Issuu

SSW D.III GERMAN WWI FIGHTER

1/48 SCALE PLASTIC KIT P r o f i P A C K

#8256

INTRO The Siemens-Schuckert Werke company began producing aircraft as early as 1907, but it wasn’t until 1916 when the production capabilities rose to a higher standard. In June 1916, Idflieg (air force inspection) issued a requirement for the development of an aircraft comparable to the Nieuport 11. One of the firms that decided to take part in this development was Siemens-Schuckert. It embarked on the road of copying the Nieuport 11, and called its aircraft SSW D.1. The aircraft went into production, but only 65 of an ordered 250 were completed by June 1917. The aircraft’s performance fell short of that of its opponents, allied as well as German. One area in which the aircraft did excel, however, was in its rate of climb, which was achieved thanks to its nine cylinder rotary Siemens-Halske Sh.I engine. This engine rotated in the opposite direction of the propeller. At that time, however, development was also underway of the Siemens-Halske Sh.III. The Idflieg was anticipating greater performance out of this unit. As soon as this engine became available, Idflieg ordered three SSW D.II prototypes. In one of them, D.IIb 3502/16, factory pilot Hans Müller reached 7,000m in 35 minutes and 30 seconds, which was a new world climb record. Thanks to this demonstration, another nine prototypes were ordered, two of which, D.7551/17 and D.7552/17, received the designation SSW D.III. The first flew for the first time on November 15, 1917, the other on December 20. Six days after the first flight of the second D.III, SSW received an order for twenty pre-series D.IIIs. They were to be compared to other aircraft, and also be subjected to front line testing. Comparing to other types, however, such as the Fokker D.VII, were not very celebratory. It became evident, that the type required an experienced pilot. In the end, the type proved considerable faster than the Albatros D.V. and a little faster than the D.VII. Nevertheless, the answer to the speed of the D.III became the SSW D.IV with a redesigned wing. In the end, Idflieg ordered 30 series production D.IIIs on March 1, 1918. To this was added another order for fifty aircraft on March 23 and another fifty D.IVs on April 8. Front line trials of 41 D.IIIs and one D.IV were undertaken between March 16 and May 18 with Jagdgeschwader II. Pilots praised the aircraft’s climb rate, but still were demanding a higher speed. Engine troubles also appeared, but these were due to unsuitable oil. In May, all aircraft were returned to the factory for major overhaul. These included a new shape of the rudder and elevators, a shorter wing span, a smaller spinner, a redesigned cowl, and so on. A 40 hour run test of the engine was also required. After the changes and engine test, the aircraft were returned to the front on July 22. There was a second round of tests which resulted in three orders for the SSW D.IV totaling 250 aircraft. The SSW D.IIIs were assigned to air defense units, and the faster, although slower climbing D.IVs, were delivered to units on the Western Front. The first kill was attained by Theo Osterkamp, an ace with an eventual total of 38 kills gained over both world wars, when, on August 21, 1918, he shot down a DH.9 bomber. Documentation suggests a total of 136 SSW D.IIIs and D.IVs being issued to combat units.

E SSW D.III 3025/18, Trier, December 1918 to January 1919

ČESKOU VERZI TEXTU A KOMPLETNÍ KAMUFLÁŽNÍ SCHÉMA NALEZNETE NA www.eduard.com/s/8256

8256 - NAV2

ATTENTION

UPOZORNĚNÍ

ACHTUNG

ATTENTION

Carefully read instruction sheet before assembling. When you use glue or paint, do not use near open flame and use in well ventilated room. Keep out of reach of small children. Children must not be allowed to suck any part, or pull vinyl bag over the head. Před započetím stavby si pečlivě prostudujte stavební návod. Při používání barev a lepidel pracujte v dobře větrané místnosti. Lepidla ani barvy nepoužívejte v blízkosti otevřeného ohně. Model není určen malým dětem, mohlo by dojít k požití drobných dílů.

INSTRUCTION SIGNS

INSTR. SYMBOLY

BEND OHNOUT

OPTIONAL VOLBA

SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ

OPEN HOLE VYVRTAT OTVOR

PARTS

INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN

DÍLY

NOTCH ZÁŘEZ

SYMBOLES

REMOVE ODŘÍZNOUT

TEILE

APPLY EDUARD MASK AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARDS MASK NABARVIT

PIECES

PLASTIC PARTS

B> 27 22 25

26 32

52 21

41 17 2

49 28

16 6

65 67

64 46

4 5

-Parts not for use. -Teile werden nicht verwendet. -Pieces a ne pas utiliser. -Tyto díly nepoužívejte při stavbě. -

COLOURS

BARVY

AQUEOUS

Mr.COLOR

H 11

C62

FARBEN

PEINTURE

AQUEOUS

GSi Creos (GUNZE)

BLACK FLAT WHITE

Mr.COLOR

H 47

C41

RED BROWN

H 53

C13

NEUTRAL GRAY

Mr.METAL COLOR

FLAT BLACK

MC211

CHROME SILVER

FLAT RED

MC214

DARK IRON

H 25

C34

SKY BLUE

MC218

ALUMINIUM

H 37

C43

WOOD BROWN

MC219

BRASS

C33

H 13

H 12

19 7

B7 MARKINGS ONLY

A ;C

A57

A70

H 37 C43

H2 C2

WOOD BROWN

BLACK

H2 C2 BLACK

A69 H 37 C43

A59

WOOD BROWN

decal 15

A57 H2 C2 BLACK

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A62

H2 C2 BLACK

A61 MC218

A64

ALUMINIUM

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

A66

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

H 37 C43

A36

WOOD BROWN

A60 MC218

A39 MC218 ALUMINIUM

ALUMINIUM

MARKINGS ONLY

A ;C

decal 12 H 37 C43

A69

WOOD BROWN

H 37 C43

A56

WOOD BROWN

H2 C2 BLACK

A58

A64 H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

A65 H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

A37

H 37 C43

WOOD BROWN

A40 MC218 ALUMINIUM

A55 MC218 ALUMINIUM

decal 14

H 37 C43

PE1, 2

A68

A67

PE3

WOOD BROWN

A32

H 37 C43

90°

PE1

WOOD BROWN

A70 B2 PE2

A31

PE7

A30 H 37 C43

A73

A44

WOOD BROWN

H 37 C43 WOOD BROWN

H2 C2 BLACK

A46

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A31

A45 A45

A47

H2 C2 BLACK

PE14 A48

H2 C2 BLACK

wire

A44

wire A67

A44 A31

A34

2 pcs. A72

A72 MC214

PE15

DARK IRON

PE17

PE18

PE19

PE22

PE16

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A63

MC214 DARK IRON

PE12 PE6 H 47 C41 RED BROWN

B38 A33

A34 MC214 DARK IRON

A34

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A43 A41

H2 C2

A35

BLACK

A42

MC218 ALUMINIUM

A8 step 4

step 1 step 2

H2 C2 BLACK

A50 H2 C2 BLACK

A49 step 3 step 5

A49

B2 A50 6

H2 C2 BLACK

A53

MC211 CHROME SILVER

A27 A54 MC218

MC218

A25

ALUMINIUM

A26 A29

MC219 BRASS

A24

H2 C2 BLACK

A28

B15

B13 MARKINGS ONLY

A ;C B6

A71 B14

A film

B11 B10 B52

MC218 ALUMINIUM

B51

B12

A23 A22

H2 C2 BLACK

eduard

8256

B16 B18

B17

B19 B16

«G

A21 A20

thread

PE24

PE23 PE10

PE11

MC214 DARK IRON

- 0,3 mm - 0,3 mm

MARKING

ONLY

PE5

PE4 3 pcs.

PE20

PE20 - MARKING E ONLY

PE13

B 10

H 47 C41 RED BROWN

MC218 ALUMINIUM

PE21

PE13, 21 MARKING D ONLY

MC214 DARK IRON

PE8

PE9

X X

X X X

A SSW D.III, Jasta 4, Ltn. Ernst Udet, Metz, October 3, 1918 Ernst Udet was photographed in the cockpit of this aircraft on October 3, 1918. He was a holder of the Pour-le-Merite and Knight’s Cross, and was a 62 kill ace. But the Staffelführer of Jasta 4 never flew this aircraft in combat, and it is unlikely that he ever flew it at all. On September 26, seven DH.9s of No.99 Squadron IAF attacked the train station at Mets, and these were bounced by German aircraft on their return flight. Five of the bombers were downed over enemy territory, and two crash landed with dead gunners. Two of these kills were credited to Udet. He was wounded by a round to the thigh, and flew no more combat missions. The inscription LO! On the fuselage also appeared on other of Udet’s aircraft. It was a familiar reference to his lady friend Eleonor Zink. The extent of the red paint on the aircraft is not entirely clear from available photographs.

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RED WHITE

H13 H11 C62

WOOD BROWN

H37 C43

ALUMINIUM MC218

NEUTRAL GRAY

H53 C13

SSW D.III 1618/18, Jasta 85 (Kest 5), Ltn. Heinrich Dembowsky, Schaffenhausen, B November 13, 1918 Two days after the cease of hostilities, seven Jasta 85 (formerly Kest 5) aircraft landed in Switzerland. The pilot of the illustrated aircraft overshot the runway, went through a perimeter fence, and nosed the aircraft over. The insignia on the side of the plane helps to identify the pilot. The intertwined letters FWR and the Roman numeral ‘I’ in its lower part identify the pilot as being Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I (2nd Ostpreussisches) Nr.3. The only pilot from the Schaffenhausen that landed and came from Eastern Prussia was Ltn. Heinrich Dembowsky, and so it is likely that he was the pilot of this aircraft.

BLACK

H12 C33

WHITE

H11 C62

WOOD BROWN

H37 C43

ALUMINIUM MC218

NEUTRAL GRAY

H53 C13

C SSW D.III, Jasta 15, Chery-les-Pouilly, July 1918 Siemens-Schuckert D.IIIs were tested at the Front in the spring of 1918, mostly by Jasta 15. In May, several pilots flying them gained kills, before the aircraft were sent back to the factory for modifications. After these mods were completed, they were returned to service, first and foremost to Kest units, where their excellent climb rate could be put to good use. Despite that, this modified aircraft managed to be photographed at the end of July in red-blue Jasta 15 colors at Chery-les-Pouilly. The handles were not a standard item.

SKY BLUE

H25 C34

WHITE

H11 C62

RED WOOD BROWN

H13 H37 C43

ALUMINIUM MC218

NEUTRAL GRAY

H53 C13

D SSW D.III 1626/18, Kest 4b, Vzfw. Reimann, September 1918 The SSW D.III was characterized by an excellent rate of climb. Front line units demanded speed and in the summer of 1918, that requirement was met by the Fokker D.VII. However, the SSW D.III’s performance found favor among the air defense units Kest. Their duty was to protect German assets from strategic bombardment. These attacks occurred at high altitudes, and the D.IIIs had a good chance to intercept and attack the bombers. The blue fuselage is one possible interpretation of the period black and white photograph, and brown is also possible.

SKY BLUE

H25 C34

WHITE

H11 C62

BLACK

H12 C33

WOOD BROWN

H37 C43

ALUMINIUM MC218

NEUTRAL GRAY

H53 C13

E SSW D.III 3025/18, Trier, December, 1918 to January 1919 This aircraft did not see much combat use. On November 8, 1918, it was assigned to Kest 4b. Three days later, the war ended, and the aircraft was handed over to the Americans, and was tested between 1918 and 1919 at Trevir. At the time, the aircraft still carried German national markings and full armament. There appeared a figure of a soldier on the wing strut.

WHITE

H11 62

WOOD BROWN

H37 43

ALUMINIUM MC218

NEUTRAL GRAY

H53 13

RIB STRIPES - PORTY P2

P4 P2 P4

TOP - VRCHNÍ STRANA P3

P7 P8

P12

P11

P10

P11

BOTTOM - SPODNÍ STRANA

P13

P14

P9 P13 P9

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P14

P13

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