Phonix D.II

MAC

MAC's 1/72 scale Phonix D.II is available online from Squadron.com

Reviewed by Robert Baumgartner

The Phonix D.II was developed in an attempt to provide a faster and more manoeuvrable version of the D.I. To achieve this, the wings and ailerons were revised, a new tailplane was added along with balanced elevators, and a paring of nearly 50kg came off the airframe. As a result of the weight reduction, the aircraft was not as strong as its predecessor and may have contributed to the occurrence of several engine bearer failures. Although no blame was attributed to Phonix, the company had to supply reinforcement kits at no cost. The aircraft was flown operationally from May 1918 with Fliks 9, 14, 30, 55, 60 and 68. 

The DIIa version of the Phonix fighter saw the new 230hp Hiero engine installed which boasted power significantly. There was no structural difference between the two types but again the engine bearers came in for strengthening. The solid aircraft with its extra power was well liked by pilots and found service with Fliks 9, 14, 30, 32, 43, 55, 60 and 68.

It is pleasing to see that Mac have followed on from their release of the Phonix D.I with the D.II version.

Two sprues are supplied to make up the 33 plastic parts. One contains the items common to both the D.I and D.II, including both types of radiator, cabane struts, exhaust and tail skid. A new sprue is supplied that carries the revised fuselage, wings, and elevator that were appropriate to the Phonix D.II only.

The etched metal fret is the same that came with the D.I and the new decal sheet allows the builder a choice of three subjects. Again, we are blessed with the lovely acetate sheet for the instrument dials and windscreen.

All plastic parts were cleanly moulded with sharp surface detail. The ribs on all the flying surfaces are very subtle and most convincing. The aileron tips have even been moulded with “washout”. Well done to Mac for giving the modeller this often missed feature in a kit. Some will choose to thin the trailing edges of the wings but care must be taken so as not to remove the delicate surface detail.

Click the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Accuracy

I expected the parts to line up well with George Haddow’s drawings in the Albatros Productions Datafile. The reason for this was that the kit's instruction sheet recommends this source of information. When the fuselage halves were compared to the drawings, it was found that the fuselage was only slightly short at the tail. For those that choose to rectify this, it can easily be done with a sliver of plastic card. The representation of the D.II’s upper and lower wings, also follow the plans very closely. The elevator tips will need a light sanding to make them more rounded to match those of the original aircraft.

Unusually Mac have decided not to mould or supply control horns. Thus “riggers” are left to their own devices.

Fit

Construction starts with the cockpit and engine. Photo etched parts provide for the seat belts, control column and rudder bar. The 5-piece engine sits on the elongated floor and this is glued to one of the fuselage halves. These halves have the interior structure moulded on without any sink marks resulting on the outer surface. The acetate sheet containing the instrument dials fits behind the etched metal “control panel”. A drop of gloss varnish for the glass on the faces gives a most realistic representation.  

A dry fit of the major components shows no problems with the fuselage or the wings. The slot in the rear fuselage for the tailplane only needs slight enlarging at the leading edge to provide for a perfect fit.

Options

The decals in my example showed excellent register, with thin and minimal carrier film.

Markings are proved for three aircraft: 

1. Phonix D.II or D.II a of Flik 55J Pilot unknown (By me anyway!)

2. Karl Teichmann’s Phonix D.IIa 422.30 of Flik 14J August 1918 – Teichmann became an ace in this aircraft when he scored his fifth victory. The pilot’s personal marking of a “T” should be on a red fuselage stripe which was the Flik 14J unit marking. Unfortunately this is not mentioned on the instruction sheet. Missing on the decal sheet is the “T” that was painted in the middle of the upper wing.

3. Alexander Kasza’s Phonix D.IIa 422.14 of Flik 55J June 1918 – This is the aircraft in which Kasza scored his sixth and final victory. At this stage, the aircraft carried a red heart marking as a gesture of mourning following the death of his friend Josef Kiss. The decals give the three fuselage bands (third aircraft of a flight of three) as being separated with a black stripe. The black was actually the dappled fuselage camouflage showing through. Note that this aircraft carried the bulbous exhaust stacks that were used to reduce noise (not included in the kit but easily made with plastic tubing).

A nice touch is the provision of Phonix logos for the rudder. Some may wish to touch in a little white paint for the bird’s wings.

This is another first class effort from Mac that gives the modeller an injection moulded kit of a subject that has been largely ignored.

The ease of assembly, crisply detailed parts and excellent chose of markings, make the kit a very a good representation of this Austro-Hungarian aircraft. The only niggle is that the modeller will have to conjure up the control horns.

Very highly recommended.

Thanks to Squadron.com for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2001 by Robert Baumgartner
Page Created 26 September, 2001
Last updated 22 July, 2003

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