Corgi AA38311 Aviation Archive

Corgi Aviation Archive series AA38311 is a 1/48 scale diecast model of the Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker as flown by German ace Werner Steinhauser of Jagdstaffel 11 (Hunting Squadron 11: Jasta 11), Jagdgeschwader I (Fighter Wing: JG 1) “Flying Circus”, Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte (WWI German air force) stationed at Cappy, France, 1918.

Werner Steinhauser

Werner Steinhauser (1893 – 1918) was a German flying ace of World War I. At his death, Steinhauser held the rank of Leutnant and had ten confirmed victories.

Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker

The Fokker Dr.I Dreidecker is a German single-seat, single-engine triplane fighter that first flew on July 5, 1917, and entered service in October of the same year. It was developed in response to the Sopwith Triplane and was known for its high maneuverability. However, it was slower than contemporary Allied fighters both in level flight and during a dive. While it proved to be an excellent fighter in the hands of skilled pilots, it was highly unstable and, for less experienced pilots and students, could be considered a “death trap.”

Throughout its service life, the Dreidecker suffered from catastrophic wing failures. Production ended in May 1918, with approximately 320 airframes completed.

The fuselage of the Fokker Dr.I is constructed from welded steel tubing supported by wire bracing. The sides are covered in plywood, and the entire structure is wrapped in fabric. All three wings share the same basic design, primarily made of wood covered with fabric. The control surfaces and tail are also constructed from fabric-covered welded steel frames.

The Fokker Dr.I was powered by a single Oberursel Ur.II 9-cylinder air-cooled rotary piston engine, which drove a two-bladed fixed-pitch wooden propeller. Its armament consisted of two machine guns mounted atop the nose, synchronised to fire through the propeller arc.