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Albatros


D XI


A WWI scale peanut job that will impress your flying buddies and the judges!


By David Wagner PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID WAGNER T 32


he Albatros D XI was a significant departure in design for a company that had produced some of the most elegant biplanes of the First World War. Their earlier fighters and reconnais- sance


aircraft all featured wonderfully


streamlined fuselages enclosing liquid cooled engines. The D XI was meant to take advantage of a late war German interest in the more powerful rotary engines that had become available, and which powered the Fokker D VIII and the Siemens Schuckert D III. Albatros produced two models of the D XI for the third fighter competition in June 1918, but failed to obtain a production order.


The D XI is a fascinating combination of design moments. A stubby, squared-off fuse- lage featuring the classic, graceful Albatros wings. I think it makes an interesting scale model. As usual for me, I chose to utilize a scale undercambered airfoil and rib spacing. The model plan is straightforward and not difficult for any experienced modeler. I would highly recommend Robert Wells printed lozenge tissue. The Peck Polymers plastic engine, a four-bladed propeller and spinner are more trouble to build, but really make the difference in appearance, and you will need your weight there. The plan is strictly scale in all proportions. I have to


AT A GLANCE Type:


Construction: Wing span: Wing area: Length: Weight:


Wing loading:


F/F peanut scale balsa


12.75 inches 42.75 sq. in. 8.5 inches 14.8 grams .35 g./sq.in.


FEBRUARY 2014


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