Looks good.  Well constructed and painted.  What does the artwork represent?  Something mythological maybe?  Wonder why the pilot selected it.

Very cool, very nice work there!

Yes checkmateking02,

The idea seems to be from ancient mythology.  Jacobs called the insignia "the god of the North wind" He carried it on one and possibly two Dr.I triplanes and this D.VII.  There are hypothesis to its origin.  This artwork /rendition possibly came from a children's nursery book.

Thank you Gamera.

Thank you Borg R3-MC0,

Yes the diorama is called "The Bitter End".  I have about 200 kit reviews on Aeroscale and the recent ones include Fokker D.VII kits that I will include in the project.  The DML Dragon kit can a decnt build with some work. See the thread below.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=195329&page=1

Thank you, Stephen.  That's very interesting.  Again, an excellent looking Fokker.

I will use aircraft from the units that surrendered at Nivelles but in some cases we don't know if a specifically marked machine was there or had been previously captured and was sent there.

Even with recent studies of Jasta Boelcke  machines, the identity of this machine's pilot is shrouded in mystery. All we have is an image where this machine or one like it was photographed after having nosed over in a landing or a stalled take off.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1659

In June 1918, Jasta 43 had a mixture of Fokker D.VII and Albatros D.V & D.va types.   In an attempt to consolidate the equipment into one type, when Jasta 18 moved from the 6th  to the 19th Armee area, their older Fokker D.VII (Alb.) types were supplied to Jasta 46. These aircraft bear the original Jasta 18 markings, including the raven on the fuselage.  This aircraft depicted as being from the D. 528 - 926/18 production batch was flown by Leutnant der Reserve (Ltn des Res.) Josef Keller. He joined Jasta 43 on 5 June, 1918.  His only victory came on 8 August 1918 when he brought down an SE5a near Bray-sur-Somme. His combat career ended on October 11, 1918, he was seriously wounded when he crashed during test flight a Jasta 43 Fokker D.VII.

The stripes for the Jasta 43 machine of Ltn Keller are a bit thin in the clear area between the red stripes and care should be exercised when applying these two sections ( for the left and right side.)  Always use warm water and keep the decal on the paper backing until ready to slide it off into place on the model.  Carefully spread the decal out to the right location. Do one side at a time and using set first then sol and you will have very good results.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1149

While flying Fokker D.VII types, Jasta 46 was commanded by Ltn Otto Creutzmann (8 victories) as a part of Jagdgruppe 2. The pilot of this aircraft is unknown but it was photographed in British hands post war.  The lower wing crosses should be further out by one half of a rib space.  There is evidence that The unit may have had red or black forward fuselages. The top wing is in 5 colour lozenge while the bottom wing is in four colour. When you work with models like this and you follow the directions without some other references you can get in trouble. Eduard recommends the early fuselage for the following scheme. But here is what you need to know about the problems you will face. Remember folks you saw it here first. Eduard implied in their artwork, but they did not include it in their instructions. To do this scheme / profile as photo-evidence provides:

A. Instead of using the early production fuselage you could use the late production and cut off select louvres and add the photoetch metal louvres to match the profile. ( Also don't forget That even though Eduard shows the capped exhaust port - in the known images you can not see this. A new side panel may have been fabricated in the field) or...

B. If you use the early production fuselage you have to cap off the the side exhaust exit and carve out the rim on the upper cowling to allow for the high exit exhaust . Then add the Eduard photoetch louvres.

Anthology 2 has some very interesting images of this bird in British captivity (with 84 RAF 1918 -1919.) The altered side panels are a strong indication that this early Albatros built Fokker D.VII had not only both of the side and one upper panel altered BUT had its exhaust changed out from the "early side exit " type to the "later high exit" type. There is not enough evidence to prove that the engine was changed out and exhausts were a fairly common item.  The engine we do see present is a Mercedes 180hp D.IIIaü type.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1149]

I have deleted the Roden build as it was sold. So replace it with this build 2/29/16. 1/48 Fokker D.VII With some end of war grime. Down & dirty. . .done. This is the Eduard kit finished like Kaptain. zur See Sachsenberg's early Schwerin built bird for placement in the EOW diorama.

Another Marine Feld Jasta (Jasta III) Fokker D.VII 4499/18 flown by  Vzflgmstr. Mayer who left on  6 Sept. 1918 to SeeFosta II.  The personal & unit  markings decals are from the ex-Eagle Strike series.  The kit is an Eduard first issue of their OAW kit.  the original machine probably stayed with the MFJ and was assigned to another pilot at the EOW.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=780

This kit represents a late production Fokker D.VII (OAW) flown by an unknown pilot of Jasta 36. It is well documented that this unit used variations of light and medium blue as a unit marking.  This pilot has added a white and medium blue banding around the empennage.  The photo image of this machine was probably taken while Jasta 36 was in the field during the war but I include it as it may have been turned in at Nivelles.  From the Fokker D.VII Anthology volume 2.  The lozenge decals are the excellent the 4 colour version from the Microsculpt .com.

I am taking the artisitic license to include aircraft that belonged to the surrendering German units. But no photo image exists of this machine at Nivelles in the public domain.  There maybe some written knowlege by the specific pilot that he had a machine but little or nothing is noted about its markings or type designation. As an example I provide the following;

"This kit represents a Fokker D.VII from a late Albatros production batch in the markings of an earlier machine flown by Ltn. Des Res. Raesch of Jasta 43.  His earlier machine was destroyed in combat on 25 July 1918.  He parachuted to safety and was eventually given another machine.   I duplicated the markings from his early Albatros production bird as it was a common practice for a German pilot that lost a machine to reproduce the same markings on his new aircraft to one extent or another.

It is generally known that Jasta 43 received its initial Fokker D.VII aircraft in a transfer from Jasta 18. Ltn. Raesch inherited this machine ( D.525/18 - 874/18/18  Johannistahl built) from the unit’s temporary commander Ltn.d.R. Otto Creutzmann on about 5 June 1918. The three pronged pitchfork is easily recognizable as a manure fork used in cattle and dairy farms. Both  Ltn.d.R. Otto Creutzmann and. Raesch had grown up on farms so it is easy to see why it was retained. 

Ltn. Raesch crashed the early machine on 25 July 1918.  The markings of his late model Fokker D.VII (Alb.) are unknown at this writing.  Since many pilots re-applied their old marking to newly assigned machines,  I have represented it here. Ltn.d.R. Josef Raesch came from Jastaschule  I at Valenciennes on 6 June1918 and served until the end of war.  At that time Ltn. Raesch followed his unit to Nivelles to surrender their aircraft."  The lozenge decals are the excellent the 5 colour version from the Microsculpt.com .

The following is from the "When I flew with. . ." GB and the biography I created for this fictional pilot represented there.

". . .It all began in a small town of Zweibrüken in the Pfalz Rhineland area.  Coming from a  family that operated a small Gesthaus and restaurant  called Weinerwald.   Hunting in the nearby black forest or the local Phesanery was his favorite leisure time activity.   Oblt. Stefan Löwenson rose from the ranks and served inseveral Front line units.   It was on 13 Sept.1918 that he was again transferred but to 2 Armee headqurters for the Gruppen Fluzeug Command.  Where he acquired a roving commission as field inpector of  Jasta materials and operations in and around Metz.  It is believed that in his authority that he appropriated one of two aircraft destined to be assigned to the JG.I commander.

In the 147th Aero Sqdn log book for Sept 26,1918. There were 4 men on patrol at approx. 6:30pm. Brotherton and Brosnon at 1500m and Jones and Porter at 600m. It was the latter two that saw the formation above them at 1000m (approx.) The same comments are copied in the daily text. "In a flight of Fokkers . . .Leader was all-white with what looked like red crosses?. . ."

He further increased his victory total to 23 by traveling in his white Fokker D.VIIF and assigning himself to the different Jastas in that theater of operations during his inspection tours.  It was his reports on Jasta 64w that noted the loss of many new Fokker D.VII aircraft due to the failure of substandard bungee shock chord during normal landings during Sept. - Oct. 1918.

Also I will include my Fok. D.VII 247/18 build for another Jasta 30 machine.

http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=168674&page=1

Justin Young (ex-Jager) also donated some some complete & some damaged resin fuselages to the cause.

Using some spare fuselages will also allow me to to use markings in a smaller area.  Like those dismantled aiframes shown in original images.  When Jager went out of business owner Justin Young offered bits and pieces and decals for discounted prices. Eduard's extra fuselages in each will also come in handy along with 6 Roden 1:48 kits. 

Stephen: Those are some fantastic schemes there, love Great War aircraft paint jobs. And the wrecks are a really cleaver idea and look very realistic! Wish I'd thought of it!

Thank Gamera!  Here is Jasta 29 CO Ltn Auffarth's Fokker D.VII 387/18 from the top.

Heavily modified DML / Dragon Fok. D.VII 387/18 as flown by Ltn. Auffarth CO of Jasta 29. I just finished adding the footstep & grab handles.

Impressive work Stephen as usual. Love to see your colorful aircraft displays.

I added the decals for Holtzem's D.402/18 from Eagle Strike Part 2 Fokker D.VII set #48080. (Known by WWI modelers as the Eagle Strike D.VII Bavarian set.)  Good decals and they take Sol & Set well  but the tail bands are slightly short and will need to have a paint touch up to finish.  The Lozenge is the Microsculpt 5 colour intermediate day type.

Max was a friend of the Lafayette Foundation throughout the later years of his life.

Jasta 30 early, Albatros built Fokker D.VII. Just need to add the foot step & hand hold bars.

Outstanding D.VIIs!  I, of course, flew the Dr 1 from 1917 on, but trasitoned to the D.VII in summer, 1918...  I flew with Jasta 11 at the time, then the war ended a few months later..  I was "volunteered in 1941 as a Fliegerverbandfurher  and was given a detachment of 24 fighters to train up for action during Operation Barbarossa. We were dedicated escort to the Stukas at that time and were mainly a ground-atack unit, once the Stukas were safe, then we turned our attention onto the Ivans fleeing on the ground... But, I digress.. 

Here's where I took out the mad Frenchman, known only as "The Hangman".

Later, my personal D.VII..

It was later painted blood-red..

1/48 Fokker D.VII With some end of war grime. Down & dirty. . .done. This is the Eduard kit finished like Kaptain zur See Sachsenberg's early Schwerin built bird for placement in the EOW diorama.

In progress Fokker E.V (2 @ DML/Dragon & 1@ Eduard kit.) & D.VII for the EOW diorama.

In progress Fokker E.V (2 @ DML/Dragon & 1@ Eduard kit.). L-R 149/18, 144/18 and an early Fok. E.V from Jasta 36. At far left is the Jager mid production Fokker D.VII (OAW) in Jasta 58 markings. At far right I have a DML Fokker D.VII with lower wing roots shattered and revealing the spars.

Inprogress 1/48 Fokker D.VII builds on top of the display case. 1 DML/Dragon & 2 @ Roden and at far right higer up is an Eduard kit in J.28w markings Probably the only build of Degelow's leaping stag showing the late war Jasta 40 tail stripes. Going left is a DML / Dragon Fokker D.VII in Jasta 26 markings for Oblt Bruno Loerzer. Then continuing left is the DML / Dragon kit marked as old bubble tail.

Late production Schwerin Fokker D.VII 5183/18 from Jasta 28w. Just need to finish rigging and add propeller.  The profile scheme is hypothetical.