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Jasta 18 Vol. 2 Raben's Ravens - 1:48 Pheon Decals Eduard 1:48 kits. August Raben took command of Jasta 18 im March 1918.Like many German commanders he sought to build an 'esprit de corps', and ordered the application of a striking livery to all of Jasta 18's aircraft. The noses back to the cockpit were painted in bright vermilion red, the rest of the fuselage back to the tail in white. The top of upper wing was in red, and later the top of the lower wing also. Some aircraft also received red lower surfaces of their wings. Each also had the symbol of a Raven (Raben in German) as a unit marking, and individual pilots chose their own marking to go alongside. Thus marked, Staffel Raben went to war and achieved notable success, with something between 112 and 126 victories by the time of the armistice seven months later. By this time they were equipped with the superb Fokker D.VII which were of course painted up in the flamboyant red and white scheme. This decal set from Pheon was released in 2013 and reviewed here. Ever since, I planned to build at least one of each aircraft type and with a few days off at Christmas have finally got around to completing the set. I would still like to add a couple more of the Fokker D.VII's to the line up if I can obtain the kits. The beauty of these 1:48 sets is that you can build several of them as I have done here, as they they don't take up much space. It reminded me how good the Eduard kits are as well, I still have quite a few in the stash and this project has got me building more of them now, after being diverted on to Wingnuts Wings 1:32 kits for several years. Pfalz D.IIIa - Ltn. Hans Muller Albatros D.Va - pilot and serial unknown Fokker Dr.I - 479/17, Ltn. August Raben Fokker D.VII (OAW) - serial unknown, Ltn. Hans Muller The only one I modified was the Albatros, as the Eduard kit has undercarriage legs that are too short, resulting in a 'dumpy' look to the way it sits. Details are at the end of this post. Nex up, I am working my way through Jasta 18. Berthold's Boys. A Pfalz is already under construction, and I have some Alabatros D.III's & D.V's waiting in the stash. Using a Wingnut Wings Alabtros as a reference, I measured the undercarriage legs in that kit, and converted the result from 1:32 to 1:48. This showed the Eduard 1:48 legs to be 3mm too short. It is not much but it makes a huge difference to the sit of the finished model. Lengthening them could have been problematical, as the upper position of the legs needs to remain as it is, in order to meet the fuselage mounts in the kit. Leaving them on the sprue in order to hold this position, I cut the lower 'U' shape off and inserted 2 3mm lengths of plastic strip. Left to harden, the extensions were later sanded flush and blended in. The work will later be mostly hidden by the undercarriage bungee cords that are wrapped around this area. Comparison with an unmodified kit (top) and the modified one (below). The difference is subtle, but very noticeable in real life. Happy new year everyone! John

Jasta 18 Vol. 2 Raben's Ravens 1:48 Pheon Decals Background This set follows on from Jasta 18 Vol. 1 Bertholds Boys covering the 'new' Jasta 18 under August Raben. The story starts with Rudolph Berthold, commander of Jasta 18 being given command of JG II in March 1918. Consisting of Jastas 12, 13, 15, and 19, it would have meant Berthold leaving Jasta 18 and the men he had formed into an effective fighting force. In brief, what he did was rename Jasta 18 to Jasta 15 so that it formed part of JG II and went with him. At the same time Jasta 15 switched identities with Jasta 18. August Raben had only just taken command of Jasta 15 on 14th March, when the swap occurred on 20th, on which day he was hospitalised after a crash on take off. Hardly the ideal start to his command. By 14th April he was out of hospital and reunited with the Jasta just outside Lille. Like many German commanders he sought to build an 'esprit de corps', and ordered the application of a striking livery to all of Jasta 18's aircraft. The noses back to the cockpit were painted in bright vermilion red, the rest of the fuselage back to the tail in white. The top of upper wing was in red, and later the top of the lower wing also. Some aircraft also received red lower surfaces of their wings. Each also had the symbol of a raven (raben in German) as a unit marking, and individual pilots chose their own marking to go alongside. Thus marked, Staffel Raben went to war and achieved notable success, with something between 112 and 126 victories by the time of the armistice seven months later. By this time they were equipped with the superb Fokker D.VII which were of course painted up in the flamboyant red and white scheme. Pheon acknowledge reference to Osprey's Aviation Elite Units No.40 'Jasta 18' by Greg Van Wyngarden. I heartily endorse this and had already purchased a copy in anticipation of this set. The decal set. The decals are produced in Pheons' now familiar format with no fewer than 17 individual aircraft featured, covering the Albatros D.Va, Pfalz D.IIIa, Fokker DR.1, and Fokker D.VII. Included is a full colour overview of all 17 options, followed by 4 sets of more detailed profiles and 1 of plan views,on thick glossy card in A4 size. The usual instruction booklet contains a wealth of information with historical detail, and notes on finishing options on the real aircraft. Pheon explain where there are doubts or 'grey' areas such as where fuselage and wing undersides may or may not have been painted, which allows the modeller to make an informed choice on which way to go. Notes are provided on each individual aircraft pointing out the key details of the finish, and where possible connecting each aircraft with a pilot. Sealed in their own cellophane bag the decals themselves are on two A5 sheets printed by the Fantasy Printshop and one small amendment sheet for the Pfalz and Fokker DR.1. As with the 'Jasta 18 Vol. 1' set the first sheet contains all the personal markings for each aircraft, including edging for the fuselage sides and elevators, and tailplane stripes. Various personal markings and fuselage bands are supplied, along with numerous ravens and fuselage crosses. The second sheet contains sets of Eisenkreutz for wings and fuselage and two more sets of black tailplane chevrons. A nice touch typical of Pheon is that the white areas have been double printed to ensure opacity over the other colours. Finally we have the Pfalz & Dr.1 amendment sheet. As with other sets from his manufacturer, the printing is beautifully sharp and in register with barely visible carrier film and look amazingly thin. Previous experience has shown that they go on like a dream, and are a delight to use. The options. 1. Albatros D.Va - pilot and serial unknown, Lomme, June 1918. 2. Albatros D.Va - pilot and serial unknown, Lomme, June 1918. 3. Albatros D.Va - pilot and serial unknown, Lomme, June 1918. 4. Albatros D.Va - Ltn. Kurt Monnington, serial unknown, Lomme, June 1918. 5. Pfalz D.IIIa - Ltn. Hans Muller, serial unknown, Lomme, June 1918. 6. Fokker Dr.I - 479/17, Ltn. August Raben, Montingen, October 1918. 7. Fokker D.VII - 386/18, Ltn. Hans Schultz, Lomme, June 1918. 8. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - Possible Vzfw Glatz, Montingen, Summer 1918. 9. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - Ltn. August Raben, Montingen, Summer 1918. 10. Fokker D.VII early (OAW) - Ltn. Kurt Monnington, Montingen, Summer 1918. 11. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - pilot and serial unknown, prob. Montingen, Summer 1918. 12. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - serial unknown, Ltn.Gunther Von Buren, Montingen, August/September1918. 13. Fokker D.VII , pilot and serial unknown, Montingen, Summer 1918. 14. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - serial unknown, Ltn. Hans Muller, Montingen, September 1918. 15. Fokker D.VII prob. (OAW) - serial unknown, Ltn. Wilhelm Kuhne, Montingen, Summer 1918. 16. Fokker D.VII (OAW) - serial unknown, Ltn.Heinz Kustner, Montingen, Summer 1918 and post war. 17. Fokker D.VII Albatros built- pilot and serial unknown, Montingen, Summer 1918 and post war. The plan views. Conclusion. This is another fabulous set from Pheon. I am itching to get started on a representative sample of 'Raben's Ravens' with at least 1 Albatros, the Palz, the Dr.1 and at probably 3 of the D.VII's. Sets like this are a fabulous idea as they bring their own little mini theme, and are fantastic value as you get so many models out of them. Four finished models here. As with the previous set reviewed, 'Bertholds Boys' this would make a great subject for a club display with a few modellers sharing out the builds between them. Very highly recommended Review sample courtesy of Pheon Decals

Jasta 18 Vol. 1 Berthold's Boys 1/48 Pheon Decals Background As with much of aviation history, I find that the characters involved can be as interesting as the aircraft they flew. All types of personalitly can be found, and amongst the sternest of these was Rudolph Berthold. A slight looking man, he had joined the German infantry before the start of world war one, but by its outbreak was an observer with FFA 23. By January 1915 he had undergone pilot training and was back in FFA 23 flying twin engined AEGs, before moving on to the Fokker Eindecker. In February 1916 he scored his first victory, with four more by mid April. On the 25th he suffered the first of many severe injuries in his career, when he crashed in a Pfalz E.IV, suffering severe head injuries, a broken nose, thigh and pelvis. In what became his standard response, he returned to duty before he was full recovered. Scoring three more victories by October, he was given command of Jasta 14. Here he put into practice the iron discipline and rigorous training that he became noted for. Anyone who did not measure up was quickly moved on, but those who made the grade were moulded into a fiercely loyal and effective fighting force. However on 23rd May 1917 he had another serious accident which sidelined him until August. Returning to duty he took up command of Jasta 18 and he again applied his exacting standards to the men under his command. Here he introduced the Jasta 18 colour scheme of blue aircraft with red noses, based on his old infantry regiment colours of blue tunic with red collars and cuffs. Although obeying orders by transferring to the new Jasta, he clearly he regretted having to leave his comrades behind in Jasta 14 that he had trained so hard, and formed a mutual respect for. Fate (in the shape of 56 Sqn, RFC) intervened again on 10th October when Berthold was again severely wounded and put out of action for several months. Only skilful surgery saved his badly shattered right arm. Returning to duty in late March 1918 with his arm in a sling, he was in no fit state to fly, but undoubtedly glad to back with 'his boys'. Almost immediately he was promoted to command JG II, consisting of Jastas 12, 13, 15, and 19. This of course would mean leaving Jasta 18 and the men he had formed into an effective fighting force. Quite how he managed it is not entirely clear, but what he did was transfer all the men and equipment out of Jasta 15 into Jasta 18. At the same moment all the men and equipment of 'his' Jasta 18 transferred to Jasta 15, thus coming with him to JG II. (There is another story here, as the 'new' Jasta 18 under Ltn. August Raben forms the subject of Pheon's next decal sheet Here ). To complete Bertholds story, by sheer force of willpower and a refusal to let his injuries stop him from flying, he raised his score to 44 victories before another crash in August 1918 finally ended his flying career. He survived the war only to be murdered in 1920 at the hands of his own countrymen, in the turmoil that developed in Germany after the Armistice. A truly formidable and brave man who earned the unshakeable loyalty of those who served alongside him. The decal set. Pheon have produced probably the definitive decal sheet for 'Berthold's Boys' in their Jasta 18 guise with their blue and red colour scheme. No fewer than 24 individual aircraft can be completed from this set, covering the Albatros D.III, Albatros D.V, Pfalz D.III and D.IIIa. The set consists of a full colour overview of all 24 options, followed by 3 sets of more detailed profiles and 1 of plan views on thick glossy card in A4 size. Also included is Pheons usual very informative instruction booklet, this one of 13 pages giving some interesting historical detail and notes on finishing options on the real aircraft. Pheon explain where there are doubts or 'grey' areas on actual colours used, and allow the modeller to make an informed choice on which way to go. Notes are provided on each individual aircraft, most of which can be associated with an individual pilot or pilots. Reading through these is very interesting as well known names crop up regularly and will probably contribute to you deciding which options you want to go for. Sealed in their own cellophane bag the decals themselves are on two A5 sheets printed by the Fantasy Printshop, which means quality is assured. The first sheet contains all the personal markings for each aircraft, which are pretty much the fuselage side markings. (Note: I have artificially darkened the background here to make the white decals stand out more) The second sheet contains sets of Eisenkreutz for wings and fuselage, sectioned by the different aircraft types to which they apply. Both sheets are flawlessly printed with the white surrounds to the crosses being in perfect register. The decals look to be nice and thin with good colour density and minimal carrier film. Technically these are as good as it gets. The options; 1. Albatros D.III - serial unknown, Oblt. Rudolph Berthold, Harlebeke, Sept. 1917 2. Albatros D.III (OAW) - serial unknown, Oblt. Ernest Turck, Harlebeke, Summer 1917 3. Albatros D.III - pilot and serial unknown, Harlebeke, Autumn 1917 4. Albatros D.III - serial prob. 1970/16, Ltn. Paul Strahle, Aug./Sept. 1917 5. Albatros D.III (OAW) - pilot and serial unknown, prob. late Summer/Autumn 1917 6. Albatros D.III (OAW) - 479/17, Ltn. August Raben, Montingen, October 1918 7. Albatros D.V - Ltn. Walter Dingel, Sept. 1917 8. Albatros D.V - Ltn, Johannes Klein, Oct. 1917 9. Albatros D.V - Ltn. Arthur Rahn, Jasta 18 Nov. 1917 10. Albatros D.V - Ltn. Harald Auffarth and Oblt. Ernst Turck, Staffelfuhrer Jasta 18 Sept. 20- Oct. 1917 and Oct.- March 1918 11. Albatros D.V - pilot and serial unknown, March 1918 12. Albatros D.V - pilot and serial unknown, Winter 1917/18 13. Albatros D.V , 2171/17, Ltn. Oliver Freiherr von Beaulieu-Marconnay, Dec. 1917 14. Albatros D.V - serial unknown, Ltn.d R Hugo Schafer, late 1917 15. Albatros D.V - serial unknown, Ltn. Josef Veltjens, Winter 1917/18 16. Albatros D.V - serial unknown, Ltn. Otto Schober, late Summer 1917 17. Albatros D.V - 4594/17, Ltn. Paul Strahle, Nov. 1917 18. Pfalz D.III - 4004/17, Oblt. Rudolph Berthold, Oct. 1917 19. Pfalz D.III - serial unknown, pilot possibly Walther Kleffel, Winter 1917/18 20. Pfalz D.III - Hans Burckhard von Buttlar, Avelin, Jan. 1918 21. Pfalz D.IIIa - Pilot and serial unknown, Winter 1917/18 22. Pfalz D.IIIa - Gefr. Max Hitschler, Avelin, Jan. 1918 23. Pfalz D.IIIa - Hans Burckhard von Buttlar, Avelin, Feb. 1918 24. Pfalz D.IIIa - Pilot and serial unknown, early 1918 The final sheet showing wing markings. Conclusion. This is another extraordinary set by Pheon which just looking through it gives a great deal of pleasure (I am getting reasonably good at being able to identify the pilots from their fuselage markings, which is of course why they did them in real life). I doubt that many of us will want to make all 24 possible options, most will go for a selective line up of perhaps one or two of each aircaft type. However, this sheet is also avaialble in 1:72nd, so all 24 in the smaller scales might be a possibility and would make a spectacular line up. If fact a club display could be done if members commited to doing a few models each. I have been building 1/48 WW.1 aircraft for at least 25 years now and rarely come across more comprehensive and beautifully produced sets of aftermarket decals than Pheon's. I can see this one and others becoming much sought after as 'classics' in future years, so if you have an interest - treat yourself and get them while you can. Very highly recommended Review sample courtesy of Pheon Decals