Photo of completed model courtesy of Richard Eaton for more of Richard's work visit his site

V.L.E. Models' 1913 D.F.W. "Mars"
1/72 Vacform/resin

By Michael Kendix

The D.F.W Mars

After first appearing at the Berlin Aero Show in 1912, the D.F.W."Mars" underwent a number of variations. The kit's 1913 version is claimed as the first German aircraft to go to war, having been used in the Balkan conflict of 1912-13. The Deutsche Flugzeugwerke (D.F.W.) company extended standardization to the extent that the fuselage, undercarriage and tail assembly were identical for both the monoplane and biplane version of the "Mars". The "Mars" was in service in August 1914, although it was relegated primarily to a training role. A "Mars" was also used by the RNAS (number 154), and the modeler is, therefore, in the unique position of being able to choose between German or British color schemes.

The Kit

This 1/72nd scale vac-form kit contains the following:

1 pc .036 brass wire 10" [landing gear, axle, struts]
1 pc .020 brass wire 6" [landing gear strut bracing, attachments for monoplane wings]
1 pc. lead wire 5" [exhaust pipes]
1 pc. aluminum tube 1' [wheels]
1 pc. grey strut stock [struts]
resin fuel tank
resin engine
2 pre-shaped landing gear struts [metal]
8 photo-etched wire wheels
8 White metal tire halves
2 white-metal control columns
white metal propeller
1 sheet vac-form parts
instructions

The kit can be built into either the biplane or monoplane version, there being a separate wing for the monoplane option. There is a sheet of instructions and some of Harry Woodman's drawings, the latter of which gives a decent idea of the construction and the rigging. Since the topic is somewhat esoteric, other references would be helpful although not absolutely necessary (see "Airfix Magazine", March 1982, pages 318 to 324). The plastic vac-form sheet provides excellent detail for the wings, tail pieces and fuselage, and is comparable to other high quality vac-form kits; for example, Roseplanes'. The metal and resin parts are delightful and once the sanding and thinning work is done on the plastic sheeting, this kit should be a fine model. The builder is given the alternative of either the monoplane or the biplane version, both of which can be viewed at the VLE site.

The kit's designer, Bob Wheeler, claims that the biplane is the more difficult of the two versions, and that those persons choosing this option should begin with the cabane struts when assembling the top wing. There are three bays either side for the biplane version, so I would have to agree with this recommendation.

Conclusion

While this is not a kit for a beginner being a vac-form, the quality of the kit is high and those builders who have some experience should be able to do a decent job of the monoplane version. Those with experience in building biplanes should not find this kit more difficult than other large biplane kits.

V.L.E. Models provides the following references:
Woodman, Harry. "The DFW 'Mars'." Airfix Magazine, March 1982.
"The DFW Monoplane" Flight Magazine, 1913.
Jane's Historical Aircraft from 1902 to 1916" Doubleday ed., NY 1973.
Nowarra, H. J. "50 Jahre Deutsche Luftwaffe, Band I, 1910-15" Eigenverlag des verfassers, Berlin, 1961.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Len Smith for help with reference materials.