats!)
Aris K.

[Bruce]

Very nice job indeed. Oberst H's suggestion about a few rigging lines would add a "crowning" touch.
I continue to be amazed at the stuff that I don't know about WW I airwarfare; thanks Steve.

[Guntruck]

Knowing the ham-fisted bunch I play with, I'll spend an hour or two rigging it and they will take 30 seconds to destroy the rigging...

[Bruce]

Ah, right you are. I've got a couple of players like that too; surprisingly they very often get to play the Albatros D.III's that were my first scratch-builts and nearly indestructable.
Come to think of it, I don't believe they've ever flown an Eindekker or a Morane-Saulnier "Bullet". Just the luck of the dice, eh.

[Bruce]

Ah, right you are. I've got a couple of players like that too; surprisingly they very often get to play the Albatros D.III's that were my first scratch-builts and nearly indestructable.
Come to think of it, I don't believe they've ever flown an Eindekker or a Morane-Saulnier "Bullet". Just the luck of the dice, eh.

[CaptWillard]

Schweet!

[Zoe Brain]

Lovely model. Quite impressive work with the ID number.
I've been meaning to get one of these and finish it as the A.II the Tuks flew out of Damascus and Medina. (sounds like most of these Morane kits will end up turncoats!)
Aris K.

The A.II, fitted with a more powerful engine, had vastly increased performance. And was possibly the most deadly aircraft to fly in operational service. For the crew, that is. Landing a Morane L was notoriously difficult. Landing an A.II safely... nearly impossible.

Of the A.IIs in Turkish Service -

They all arrived on 3 October 1916 and were delivered to 3ncü Tayyare Bölük.

P6 - Rendered unserviceable, October 1916.
P7 - Last flight on 2 March 1917
F8 - Rendered unserviceable, February 1917.
P9 - Rendered unserviceable, February 1917.
P10 - Rendered unserviceable, November 1916.

All Pfalz aircraft were withdrawn from GERMAN service 17 August 1916. (and from appearances, handed over to the Turks..) due to the unacceptable fatal accident rate.


By spring 1916 increasing unrest among the Arab tribes on the Arabian peninsula forced the Turkish Hedjas Command to ask for reinforcements to protect the holy areas. As British aircraft had been reported seen in the area an aircraft company was expressly requested. Due to the special religious consequences none of the German personnel already in Palestine could be used. Instead 3ncü Tayyare Bölük (the 3rd aircraft company) which had been formed to be sent to the south Caucasus front was hurriedly issued with 5 Pfalz A.II parasols (no. P.6,7,8,9,10). The advance party of the unit left Istanbul on the 23rd of June 1916, bringing 3 of the aircraft, 2 portable hangars, 50 bombs and 20,000 rounds of ammunition under command of the C/O, Capt. Camil. With a further personnel of 1 officer, 2 NCO's, 2 mechanics and 97 other personnel it arrived in Damascus already on the 1st of July. The rest of the company arrived two weeks later. Soon the aircraft were readied one by one by the Damascus workshop, only to have to force land on their first flights with faulty engines.**
** As in the equally hot Iraq the rotary engines of the Pfalz proved totally unsuitable for the hot climatic conditions. Specialists from FA300 were called to Damascus, but it was not until later when Capt. Fazil, a skilled veteran Turkish flyer trained by Bristol and of exceptional piloting and technical aptitude, was brought in as C/O that the Pfalz aircraft became reliable enough to fly. After this unfortunate interlude 3ncü Tay. Böl. arrived on the 3rd of October 1916 in Medina. Here a relatively large airfield close to the railway station had been prepared (se Chapter 7). Immediately operations were initiated against the British assisted uprising tribes. During the first month Capt. Fazil and Lt. Sakir with Lt. Kamil as observer flew 14 sorties dropping bombs and darts on Arab camps. This pace was kept up in November also with 14 sorties being flown. On the 7th of the month, sheikh Feysal's headquarters was spotted and the camp attacked. This was continued the following day with a two aircraft attack (Fazil in P.7 and Sakir in P.10), dropping four 15 kg bombs and three 5 kg. In November, on the 26th, a long awaited Albatros C.III (AK.28) arrived. Tragically this aircraft was lost the next day when it disintegrated in the air due to very rough turbulence. The pilot, Lt. Saim was killed. Nevertheless the operations were kept in a high key during December; 3 air worthy aircraft and 4 crews being available. By the end of the year the flight log of 3ncü Tay. Böl. showed that 78 hours had been flown in the fragile parasols under the most difficult conditions. Fortunately at this time three new Albatros C.III's were received from Damascus (AK.30, 40,72) and they soon flew alongside the remaining parasols. The last Pfalz A.II flight was made by Fazil in P.7 on the 7th of March 1917. During their stay in the desert of Arabia the five Pfalz's logged 150 flying hours.

[flyingryno]

very impressive.

[Doug]

Good variant will have to try one myself.

[Nightbomber]

Very nice model indeed! I missed that thread being on holidays:(

[flash]

That looks superb Gunners; hat's off to you sir.

[gully_raker]

:thumbsup: What a really beautiful effort. I have always like the Pfalz method of the black edging.
Now must get my Camo Gunbus armed & prepped. Need one more victory for Capt Steel & Observer to make "Ace" !:D

[redcoon2]

Steve, great work on the plane...love the multiple views...didn't know England had such pretty skies...thought that was all up north near Isle of Skye. And Zoe, fantastic piece on the Turkish squadron...WOW!

[David Manley]

Very nice. I missed this from my last Shapeways order. I will have to think again. Noting what you said about fitting the pilot, it looks as though a Peter Pig figure might be the way to go?

[Zoe Brain]

Noting what you said about fitting the pilot, it looks as though a Peter Pig figure might be the way to go?

I found Reviresco OK. The pilot just needs trimming a lot. The observer's OK as is.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=29274&d=1324192962

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Only just caught up with this thread, so i can say well done to both Gunners for an interesting variant, and Zoe for her two aircraft, at one and the same time.:thumbsup:
Rob.