ML-KNIL Fokker D.XXI FD-322
A fairly simple kit, a giant pile of resin parts with hand drawn instructions, and some photoetch. I bought this stuff before I realized photoetch was evil, and I've never worked with resin before. A little anxious.
The struggle is real.
The last time any of this will be seen
Added some khaki drab and dark yellow to my 35mm film canister full of “nondescript military green” and sprayed the d.xxi. Should likely be darker but in 1:72 aren’t you supposed to make things a bit lighter? Some sort of scale effect I’ve heard.
Painted the nose this morning…
Tail feathers on, some light chipping.
Trying to up my panel line game
The unmasking
Comments
43 1 March 2020, 14:07
Wim van der LuijtThey only ever sent the prototype over to Indonesia, Fokkers where reserved for the home front
1 March 2020, 17:54
Gordon SørensenLooks like a lot more detail than the old PM kit I have in my stash. Great photos of the prototype. Watching!
7 May 2020, 12:28
KetoujinLike your Fokker D. XXI. I would love a decent kit of this example of plane. Downloaded a free-ware FSX modded flight model of the D.XXI for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and it is fun although not all the knobs and switches work in the virtual cockpit although it looks great. I would also love a G.1/G.1A kit at some point too with both Dutch roundels and neutrality livery options.
10 February 2021, 02:19
Ben MThanks... I did all the research and got all the pieces for this build but unfortunately it is still in the box. Maybe if I finish up some of my other in progress builds... this is the only one that went to the Netherlands East Indies despite it originally being designed for the ML-KNIL.
10 February 2021, 02:45
KetoujinI love the Indies connection. Back several years there was a KNIL-themed web-site in English but long gone I guess having tried to find it again with no luck. I think it may have been affiliated with the KNIL museum and rest home at Bronbeek (Dutch government ran, in an old country manor, an assisted living home for KNIL veterans on the museum site) but am not sure. The site talked all about the Royal Dutch Indies Air Force including some great anecdotes from bomber, seaplane, bomber, and flying boat pilots - both those interred for the war after 1942 and some who made it south to Australia. I really appreciate when people do specific aircraft for their builds and do the requisite research to make it really true-to-history. I tried to do the same with a 452nd Kokutai livery from Kiska for my last build - a 1/48th E13a sea-plane by Nichimo but numbering wasn't right without a IJN-specific paint stencil so I ended up using the stock decals which I think was from a reconnaissance Kokutai out of Yokosuka later in the war after the Aleutians were for all intents and purposes over. In any case a great job you did!
10 February 2021, 03:07
Remco van HarenI have the same kit and looking forward to build it. I am curious about your experiences in building this kit. 🙂
10 February 2021, 07:44
Jan PetersThe mpm kit is very nice to build. Just start and work slowly, pe and resin need just a bit more care while assembling.
Looking forward to this.
13 February 2021, 18:54
Gordon SørensenSee that there is a 'reproduction' example nearly ready for its first flight…. warbirdsnews.com/war..irst-flight.html/amp
9 January 2022, 17:55
Ben MNo new pics but an update; finally got all the seams covered up. Did my first ever rescribing; nothing big, just added back panel lines on the fuselage where they got sanded off. Now to maybe preshade. The color may be dark enough that won't matter. All the photos I have of fd-322 show it in relatively pristine condition
30 January 2022, 14:33
Ben MWell I used a molotow pen on the back of the landing lights and went to out them in the wings. I was wondering how to do that without pushing them inside when I did just that! I've never used micro Krystal Klear to make windows before but I'm giving it a try.
7 March 2022, 00:28
Ben MDecals and touch ups. Didn't get a smooth gloss with my first attempt at using Tamiya gloss. I think I sprayed too thin a coat. But the decals are snuggling down without silvering so that's good.
13 March 2022, 16:30
Ben MDone at last. Not much of the resin, PE, etc. in the interior is visible at all. Most of the Kora parts are inferior to the kit parts, but it's necessary for the engine cowling if you want to build FD-322. As usual, I referred to references mid project, so I know now that the interior should be aluminum, and there should only be 2 or 0 machine guns, and no landing lights. Quite the challenge -- I iwsh I'd gotten a smoother finish on the surface, perhaps next build!
19 March 2022, 19:17
Łukasz GlińskiVery nice finish, congrats 👍
PS. Basing on my own experience I recommend some dark wash for the canopy frames after the mask removal, it looks more realistic for me this way.
19 March 2022, 19:43
Ben MYes, I noticed the frames were too light, I will try that next time, thank you for the tip!
19 March 2022, 20:13
Jan PetersGreat job Ben 👍🏻
Another tip regarding the canopy, Paint the undersides and all other contact areas of the ' glass' black ( I usually use a permanent marker pen for this) this will make the glass appear thinner than it is, as the sides will be invisable.
19 March 2022, 20:20
Ben MUnsuccessful prototype Fokker fighter, delivered to the Netherlands East Indies in 1937. Used as a training aircraft. Problems with quality were noted, such as all the rivets coming loose. An unsuccessful attempt was made to set an altitude record in it. Disassembled in 1941, prior to the outbreak of WWII in the Netherlands East Indies. The ML-KNIL placed no orders for this aircraft, although a few were delivered to other air forces where it was generally outclassed by opposing air forces.
19 March 2022, 20:28
Moreno BaruffiniCiao Ben, a very nice results! Also interesting to read tips during the build 👌🏻👍🏻
20 March 2022, 08:28
