Eduard Hobby Plastic Model Kit Albatros D.V PROFIPACK — 1:72

Manufacturer

Eduard is a Czech manufacturer of plastic model kits and modelling accessories, particularly well known for aircraft subjects and its ProfiPACK range. ProfiPACK kits typically combine injection-moulded plastic with additional detail components such as photo-etched parts and comprehensive decal options.

Cat. 7020 is an older Eduard 1:72 ProfiPACK release of the Albatros D.V, and the manufacturer's archived product page confirms the catalogue number, scale, ProfiPACK designation and discontinued status.
Kit contents

The documented contents include:

Injection-moulded plastic parts

Photo-etched detail fret

Three decal sheets, including printed camouflage fabric representations

Markings for four different aircraft

Assembly instructions

A contemporary kit review specifically records one beige-coloured plastic sprue, three decal sheets and one photo-etched sheet. The four marking options cover both Albatros D.V and D.Va aircraft.

The kit can represent:

Albatros D.V, Jasta 40, 1918

Albatros D.Va, Jasta 18, 1918

Albatros D.Va, Jasta 78b, flown by Vfw. Michael Sigmann, 1918

Albatros D.V, Jasta 37, flown by Lt. Hans Waldhausen, spring 1917

History of the full-size aircraft

The Albatros D.V was a German single-seat fighter developed in 1917 as a refinement of the successful Albatros D.III. The new aircraft retained the basic wing arrangement and the Mercedes D.III engine of its predecessor, but received a redesigned, more rounded and aerodynamic fuselage. Eduard's historical documentation gives a wingspan of 9.50 m, length of 7.33 m, empty weight of approximately 620 kg, maximum take-off weight of 852 kg, and maximum speed of approximately 165 km/h.

The D.V entered service during a period when German and Allied fighter development was advancing rapidly. It became one of the principal German fighters during 1917 and early 1918. Eduard's historical material records that during summer 1917 Albatros D.V aircraft were serving with 37 Jagdstaffeln (Jastas) and that by April 1918, D.V and D.Va aircraft represented approximately 48% of German fighters at the front.

However, the D.V inherited a serious structural weakness from the Albatros family. The lower wing structure could suffer failures under the stresses encountered during flight, particularly during recovery from dives. This problem contributed to pilot concerns and ultimately led to the improved D.Va.

The D.Va retained much of the D.V's configuration but strengthened the wing structure and introduced the more powerful 180 hp Mercedes D.IIIa engine. These changes improved the aircraft's performance and structural reliability, although they also increased weight.

The Albatros was eventually overtaken by newer designs, most notably the Fokker D.VII, which began replacing the D.V/D.Va from approximately May 1918. Nevertheless, the Albatros remained an important German fighter throughout the later stages of the First World War. Approximately 900 aircraft of the D.V/D.Va series were built according to retailer historical data.